The Unifying Theme of the Mind of Christ in Philippians Demonstrated by Paul\u27s Use of Rhetorical and Linguistic Devices in an Oral/Aural Culture

Among the debatable issues arising from Paul’s epistle to the Philippians are questions concerning the structure, integrity and thematic emphasis of the letter. This dissertation argues that the “Christ Hymn” (2:6-11) is the central point of a chiastic structure of the letter, establishing the “Mind of Christ” as the primary and, thus, unifying theme of this correspondence. Four primary fields of research lend support to this hypothesis. First, rhetorical criticism seeks to understand the meaning of the biblical text through recognized persuasive devices utilized within first-century literature and speech. Second, linguistic studies, in its simplest form, examines the selection and frequent use of words by a particular author. The frequency of the Greek word, φρονέω, supports the major theme and the structural chiasm proposed in this dissertation. These areas of rhetoric and linguistics require a third area of investigation – the oral/aural first century culture. This investigation highlights the importance of rhetorical devices and carefully chosen vocabulary to aid in the reception and retention of a publicly read letter. Finally, these areas of inquiry conclude with an examination of Paul’s cruciform theology in the context of the Christ Hymn

Core Strength Testing: Developing Normative Data for Three Clinical Tests

Background/Purpose: Research suggests that core endurance is related to function and injury. Core endurance tests are commonly used in the clinic and yet limited data about normative values exist. This study aims to establish normative values and assess the effect of specific variables on these values in adults 18-55 years old for three clinical core endurance tests. Subjects/Methods: Fifty-five subjects, 20 male and 35 female with a mean age of 29 participated in this study. Subjects were required to complete a general health and exercise history questionnaire. Each subject was then randomly assigned a test order and tested by one of four student researchers. The core endurance tests performed were right side plank (RSP), left side plank (LSP), 60 degree flexion test (Fl) and trunk extensor (Ext) endurance test. Analyses/Results: Analyses included one-way ANOVA and multiple regression to determine where differences existed between groups and to understand what variables influenced test outcomes. Significant results existed for the following variables: gender M/F (RSP p=.002, LSP p=.003), exercise Y/N (Ext p=.02, Fl p=.003), active runners Y/N (RSP p=.03 Fl p=.0002), strength training Y/N (RSP p=.03, LSP p=.02), core exercise Y/N (LSP p=.02), previous and/or current competitive athletes Y/N (Ext p=.045, RSP p=.01, Fl p=.01) and lower extremity injury Y/N (Ext p=.03). Multiple regression revealed exercise time was the most significant predictor of RSP (p=.01) and core exercise time and overall exercise time were highest predictors of LSP (p=.001). Conclusion: Our results suggest that gender and exercise play a significant role in core endurance. Data suggests regular general exercise and strength training may have a stronger correlation with increased overall core endurance than participating in exercises specific to the core musculature. Implications: Normative values about these core endurance tests can be used in clinical practice to assess core endurance in the general population

Stand-Level Green Biomass Equations for Sawtimber-Sized Loblolly Pine in Arkansas

Loblolly pine (Pinus taeda L.) is commercially the most important timber species in southern Arkansas and the southern United States. Results of stand-level timber inventories have traditionally been reported in terms of volume, yet loblolly pine sawtimber is bought and sold based on biomass. A straight forward stand-level conversion from volume per hectare to biomass per hectare does not exist for Arkansas, thus complicating the valuation of standing loblolly pine sawtimber. Two equations were developed to predict stand-level, outside-bark, green biomass per unit area for loblolly pine stands in southern Arkansas. The merchantable sawlog equation presented herein explained approximately 95% of the variation present and had an average error of 4.2 percent when applied to validation data. The equation for total merchantable biomass explained about 99% of the variation and had an average error of 1.5 percent when applied to validation data. Use of these equations should simplify the valuation of standing timber in loblolly pine sawtimber stands in southern Arkansas

Observing System Simulation Experiments and Adjoint Sensitivity Analysis: Methods for Observational Programs in the Arctic Ocean

Over recent decades, the Arctic Ocean (AO) has experienced profound climate changes. To study these climate changes, several regional observational programs have been started. Because of complicated logistics and remoteness, in situ observations in the AO are extremely expensive. Therefore, an efficient ocean observational system in the AO is critical to understand environmental changes in the Arctic. Observing System Simulation Experiments (OSSEs) and Adjoint Sensitivity Analysis (ASA) are powerful tools that could be used in the optimization of existing and incoming observational programs in the AO. These optimal planning tools recommended by the Study of Environmental Arctic Change (SEARCH) implementation plan, and widely used in atmospheric research, are still rarely implemented in physical and biological oceanography. We provide several examples of how the OSSE and ASA can be used to optimize the locations of high frequency radars and biological tracer surveys and leveraged toward creating an inexpensive drifter observational program capable of providing sufficient information to reconstruct the circulation in the northern Bering, Chukchi, and southern Beaufort Seas.Ces dernières décennies, l’océan Arctique (OA) a connu des changements climatiques d’envergure. Plusieurs programmes d’observation régionaux ont été mis en oeuvre pour étudier ces changements climatiques. En raison de la complexité de la logistique et de l’éloignement, les observations sur place dans l’OA coûtent extrêmement cher. Par conséquent, un système efficace d’observation des océans dans l’OA s’impose pour comprendre les changements environnementaux qui se produisent dans l’Arctique. Les observations expérimentales (Observing System Simulation Experiments, ou OSSE) et la méthode adjointe d’analyse de sensibilité (Adjoint Sensitivity Analysis, ou ASA) sont d’importants outils susceptibles d’être utilisés dans l’optimisation des programmes d’observation actuels et futurs dans l’OA. Ces outils de planification optimaux sont recommandés par le plan de mise en oeuvre de l’étude sur le changement environnemental dans l’Arctique (Study of Environmental Arctic Change, ou SEARCH) et sont largement utilisés dans la recherche atmosphérique, bien qu’ils soient encore rarement employés en océanographie physique et biologique. Nous fournissons plusieurs exemples de la façon dont les OSSE et l’ASA peuvent permettre d’optimiser l’emplacement des radars à haute fréquence et des levés de traceurs biologiques. De plus, elles peuvent stimuler la création d’un programme d’observation de bouées dérivantes peu coûteux pouvant fournir suffisamment d’information pour la reconstruction de la circulation dans les mers de Béring et des Tchouktches au nord, et dans la mer de Beaufort au sud

Target DNA Structure Plays a Critical Role in RAG Transposition

Antigen receptor gene rearrangements are initiated by the RAG1/2 protein complex, which recognizes specific DNA sequences termed RSS (recombination signal sequences). The RAG recombinase can also catalyze transposition: integration of a DNA segment bounded by RSS into an unrelated DNA target. For reasons that remain poorly understood, such events occur readily in vitro, but are rarely detected in vivo. Previous work showed that non-B DNA structures, particularly hairpins, stimulate transposition. Here we show that the sequence of the four nucleotides at a hairpin tip modulates transposition efficiency over a surprisingly wide (>100-fold) range. Some hairpin targets stimulate extraordinarily efficient transposition (up to 15%); one serves as a potent and specific transposition inhibitor, blocking capture of targets and destabilizing preformed target capture complexes. These findings suggest novel regulatory possibilities and may provide insight into the activities of other transposases

A Prospective Open Trial of Guanfacine in Children with Pervasive Developmental Disorders

Objective: A common complaint for children with pervasive developmental disorder (PDD) is hyperactivity. The purpose of this pilot study was to gather preliminary information on the efficacy of guanfacine in children with PDD and hyperactivity. Methods: Children with PDD accompanied by hyperactivity entered the open-label trial if there was a recent history of failed treatment with methylphenidate or the child did not improve on methylphenidate in a multisite, placebo-controlled trial. Results: Children (23 boys and 2 girls) with a mean age of 9.03 (±3.14) years entered the open-label trial. After 8 weeks of treatment, the parent-rated Hyperactivity subscale of the Aberrant Behavior Checklist (ABC) went from a mean of 31.3 (±8.89) at baseline to 18.9 (±10.37) (effect size = 1.4; p < 0.001). The teacher-rated Hyperactivity subscale decreased from a mean of 29.9 (±9.12) at baseline to 22.3 (±9.44) (effect size = 0.83; p < 0.01). Twelve children (48%) were rated as Much Improved or Very Much Improved on the Clinical Global Impressions– Improvement. Doses ranged from 1.0 to 3.0 mg/day in two or three divided doses. Common adverse effects included irritability, sedation, sleep disturbance (insomnia or midsleep awakening), and constipation. Irritability led to discontinuation in 3 subjects. There were no significant changes in pulse, blood pressure, or electrocardiogram. Conclusions: Guanfacine may be useful for the treatment of hyperactivity in children with PDD. Placebocontrolled studies are needed to guide clinical practice

A large outbreak of Clostridium difficile‐associated disease with an unexpected proportion of deaths and colectomies at a teaching hospital following increased Fluoroquinolone use

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Fluoroquinolones have not been frequently implicated as a cause of Clostridium difficile outbreaks. Nosocornial C. difficile infections increased from 2.7 to 6.8 cases per 1,000 discharges (P < .001). During the first 2 years of the outbreak, there were 253 nosocomial C difficile infections; of these, 26 resulted in colectomy and 18 resulted in death. We conducted an investigation of a large C. difficile outbreak in our hospital to identify risk factors and characterize the outbreak

Understanding how the V(D)J recombinase catalyzes transesterification: distinctions between DNA cleavage and transposition

The Rag1 and Rag2 proteins initiate V(D)J recombination by introducing site-specific DNA double-strand breaks. Cleavage occurs by nicking one DNA strand, followed by a one-step transesterification reaction that forms a DNA hairpin structure. A similar reaction allows Rag transposition, in which the 3′-OH groups produced by Rag cleavage are joined to target DNA. The Rag1 active site DDE triad clearly plays a catalytic role in both cleavage and transposition, but no other residues in Rag1 responsible for transesterification have been identified. Furthermore, although Rag2 is essential for both cleavage and transposition, the nature of its involvement is unknown. Here, we identify basic amino acids in the catalytic core of Rag1 specifically important for transesterification. We also show that some Rag1 mutants with severe defects in hairpin formation nonetheless catalyze substantial levels of transposition. Lastly, we show that a catalytically defective Rag2 mutant is impaired in target capture and displays a novel form of coding flank sensitivity. These findings provide the first identification of components of Rag1 that are specifically required for transesterification and suggest an unexpected role for Rag2 in DNA cleavage and transposition