Goose Creek Raingage Network

Ope

Northern Russian Monastic Culture

The breakup of the Soviet Union awoke a renewed fascination in Russian Orthodoxy that reanimated interest in monasticism and its cultural impact on Russian history. Yet the modern period had produced little rigorous research into early Russian Orthodox monasticism as a spiritual way of life. Among other things, the organic quality of Orthodox monastic life requires a discussion of monasteries’ regional contexts and the role of the leader/teacher. Regional context and spiritual leadership reveal differences among similar types of communities (such as differences among various cenobia, or among various sketes) in social make-up, economic function, and even pious forms. Another important direction to pursue is to move away from a focus on one type of text toward the integration of the variety of sources contained in monastic libraries and archives

The Rachel Carson Letters and the Making of Silent Spring

Environment, conservation, green, and kindred movements look back to Rachel Carson’s 1962 book Silent Spring as a milestone. The impact of the book, including on government, industry, and civil society, was immediate and substantial, and has been extensively described; however, the provenance of the book has been less thoroughly examined. Using Carson’s personal correspondence, this paper reveals that the primary source for Carson’s book was the extensive evidence and contacts compiled by two biodynamic farmers, Marjorie Spock and Mary T. Richards, of Long Island, New York. Their evidence was compiled for a suite of legal actions (1957-1960) against the U.S. Government and that contested the aerial spraying of dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT). During Rudolf Steiner’s lifetime, Spock and Richards both studied at Steiner’s Goetheanum, the headquarters of Anthroposophy, located in Dornach, Switzerland. Spock and Richards were prominent U.S. anthroposophists, and established a biodynamic farm under the tutelage of the leading biodynamics exponent of the time, Dr. Ehrenfried Pfeiffer. When their property was under threat from a government program of DDT spraying, they brought their case, eventually lost it, in the process spent US$100,000, and compiled the evidence that they then shared with Carson, who used it, and their extensive contacts and the trial transcripts, as the primary input for Silent Spring. Carson attributed to Spock, Richards, and Pfeiffer, no credit whatsoever in her book. As a consequence, the organics movement has not received the recognition, that is its due, as the primary impulse for Silent Spring, and it is, itself, unaware of this provenance

Hemangiomas of Infancy: Mesenchymal Stem Cell Tumors of Perivascular Origin

Introduction: Hemangiomas of infancy (HOI) are the most common benign tumor of childhood. Initially thought to be composed entirely of endothelial cells, it has recently been shown that mesenchymal stem cells reside within these tumors. We propose that hemangiomas represent mesenchymal stem cell tumors of pericyte origin, as demonstrated by expression of pericytic markers (NG2, PDGFR-β, and DLK), neural crest origin (expression of nestin and sox10), expression of factors that play a role in the maintenance of stem cell pluripotency (Oct4, Sox2, Nanog, C-myc, and piRNAs), and a microRNA expression profile suggestive of mesenchymal stem cells. Methods: Quantitative RT-PCR was performed on 19 hemangioma specimens (4 proliferating, 10 plateau, 5 involuting) analyzing transcription factors (Oct4, Sox2, C-myc, and Nanog) known to regulate stem cell pluripotency. Transcription factors RB, IGF2, CTCF, BORIS, DLK, and CDX-2 were also examined. PiRNA analysis was performed on 7 hemangioma specimens to investigate the role of these small RNA transcripts that interact with Piwi proteins expressed in the germline and stem cells. MicroRNA microarray analysis was performed on 9 hemangioma specimens. MicroRNA pathway analysis was performed using Ingenuity Pathway Analysis software and MetaCore Software. Freshly resected hemangioma specimens were cultured in embryonic stem cell media with and without recombinant human basic fibroblast growth factor (rhbFGF), recombinant human transforming growth factor β (rhTGF-β), and 17-β estradiol. Results: All hemangiomas expressed factors RB, Oct-4, Sox-2, Nanog, C-myc, DLK, IGF-2, and CTCF at higher levels than endothelial cell controls. DLK, a gene that functions as a negative regulator of adipocyte differentiation, is increased in hemangiomas more than 105 orders of magnitude compared to control endothelial cells. MiRNA-195, which is known to target DLK, is also upregulated in hemangiomas. PiRNA analysis revealed that hemangiomas do not contain piRNA transcripts. A microRNA microarray analysis using adult and neonatal dermal endothelial cells as controls indicated that microRNAs associated with mesenchymal stem cells (miR-143, miR320a, miR320c, let-7c) were expressed in 9 samples studied. Hemangioma growth in culture was not observed in embryonic stem cell media with or without supplementation with bFGF and TGF-β. Growth was observed in standard culture media with 17-β estradiol supplementation. Conclusion: Hemangioma specimens in all stages of growth express transcription factors and genes known to play a role in the maintenance of stem cell pluripotency at a level greater than control endothelial cells. Specifically, transcription factors Oct-4, Sox-2, Nanog, and C-myc are increased. Furthermore miR-143, miR320a, miR320c, and let-7c (all microRNAs identified in mesenchymal stem cells) are upregulated in hemangioma tissue in all stages of growth. DLK, a gene that functions as a negative regulator of adipocyte differentiation, is increased in hemangiomas compared to controls. The downregulation of this gene may lead to transformation of mesenchymal stem cells into adipose tissue. Future experiments are necessary to confirm this role

Henri Temianka Correspondence; (spock)

https://digitalcommons.chapman.edu/temianka_correspondence/2872/thumbnail.jp

Stereodivergent Synthesis of Complex N-Sulfonimidoyl Lactams via the Castagnoli-Cushman Reaction.

The reactivity between sulfonimidamide-derived imines and cyclic anhydrides has been investigated. Sulfonimidamide imines readily react with homophthalic anhydride under mild conditions in the presence of non-nucleophilic bases to yield complex lactam products with high diastereoselectivity. Furthermore, it was discovered that sulfonimidamide imines react with homophthalic anhydride in the absence of a base to yield distinct diastereomer products with high diastereoselectivity. Density functional theory calculations suggest the existence of an open transition state pathway in the presence of base and a novel cyclic eight-membered transition state in the absence of base

Christopher Lasch's the culture of narcissism the failure of a critique of psychological politics

Christopher Lasch's bestseller The Culture of Narcissism had, beyond doubt, a significant impact-it was even read in the White House. Today it is not only still frequently taught and referenced, there are also still empirical studies conducted which try to verify Lasch's assertion of the preponderance of the narcissistic personality. This paper re-reads the book as a critique of psychologization processes, and this allows us to discern, besides the flaws in Lasch's approach, a fundamental insight which goes largely unnoticed by both Lasch's opponents and his proponents. Following this, the article will situate subjectivity within the matrix of psychology, science, psychoanalysis, and politics. In this way a critique of contemporary forms of psychologization-psychologization under globalization, as it were-is made possible

DIREITOS FUNDAMENTAIS NA CONSTITUIÇÃO FEDERAL DE 1988: PRINCÍPIOS E REGRAS

Este trabalho analisa a natureza normativa dos direitos fundamentais estabelecidos na Constituição brasileira de 1988. Examinam-se três definições diferentes acerca do conceito de normas jurídicas e da distinção entre espécies (regras e princípios). Ao fim, faz-se uma análise da Constituição brasileira e da doutrina, concluindo que nem todos os direitos fundamentais, conforme sustenta a doutrina alemã, possui natureza de princípio