Attitude of the early Christian apologists to Greek philosophy as exemplified in Irenaeus of Lyons, Tertullian of Carthage and Clement of Alexandria

The bask here set for us, namely, to ascertain the nature of the encounter "between Christianity and Greek philosophy in the period specified would be less difficult in itself if we came to its consideration with our minds unhampered by the opinions which have been given and the conclusions reached concerning it* We have mainly to bear in mind that the individual Christian thinkers with whom we shall have to deal lived through that period of transition in the development of Christianity in which many things we regard as normative had been neither formalized nor stamped with the seal of later orthodoxy. The Creed which some of us repeat, for instance, while in process of evolution, had not as yet been reduced to standard form.(^) Indeed, those second and third century pioneers in the realms of Christian thought express themselves occasionally in terms that would certainly have startled and would not in all likelihood have been tolerated by the later Fathers of the Church

Complete Sets of Reductions Modulo A Class of Equational Theories which Generate Infinite Congruence Classes

In this paper we present a generalization of the Knuth-Bendix procedure for generating a complete set of reductions modulo an equational theory. Previous such completion procedures have been restricted to equational theories which generate finite congruence classes. The distinguishing feature of this work is that we are able to generate complete sets of reductions for some equational theories which generate infinite congruence classes. In particular, we are able to handle the class of equational theories which contain the associative, commutative, and identity laws for one or more operators. We first generalize the notion of rewriting modulo an equational theory to include a special form of conditional reduction. We are able to show that this conditional rewriting relation restores the finite termination property which is often lost when rewriting in the presence of infinite congruence classes. We then develop Church-Rosser tests based on the conditional rewriting relation and set forth a completion procedure incorporating these tests. Finally, we describe a computer program which implements the theory and give the results of several experiments using the program

Termination Via Conditional Reductions

We Generalize the Notion of Rewriting Modulo an Equational Theory to Include a Special Form of Conditional Reduction. We Are Able to Show that This Conditional Rewriting Relation Restores the Finite Termination Property Which is Often Lost When Rewriting in the Presence of Infinite Congruence Classes. in Particular, We Are Able to Handle the Class of Collapse Equational Theories Which Contain Associative, Commutative, and Identity Laws for One or More Operators

The effects of conservation on risk perception and behavioral response among local agro-pastoralists in northern Tanzania, 2004-2005

The purpose of this study is to examine the effect that Tarangire National Park (TNP) has on local perceptions of risk and how these perceptions inform behavioral responses. Data were collected through household surveys and Participatory Risk Mapping (PRM) in 8 villages east of TNP in 2004-05. By identifying and rank-ordering respondents’ perceived risks, PRM enhances understanding of the nature and variation of risks faced within a population by distinguishing between the incidence and severity of subjective risk perceptions. In addition, multivariate statistics are utilized to examine the effects of household size, wealth, and village location on risk perception. Results indicate that proximity to the park has a strong effect on the type and severity of perceived risks. Within villages close to the park, however, behavioral response to perceived risks varies considerably. This study sheds light on how behavioral response to environmental and socio-economic factors is mediated through human perception

Conservation as Disturbance: Development, Diversification, and Social Networks near Tarangire National Park, Northern Tanzania

While the prevailing trend in scholarship on the social dynamics of biodiversity conservation in the developing world has been to focus on the social costs associated with protecting natural resources, some recent studies have identified poverty reduction near parks and protected areas (PAs). Taken together, these studies suggest that socioeconomic constraints as well as opportunities may be present in the areas that border PAs, however little comparative research has addressed how local groups may respond to these factors. By focusing on PAs as centers of uncertainty, upheaval, and disturbance, this dissertation examined social adaptive responses to constraints and opportunities associated with proximity to Tarangire National Park (TNP) in northern Tanzania. I examined six communities in Simanjiro District located at varying distances to TNP to address three primary questions: (1) How have community-level development projects been distributed across the study area since the park was created in 1970? (2) To what extent are households economically diversified in each of the study communities? and (3) How are social networks to spread risk related to livelihood diversification? A mixed methods approach to data collection and analysis was adopted to address these questions. Semi-structured group and stakeholder interviews (n=64) were conducted with local land users, government officials, religious leaders, NGO administrators, school administrators and others living or operating in the study area. Also, a standardized survey of households was conducted with an opportunistic sample of 36 households in each of the 6 study communities (n=216). Lastly, basic infrastructure was geo-coded using a GPS receiver (n>100). Methods of analysis included content analysis of qualitative interviews, simple descriptive statistics of data from interviews and surveys, spatial analysis of infrastructural development, and regression analysis of household survey data. The findings indicate that: (1) infrastructural development and external financial support are greater close to the park compared to distant communities; (2) livelihood diversification is also greater close to the park; and (3) utilization of traditional social networks of exchange is inversely associated with livelihood diversification. These results help to elucidate some of the mechanisms by which communities and households adapt to conservation related constraints and opportunities

Exploring experiences in peer mentoring as a strategy for capacity building in sexual reproductive health and HIV service integration in Kenya.

BACKGROUND: The Integra Initiative designed, tested, and adapted protocols for peer mentorship in order to improve service providers' skills, knowledge, and capacity to provide quality integrated HIV and sexual and reproductive health (SRH) services. This paper describes providers' experiences in mentoring as a method of capacity building. Service providers who were skilled in the provision of FP or PNC services were selected to undergo a mentorship training program and to subsequently build the capacity of their peers in SRH-HIV integration. METHODS: A qualitative assessment was conducted to assess provider experiences and perceptions about peer mentoring. In-depth interviews were conducted with twelve mentors and twenty-three mentees who were trained in SRH and HIV integration. Interviews were recorded, transcribed, and imported to NVivo 9 for analysis. Thematic analysis methods were used to develop a coding framework from the research questions and other emerging themes. RESULTS: Mentorship was perceived as a feasible and acceptable method of training among mentors and mentees. Both mentors and mentees agreed that the success of peer mentoring largely depended on cordial relationship and consensus to work together to achieve a specific set of skills. Mentees reported improved knowledge, skills, self-confidence, and team work in delivering integrated SRH and HIV services as benefits associated with mentoring. They also associated mentoring with an increase in the range of services available and the number of clients seeking those services. Successful mentorship was conditional upon facility management support, sufficient supplies and commodities, a positive work environment, and mentors selection. CONCLUSION: Mentoring was perceived by both mentors and mentees as a sustainable method for capacity building, which increased providers' ability to offer a wide range of and improved access to integrated SRH and HIV services

Oral mucosal injury caused by mammalian target of rapamycin inhibitors: emerging perspectives on pathobiology and impact on clinical practice.

In recent years oral mucosal injury has been increasingly recognized as an important toxicity associated with mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) inhibitors, including in patients with breast cancer who are receiving everolimus. This review addresses the state-of-the-science regarding mTOR inhibitor-associated stomatitis (mIAS), and delineates its clinical characteristics and management. Given the clinically impactful pain associated with mIAS, this review also specifically highlights new research focusing on the study of the molecular basis of pain. The incidence of mIAS varies widely (2-78%). As reported across multiple mTOR inhibitor clinical trials, grade 3/4 toxicity occurs in up to 9% of patients. Managing mTOR-associated oral lesions with topical oral, intralesional, and/or systemic steroids can be beneficial, in contrast to the lack of evidence supporting steroid treatment of oral mucositis caused by high-dose chemotherapy or radiation. However, steroid management is not uniformly efficacious in all patients receiving mTOR inhibitors. Furthermore, technology does not presently exist to permit clinicians to predict a priori which of their patients will develop these lesions. There thus remains a strategic need to define the pathobiology of mIAS, the molecular basis of pain, and risk prediction relative to development of the clinical lesion. This knowledge could lead to novel future interventions designed to more effectively prevent mIAS and improve pain management if clinically significant mIAS lesions develop

Telomere length profiles in primary human peritoneal mesothelial cells are consistent with senescence

Mesothelial cell (MC) senescence contributes to malignancy and tissue fibrosis. The role of telomere erosion in MC senescence remains controversial, with evidence for both telomere-dependent and telomere-independent mechanisms reported. Single telomere length analysis revealed considerable telomere length heterogeneity in freshly isolated human peritoneal MCs, reflecting a heterogeneous proliferative history and providing high-resolution evidence for telomere-dependent senescence. By contrast the attenuated replicative lifespan, lack of telomere erosion and induction of p16 expression in in vitro-aged cells was consistent with stress-induced senescence. Given the potential pathophysiological impact of senescence in mesothelial tissues, high-resolution MC telomere length analysis may provide clinically useful information

Osteoblast differentiation of equine induced pluripotent stem cells.

Bone fractures occur in horses following traumatic and non-traumatic (bone overloading) events. They can be difficult to treat due to the need for the horse to bear weight on all legs during the healing period. Regenerative medicine to improve fracture union and recovery could significantly improve horse welfare. Equine induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) have previously been derived. Here we show that equine iPSCs cultured for 21 days in osteogenic induction media on an OsteoAssay surface upregulate the expression of osteoblast associated genes and proteins, including COL1A1, SPARC, SPP1, IBSP, RUNX2 and BGALP We also demonstrate that iPSC-osteoblasts are able to produce a mineralised matrix with both calcium and hydroxyapatite deposition. Alkaline phosphatase activity is also significantly increased during osteoblast differentiation. Although the genetic background of the iPSC donor animal affects the level of differentiation observed after 21 days of differentiation, less variation between lines of iPSCs derived from the same horse was observed. The successful, direct, differentiation of equine iPSCs into osteoblasts may provide a source of cells for future regenerative medicine strategies to improve fracture repair in horses undergoing surgery. iPSC-derived osteoblasts will also provide a potential tool to study equine bone development and disease.Anne Duchess of Cambridge Charitable Trust, Paul Mellon Foundation, Cambridge Turs

Physiological integration of coral colonies is correlated with bleaching resistance

Inter-module physiological integration of colonial organisms can facilitate colony-wide coordinated responses to stimuli that strengthen colony fitness and stress resistance. In scleractinian corals, whose colonial integration ranges from isolated polyps to a seamless continuum of polyp structures and functions, this coordination improves responses to injury, predation, disease, and stress and may be one of the indications of an evolutionary origin of Symbiodinium symbiosis. However, observations of species-specific coral bleaching patterns suggest that highly integrated coral colonies may be more susceptible to thermal stress, and support the hypothesis that communication pathways between highly integrated polyps facilitate the dissemination of toxic byproducts created during the bleaching response. Here we reassess this hypothesis by parameterizing an integration index using 7 skeletal features that have been historically employed to infer physiological integration. We examine the relationship between this index and bleaching response across a phylogeny of 88 diverse coral species. Correcting for phylogenetic relationships among species in the analyses reveals significant patterns among species characters that could otherwise be obscured in simple cross-species comparisons using standard statistics, whose assumptions of independence are violated by the shared evolutionary history among species. Similar to the observed benefits of in creased coloniality for other types of stressors, the results indicate a significantly reduced bleaching response among coral species with highly integrated colonies