Strong Believers Research Articles

Representation of national matters in UEG.

Representation of national matters in UEG.

On the middle ground between open source and commercial software - the case of the Newbler program

On the middle ground between open source and commercial software - the case of the Newbler program

Dual Affinity in V. S. Naipaul’s Half a Life

Despite the hullabaloo about his nativity, attitude and education, the fact remains that V.S.Naipaul as a writer belongs to the Indian diaspora. Apparently, his description of India in the three travelogues as dark, wounded and mutinous does not go down well with the readers in this country. But that description is not totally incorrect and beneath that lies obviously the affinity for his roots. Bruce King is right when he says: While Naipaul is a rationalist, secular, a strong believer in Western individualism and scepticism, he is emotionally attracted towards Indian fatalism, passivity and philosophical notions of the world as illusion. Both world views vie with each other in his writings.(pp.7-8) Naipaul is thoroughly critical of Indian novelists over dependence on myths and lack of concern for the present condition of men. In An Area of Darkness he writes: The novel is of the west. It is a part of that western concern with the condition of men, a response to the here and now. In India thoughtful men have preferred to turn their back on the here and now. (p.214) However, the novel that Naipaul writes is not strictly a novel in the western sense of the term. According to Bruce King “.......he created his own, original, blend of fiction, reportage and autobiography” and again “he was at the forefront of bringing together various kinds of writing in fiction.”(p.5) These various kinds of writing that go into the writing of his fiction also includes mythology in small doses. Besides mythology, he also incorporates modern variants of myth such as pre-figurations and intertextuality, sometimes copiously, in his fiction. Again it must not be forgotten here that a myth or its modern variants in literature may be used either in affirmation or in denial i.e. a myth may be used as an ideal and point of reference or one may espouse the cause of a different ideology as a reaction to a particular myth. A pointed analysis of Half a Life vividly brings out the mythological motif behind this non-fiction novel of Mr Naipaul. ******** John J. White in his stimulating book Mythology in The Modern Novel distinguishes a mythological work from what is called a mythical one and maintains that a mythical novel is one which is commonly associated with a dynamic quality, a “mana” seldom present in a work that he describes as mythological. Being divested of this kind of religious connotation mythology becomes an equivalent of any ordinary allusion and this is further reinforced by his use of the term “pre-figuration” instead of myth. He considers the use of myth as a technique and explains that a myth introduced into a novel can prefigure and anticipate the plot in several possible ways: Ordinarily the term “pre-figuration” means “coming before” and it offers a system of comments on modern events. Liberally extending the term he maintains that even these pre-figurations include literary plot “pre-figurations” such as Shakespeare‟s plays in Aldous Huxley‟s Brave New World, Chekhov‟s The Seagull and in Macdonald Harris‟s Trepleff. As it is well known, many novels refer to other works and discourses. As a genre, the novel consciously gives space to other works. This is what nowadays goes by the name of intertextuality and this is a feature which Bakhtin appreciated in the novel. Going back to the middle ages; it was often seen, the relationship to another‟s word was equally complex and ambiguous. The boundary lines between someone else‟s speech and one‟s own speech were flexible, ambiguous, often deliberately distorted and confused. Certain types of texts were constructed like mosaics out of the texts of others. The term intertextuality, writes Pramod K. Nayar, “refers to the allusions, references to other works, echoes, quotes and citations and even plagiarized sections of a work”. (p.30)

Ysabel Bertolucci, AHIP, 1949–2012

Ysabel Bertolucci, AHIP, 1949–2012

Happy 50th Anniversary Ketamine

In 1962, 50 years ago, a remarkable molecule was first synthesized by the team of Professor Calvin Lee Stevens, Ph.D., Professor of Organic Chemistry at Wayne State University and a chemical consultant to Parke Davis at that time. As soon as 1964, this molecule, ketamine (CI-581), a phencyclidine derivative, was evaluated during a clinical trial. It was rapidly introduced into clinical practice. Since this date, the medical and scientific world seems to have been divided into strong believers and ardent contenders. For its 50th anniversary, a special issue is dedicated to ketamine and features 10 reviews that will try to shade lights on the different characteristics of the molecule, a two-faced Janus, with both bad and good ones. Numerous studies have tried to unravel the multiple ways by which ketamine exerts its actions. Mion and Villevieille will review the current knowledge. Ketamine is largely and safely used in anesthesia, both in prehospital and hospital settings as reviewed by Marland et al. The facts that it can be administered by different routes (im, iv or even, although rarely, orally), that it is not respiratory depressant, not always necessitating intubation and respiratory support, that it can be used in patients with a full stomach make it very attractive for anesthesia in difficult environments such as in the battlefield. Some of the untoward effects can be reduced by combination with other drugs. However, dissociative anesthesia induces signs that can be misinterpreted by nonregular users and lead to some prevention. The opponents to ketamine will emphasize its adverse effects, such as its neurotoxicity in some age-groups, as reviewed by Wang et al., its psychotomimetic properties that led to its use in experimental models of schizophrenia as reviewed in this special issue by Kocsis et al., or its potentials for long-term neurological effects even after a single administration, even though no data support the latter, neither in infants/children nor in adults. Similarly, although this is no longer truly valid, some will continue to mention that brain trauma is a contraindication for ketamine’s use and Chang et al. will review “The emerging use of ketamine for anesthesia and sedation in traumatic brain injuries”. Its potentials for use (abuse) as a recreational drug, which started as early as the late 60s, also probably participate to this unfavorable picture. Corazza et al. review this case of abuse as well as the emergence of the use of a ketamine derivative, methoxetamine. Conversely, the molecule displays a wide array of interesting features usable in different areas of medical interventions, aside from anesthesia already mentioned. Indeed, a renewed interest for this molecule stemmed from reports showing its interesting properties in the field of analgesia (as reviewed by Persson), depression (as reviewed here by Salvadore and Singh) and for its neuroprotective properties after central nervous system insults. In the mind of many, ketamine, because of its very special properties, can induce seizures but a review of the literature fails to find a clear support for this. Uncoordinated movements have been reported as convulsions. Electroencephalographic features of ketamine’s anesthesia have sometimes been misinterpreted. All this probably prevented neurologists to widely use ketamine in the treatment of seizures and status epilepticus (SE) although it is sometimes used as a third line of treatment for refractory SE. A wealth of preclinical studies, and some clinical reports, call for an extended use of ketamine to abate seizures and provide neuroprotection as reviewed by Dorandeu et al. Its peripheral antiinflammatory properties have also started to draw attention and will be presented by de Kock et al. All in all, by the number of current publications on ketamine, it is clear that it remains a drug of remarkable interest. Happy anniversary ketamine!

Blood Glucose Meter Market: This World is Undergoing Drastic Changes

Blood Glucose Meter Market: This World is Undergoing Drastic Changes

Ethnicity and Healing Rituals in Gwadar, Balochistan, Pakistan

This article explores the various specific healing rituals practiced by the African descendants known as Maids, Darzadegs, and Sheedis living in Gwadar, Balochistan. These people are strong believers in the supernatural powers of the land, wind, and sea. Along with humoral imbalances, they also believe in supernatural powers such as nazzar (the evil eye), jinns (demons, spirits), sehir (sorcery), and gwats (wind, or wind spirit), all of which attack a person by crossing the spiritual boundary between humans and spirits. The choice of healer and type of healing ritual depend on the nature of the illness, the cost, and the availability of the right healer. These healers, such as the gwati-e-mat (mother of gwats), the halipa (representative of a Sufi saint), the mullah (religious scholar), and the sahir (sorcerer), conduct special rituals using specific instrumental melodies, body movements, chants, trances, herbal medicines, and animal sacrifice. Some of these rituals are devotional in nature, while others are mystical and shamanic. They are performed for prevention, diagnosis, and healing. These rituals are expressions of Baloch identity and a form of group therapy and social entertainment, especially for women who have limited opportunities to express their emotions openly.

Collegiality and the sick doctor

Collegiality and the sick doctor

Effect of Personal Injustice on Attributions for the Success of Others

The current research tested competing predictions on whether the experience of personal injustice would increase or decrease internal attributions of others' success. Compared with the control condition, Study 1 found that individuals gave less credit to another person for his promotion after they recalled their own unfair experience. Study 2 revealed that personal injustice led weak just-world believers, but not strong just-world believers, to perceive a lottery winner to be less deserving. Study 3 showed that these effects were mediated by resentment. The findings demonstrate that thinking about one's own injustice can lead to a more cynical outlook on others' positive outcomes.

The Perceptions In Respect To The Education Projects In Province Of The Teachers' In Charge Of The Elementary Schools

Nowadays, there are important events such as the black board replaced by the smart board, the textbooks replaced by tablet computers and a dazling speed of change occured in education process. But, it has been seen that all of these changes could be succeded by the all stakeholders' heart and brain power and theirs the strong believes in change. Change is taking place so quickly, the teachers named the actors of the education scene, how they share their point of change and, most importantly believe in the necessity of change? In this study, we have tried to find out the answers to questions mentioned above. As a result, we tried to ascertain the perceptions about education change efforts of teachers served in primary schools. In the study, the general survey model named descriptive research method was conducted. The frequency and percentage values were used in the resolution of data. The differences of teachers' gender, seniority, academic background, branch were compared by T-test; seniority, branch, academic background were compared by one factor variance analysis form (ANOVA) and multi dimensional comparing was used by Scheffe method. According the result of research, the teachers have seen themselves open to the change efforts. They have thougt that Increasing The Success In Education Project In Sakarya (ISEPS) and other projects were usable, resultable and had the tendecy to increase the success in education. However they have pointed out that, the change efforts were not planned, their opinions were not taken and there were difficulty to study on more than one project at the same time. They explained that these attitudes mentioned above prevented the change efforts in education. There have been meaningful diffirence among the teachers' seniority, the realization level of project and ISEPS, the motivation and communication levels.

Sight for the Blind?

The Spirit of Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for prisoners and recovery of sight for blind, to release oppressed, to proclaim year of Lord's favour. (Luke 4:18-19) Once again I am raising issue of education for a matter which is constantly being examined--or perhaps not. When I speak of the people, I am actually thinking of those living in poor suburbs who struggle day by day to survive and improve their standard of living, and who are strong believers--people with different origins, Indigenous Afro-Americans, women, country folk, or descendants of peasant families who have come to cities seeking work and are trying to organize themselves to defend their rights and to build community, and do not organize themselves and live as if problems are going to get solved by those in government, by prevailing economic system, by themselves or by magic. I am not saying that people are not educated, but simply indicating that there is a need to support them in educational process in which they are involved. There are individuals among people who would be grateful to learn some basic things that they could put into practice to improve their daily lives. Of course, there are schools, universities, institutes and educational centres of all sorts, but I am not thinking of formal education, or of training that has immediate aim of earning money, although people do need to earn money in order to support themselves. I do believe, however, that such education needs to be complemented. In any case, when churches are teaching, preaching, evangelizing, doing mission and singing, they are always engaged in education. Educational activities are constantly going on in churches, h is more a matter of enriching those educational activities, in churches and elsewhere. Perhaps in some cases, we need to reshape education in churches so as to make it a practice of freedom and liberation that supports people in their constant struggle for independence and freedom rather than increasing their alienation. There is already enough alienation in formal education and in manipulation to which people are constantly being subjected by media, which misinform rather than inform, and in Evangelical churches themselves. Information of all kinds is circulating, or not circulating, in world: technological, scientific, humanist, social, economic, political and theological. Many people are not aware of this, do not have up-to-date information, or do not manage to understand what implications information has for their lives. Humankind's scientific discoveries do not get through to them. I do not mean that people should learn things like quantum mechanics, astrophysics or Mandarin Chinese (although I certainly would like to!) but that they should at least be learning what they can use, in order to form opinions, to discern their social and political situation and even gain some religious discernment, since religious enterprises are wreaking havoc with people's lives by deceiving them and, in capitalist societies, by holding out to them visions of paradise in return for generous donations which make their leaders rich-those modern prophets, apostles and gurus who have seen in religion a good business opportunity. I believe that we must not confuse having respect for faith of people with encouraging misinformation. It is not only a matter of making a sociological or theological examination of content of faith of people or of role of religion among but also of providing them with opportunity to discuss issues, to become politicized, to cope with information and (why not?) so that they come to see themselves as subjects having power to make changes in their society. In my context, Evangelical churches, instead of awakening lull them to sleep with their dogmas, beliefs and practices. …

In-Situ Sensors for Liquid Metal Quality

AbstractThe development of effective methods for directly measuring liquid metal quality, prior to casting and final solidification, has long been a goal for Process Metallurgists. For aluminum, which is generally much cleaner than steel, it is first necessary to concentrate the inclusions by filtering the metal through a porous frit, before then freezing the remaining metal, and subjecting it to microscopic examination (e.g. PoDFA). An alternative method is to take a sample of metal, freeze it, and then dissolve the metal to release the particles (inclusions) through elutriation (the Slime Technique). The only true on-line, in-situ, methods are the Ultrasonic Liquid Metal Sensors (such as the Mansfield Molten Metal Sensor), and the Electric Sensing Zone Methods (such as LiMCA and ESZ-pas).Currently, perhaps the most reliable, but least satisfying, technique is to wait for customer complaints to identify problems. JFE has developed an ultrasonic, on-line, system that registers larger inclusion clusters in rolled steel sheets as they are produced. Alternatively, many steelmakers will use PDA (Pulse Discrimination Analysis) on a small surface of solid steel, to arrive at conclusions concerning inclusions less than 10 microns. Unfortunately, this ignores the much larger inclusions normally present within a steel melt that are responsible for compromising metal properties.The late Professor Iwase was a strong believer in the development of good techniques and methods to monitor and control metallurgical processes, including those related to metal quality. This review is dedicated to his memory, and to his strength of perseverance.

Antibiotic prescribing for upper respiratory infections: European primary paediatricians’ knowledge, attitudes and practice

Young children are the highest receivers of antibiotics in the European Union, with the majority of antibiotics given for children with minor upper respiratory infections (URIs). The study aims to examine paediatricians' reported views influencing community antibiotic prescribing. European primary care paediatricians and participants of the European Academy of Paediatrics Research in Ambulatory Setting Network were asked to complete a Web-based survey on knowledge, attitudes and practice of antibiotic prescribing for URIs. The survey was completed by 685 respondents from 21 countries, 397 network participants (response rate 65%) and 288 paediatricians. Overall, 43.5% of respondents overestimated the risks associated with not prescribing antibiotics and the clinical benefit of antibiotics in otitis media and tonsillitis (strong believers in the benefits of antibiotics phenotype). Strong believers are also more likely to be high prescribers of antibiotics. Paediatricians from a low or medium European Surveillance of Antimicrobial Consumption country category prescribe less antibiotics than those from a higher category. There is a clear need for an educational intervention focused on European primary care paediatricians based on the risk-benefit analysis associated with the antibiotic prescribing for minor URIs, to reduce inappropriate prescribing.

Playing God or just unnatural? Religious beliefs and approval of synthetic biology

Using evidence from a 2010 survey of 32 European publics, this article argues that belief in God increases disapproval for synthetic biology through two different mechanisms, depending on the strength of the individual's belief. Among weak believers, belief in God appears to be associated with the increased availability and accessibility of the idea that genetic manipulation interferes with nature. Strong believers, in contrast, appear to also engage in an explicitly theological evaluation of synthetic biology, with opposition to synthetic biology resulting from the perception that the creation of new types of organisms encroaches on a domain of activity (creation) that has traditionally been considered to be a divine prerogative. Overall, our findings suggest that value predispositions can influence public attitudes towards synthetic biology even when individuals engage in explicit deliberation about the technology in question.

Behavioral Pragmatism: President Obama's Approach to Unemployment

However wide the ideological distance between positive and negative prognosticators of employment growth, the pragmatic center is where the White House preferences are likely to fall. Obama's pragmatic center may be far from the ideological center between public-private program alternatives. Instead, it is closer to the pressure center of partisan and interest-group forces that normally participate in fiscal policy-making. As a behavioral pragmatist the moderate position for Obama is found at the center of ideologically separated political competitors whatever the content of their beliefs, since content is relatively uncritical in this perspective. Pressure groups’ numbers and organizational strength define the value of their diversity more than the substance of their beliefs. For the strong believers on both political left and right the outcomes will rarely look pragmatic because they will rarely fit the traditional standards for moderation

Klaus Rabe: incoming President of the ERS

Klaus Rabe: incoming President of the ERS

Alborz College of Tehran, Dr. Samuel Martin Jordan and the American Faculty: Twentieth-Century Presbyterian Mission Education and Modernism in Iran (Persia)

The article addresses the twentieth-century social and cultural history of Alborz College (The American College of Tehran) in terms of its curricula, mission education, the faculty and Dr. Samuel Jordan, founder and president. The courses taught, from the natural sciences and humanities to business and journalism, shaped the lives and aspirations of so many of the graduates for decades. Of great importance were the academic training and personal lives of Dr. Jordan, Mary Park Jordan, and the American faculty, particularly those graduates from Lafayette College (Easton, Pennsylvania) who served as role models of modernity and generous public service that so enriched the lives of their young Iranian charges and won the hearts and minds of the Alborzi graduates. Our students imbibed liberal ideas, they agitated for reforms, they cooperated with other forward-looking patriots in transforming the medieval despotism of thirty years ago [in 1906] into the modern, progressive democracy today.1 1Samuel M. Jordan, “Constructive Revolutions in Iran,” The Moslem World, xxv (1935): 347. [Jordan] was a strong believer in physical fitness and outdoor sports in a day when a gentlemanly Persian was sedate rather than vigorous.2 2Herrick B. Young, Strange Lands and Wonderful People (New York, 1975), 89. In Iran, American missionaries have been educating Persians since 1830; many middle-aged Persians remember with nostalgia Dr. Jordan, the saintly American who ran a secondary school.3 3Harlan Cleveland, Gerard J. Mangone, and John Clarke Adams, Americans Overseas (New York, 1960), 23. Up in Teheran, the Americans have a factory, which makes men.4 4The expression, which was made by an anonymous Iranian parent, “became Dr. Samuel Jordan's favorite slogan for the work of the Tehran-based Presbyterian American Boys' School which he supervised as principal” (William N. Wysham, “Mr. Chips of Teheran,” Presbyterian Life, 1 November 1952, 13–14). In addition, see Herrick B. Young, Strange Lands and Wonderful People (New York, 1975 ); Yahya Armajani, “Sam Jordan and the Evangelical Ethic in Iran,” in Religious Ferment in Asia, ed. by Robert J. Miller (Lawrence, KS, 1974), 23–36; and Yahya Armajani, “Alborz College,” Encyclopedia Iranica, 1: 821–823. Wysham taught at Alborz College from 1920 to 1928, Young taught business and journalism at Alborz from 1925 to 1935, and Armajani taught ethics and was the Lincoln Hall resident headmaster at Alborz from 1933 to 1940.

Research utilisation and critical thinking among newly graduated nurses: predictors for research use. A quantitative cross‐sectional study

The aim was to describe research utilisation among newly graduated nurses and to explore critical thinking dispositions and other individual and contextual factors as possible predictors for research use. Nurses are expected to be research users, and variations in research utilisation are explained by individual and contextual factors. To our knowledge, critical thinking dispositions have not earlier been explored as predictors for research use. A cross-sectional design was chosen. Data collection was carried out from October 2006 to April 2007 using the Research Utilization Questionnaire (RUQ) and the California Critical Thinking Disposition Inventory (CCTDI). The response rate was 33% (n =617). Pearson's chi-square test and regression analyses were used for statistical calculations. The respondents reported a positive attitude towards research, but only 24% (n = 148) were defined as research users. A significantly higher proportion of research users reported high critical thinking scores. Critical thinking explained 20% of the variance in attitude towards research and 11% of the variance in research use. Availability and support to implement research findings was the second strongest predictor for research use. Critical thinking, a significant predictor for attitude towards research and for the use of research, should be recognised and strengthened in nursing education and clinical practice. Contextual factors seem to be important for newly graduated nurses' use of research. Nurse leaders play an important role in nurturing newly graduated nurses' critical thinking and assisting them in transferring their positive attitude towards research into research use. Nurse educators play a significant role in supporting, challenging and supervising nursing students to be critical thinkers and strong believers in research utilisation.

R.G. Casey and Australian International Thought: Empire, Nation, Community

The published works of Australian External Affairs Minister R. G. Casey are analysed to illustrate his position in Australian international thought. While intimately associated with various empire causes, he is also shown to have been an advocate of distinct Australian national interests as well as a firm but not uncritical supporter of closer Anglo-American co-operation. He also affirmed realist sentiments, but found some positive value in international institutions. These positions can be reconciled if Casey is interpreted as neither an imperialist nor a nationalist but rather a strong believer in the existence of a transnational British community, a belief characteristic of much conservative Australian international thought in the period between the wars.

Diverse Supernatural Portfolios: Certitude, Exclusivity, and the Curvilinear Relationship Between Religiosity and Paranormal Beliefs

Studies have attempted to understand the association between more conventional supernatural (religious) beliefs and practices and less conventional supernatural beliefs. Some have posited that the two comprise incompatible cultural spheres and belief systems, while others have argued that supernatural religious beliefs are small steps toward less conventional paranormal views (such as belief in astrology and telekinesis). We build upon recent scholarship outlining a more nuanced, nonlinear relationship between religiosity and paranormal beliefs by identifying a specific niche of believers who are particularly likely to dabble in unconventional supernatural beliefs. Strong believers in the paranormal tend to be characterized by a nonexclusive spiritualist worldview, as opposed to materialist or exclusive religious outlooks. Paranormal believers tend to be characterized by moderate levels of religious belief and practice, and low levels of ideological exclusivity. In general, the relationship between more conventional religiosity and paranormal beliefs is best conceptualized as curvilinear.