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N.T. Wright's book, "Galatians," challenges the traditional interpretation of Paul's Letter to the Galatians as a debate between faith and works. Wright argues that the early Christians did not view Heaven as an otherworldly paradise, but rather as a time on Earth when God's authority was restored. He also contends that Paul's emphasis on faith is not simply about belief, but about trust and loyalty. Additionally, Wright suggests that the pressure on the Galatians to adopt circumcision was a political and legal issue, as it would have provided them with legal protection in the Roman Empire. Overall, Wright's book offers a compelling and thoughtful analysis of this important biblical text. [Extracted from the article]

The article examines John Milton's depiction of Behemoth in "Paradise Lost." Topics discussed include Behemoth's function in the Book of Job, early modern interpretations of Behemoth, and theodicy in both the Book of Job and "Paradise Lost." It also explores the various ways that Milton diminishes the monster's symbolic function to evade the anti-theodicy that Behemoth represents.

This article explores the political ramifications of chaos in Milton's Paradise Lost. Through a close reading of Milton's creation account, it argues that the narrative constraints of epic force the poet into assigning more persistence and antagonism to the prima materia than his theology or politics would like. It further argues that Milton's poetic Chaos makes him an uneasy ally of Thomas Hobbes and Hobbes's de facto political philosophy. The article demonstrates how, in order to resolve this political problem, Milton folds the anarchic material of Chaos into Adam and Eve, transforming its anarchic will into their free will. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The goddess Svasthani sleeps for eleven months of the year, wrapped reverently in red cloth, and tucked away somewhere out of sight in many Nepalese households. Reciting the Goddess: Narratives of Place and the Making of Hinduism in Nepal, Jessica Vantine Birkenholtz, Oxford University Press, 2018 (ISBN 978-0-19-934116-0), xx + 321 pp., hb £79 Since 1573, which is the time to which the earliest SVK manuscripts date back, this core narrative has steadily accreted additional material, much of it stories taken from the Puranas - often adapted to better reflect the themes and concerns of the SVK. [Extracted from the article]

When I picture a Christian missionary, I immediately picture a white person, possibly in a pith helmet, sweat trickling down their brow as they spread the Gospel in some distant land. He speaks of meeting Black converts to Islam, who associate Christianity primarily with racial oppression and exploitation, a viewpoint which Bantu can understand. [Extracted from the article]

It is well known that the performance of many antilock braking systems (ABS) deteriorate on rough, non-deformable surfaces due to a number of factors such as axle oscillations, wheel speed fluctuations and deficiencies in the algorithms. Rough terrain excitation further contribute to dynamic tyre effects such as loss of vertical contact and poor contact patch generation that leads to reduced longitudinal force generation. In this study, a slightly modified version of the Bosch ABS algorithm is implemented in Matlab/Simulink using co-simulation with a validated full vehicle ADAMS model that incorporate a valid high-fidelity FTire model. A non-ABS test vehicle is fitted with a commercial ABS modulator controlled by an embedded computer. The co-simulation model is validated with vehicle test data on both smooth and rough terrains. Initial results show that wheel speed fluctuations on rough terrain cause inaccuracies in the estimation of vehicle velocity and excessive noise on the derived rotational acceleration values. This leads to inaccurate longitudinal slip calculation and poor control state decisions respectively. It is concluded that, although the correlation is not yet as desired, the combined use of a simulation model and test vehicle can be a useful tool in the research of ABS braking on rough terrains. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the 42 children with a patent sinus tract, infection occurred at approximately 7% per year throughout childhood with 50% having had at least one infection by age 4 years and more than 90% by age 9. We recommend immediate magnetic resonance imaging scanning at diagnosis and early surgical excision for midline nasal dermoids with a sinus opening, given the very high risk of infection. Previous studies have reported the proportion of dermoids with an episode of infection prior to surgical excision, but the risk of infection per year has not been estimated before. [Extracted from the article]

The parable of the Prodigal Son is one of the best known, and most frequently retold, of Jesus' parables. Jack notes, for instance, that the aspect of the story that most interests the playwrights of the Elizabethan era is the Prodigal Son's rebellious decision to take his inheritance early and spend it on wild living. The next chapter discusses the Prodigal Son in Shakespeare, with particular reference to two plays: I Henry IV i Part I and I King Lear i . [Extracted from the article]

The "Galilean crisis" is a common feature of many of the nineteenth-century lives of Jesus (notably, that of Ernest Renan) - the idea that Jesus, having met with early and remarkable success as a preacher in Galilee (the so-called Galilean spring), then met with an intense backlash which turned the crowds against him (the Galilean storms). He points out the problem with all historical Jesus reconstructions, which is that they place a great deal of weight on the sayings and stories of Jesus that we happen to have, without considering all the material that we I do not i have. In the first place, there are simply too many sayings that can seemingly only be explained in the context of disappointment at the poor reception of Jesus' message, whether that disappointment belongs to Jesus himself or to the early Christians. [Extracted from the article]

Anne Robertson's brief but engaging book attempts to offer a new "lens" for reading the Bible, one that dispenses with the literal approach that characterizes some Christian approaches to the Bible. Robertson supplies the obvious answer: the Bible is neither textbook nor code of laws but a collection of stories. [Extracted from the article]

Features a study which imaged the temporal and spatial response of an unconfined aquifer during a pumping test using ground penetrating radar (GPR) profiling at Canadian Forces Base Borden in Ontario. Test site description and experimental procedure; Analysis of GPR data; Comparison of GPR and piezometer data; Estimation of drained aquifer volume.

Objectives: To assess and compare the face (FV) and content validity (CV) of three ex vivo animal models for simulation training in pediatric laryngotracheal reconstruction (LTR). Methods: Feasibility of performing LTR was assessed on the head and neck of three different animals (lamb/suckling-pig/rabbit) and laryngeal dimensions and qualitative observations were recorded. A 19-item five-point Likert scale questionnaire was completed for each model to assess FV and CV. Data was prospectively collected and analyzed using descriptive and nonparametric statistics. Results: All three models were suitable for LTR simulation with laryngeal dimensions corresponding to 0-2 years (rabbit), 5-10 (pig) and >10 years (lamb model). Five trainees and five expert pediatric otolaryngologists performed LTR on each model. The overall median FV score was 5 for the lamb model (IQR 4-5), 3 for the rabbit (IQR 2-3), and 4 for the pig (IQR 4-4). The overall median CV score was 5 for the lamb (IQR 5-5), 2 for the rabbit (IQR 2-3), and 4 for the pig model (IQR 4-4). Comparison of the models demonstrated the lamb to be favored as the most realistic and practical model for simulation training in pediatric LTR, with both the lamb and the porcine model attaining validation thresholds. Conclusion: Our study is the first comparative validation assessment of animal models for use in pediatric LTR simulation and it supports the use of ex vivo lamb and porcine models for use in LTR surgical skills training. The lamb model was the favored simulation model while the rabbit was considered inferior for simulation training in pediatric LTR. Level of Evidence: 3b [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim Airway disorders are common in children with Down's syndrome. We report the findings on airway endoscopy in a birth cohort of children from a well-defined geographical area, in order to estimate true population prevalence of airway problems in children with Down's syndrome. Method Retrospective case note review over a 20-year period between 1993 and 2013 for all children in Greater Glasgow born with Down's syndrome, identified through the hearing surveillance programme. All children undergoing airway endoscopy under general anaesthesia for investigation of potential airway symptoms (stridor, hoarseness, recurrent croup and difficulties with intubation/extubation) were studied in detail to identify the number with laryngeal, tracheal or bronchial pathology. Results All 239 children (F:M = 1.15:1) were reviewed. Of these, 39 (16.3%) underwent microlaryngoscopy-bronchoscopy under general anaesthesia for airway symptoms. The main presentations were stridor (9), extubation problems (12) and exacerbations of recurrent croup (7). Thirty-three were found to have at least one airway diagnosis (13.8%) including trachaeobronchomalacia (17), laryngeal cleft (2), laryngomalacia (2), tracheal compression (2), vocal cord paralysis (1), acquired tracheal stenosis (2) and symptomatic subglottic stenosis (14). Conclusion Laryngo-tracheo-bronchial pathology is much more common in children with Down's syndrome than in the general population, particularly subglottic stenosis and tracheal problems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective The aim of this study was to assess outcomes of infants and children undergoing aortopexy and to try and establish which children would derive the greatest benefit from this complex intervention. Materials andMethods This is a retrospective case series in a pediatric tertiary referral hospital between 1993 and 2012. A case sheet review was performed to collect demographic data and identify outcomes for each child. The effects of the subtype of tracheomalacia, weight at surgery, symptoms at presentation, surgical approach, and preoperative ventilation were considered. Results There were 30 children who underwent aortopexy during the study period. Of the 30 children in the study, 21 children (70%) were male. The gestational age at birth ranged between 25 and 41 weeks (9 children [30%] were preterm). Age at surgery was between 2 and 140 weeks (mean; 31.5 weeks, median; 26 weeks). The onset of symptoms was between birth and 18 months (mean; 3.8months,median; 3.5months). The presenting symptoms were stridor (n = 9; 30%), failed extubation (n = 4; 13%), death attacks (n = 8; 27%), and cyanosis (n = 9; 30%). The underlying pathology was primary in 10 children (33%) and secondary in 18 children. The diagnosis was made by bronchoscopy in 26 children (93%). Imaging was performed in 25 children (83%). Aortopexy in our institution is performed by general pediatric surgeons (n = 8; 27%) and cardiothoracic surgeons (n = 22; 73%). In the immediately postoperative period, 25 children (83%) were thriving. Of the children that required another procedure; 1 child was reintubated (3%), 2 children had a tracheostomy (6%), 1 child had a stent (3%), and 2 children died (6%). Clinical follow-up of these children was between 1 month and 12 years. Long term, in 22 children (73%) were asymptomatic. Conclusion There were no clinical predictors of outcome identified, but aortopexy is a safe effective procedure for children with severe tracheomalacia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: To determine the prevalence and risk factors of ear disease in Turner syndrome (TS), propose an algorithm for future surveillance and recommend preventative strategies. Methods: Review of TS patients seen in the West of Scotland between 1989 and 2015, with questionnaire follow‐up in 2015. Results: Of 168 girls, median age 27.3 (3.8‐47.2) years, ear problems occurred more frequently with 45,X and 45,X/46,XiXq than other karyotypes: 71/103 (69%) versus 23/65 (35%). Recurrent acute otitis media (AOM) first developed at 0‐5 years in 23 (40%) girls, persisting in 16 (10%) at 5‐10 years; and first developing at 5‐10 years in 11 (7%). Persistent otitis media with effusion (OME) first developed at 0‐5 and 5‐10 years in 23 (40%) and 14 (8%) girls. Recurrent AOM was significantly linked with cholesteatoma in 8 (4.9%) girls (7 aged >10 years). Permanent hearing loss was documented in 28 girls (16.7%), with 16 (9.5%) receiving hearing aids (bone‐anchored in 3). Conclusion: Acute otitis media and OME occur commonly in preschool TS girls and may persist or newly develop in later childhood. Recurrent AOM predisposes to cholesteatoma. Strategies to reduce otological morbidity include: intensive patient education, annual audiology, vaccinations and a randomised trial of antibiotic prophylaxis in high‐risk groups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To assess and compare the feasibility of using ovine and porcine models as surgical simulation training tools for otolaryngology trainees performing parotid surgery and facial nerve dissection. Methods: Trainees performed parotid surgery (total parotidectomy, retrograde facial nerve dissection and facial nerve grafting) on an ovine and porcine model. Participants completed a 22-item, five-point Likert scale questionnaire on each model, assessing three validation domains; face validity (FV), global content validity (GCV) and task-specific content validity (TSCV). Data were prospectively collected and analysed using descriptive and non-parametric statistics. Results: Twelve trainees completed two consecutive parotidectomies and facial nerve dissections on an ovine and porcine model. Twenty-four dissections were completed. Validation questionnaires were completed for each model by all trainees. The ovine model achieved median validation threshold scores (≥ 4/5) for all aspects of FV, GCV and TSCV. The porcine model did not achieve validation threshold scores for any aspect of the validation questionnaire. Comparison of the ovine and porcine model demonstrated that the ovine model was statistically superior to the porcine model across most validation criteria excluding realistic appearance of skin, identification and ligation of the trans-oral parotid duct and facial nerve grafting. Conclusion: Adequate experience with facial nerve dissection during parotid surgery is vital to ensuring good outcomes and avoiding complications. This study is the first to compare validity of two animal models for simulation training in parotid surgery and facial nerve dissection. We have validated the ovine model as a useful tool for simulation training and advocate its incorporation into otolaryngology training programmes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To study our population of patients with congenital nasal pyriform aperture stenosis (CNPAS) in terms of incidence and socioeconomic status; the effect of pyriform aperture size, gestational age, birth weight, and whether congenital abnormalities are associated with surgical requirement. Retrospective case note review of all patients treated for CNPAS at a single tertiary paediatric referral site was undertaken. Diagnosis was made on the basis of a pyriform aperture of <11 mm on CT scanning; patient demographics were collected to explore risk factors for surgery and surgical outcomes. 34 patients were included in the series, 28 (84%) of whom underwent surgery. 58.8% of subjects had an associated mega central incisor. A smaller pyriform aperture size was seen in neonates requiring surgery (4.87 mm ± 1.24 mm vs 6.55 mm ± 1.41 mm, p = 0.031). There was no difference in gestational age in neonates requiring surgery (p = 0.074). Requirement for surgery was not associated with co-existing congenital anomalies (p = 0.297) or lower birth weight (p = 0.859). Low socioeconomic status was not significantly associated with requiring surgery but a potential link between CNPAS and deprivation was identified (p = 0.0583). These results suggest that a pyriform aperture of less than 6 mm requires surgical intervention. Associated birth anomalies add additional management considerations but in this cohort were not associated with increased need for surgery. A potential association between CNPAS and low socioeconomic status was identified. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Current water-quality criteria for metals typically are derived from toxicity tests with the metal dissolved in clean laboratory water. Estimating the toxicity of iron from such tests, however, is extremely difficult because of the complex solubility and toxicity characteristics of the ferrous and ferric forms of the metal in freshwater. Consequently, a criterion for dissolved iron in freshwater derived from standard laboratory bioassays may not accurately describe the actual bioavailability and toxicity of this metal. A new approach is necessary to adequately protect aquatic life from the direct (toxic) and indirect (physical) negative effects of iron. We present a novel methodology to derive bioassessment-based benchmarks for total iron. This approach involves the use of quantile regression to model the decline in maximum abundance of taxa along a gradient of increasing iron concentrations. The limiting function (e.g., 90th quantile) is used to project the iron concentration associated with a selected reduction in maximum number of organisms (e.g., 20%). The projected declines in abundance of aquatic organisms are interpreted within the larger context of biological responses to increasing levels of stress (i.e., a biological condition gradient). Projections of iron concentration associated with multiple levels of reduction are selected to establish acceptable levels of change in the various tiers of a biological community. The bioassessment-based benchmarks that we establish for total iron (0.21 and 1.74 mg/L) are based on the assumption that if ecological effects-based criteria for total iron are derived and applied, the structure and function of the aquatic community will be protected. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]