Search

In Puerto Rico and each of the U.S. Virgin Islands, stationary steam engines survive on their original foundations and stand in testament to the long history of sugar production in the American territories of the Caribbean. In total, six beam engines, seven horizontal engines, one vertical engine, and a compound engine exist on the islands in various states of preservation, many amid the ruins of the plantations (haciendas) whose output they made possible. The whereabouts of an eighth horizontal engine recorded in 1976 remains unknown. Most were imported from Britain in the second half of the nineteenth century, but at least one is of American build. These machines not only provide unique examples of the adaption of steam technology to the needs of nineteenth-century sugar production but are also lasting symbols of an industry that once dominated the economy of these islands and remain deeply entwined in their history. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

From the outset, metaphysics was already implicated in theology thorugh Aristotle's assertion of their identity. This is something refuted by St. Thomas Aquinas by clarifying that, despite their univocity, sacred theology remains different since it is derived from the Sacred Scriptures, beyond the scope of metaphysics. Despite the distinction, Aquinas is still constantly dragged in any talk about theology and metaphysics, and there are those who hold that since metaphysics no longer has a place in Western thought the same fate is also for Aquinas' metaphysical theology. However, there are those who hold an extremely different view. They contend that his theology is not metaphysical but rather resonating with the appelation of "post-metaphysical." This paper highlights these two competing views along with a re-statement of the relevance of Aquinas' intellectual legacy vis-à-vis Vatican II's aggiornamento campaign. This paper's argument rests on Aquinas' position on the clear boundaries between metaphysics and sacred theology. Metaphysics is important but only as a preamble to faith; it is neither the origin nor the destination of sacred theology. This important distinction is what secures a space for the thought of Saint Thomas in the contemporary intellectual discourse, be it in the local or continental context. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In Puerto Rico and each of the U.S. Virgin Islands, stationary steam engines survive on their original foundations and stand in testament to the long history of sugar production in the American territories of the Caribbean. In total, six beam engines, seven horizontal engines, one vertical engine, and a compound engine exist on the islands in various states of preservation, many amid the ruins of the plantations (haciendas) whose output they made possible. The whereabouts of an eighth horizontal engine recorded in 1976 remains unknown. Most were imported from Britain in the second half of the nineteenth century, but at least one is of American build. These machines not only provide unique examples of the adaption of steam technology to the needs of nineteenth-century sugar production but are also lasting symbols of an industry that once dominated the economy of these islands and remain deeply entwined in their history.

While 'the meaning of life' has grown in prominence as a topic of philosophical inquiry, few Thomists have addressed it. Joshua Hochschild has recently offered a plausible explanation, arguing that 'the meaning of life' is a late modern 'invention', at home in a conceptual framework both philosophically problematic and incompatible with the principles of St. Thomas' thought. He, therefore, counsels Catholic intellectuals to avoid the question of life's meaning. I argue in contrast that St. Thomas offers the kind of metaphysical perspective that originally made 'the meaning of life' intelligible. First, I show that closer attention to the context in which the phrase emerges (that of German Romanticism) can clarify why much of the modern discourse on 'the meaning of life' succumbs to Hochschild's critique. I then show that, even in the writings of its earliest modern proponents, we find compelling reasons to hold that 'the meaning of life' was always more at home within a Christian conceptual framework. Finally, I argue that St. Thomas' account of providence and divine art in particular explain the purposefulness and significance of the world, such that Thomists who appeal to these notions are well positioned to address the question of life's meaning in contemporary philosophical debates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article offers a transcription and translation of August Gottlieb Spangenberg's important letter (1760) about slavery and slaveholding in St. Thomas and in Bethlehem. A full translation of this letter has never been published. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ObjectiveTo compare the outcomes of four types of cardioplegia during cardiac surgery: del Nido (DN), blood cardioplegia (BC), histidine-tryptophan-ketoglutarate (HTK) and St. Thomas.MethodsRandomized controlled trials (RCTs) and observational cohort studies from 2005 to 2021 were identified in PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane databases. Data were extracted for the primary endpoint of perioperative mortality as well as the following secondary endpoints: atrial fibrillation, renal failure, stroke, use of an intra-aortic balloon pump, re-exploration, intensive care unit stay and hospital stay. A network meta-analysis comparing all four types of cardioplegia was performed, as well as direct meta-analysis comparing pairs of cardioplegia types.ResultsData were extracted from 18 RCTs and 49 observational cohort studies involving 18,191 adult patients (55 studies) and 1,634 children (12 studies). Among adult patients, risk of mortality was significantly higher for HTK (1.89, 95% CI 1.10, 3.52) and BC (RR 1.73, 95% CI 1.22, 2.79) than for DN. Risk of atrial fibrillation was significantly higher for BC (RR 1.41, 95% CI 1.09, 1.86) and DN (RR 1.51, 95% CI 1.15, 2.03) than for HTK. Among pediatric patients, no significant differences in endpoints were observed among the four types of cardioplegia.ConclusionsThis network meta-analysis suggests that among adult patients undergoing cardiac surgery, DN may be associated with lower perioperative mortality than HTK or BC, while risk of atrial fibrillation may be lower with HTK than with BC or DN.

This study explores slavery and emancipation through the work of the painter Camille Pissarro (1830-1903). Sometimes called the "Father of Impressionism," Pissarro, a Caribbean native of Sephardic Jewish descent, came of age during a cycle of slave rebellions and abolitions during the 1830s and 1840s. His earliest work focused on formerly enslaved people in the first phase of liberation. Pissarro's West Indian studies anticipated his emergence as an influential avant-garde artist and left a rich visual archive of freed people. This study uses Pissarro's art as a window onto the possibilities of, and restrictions on, post-emancipation life. It also argues that Pissarro's aesthetic vision and stylistic innovations, influenced by his exposure to West Indian culture, connect the Black Atlantic and the Impressionist movement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper deals with Saint Thomas’s view of the problem of the world’s beginning, which consists in an alleged contradiction between religious truth about the creation of the world by God and Aristotle’s concept of the eternal existence of the world. According to Aquinas, such a contradiction is apparent, because the idea of creation is fundamentally different from the idea of beginning. The discussion of this issue is divided into three parts. At first, the historical background of the whole problem is presented. Then, Saint Thomas’s solution of the difficulty – included in his book De aeternitate mundi – is briefly discussed. Finally, it is argued that this solution can be inspiring for ­contemporary ­theologians.

Il saggio è dedicato all’analisi stilistica e iconografica di alcuni architravi scolpiti che ornano i portali delle chiese di Piacenza, una delle località più vivaci nel panorama artistico nord-italiano del XII secolo. L’eredità delle opere realizzate per la cattedrale cittadina dalla bottega di Nicholaus riecheggia nei rilievi delle chiese di San Matteo, Sant’Ilario e dell’inedito portale di Santo Stefano. Attraverso lo studio delle testimonianze storiche superstiti, il confronto con opere del medesimo periodo e contesto e una rinnovata attenzione per i contenuti iconografici, l’intento del saggio è quello di dimostrare la portata simbolica delle raffigurazioni ospitate sugli architravi. Un’attenzione particolare è riservata alla inusuale iconografia dell’Incredulità di san Tommaso presente sul portale della chiesa di Sant’Ilario. Il tentativo di rilettura delle iscrizioni e l’inquadramento di tale opera nel contesto socio-culturale della Piacenza di tardo XII secolo permette di formulare nuove ipotesi sulla connessione tra scelte iconografiche, istanze di rinnovamento spirituale della società e rituali liturgici, sottesa alla realizzazione di sculture che ornano significativamente le porte di accesso ai luoghi sacri, vie di salvezza per i fedeli penitenti.

Introduction: del Nido cardioplegia is a newer solution getting popular worldwide, whereas in Nepal, St. Thomas cardioplegia solution is conventionally used. There is no national recommendation on cardioplegia solutions supported by evidences from Nepalese studies. This study aimed to evaluate and compare the efficacy of these solutions in Nepalese patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting. Methods: Patients undergoing coronary revascularization, from May 2018 to December 2019, were randomized into St. Thomas and del Nido groups based on the cardioplegia administered, with 45 patients in each group. Preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative parameters and cost of cardioplegia preparation in the two groups were compared. Results: The cardiopulmonary bypass time (106.13 ± 24.65 minutes vs 107.62 ± 18.69 minutes, p = 0.02), aortic cross clamp time (66.22 ± 15.40 minutes vs 72.07 ± 12.23 minutes, p = 0.04), volume (1059.22 ± 100.30 ml vs 1526.67 ± 271.81 ml, p < 0.001) and number of cardioplegia doses (1.00 ± 0.00 vs 2.51 ± 0.66, p < 0.001) were significantly lower with del Nido cardioplegia. A lower CPK-MB at second post-operative (59.91 ± 31.62 vs 73.82 ± 37.25, p = 0.03) and a higher left ventricle ejection fraction at discharge (56.33 ± 8.94% vs 50.45 ± 8.55%, p < 0.001) was observed in del Nido group. There was one death in St. Thomas group. ICU and hospital stay were similar in both groups. St. Thomas solution was found to be costlier than del Nido solution (USD 5.40 ± 0.96 vs USD 3.50 ± 0.34, p < 0.001). Conclusion: The del Nido cardioplegia was found to be efficacious, safe and more economical alternative to St. Thomas solution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Cardiac transplantation is an effective treatment for advanced heart disease and protection of the donor organ is directly associated with post-transplantation outcomes. Cardioplegic strategies intend to protect the donor heart against ischemic injury during transplantation procedures. In our study, the effects of three different cardioplegia solutions were evaluated in a rat heart donor model in terms of cellular base. Design. Cardioplegia solutions as St. Thomas, del Nido or Custodiol were administered to male Wistar albino rats until cardiac arrest. Arrested hearts were excised and incubated in cold cardioplegia solutions for 4 h. Organ bath experiments were performed using the right ventricular free wall strips of the heart tissues. ATP, sialic acid, TNF-α levels and MMP-9 activities were measured in heart tissues. Incubation media were also used to measure TNF-α and troponin-I levels following organ baths experiments. Results. Custodiol administration led to reduced myocardial contraction (p < .05), decreased ATP levels (p < .001) and increased both TNF-α levels (p < .05), and MMP-9 activity (p < .05). Additionally, troponin-I and TNF-α levels in media were significantly increased (p < .05), TNF-α levels were positively correlated with MMP-9 activities (r = .93, p = .007) and negatively correlated with ATP levels (r = -.91, p = .01) in the Custodiol group. Also, MMP-9 activities were negatively correlated with ATP levels (r = -.90, p = .01) Conclusion. Custodiol cardioplegia cannot prevent functional and cellular damage in donor heart tissue. St. Thomas or del Nido cardioplegia could result in superior functional and biochemical improvement during transplantation procedures. In this respect, these cardioplegic solutions may be more advantageous as cellular and functional. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Radovi Zavod za povijesne znanosti HAZU u Zaru is the property of Zavod za Povijesne Znanosti HAZU and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

From 1816 to the 1830s, the islands of St. Eustatius, Saba, St. Thomas, St. Maarten, and St. Barts were actively engaged with illicit trade in ships, prize goods, and the transatlantic slave trade. Ships' crews, governors, and merchants took advantage of the islands' physical, political, and legal environments to effectively launder goods, ships, and people that were actively involved in these activities. St. Thomas stands out due to the longevity of its status as a regional and international hub for illicit trade at the end of Atlantic and Caribbean privateering and piracy. Within this social and political environment, this paper will unveil the tensions between international, regional, and local interests that drove merchants and colonial officials on St. Thomas to engage with illegal transatlantic slave traders, privateers, and pirates, during the early nineteenth century. Secondly, this paper will reveal the processes through which these relations occurred. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: This paper will attempt an investigation of hypothetical intelligent extraterrestrial life from the perspective of the philosophy and theology of St. Thomas Aquinas. Section I will feature an overview of St. Thomas's relevant philosophy of human nature and the differences between human and extraterrestrial natures (even though both have material bodies and immortal souls). Section II will, with special attention to St. Thomas's De malo, treat some possibilities regarding the need for salvation (or lack thereof) in our hypothetical species. Section III will outline relevant aspects of Thomistic soteriology, especially the reasons behind the Incarnation and the role of human nature in Redemption. Section IV will feature a critique of representatives from the two major schools of scholarly thought on this issue, showing that they either disregard the necessity of a human nature for incorporation into the Mystical Body of Christ or deny the magnitude and singular importance of the Incarnation. Section V will sketch some possibilities for the soteriology of extraterrestrial life using the theology of St. Thomas Aquinas as a framework. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mora Castro, Luis Ángel. Intellectual, Economic and Political Backdrop of the Protestant Reform. This paper reviews the main historical elements needed to understand the context in which the Reform emerged. On the one hand, it provides basic biographical information about Martin Luther, as well as three important intellectual underpinnings of this Augustine friar who became the leading proponent of the Reform. On the other hand, it offers an overview of the political and economic situation in which Luther forged his role as a Reformer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

NASA’s Ice, Cloud, and Land Elevation Satellite-2 (ICESat-2) was launched in September, 2018. The satellite carries a single instrument, ATLAS (Advanced Topographic Laser Altimeter System), a green wavelength, photon-counting lidar, enabling global measurement and monitoring of elevation with a primary focus on the cryosphere. Although bathymetric mapping was not one of the design goals for ATLAS, pre-launch work by our research team showed the potential to map bathymetry with ICESat-2, using data from MABEL (Multiple Altimeter Beam Experimental Lidar), NASA’s high-altitude airborne ATLAS emulator, and adapting the laser-radar equation for ATLAS specific parameters. However, many of the sensor variables were only approximations, which limited a full assessment of the bathymetric mapping capabilities of ICESat-2 during pre-launch studies. Following the successful launch, preliminary analyses of the geolocated photon returns have been conducted for a number of coastal sites, revealing several salient examples of seafloor detection in water depths of up to ~40 m. The geolocated seafloor photon returns cannot be taken as bathymetric measurements, however, since the algorithm used to generate them is not designed to account for the refraction that occurs at the air–water interface or the corresponding change in the speed of light in the water column. This paper presents the first early on-orbit validation of ICESat-2 bathymetry and quantification of the bathymetric mapping performance of ATLAS using data acquired over St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands. A refraction correction, developed and tested in this work, is applied, after which the ICESat-2 bathymetry is compared against high-accuracy airborne topo-bathymetric lidar reference data collected by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). The results show agreement to within 0.43—0.60 m root mean square error (RMSE) over 1 m grid resolution for these early on-orbit data. Refraction-corrected bottom return photons are then inspected for four coastal locations around the globe in relation to Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) Kd(490) data to empirically determine the maximum depth mapping capability of ATLAS as a function of water clarity. It is demonstrated that ATLAS has a maximum depth mapping capability of nearly 1 Secchi in depth for water depths up to 38 m and Kd(490) in the range of 0.05–0.12 m−1. Collectively, these results indicate the great potential for bathymetric mapping with ICESat-2, offering a promising new tool to assist in filling the global void in nearshore bathymetry.

The text aims to acquaint the Reader with Franz Brentano’s doctoral dissertation Von der mannigfachen Bedeutung des Seienden nach Aristoteles (1862), which opens the Aristotelica series and that is known to have inspired young Heidegger to become a philosopher. The text analyses the nature and scope of this inspiration. The first part tells the story of the book’s origin and tries to provide a bigger picture for Heidegger’s acquaintance with Brentano’s philosophy as well as presenting him against the background of Brentano’s other students (Kazimierz Twardowski, Edmund Husserl, Alexius Meinong, Carl Stumpf, Anton Marty, et al.). The second part describes the famous 15 theses on being, which are the heart of the book On the Several Senses of Being in Aristotle, and thus enables a comparison of Brentano’s Thomistic ontology with the fundamental ontology of Heidegger. And this comparison is the subject of part three, which also tries to verify to what extent Heidegger was in fact indebted to Brentano and whether we can call him a “brentanist” at all.