Search Results (820)

The number and variety of images of reading in the Investigations suggest that, for Wittgenstein, reading is an essential part of our natural history and of the human form of life. Further, his treatments of reading show that different forms of reading express and sustain different forms of life. This essay explores what the Investigations reveals as the existential stakes of different modes of reading. Beginning with Wittgenstein’s opening engagement with Augustine, it argues that in the Investigations, as in the Confessions, different modes of reading both bespeak, and open us to, blessed or cursed forms of life. It then develops extended interpretations of individual passages in order to detail some specific shapes of, and conditions governing, modes of reading tied to these blessed or cursed forms of life. Finally, given these existential stakes of reading, it examines how the Investigations itself asks to be read and outlines specific ways in which its notorious difficulty and obscurity are essential to achieving its philosophical aims and, in particular, to promoting an ongoing practice of reading through which we are able to awaken to the wonder of our lives in language. Full article

A suicide epidemic exists among young U.S. veterans, with risk especially elevated in the first year of transition for the 200,000 servicemembers exiting the military annually. The VA Veteran Sponsorship Initiative (VSI) is a public–private-partnership between federal and community partners that aims to decrease suicides by providing a VA-certified volunteer peer sponsor and connection to community services. Onward Ops is a key community-based national program that enrolls, matches and manages the relationship between servicemembers and sponsors. A prior randomized controlled trial showed that the effectiveness of community interventions can be enhanced when augmented by an Onward Ops sponsor. In preparation for national implementation, we conducted a quasi-experimental, matched-cohort pilot to evaluate the feasibility of an adapted VSI protocol and then assessed effectiveness. The adaptations were executed using the Framework for Reporting Adaptations and Modifications-Enhanced between April 2021 and April 2023. The formative results supported the feasibility of the adaptations to enable proactive enrollment on military installations and expand data infrastructure, partnerships, peer sponsors, and VA clinical services. We then assessed the effectiveness for outcomes not studied in the original VSI trial for active-duty soldiers who enrolled between April and December 2023. After nearest-neighbor matching, the sample included 551 VSI participants and 551 soldiers transitioning as usual. The point-probability contrast or risk differences from the conditional logistic regression model indicated that the VSI caused a statistically significant increase in VA primary care utilization of 0.198 and a statistically significant decrease in suicide attempts of −0.019, both assessed 10 months post-military discharge. The study demonstrated the utility of public–private-partnerships, peer-sponsorship programs and enhanced VA services to support servicemembers during transition. Full article

Equitable access to rehabilitation services is essential for individuals living with a disability, yet geographic disparities in outpatient rehabilitation care remain understudied. This study examined spatial accessibility to outpatient physical and occupational therapy services across Texas to identify regional inequities and inform workforce and policy planning. A descriptive cross-sectional geospatial analysis was conducted using outpatient clinic location data from the Texas Health and Human Services database (2022) and population data from the 2020 U.S. Census. Clinic addresses were verified and geocoded. Accessibility was measured using an origin–destination cost matrix to estimate the travel time to the nearest clinic, and the two-step floating catchment area (2SFCA) method to calculate an accessibility index. Spatial clustering of access was assessed using the Getis-Ord Gi* statistic to identify hot and cold spots. The analysis included 2255 outpatient rehabilitation clinics across 6896 census tracts. Travel times varied substantially, with rural areas experiencing the longest travel burdens. The 2SFCA analysis revealed pronounced disparities, with low-accessibility clusters concentrated in rural and border regions and high-accessibility clusters in urban metropolitan areas. These findings demonstrate persistent geographic disparities in outpatient rehabilitation access across Texas, suggesting the need for targeted workforce placement, transportation investment, and policy interventions to improve equitable access. Full article

Timber sale prices are influenced by multiple tract, product, and transaction characteristics. This study evaluates the effects of species composition, product class, sale method, harvest type, timber quality, and average tree diameter on timber stumpage prices using timber sale records from Alabama between 1 January 2010 and 31 December 2019. Prices were modeled on a per weight unit basis using a generalized linear model with a Gamma distribution and logarithmic link. Results indicate that larger average diameters were consistently associated with higher prices across most product classes. Harvest type also influenced prices, with salvage operations yielding prices approximately 8.3% lower than thinning operations. Timber quality had a moderate effect: good-to-excellent quality timber sold for about 4.8% higher prices than poor-to-fair quality timber. Sale method was an important determinant of price outcomes. Negotiated sales generated significantly lower prices than sealed-bid sales, averaging approximately 17% lower overall. However, interaction analysis revealed that negotiated sales produced higher prices for mixed hardwood sawtimber, likely reflecting the diverse end uses of these products. Regional effects were also evident, with higher prices observed in the southwestern portion of the state, likely due to proximity to the Port of Mobile and associated export markets. These findings highlight the importance of both tract and transaction characteristics in determining timber prices and provide guidance for landowners and forest managers when selecting sale strategies and management practices. Full article

Statistical depth provides a center–outward ordering of multivariate observations and is widely used in nonparametric inference. We study depth-based tests for multivariate two-sample problems and examine the behaviour of different depth notions using the DD plot (data-depth plot) across a variety of distributional space. The DD plot illustrates that depth functions differ in their sensitivity to distributional differences, emphasizing the importance of depth selection in two-sample testing. We propose a new two-sample test statistic, log DDR, constructed from ratios of numerical depth values rather than depth-induced ranks. Simulation studies under multiple scenarios and for three representative depth functions indicate that log DDR achieves improved power relative to several competing depth-based nonparametric tests. The results further demonstrate that the performance of log DDR and existing methods depends strongly on the chosen depth function, consistent with insights from the DD plot. These findings support a two-stage testing approach in which the DD plot is used to guide the choice of depth notion before applying log DDR for homogeneity testing. Full article

Forensic veterinary pathology is becoming increasingly important in investigating situations of suspected animal abuse. In Trinidad and Tobago, there are only two veterinary diagnostic laboratories capable of performing necropsies, one at the University of the West Indies School of Veterinary Medicine (UWI-SVM) and the other at the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory (MAF-VDL). The databases of both UWI-SVM and MAF-VDL were searched for cases of suspected animal abuse between 2008 and 2025. Based on pathology records and case submission information, cases were categorized by year, species, cause of death (COD) or manner of injury (MOI), police submissions, and types of trauma and poisonings. A total of 113 cases of suspected animal abuse were submitted in the years 2008–2025. Case submissions reached a peak in 2015 (n = 23). The most submitted animal species was dogs (77%). Of the 113 cases, only 24 (20%) had a confirmed COD/MOI. The most common confirmed COD/MOI was trauma. The few confirmed cases of poisoning (n = 6) include carbamates, warfarin, malathion, and ethylene glycol. Owners appear to be aware of the importance of pathology to help diagnose suspected animal abuse cases. One major limitation in advancing forensic veterinary pathology on the island, and a factor preventing the prosecution of suspected animal abuse cases, is the lack of a toxicological laboratory capable of handling animal samples. Full article

Background: Flatfoot is a condition brought on by trauma, persistent foot stress, obesity, and poor biomechanics. These factors result in the development of a flat foot, collapse of the foot arch, and malfunction of the posterior tibial tendon. This study aimed to assess the immediate effects of Kinesio Tape on static plantar foot pressure and force in young females with flexible flatfoot. Methods: A pilot study (pre-experimental study design) with a convenience sample of 20 female subjects from a university with flexible flatfoot (age = 20.1 ± 1.3 years, weight = 91.8 ± 14.4 kg, height = 162.2 ± 6.3 cm, BMI = 34.9 ± 5, foot posture index (FPI) = 8.8 ± 2.1) was selected. The TekScan MatScan^® system was used to measure the static plantar forces and pressures, foot contact area, and the mediolateral displacement of COF over time while standing (Boston, MA, USA) before and immediately after the application of Kinesio Tape (KT). Results: While there were no statistically significant changes in the foot peak or total pressure, paired-sample t-tests showed a statistically significant reduction in foot contact area (p < 0.05) and a statistically significant increase in midfoot maximum force (p < 0.05) following the application of KT. Furthermore, after applying KT, there was a statistically significant decrease in the mediolateral COF velocity, indicating greater lateral displacement of COF (p < 0.05). Conclusions: The results of this study concluded that Kinesio Tape was a useful intervention method for immediately redistributing pressure and forces in young females with flexible flat feet. Full article

Background and Aims: Severe alcohol-associated hepatitis (SAH) can trigger unstable decompensations in cirrhosis patients. They experience high rates of emergency department visits and hospitalization. We evaluated real-world clinical outcomes following palliative-faecal microbiota transplantation (pFMT) compared to best supportive care (BSC) in this critically ill population. Patients and Methods: From July 2021 to April 2024, 28 patients on pFMT were compared with 37 on BSC. Patients on pFMT received nasoduodenal healthy donor stool infusion daily for 5-days. Patients were followed up for portal hypertension-related events, infections, hospitalizations, extrahepatic organ failure and 6- and 12-months survival. 16S rRNA sequencing on stool samples collected at baseline and on follow up were analysed for changes in relative abundance (RA) of bacterial communities. Results: Patients were matched for age, type of decompensation and liver disease severity at enrolment. Twelve-month survival was 64.3% in pFMT versus 51.4% in BSC groups. pFMT dramatically reduced hospital readmissions (mean 0.76 ± 0.76 vs. 2.29 ± 1.27, p < 0.001). Unstable decompensations beyond 3 months occurred in 14.3% of pFMT versus 64.9% of BSC (p < 0.001). Organ failures were lesser with pFMT: acute kidney injury 7.7% versus 93.8% (p < 0.001), hepatic encephalopathy 7.1% versus 68.2% (p < 0.001). Infection burden was significantly lower (53.6% vs. 83.8%, p = 0.008), particularly infections requiring admission (17.4% vs. 66.7%, p < 0.001) with pFMT. Microbiome analysis revealed progressive expansion of Gram-negative genera in BSC, and beneficial Actinobacteria in pFMT-treated patients at 3, 6, and 12 months. Conclusions: Palliative FMT represents a unique disease-modifying intervention in end-stage alcohol-related cirrhosis, preventing organ failure progression, reducing healthcare utilization, and improving survival trajectories. Full article

The rise of antimicrobial resistance and the global burden of cancer demand innovative therapeutic strategies. Frog skin secretions offer a rich source of bioactive peptides, some of which exhibit remarkable dual functionality—potent antimicrobial activity coupled with selective anticancer effects. This review highlights frog skin-derived peptides that bridge the gap between antimicrobial and anticancer therapeutics, emphasizing their structural diversity, mechanisms of action, and translational potential. A comprehensive literature search was conducted to identify peptides isolated from diverse anuran species, with emphasis on studies reporting structural features, activity against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, including multidrug resistant clinical isolates, anticancer effects, and underlying molecular mechanisms of cytotoxicity. Peptides such as dermaseptins, temporins, and brevinins disrupt microbial membranes while triggering apoptosis or necrosis in cancer cells. Key physicochemical characteristics, including net positive charge, amphipathicity, and α-helical conformation, contribute to their dual functionality. Recent advances in peptide engineering and delivery have improved stability, selectivity, and therapeutic efficacy, enhancing the clinical prospects of these naturally occurring bioactive molecules. Frog skin peptides represent promising candidates for the development of next-generation antimicrobial and anticancer therapeutics. Full article

The purpose of both precision medicine and precision nursing is to improve patient outcomes. This theoretical article is designed as a conceptual and position paper situated within caring science, with a specific focus on understanding precision nursing across diverse clinical contexts. Rather than presenting empirical findings, the paper synthesizes theoretical perspectives, caring science foundations, and selected scholarly literature. In this position paper, we seek to expand the concept of precision nursing from a caring science perspective with clinical examples, vignettes, from an emergency care context. Precision medicine can be viewed as an effort to truly individualize a treatment and make it as accurate and effective as possible. While the focus on measurable outcomes saves lives, it also carries the risk of narrowing attention to what can be observed and quantified. These visible clinical markers represent only part of what matters in care. To get the full picture of a patient and their treatment, caring must serve as the foundation for precision nursing, as it is caring that ensures that technological advancements remain aligned with individual patient needs. Precision medicine and precision nursing may offer direction, but to provide meaning to the concepts, a grounding in caring science is provided in this study. Full article

Theological engagement with artificial intelligence has largely focused on applied ethics, addressing bias, governance, and labor displacement. While indispensable, this framing often presumes that algorithmic systems operate as external instruments acting upon already constituted subjects. This article argues that contemporary predictive architectures intervene at a deeper anthropological level by structuring attention, expectation, and habituation prior to deliberative judgment. It introduces the concept of ordo extractionis to designate a technologically mediated regime of formation characterized by behavioral trace extraction, probabilistic modeling, and recursive projection of statistically inferred continuity. Drawing on Augustine’s account of ordered love and temporality and Aquinas’s doctrine of habitus and the invisible mission of the Spirit, the article distinguishes algorithmic projection from sanctification as divergent pedagogies of temporal formation. Predictive systems stabilize continuity by extrapolating from measurable past behavior; sanctification reorders desire teleologically toward a final end not deducible from prior pattern and grounded in non-competitive divine causality. Algorithmic mediation is therefore interpreted pedagogically rather than metaphysically: it does not rival divine agency but participates creaturely in shaping the ecology within which habituation unfolds. Engagement with contemporary AI research on recommender systems, reinforcement learning, and generative models situates the argument within technological realism and resists determinism. The digital twin is analyzed as a probabilistic representation that acquires institutional authority when operationalized in ranking, profiling, and evaluative systems, without constituting a metaphysical competitor to the imago Dei. In response to anticipatory closure, Eucharistic anamnesis and epiclesis are developed as practices that re-situate memory and expectation within eschatological promise. The article concludes that the central theological question posed by AI is not whether machines can think, but how formative sovereignty over desire is exercised within technologically mediated modernity. Full article

The intellectual exchanges between late-Ming Jesuits and Chinese literati have long been interpreted primarily as a process of cultural accommodation aimed at “harmonizing with Confucianism” (合儒), and scholarship has tended to focus on missionary strategies, social networks, or individual conversion histories. By contrast, the question of how resources within Confucian thought made ethical dialogue with Catholicism possible—especially why the practical-learning strand (實學派) of Wang Yangming’s School (陽明學) exhibited such pronounced receptivity to Catholic ideas among late-Ming literati—remains insufficiently theorized at the level of conceptual structure. This study, therefore, shifts the analytical focus from “historical narratives of converts” to an explanation of the mechanisms that enabled Sino-Jesuit dialogue. It argues that Augustine and Wang Yangming display a notable convergence in their conceptions of good and evil (善惡論), and that this convergence created an intellectual space for engagement between Jesuits and later Yangming scholars. The Jesuits’ deliberate promotion of doctrines concerning the punishment of evil (懲惡) further facilitated the practical-learning Yangmingists’ reception of Catholic resources regarding ultimate judgment and retributive justice, especially as they confronted the problem of inadequate means to restrain or punish wrongdoing. This article situates late-Ming Sino-Western intellectual exchange within an analytical framework of “theories of good and evil—mechanisms for punishing evil—pathways for supplementing Confucianism (補儒),” thereby offering a mechanism-based explanation, grounded in theories of good and evil, for the historical interaction between Chinese Confucian thought and the ethical systems of incoming religions. Full article

Psocids are difficult to manage using insecticides, hence the need for alternatives including biological control. Evaluation of data from two separate studies was conducted. One study investigated the potential of Cheyletus eruditus (Shrank) (Trombidiformes: Cheyletidae) and Cheyletus malaccensis Oudemans to manage Liposcelis decolor (Pearman) (Psocodea: Liposcelididae), whereas the other investigated the potential of Xylocoris flavipes (Reuter) (Hemiptera: Anthocoridae) to do the same. Temperature and relative humidity conditions were similar in both studies. However, the five predator–prey (P-P) ratios for the mites (0:20, 1:20, 2:20, 4:20 and 10:20) were different from those of X. flavipes (0:240, 1:240, 2:240, 3:240 and 5:240). The three predators demonstrated significant prey suppression; however, the level of control by X. flavipes was higher compared to the mites. At optimal prey conditions of 32 °C and 75% RH, all predators maintained high suppression. Temperature significantly influenced progeny production, with high reproduction observed at 20 and 24 °C for the Cheyletus spp. and at 28 and 32 °C for X. flavipes. Relative humidity of 63% was detrimental to Cheyletus spp. progeny production. While the results from this evaluation for the purpose of comparison should be interpreted cautiously, the different performances of the predators provide valuable insights for biological control of stored-product psocids. Full article

The high demand for conventional ingredients used in the formulation of rabbit diets has increased competition, resulting in higher costs. Tropical forage plants with high nutritional content can provide relief for this pressing issue, as well as offer potential health benefits to the animal, which would ultimately lead to a quality product. A review of 33 studies on Trichanthera gigantea (T. gigantea), Morus alba (M. alba, MA), Leucaena leucocephala (L. leucocephala, LL), Gliricidia sepium (G. sepium) and Moringa oleifera (M. oleifera) and their effect on rabbits spanning 1999 to 2026 was conducted. This review demonstrated that alternative tropical fodder trees found in the Caribbean have the potential to enhance performance, the oxidative status of sera and meat, carcass traits, blood and meat biochemistry indicators and digestibility. On the contrary, most of these plants contain anti-nutrients that exert negative effects on growing rabbits and their health. The evidence revealed in this review shows that various inclusion levels of the forages can improve rabbit meat production, thereby lowering ingredient costs and providing consumers with a quality protein option. Therefore, the incorporation of tropical forages in rabbit diets is recommended. Full article

Background: Oral Submucous Fibrosis (OSMF) is a significant global oral health problem, particularly prevalent in India, with a high risk of progression to Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma (OSCC). This study investigates the molecular mechanisms involved in the transformation of OSMF to OSCC using transcriptomic profiling. Methods: High-throughput RNA sequencing was performed on fresh de novo OSCC samples (n = 8) and OSMF derived OSCC using Illumina-compatible NEXTflex Rapid Directional RNA Sequencing. Normalization and differential gene expression analysis were conducted, and genes exhibiting an absolute log2 fold change of ≥2 with a co-variate-adjusted p-value ≤ 0.05 were identified as significant. Results: Upregulated genes were associated with cytokine and immune responses (ABRA, TTTY14, EIF1AY), cellular proliferation and apoptosis (LINC00314, RPS4Y1, SERPINA5, TRIM63, FABP7), and energy metabolism, indicating metabolic adaptations during malignant progression. Pathway analysis showed increased expression of TNNT1, TNNI1, MYL4, and ACTN3, implicating muscle development and embryonic pathways in OSMF transformation. Conversely, genes related to epithelial differentiation and keratinization (FLG, FLG2, HRNR, TCHH, KRT73), immune regulation and tumor suppression (HLA-G, UNC5D), and metabolic signaling were downregulated, reflecting loss of tissue integrity and immune control. Conclusions: OSMF-derived OSCC exhibits a distinct transcriptomic landscape compared with de novo OSCC, characterized by altered epithelial differentiation, immune modulation, and activation of developmental pathways. The observed gene dysregulation findings establish that OSCC developing in the background of OSMF is molecularly distinct from de novo OSCC, underscoring the biological impact of the pre-existing fibrotic milieu on tumor transcriptional architecture. Full article