Islam in Europe delves into the daily routines of European Muslim communities in order to provide a better understanding of what it means to be a European Muslim today. Instead of positing particular definitions of being Muslim, this volume invites and encourages a diverse body of 735 informants from Belgium, France, Germany, the Netherlands and the UK to reflect on who they are and on the meaning and place Islam has in such considerations. Drawing upon extensive fieldwork and suggesting novel (...) ways of seeing the phenomenon of European Islam and the continent's Muslim communities, Islam in Europe examines how through their practices, discourses, face to face and mediated interaction, European Muslims construct notions or identity, agency, solidarity and belonging, or how they negotiate and redefine religion, tradition, authority and cultural authenticity. Theoretically and methodologically innovative, Islam in Europe makes a significant contribution to better understanding European Islam and Europe's Muslims. (shrink)

Although the quasi-confederal character of Yugoslavia, especially after the introduction of its 1974 constitution did not encourage the development of a genuine Yugoslavian public sphere wherepublic debate could transcend ethnic and republic divisions, it nevertheless allowed the formation of what could be called Yugoslav cultural space, a space within which social and political actors forged their identities regardless of the ethnic or national diversity that characterised their membership. However, the existence of this 'space' had a limited impact in Yugoslav politics (...) partly due to the breakdown of inter-republic communication and the fragmentation of the Yugoslavian mass media. This paper traces the process of disintegration of the Yugoslav cultural space and the emergence of national 'public spheres' in the republics and provinces of former Yugoslavia and attempts to assess the role of the mass media and cultural institutions in these developments by identifying the key strategies of representation employed in the process of the fragmentation and 'nationalisation' of the public sphere of former Yugoslavia. (shrink)

Polyglutamine (polyQ) diseases are genetically inherited neurodegenerative disorders. They are caused by mutations that result in polyQ expansions of particular proteins. Mutant proteins form intranuclear aggregates, induce cytotoxicity and cause neuronal cell death. Protein interaction data suggest that polyQ regions modulate interactions between coiled‐coil (CC) domains. In the case of the polyQ disease spinocerebellar ataxia type‐1 (SCA1), interacting proteins with CC domains further enhance aggregation and toxicity of mutant ataxin‐1 (ATXN1). Here, we suggest that CC partners interacting with the polyQ (...) region of a mutant protein, increase its aggregation while partners that interact with a different region reduce the formation of aggregates. Computational analysis of genetic screens revealed that CC‐rich proteins are highly enriched among genes that enhance pathogenicity of polyQ proteins, supporting our hypothesis. We therefore suggest that blocking interactions between mutant polyQ proteins and their CC partners might constitute a promising preventive strategy against neurodegeneration. (shrink)

While research has focused on the role of racism in (re)producing ethnic/racial inequalities in education, there is very little research that investigates how variability in minority students’ responses to racism can be explained. By using an ecological approach to integrate existing research on actors’ responses to racism, this study finds that researchers have generally neglected factors and processes situated at the micro- and meso-levels of analysis. Qualitative interview data with Turkish–Cypriot children enrolled in schools in the predominantly Greek-speaking part of (...) the Republic of Cyprus are used to investigate their strategies in response to racism and the factors that explain the observed variability in their responses. The findings suggest the importance of and interactions between factors situated at different levels of analysis, including the level of organizations and social groups and face-to-face interactions in explaining variability in young people’s responses to racism. (shrink)

Secrecy and “social cocooning” are critical mechanisms allowing the normalization of corruption within organizations. Less studied are processes of normalization that occur when corruption is an “open secret.” Drawing on an empirical study of Greek public-sector organizations, we suggest that a second-order normalization process ensues among non-corrupt onlookers both inside and beyond the organization. What is normalized at this level is not corruption, but its tolerance, which we disaggregate into agent-focused tolerance and structure-focused tolerance. Emphasizing the importance of non-corrupt bystanders, (...) we claim that second-order normalization helps corruption persist in situations where its presence is openly acknowledged. This adds an important new dimension to normalization theory and we unpack its implications for both future research and practice in this area. (shrink)

The elongated fiber cells of the eye lens contain a unique cytoskeletal system, the beaded chain filaments (BFs). The BFs had been morphologically identified more than two decades ago, but the precise identity of their subunit molecules remained unknown. Recently, use of recombinant DNA approaches, refined morphological and immunochemical studies and experiments with mutant mice have allowed the molecular dissection of these structures and provided clues about their potential functins. The BFs represent a highly specialized network of intermediate filaments (IFs) (...) juxtaposed to the plasma membrane. They are obligate heteropolymers composed of two lens‐specific polypeptides, filensin and phakinin. In this review we discuss the properties, molecular interactions and in situ arrangement of these two proteins, and comment on their potential roles during lens development. (shrink)

A model is proposed that deals with the observed collinearities (spatial, temporal and quantitative) of Hox gene expression during pattern formation along the primary and secondary axes of vertebrates. In particular, in the proximodistal axis of the developing limb, it is assumed that a morphogen gradient is laid down with its source at the distal tip of the bud. The extracellular signals in every cell of the morphogenetic field are transduced and uniformly amplified so that molecules are produced in the (...) nucleus with appropriate physicochemical properties. These molecules can exert a concentration‐dependent force on the Hox cluster. It is assumed that, before activation, the Hox cluster is packaged as an elongated rigid body inside the chromatin and is covered by a coat that prevents the transcription factors reaching the genes of the cluster. The transcription factors are confined to the interchromatin domain and their density decreases with their distance from the chromatin surface. A gradual increase in the extracellular morphogen concentration causes a corresponding increase in the number of the nuclear molecules and the resulting bigger force pushes the Hox cluster toward the interchromatin domain. The step‐by‐step translocations of the Hox cluster initiate the consecutive exposure of genes to their transcription factors. The model explains how gene activation is triggered and it describes spatial, temporal and quantitative collinearities at the initial stages of gene expression. Some recent experiments of Hox deletions and duplications are accounted for by the model. BioEssays 26:189–195, 2004. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. (shrink)

In the treatise on the construction of man De opificio hominis, Gregory of Nyssa argues that man is qualitatively superior to other natural creations of God. Man is created in the image of God, a condition not found, at least explicitly, for other creatures. It is up to him whether he will digest this image in question or not. Despite the superiority attributed to man, it is not claimed in any way that he shall behave towards the rest of nature (...) by a way of domination. (shrink)

We provide a syntactic model of unawareness. By introducing multiple knowledge modalities, one for each sub-language, we specifically model agents whose only mistake in reasoning (other than their unawareness) is to underestimate the knowledge of more aware agents. We show that the model is a complete and sound axiomatization of the set-theoretic model of Galanis (University of Southampton Discussion paper 709, 2007) and compare it with other unawareness models in the literature.

The central axis of the article is the argument that History and Class Consciousness adopts from the Hegelian dialectics not only the category of totality but also the master–slave dialectic, although it never refers explicitly to the latter. Hence, in this article, we aim to detect the subtle influence that the Hegelian master–slave dialectic exerts on History and Class Consciousness and, more specifically, on the constitution of the Lukacsian concepts of reification, praxis, working class-bourgeoisie interaction, working-class self-consciousness, autonomous subject. Our (...) approach to the Hegelian master–slave dialectic is mostly – but not only – based on its philosophical–anthropological interpretation by A. Kojeve. Kojeve’s interpretation, by attributing a crucial role to labour in the mastery–slavery dialectic, focuses on that aspect of the Hegelian dialectic which, in our estimation, was determining for HCC. In addition, our approach to the Hegelian master–slave dialectic is based on some occasional references Lukacs has to it in Young Hegel as well as on his interpretation latent in History and Class Consciousness. (shrink)

ABSTRACT In this paper we examine an aspect of the conflict between Eunomius of Cyzicus and Basil the Great, as it referred to supreme dogmatic matters, such as the relationships between the Persons of the Holy Trinity. This theological rupture appears in a period, during which Christian doctrines are composed at advanced levels of maturity, also with the development among other things of impressive leaps toward which had been attempted by Origen, who was basically also the founder of Christian Hermeneutics. (...) We refer to the basic concept of the conflict, namely the epinoia, and we set it off through the ontological-epistemological knowledge-contrast of realism-idealism. Our research programme is based in part on the historical element, par excellence on the systematic. As to the specific object of analysis, our report will be limited to an outline text of Basil of Caesarea and our aim will be to draw it out in its full development, from one expression to the next. This is the sixth chapter of the first book from the treatise Against Eunomius. (shrink)

Animation victims: an abridged history of animated response -- Animated history -- The movement of accessories -- Fabric extensions and textual supplements from modern and antique fragments -- The movement of snakes -- Pneumatic impulses and bygone appendages from Philo to Warburg -- The afterlife of crystals -- Art historical biology and the animation of the inorganic -- Inorganic culture -- Nudes in the forest -- Models, sciences, and legends in a landscape by Léger -- Malicious houses -- Animism and (...) animosity in German architecture and film from Mies to Murnau -- Daphne's legacy -- Architecture, psychoanalysis, and petrification. (shrink)

This paper investigates the effect of enacted ethical and instrumental values on corporate governance effectiveness. It further considers whether and how compliance with formal corporate governance codes influences the effect of these organizational values on governance effectiveness. Empirical evidence based on a sample of firms listed in the Athens Stock Exchange shows that strong ethical values are the key element for effective corporate governance, while instrumental values play a significant role only in the presence of compliance. Compliance, although not sufficient (...) by itself, serves as a complementary mechanism strengthening the effects of ethical values and creating the conditions by which instrumental values can act in favor of corporate governance. The results highlight that governance benefits can emanate from maintaining high ethical standards as well as from synergies between compliance and a focus on organizational values. Overall, our findings provide important implications for managers regarding how to utilize behavioral along with structural governance mechanisms to enhance corporate governance. The findings add to the behavioral perspective of corporate governance bringing aspects of the social fabric into the corporate governance puzzle. (shrink)

In this paper we examine whether the sense of agency represents an obstacle to the project of naturalizing the mental. On the basis of a thought experiment we suggest that the sense of agency is not an epiphenomenon. We also examine Frith's attempt to explain in functionalist terms the sense of agency through the comparator and metarepresentational mechanisms. Through a variety of arguments we try to show that explanation by recourse to these mechanisms is inadequate. We conclude by suggesting that (...) one possible reason for the failure of the functionalist approaches is that they begin from the assumption that thought is a form a of willed action. (shrink)

Bacteria have evolved advanced strategies for surviving during nutritional stress, including expression of specialized enzyme systems that allow them to grow on unusual nutrient sources. Inorganic phosphate (Pi) is limiting in most ecosystems, hence organisms have developed a sophisticated, enzymatic machinery known as carbon‐phosphorus (C‐P) lyase, allowing them to extract phosphate from a wide range of phosphonate compounds. These are characterized by a stable covalent bond between carbon and phosphorus making them very hard to break down. Despite the challenges involved (...) in both synthesizing and catabolizing phosphonates, they are widespread in nature. The enzymes required for the bacterial C‐P lyase pathway have been identified and for the most part structurally characterized. Nevertheless, the mechanistic principles governing breakdown of phosphonate compounds remain enigmatic. In this review, an overview of the C‐P lyase pathway is provided and structural aspects of the involved enzyme complexes are discussed with a special emphasis on the role of ATP‐binding cassette (ABC) proteins. (shrink)

Bacteria have evolved advanced strategies for surviving during nutritional stress, including expression of specialized enzyme systems that allow them to grow on unusual nutrient sources. Inorganic phosphate (Pi) is limiting in most ecosystems, hence organisms have developed a sophisticated, enzymatic machinery known as carbon‐phosphorus (C‐P) lyase, allowing them to extract phosphate from a wide range of phosphonate compounds. These are characterized by a stable covalent bond between carbon and phosphorus making them very hard to break down. Despite the challenges involved (...) in both synthesizing and catabolizing phosphonates, they are widespread in nature. The enzymes required for the bacterial C‐P lyase pathway have been identified and for the most part structurally characterized. Nevertheless, the mechanistic principles governing breakdown of phosphonate compounds remain enigmatic. In this review, an overview of the C‐P lyase pathway is provided and structural aspects of the involved enzyme complexes are discussed with a special emphasis on the role of ATP‐binding cassette (ABC) proteins. (shrink)

A obra cultural, política e social de Leonardo Coimbra é a temática principal deste livro. De permeio é dada nota dos grandes traços e momentos da história da Primeira República Portuguesa, isso na justa dimensão em que tal ajuda à contextualização e melhor compreensão do objecto principal. O estudo desta extraordinária e multifacetada personalidade – filósofo, homem de ciência, escritor, orador exímio, pedagogo, político – e a análise da sua relação crítica com os poderes instituídos durante o período histórico em (...) apreço, dá-nos conta da enorme distância entre os projectos e intenções do movimento republicano e a obra social efectivamente conseguida pelo regime, ao mesmo tempo que se retratam as vicissitudes e os condicionamentos que a um tal resultado conduziram. Republicano de todas as horas, Leonardo nunca deixou de verberar no republicanismo aquilo que considerava serem erros de essência e de forma, desde os postulados positivistas até às lutas fratricidas em que, insensatamente, se empenharam os filhos da República. Mas também a sua palavra, celebrando momentos de heroicidade, de união, de glória, sobretudo um tributo ao povo republicano, ao povo humilde das grandes cidades, que tão abnegadamente amou a República e por ela se bateu. Uma chamada de atenção para um trajecto espiritual percorrido por esta figura de livre-pensador que, pouco a pouco, se foi aproximando de um cristianismo católico, acabando por se converter oficialmente a esta fé, uma semana antes da sua trágica morte. Fica-nos, por fim, o conhecimento da obra cultural de Leonardo e a perpetuação da mesma, primeiramente através de uma geração de discípulos que, de perto, privou com o Mestre e depois os discípulos dos discípulos, ou seja, uma segunda geração de seguidores, todos unidos pela figura e pelo legado cultural de Leonardo Coimbra, a quem alguém chamou, com felicidade, “Mestre dos Mestres”. (shrink)

La autora construye aquí una suerte de itinerario que da cuenta de la estética como un pensamiento fecundo en busca de identidad propia. La obra se estructura a modo de diálogo histórico entre filósofos, que se inicia en el año de 1913 con la instauración en México de la cátedra de estética, a cargo de Antonio Caso, y que termina con el ocaso del siglo XX. En su conjunto, este volumen es una recolección de hallazgos de filósofos renombrados y de (...) otros menos conocidos que, al afianzar o descubrir alguna idea, han cimentado el edificio teórico o han derrumbado algunos supuestos que se creían inamovibles. (shrink)

El desaf o de la bio tica es el segundo de una serie de vol menes que lleva al p blico lector la reflexi n y discusi n de diversos temas de este campo de estudio desde una perspectiva laica, racional, multidisciplinaria y plural. Despu s del xito del primer volumen, la construcci n de la bio tica, en este texto se tratan cuestiones que se debaten en todo el planeta. Las humanidades y el mundo actual frente a la t (...) cnica moderna; el papel de la tica en la investigaci n cient fica; el concepto de persona; el aborto tard o y la terminaci n de la vida en neonatos; la objeci n de conciencia en la medicina; los conflictos entre derechos privados y bienes p blicos; la relaci n entre la pr ctica m dica y la industria farmac utica; la inmigraci n y el mestizaje, y los derechos humanos. Los autores de estos temas son m dicos, psic logos, cient ficos, soci logos, abogados y fil sofos. (shrink)

Selección de textos. El primer volumen esta dedicado a la filosofía en general y contiene escritos de varios filósofos europeos y, entre los latinoamericanos, Francisco Romero. El segundo contiene textos sobre la interpretación de América Latina. Sus autores: César Fernández Moreno, Augusto Tamayo Vargas, José Lezama Lima, Roberto Fernández Retamar, Lourdes Arizpe y Benjamín Carrión. En función de las tres preguntas del título, se supone que habría un tercer volumen, dedicado a la filosofía latinoamericana"--Handbook of Latin American Studies, v. 58.

La atenci n de este estudio se centra en la vertiente metodol gica de la econom a, ya que su desarrollo ha motivado una creciente reflexi n metodol gica que ata e tanto a la disciplina en conjunto como a sus distintas ramas. el inter s que puede suscitar se dirige tanto a fil sofos preocupados por el devenir de la ciencia como de economistas abiertos al aspecto humano de su saber.

Si bien es cierto que la técnica es una de las dimensiones fundamentales de la condición humana, sólo contemporáneamente ha adquirido el rango de característica “epocal” por excelencia: vivimos en la “era de la técnica”. De ahí que la mayoría de los principales filósofos de nuestro tiempo le hayan prestado una muy especial atención. Su penetrante mirada busca, detrás de lo más tópico y visible, lo más profundo. Y, por eso, lo que ellos han visto, o entrevisto, ha de sernos (...) de gran ayuda para entender mejor la encrucijada en que nos encontramos, así como para repensarnos una vez más a nosotros mismos. La oportunidad y la singularidad de esta obra consisten en sintetizar, exponer y comentar las ideas de José Ortega y Gasset, Martin Heidegger, Jan Patocka, Jacques Ellul, Hannah Arendt, Hans Jonas, Jürgen Habermas y Peter Sloterdijk sobre la configuración técnica (y tecnológica) del mundo. Como, además, la cuestión de la técnica es nuclear en todos estos autores, tenemos con ella una buena puerta de acceso a cada una de sus respectivas filosofías. (shrink)