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The article discusses the main claims, proofs and consequences of philosophical hermeneutics or the study of the principle of interpretation. Topics include the history of hermeneutics, the development of philosophical hermeneutics by philosophers Martin Heidegger and Hans-Georg Gadamer and its use in the analysis of pragmatist thinkers Richard Rorty, Stanley Fish and Richard Shusterman.

Abstract: Motivated by an application from finance, we study randomly left-censored data with time-dependent covariates in a parametric additive hazard model. As the log-likelihood is concave in the parameter, we provide a short and direct proof of the asymptotic normality for the maximal likelihood estimator by applying a result for convex processes from Hjort and Pollard (1993). The technique also yields a new proof for right-censored data. Monte Carlo simulations confirm the nominal level of the asymptotic confidence intervals for finite samples, but also provide evidence for the importance of a proper variance estimator. In the application, we estimate the hazard of credit rating transition, where left-censored observations result from infrequent monitoring of rating histories. Calendar time as time-dependent covariates shows that the hazard varies markedly between years. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The author looks at how philosophers Hans-Georg Gadamer and Richard Rorty interpreted history and the history of philosophy within the framework set by their ontological narratives. He presents his own general interpretational framework, the main characteristics of Gadamer's philosophy in general as well as his hermeneutical approach to the history of philosophy. He also discusses Rorty's neopragmatism in general and his neopragmatist relationship to the history of philosophy.

I shall prove my overall thesis that Rorty consistently enforces his politically saturated liberal ironic standpoint in the fields of religion and history from his Contingency book (1989). As a neopragmatist thinker he gives priority to politics in the sense of a liberal democracy over everything else. I shall analyze briefly his neopragmatist thoughts in general in the first part. This shows Rorty as a liberal ironist who regards almost everything as contingent, except democracy. In the second part I shall interpret his main views about religion in connection with his political thoughts. Finally, I shall show that history also belongs to the contingent social phenomena. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To compare the performance of an 18-gauge nonfenestrated catheter (18-NFC) with a 22-gauge fenestrated catheter (22-FC) for cardiac CT angiography (CCTA) in patients with suspected coronary heart disease. Subjects and methods: 74 consecutive patients imaged on a 2nd generation dual-source CT with arterial phase CCTA were included in this retrospective investigation to either an 18-NFC or 22-FC. In comparison to the 18-NFC, the 22-FC has three additional perforations for contrast agent dispersal proximal to the tip. We examined the two groups for differences in their average attenuation in the right and left ventricles (RV, LV) and in the atrium (RA, LA) as well as in the proximal right coronary artery (RCA) and the left main coronary artery (LM). The averages were calculated for both the 18-NFC and 22-FC. Results: Catheters were successfully placed on the first attempt 97% (36/37) for 18-NFC and 95% (35/37) for the 22-FC. The following enhancement levels were measured: 22-FC (in Hounsfield-Units (HU)): RV = 203±29, LV = 523±36, RA = 198±29, LA = 519±38, RCA = 547±26, LM = 562±25; 18-NFC: RV = 146±26, LV = 464±32, RA = 141±24, LA = 438±35, RCA = 501±23, LM = 523±23; RV (p = 0,03), LV (p = 0.12), RA (p = 0.02), LA (p = 0.04), RCA (p = 0.3), LM (p = 0.33). Conclusion: No significant differences in attenuation levels as well as in image quality of the coronary arteries were found between NFC and FC. Nevertheless, the 22-gauge FC examinations showed significantly higher attenuation in the left and right atrium as well as the right ventricle. Patients with poor venous access may benefit from a smaller gauge catheter that can deliver sufficiently high flow rates for CCTA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]