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Steroidogenesis requires coordination of the anabolic and catabolic pathways of lipid metabolism, but the profile of proteins associated with progesterone synthesis in cyclic and pregnant corpus luteum (CL) is not well-known in cattle. In Experiment 1, plasma progesterone level was monitored in cyclic cows (n = 5) and pregnant cows (n = 6; until d-90). A significant decline in the plasma progesterone level occurred at d-19 of cyclic cows. Progesterone level in abbatoir-derived luteal tissues was also determined at d 1 to 5, 6 to 13 and 14 to 20 of cyclic cows, and d-60 and -90 of pregnant cows (n = 5 each). Progesterone level in d-60 CL was not different from those in d 6 to 13 CL and d-90 CL, although the difference between d 6 to 13 and d-90 was significant. In Experiment 2, protein expression pattern in CL at d-90 (n = 4) was compared with that in CL of cyclic cows at d 6 to 13 (n = 5). Significant changes in the level of protein expression were detected in 32 protein spots by two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (2-DE), and 23 of them were identified by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF-MS). Six proteins were found only in pregnant CL, while the other 17 proteins were found only in cyclic CL. Among the above 6 proteins, vimentin which is involved in the regulation of post-implantation development was included. Thus, the protein expression pattern in CL was disorientated from cyclic luteal phase to mid pregnancy, and alterations in specific CL protein expression may contribute to the maintenance of pregnancy in Korean native cows.

Abstract The wintertime North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO) and East Atlantic Pattern (EA) are the two leading modes of North Atlantic pressure variability and have a substantial impact on winter weather in Europe. The year‐to‐year contributions to multi‐model seasonal forecast skill in the Copernicus C3S ensemble of seven prediction systems are assessed for the wintertime NAO and EA, and well‐forecast and poorly‐forecast years are identified. Years with high NAO predictability are associated with substantial tropical forcing, generally from the El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO), while poor forecasts of the NAO occur when ENSO forcing is weak. Well‐forecast EA winters also generally occurred when there was substantial tropical forcing, although the relationship was less robust than for the NAO. These results support previous findings of the impacts of tropical forcing on the North Atlantic and show this is important from a multi‐model seasonal forecasting perspective.

Abstract The very rare $${{D} ^*} (2007)^0\!\rightarrow {\mu ^+\mu ^-} $$ D ∗ ( 2007 ) 0 → μ + μ - decay is searched for by analysing $${{{B} ^-}} \!\rightarrow {{\pi } ^-} {\mu ^+\mu ^-} $$ B - → π - μ + μ - decays. The analysis uses a sample of beauty mesons produced in proton–proton collisions collected with the LHCb detector between 2011 and 2018, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 9 $$\text {\,fb} ^{-1}$$ \,fb - 1 . The signal signature corresponds to simultaneous peaks in the $${\mu ^+\mu ^-} $$ μ + μ - and $${{\pi } ^-} {\mu ^+\mu ^-} $$ π - μ + μ - invariant masses. No evidence for an excess of events over background is observed and an upper limit is set on the branching fraction of the decay at $$\mathcal{B}({{D} ^*} (2007)^0\!\rightarrow {\mu ^+\mu ^-} ) < 2.6\times 10^{-8}$$ B ( D ∗ ( 2007 ) 0 → μ + μ - ) < 2.6 × 10 - 8 at $$90\%$$ 90 % confidence level. This is the first limit on the branching fraction of $${{D} ^*} (2007)^0\!\rightarrow {\mu ^+\mu ^-} $$ D ∗ ( 2007 ) 0 → μ + μ - decays and the most stringent limit on $${{D} ^*} (2007)^0$$ D ∗ ( 2007 ) 0 decays to leptonic final states. The analysis is the first search for a rare charm-meson decay exploiting production via beauty decays.

In this paper we describe SEAS5, ECMWF's fifth generation seasonal forecast system, which became operational in November 2017. Compared to its predecessor, System 4, SEAS5 is a substantially changed forecast system. It includes upgraded versions of the atmosphere and ocean models at higher resolutions, and adds a prognostic sea-ice model. Here, we describe the configuration of SEAS5 and summarise the most noticeable results from a set of diagnostics including biases, variability, teleconnections and forecast skill. An important improvement in SEAS5 is the reduction of the equatorial Pacific cold tongue bias, which is accompanied by a more realistic El Niño amplitude and an improvement in El Niño prediction skill over the central-west Pacific. Improvements in 2 m temperature skill are also clear over the tropical Pacific. Sea-surface temperature (SST) biases in the northern extratropics change due to increased ocean resolution, especially in regions associated with western boundary currents. The increased ocean resolution exposes a new problem in the northwest Atlantic, where SEAS5 fails to capture decadal variability of the North Atlantic subpolar gyre, resulting in a degradation of DJF 2 m temperature prediction skill in this region. The prognostic sea-ice model improves seasonal predictions of sea-ice cover, although some regions and seasons suffer from biases introduced by employing a fully dynamical model rather than the simple, empirical scheme used in System 4. There are also improvements in 2 m temperature skill in the vicinity of the Arctic sea-ice edge. Cold temperature biases in the troposphere improve, but increase at the tropopause. Biases in the extratropical jets are larger than in System 4: extratropical jets are too strong, and displaced northwards in JJA. In summary, development and added complexity since System 4 has ensured that SEAS5 is a state-of-the-art seasonal forecast system which continues to display a particular strength in the El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO) prediction.

Abstract The cysteine protease ATG4B is a key component of the autophagy machinery, acting to proteolytically prime and recycle its substrate MAP1LC3B. The roles of ATG4B in cancer and other diseases appear to be context dependent but are still not well understood. To help further explore ATG4B functions and potential therapeutic applications, we employed a chemical biology approach to identify ATG4B inhibitors. Here, we describe the discovery of 4–28, a styrylquinoline identified by a combined computational modeling, in silico screening, high content cell-based screening and biochemical assay approach. A structure-activity relationship study led to the development of a more stable and potent compound LV-320. We demonstrated that LV-320 inhibits ATG4B enzymatic activity, blocks autophagic flux in cells, and is stable, non-toxic and active in vivo. These findings suggest that LV-320 will serve as a relevant chemical tool to study the various roles of ATG4B in cancer and other contexts.

Limited spatial resolution is one of the factors that may hamper applications of global climate models (GCMs), in particular over Europe with its complex coastline and orography. In this study, the representation of European mean and extreme precipitation is evaluated in simulations with an atmospheric GCM (AGCM) at different resolutions between about 135 and 25 km grid spacing in the mid-latitudes. The continent-wide root-mean-square error in mean precipitation in the 25 km model is about 25  % smaller than in the 135 km model in winter. Clear improvements are also seen in autumn and spring, whereas the model's sensitivity to resolution is very small in summer. Extreme precipitation is evaluated by estimating generalised extreme value distributions (GEVs) of daily precipitation aggregated over river basins whose surface area is greater than 50 000 km2. GEV location and scale parameters are measures of the typical magnitude and of the interannual variability of extremes, respectively. Median model biases in both these parameters are around 10 % in summer and around 20 % in the other seasons. For some river basins, however, these biases can be much larger and take values between 50 % and 100 %. Extreme precipitation is better simulated in the 25 km model, especially during autumn when the median GEV parameter biases are more than halved, and in the North European Plains, from the Loire in the west to the Vistula in the east. A sensitivity experiment is conducted showing that these resolution sensitivities in both mean and extreme precipitation are in many areas primarily due to the increase in resolution of the model orography. The findings of this study illustrate the improved capability of a global high-resolution model in simulating European mean and extreme precipitation.

Abstract Intrinsic Optical Signal (IOS) imaging has been used extensively to examine activity-related changes within the cerebral cortex. A significant technical challenge with IOS imaging is the presence of large noise, artefact components and periodic interference. Signal processing is therefore important in obtaining quality IOS imaging results. Several signal processing techniques have been deployed, however, the performance of these approaches for IOS imaging has never been directly compared. The current study aims to compare signal processing techniques that can be used when quantifying stimuli-response IOS imaging data. Data were gathered from the somatosensory cortex of mice following piezoelectric stimulation of the hindlimb. The effectiveness of each technique to remove noise and extract the IOS signal was compared for both spatial and temporal responses. Careful analysis of the advantages and disadvantages of each method were carried out to inform the choice of signal processing for IOS imaging. We conclude that spatial Gaussian filtering is the most effective choices for improving the spatial IOS response, whilst temporal low pass and bandpass filtering produce the best results for producing temporal responses when periodic stimuli are an option. Global signal regression and truncated difference also work well and do not require periodic stimuli.

Using new high-resolution 10Be measurements in the NGRIP, EDML and Vostok ice cores, together with previously published data from EDC, we present an improved synchronization between Greenland and Antarctic ice cores during the Laschamp geomagnetic excursion ∼ 41 kyr ago. We estimate the precision of this synchronization to be ±20 years, an order of magnitude better than previous work. We discuss the implications of this new synchronization for making improved estimates of the depth difference between ice and enclosed gas of the same age (Δdepth), difference between age of ice and enclosed gas at the same depth (Δage) in the EDC and EDML ice cores, spectral properties of the 10Be profiles and phasing between Dansgaard–Oeschger-10 (in NGRIP) and AIM-10 (in EDML and EDC).

We present here surface water vapor isotopic measurements conducted from June to August 2010 at the NEEM (North Greenland Eemian Drilling Project) camp, NW Greenland (77.45° N, 51.05° W, 2484 m a.s.l.). Measurements were conducted at 9 different heights from 0.1 m to 13.5 m above the snow surface using two different types of cavity-enhanced near-infrared absorption spectroscopy analyzers. For each instrument specific protocols were developed for calibration and drift corrections. The inter-comparison of corrected results from different instruments reveals excellent reproducibility, stability, and precision with a standard deviations of ~ 0.23‰ for δ18O and ~ 1.4‰ for δD. Diurnal and intraseasonal variations show strong relationships between changes in local surface humidity and water vapor isotopic composition, and with local and synoptic weather conditions. This variability probably results from the interplay between local moisture fluxes, linked with firn–air exchanges, boundary layer dynamics, and large-scale moisture advection. Particularly remarkable are several episodes characterized by high (> 40‰) surface water vapor deuterium excess. Air mass back-trajectory calculations from atmospheric analyses and water tagging in the LMDZiso (Laboratory of Meteorology Dynamics Zoom-isotopic) atmospheric model reveal that these events are associated with predominant Arctic air mass origin. The analysis suggests that high deuterium excess levels are a result of strong kinetic fractionation during evaporation at the sea-ice margin.

The Toba eruption that occurred some 74 ka ago in Sumatra, Indonesia, is among the largest volcanic events on Earth over the last 2 million years. Tephra from this eruption has been spread over vast areas in Asia, where it constitutes a major time marker close to the Marine Isotope Stage 4/5 boundary. As yet, no tephra associated with Toba has been identified in Greenland or Antarctic ice cores. Based on new accurate dating of Toba tephra and on accurately dated European stalagmites, the Toba event is known to occur between the onsets of Greenland interstadials (GI) 19 and 20. Furthermore, the existing linking of Greenland and Antarctic ice cores by gas records and by the bipolar seesaw hypothesis suggests that the Antarctic counterpart is situated between Antarctic Isotope Maxima (AIM) 19 and 20. In this work we suggest a direct synchronization of Greenland (NGRIP) and Antarctic (EDML) ice cores at the Toba eruption based on matching of a pattern of bipolar volcanic spikes. Annual layer counting between volcanic spikes in both cores allows for a unique match. We first demonstrate this bipolar matching technique at the already synchronized Laschamp geomagnetic excursion (41 ka BP) before we apply it to the suggested Toba interval. The Toba synchronization pattern covers some 2000 yr in GI-20 and AIM-19/20 and includes nine acidity peaks that are recognized in both ice cores. The suggested bipolar Toba synchronization has decadal precision. It thus allows a determination of the exact phasing of inter-hemispheric climate in a time interval of poorly constrained ice core records, and it allows for a discussion of the climatic impact of the Toba eruption in a global perspective. The bipolar linking gives no support for a long-term global cooling caused by the Toba eruption as Antarctica experiences a major warming shortly after the event. Furthermore, our bipolar match provides a way to place palaeo-environmental records other than ice cores into a precise climatic context.

Increasing paleoclimatic evidence suggests that the Little Ice Age (LIA) was a global climate change event. Understanding the forcings and associated climate system feedbacks of the LIA is made difficult by the scarcity of Southern Hemisphere paleoclimate records. We use a new glaciochemical record of a coastal ice core from Mt. Erebus Saddle, Antarctica, to reconstruct atmospheric and oceanic conditions in the Ross Sea sector of Antarctica over the past five centuries. The LIA is identified in stable isotope (δD) and lithophile element records, which respectively demonstrate that the region experienced 1.6 ± 1.4 °C cooler average temperatures prior to 1850 AD than during the last 150 yr and strong (>57 m s−1) prevailing katabatic winds between 1500 and 1800 AD. Al and Ti concentration increases of an order of magnitude (>120 ppb Al) are linked to enhanced aeolian transport of complex silicate minerals and represent the strongest katabatic wind events of the LIA. These events are associated with three 12–30 yr intervals of cooler temperatures at ca. 1690 AD, 1770 AD and 1840 AD. Furthermore, ice core concentrations of the biogenic sulphur species MS− suggest that biological productivity in the Ross Sea polynya was ~80% higher prior to 1875 AD than at any subsequent time. We propose that cooler Antarctic temperatures promoted stronger katabatic winds across the Ross Ice Shelf, resulting in an enlarged Ross Sea polynya during the LIA.

A new ice core paleothermometer is introduced based on the temperature dependent diffusion of the stable water isotopes in the firn. A new parameter called differential diffusion length is defined as the difference between the diffusion length of the two stable water isotopologues 2H1H16O and 1H218O. A model treatment of the diffusion process of the firn and the ice is presented along with a method of retrieving the diffusion signal from the ice core record of water isotopes using spectral methods. The model shows how the diffusion process is highly dependent on the inter-annual variations in the surface temperatures. It results in a diffusion length longer than if the firn was isothermal. The longer diffusion length can be explained by the strong nonlinearly behaviour of the saturation pressure over ice in the range of the surface temperature fluctuations. The method has been tested on δ18O and δD measurements, spanning the transition from the last glacial to the holocene, from the NorthGRIP ice core. The surface temperature reconstruction based on the differential diffusion resembles other temperature reconstructions for the NorthGRIP ice core. However, the Allerød warming is seen to be significantly warmer than observed in other ice core based temperature reconstructions. The mechanisms behind this behaviour are not fully understood. The method shows the need of an expansion of high resolution stable water isotope datasets from ice cores. However, the new ice core paleothermometer presented here will give valuable insight into past climate, through the physical process of isotope diffusion in the firn column of ice sheets.

A new technique for on-line high resolution isotopic analysis of liquid water, tailored for ice core studies is presented. We built an interface between a Wavelength Scanned Cavity Ring Down Spectrometer (WS-CRDS) purchased from Picarro Inc. and a Continuous Flow Analysis (CFA) system. The system offers the possibility to perform simultaneuous water isotopic analysis of δ18O and δD on a continuous stream of liquid water as generated from a continuously melted ice rod. Injection of sub μl amounts of liquid water is achieved by pumping sample through a fused silica capillary and instantaneously vaporizing it with 100% efficiency in a~home made oven at a temperature of 170 °C. A calibration procedure allows for proper reporting of the data on the VSMOW–SLAP scale. We apply the necessary corrections based on the assessed performance of the system regarding instrumental drifts and dependance on the water concentration in the optical cavity. The melt rates are monitored in order to assign a depth scale to the measured isotopic profiles. Application of spectral methods yields the combined uncertainty of the system at below 0.1‰ and 0.5‰ for δ18O and δD, respectively. This performance is comparable to that achieved with mass spectrometry. Dispersion of the sample in the transfer lines limits the temporal resolution of the technique. In this work we investigate and assess these dispersion effects. By using an optimal filtering method we show how the measured profiles can be corrected for the smoothing effects resulting from the sample dispersion. Considering the significant advantages the technique offers, i.e. simultaneuous measurement of δ18O and δD, potentially in combination with chemical components that are traditionally measured on CFA systems, notable reduction on analysis time and power consumption, we consider it as an alternative to traditional isotope ratio mass spectrometry with the possibility to be deployed for field ice core studies. We present data acquired in the field during the 2010 season as part of the NEEM deep ice core drilling project in North Greenland.

Since its discovery in Greenland ice cores, the millennial scale climatic variability of the last glacial period has been increasingly documented at all latitudes with studies focusing mainly on Marine Isotopic Stage 3 (MIS 3; 28–60 thousand of years before present, hereafter ka) and characterized by short Dansgaard-Oeschger (DO) events. Recent and new results obtained on the EPICA and NorthGRIP ice cores now precisely describe the rapid variations of Antarctic and Greenland temperature during MIS 5 (73.5–123 ka), a time period corresponding to relatively high sea level. The results display a succession of abrupt events associated with long Greenland InterStadial phases (GIS) enabling us to highlight a sub-millennial scale climatic variability depicted by (i) short-lived and abrupt warming events preceding some GIS (precursor-type events) and (ii) abrupt warming events at the end of some GIS (rebound-type events). The occurrence of these sub-millennial scale events is suggested to be driven by the insolation at high northern latitudes together with the internal forcing of ice sheets. Thanks to a recent NorthGRIP-EPICA Dronning Maud Land (EDML) common timescale over MIS 5, the bipolar sequence of climatic events can be established at millennial to sub-millennial timescale. This shows that for extraordinary long stadial durations the accompanying Antarctic warming amplitude cannot be described by a simple linear relationship between the two as expected from the bipolar seesaw concept. We also show that when ice sheets are extensive, Antarctica does not necessarily warm during the whole GS as the thermal bipolar seesaw model would predict, questioning the Greenland ice core temperature records as a proxy for AMOC changes throughout the glacial period.

The Greenland Ice Core Chronology 2005 (GICC05) is a time scale based on annual layer counting of high-resolution records from Greenland ice cores. Whereas the Holocene part of the time scale is based on various records from the DYE-3, the GRIP, and the NorthGRIP ice cores, the glacial part is solely based on NorthGRIP records. Here we present an 18 ka extension of the time scale such that GICC05 continuously covers the past 60 ka. The new section of the time scale places the onset of Greenland Interstadial 12 (GI-12) at 46.9±1.0 ka b2k (before year AD 2000), the North Atlantic Ash Zone II layer in GI-15 at 55.4±1.2 ka b2k, and the onset of GI-17 at 59.4±1.3 ka b2k. The error estimates are derived from the accumulated number of uncertain annual layers. In the 40–60 ka interval, the new time scale has a discrepancy with the Meese-Sowers GISP2 time scale of up to 2.4 ka. Assuming that the Greenland climatic events are synchronous with those seen in the Chinese Hulu Cave speleothem record, GICC05 compares well to the time scale of that record with absolute age differences of less than 800 years throughout the 60 ka period. The new time scale is generally in close agreement with other independently dated records and reference horizons, such as the Laschamp geomagnetic excursion, the French Villars Cave and the Austrian Kleegruben Cave speleothem records, suggesting high accuracy of both event durations and absolute age estimates.

This essay focuses on Paul�s shifting leadership styles in his relationship with the church in Corinth during the organization of an ecumenical collection for the believers in Jerusalem (cf 1 Cor 16:1-4; 2 Cor 8-9). Paul�s basic textual strategy in 2 Corinthians 8-9, which involves the assignment of new roles to the interlocutors, serves to anti-structurally bridge the hierarchical gap between him (as the mild patriarchal figure) and the Corinthians (as his spiritually mature children) within the intratextual discourse. This pragmatic adjustment of the apostle�s autocratic leadership role in 1 Corinthians 16, in order to salvage the collection project in Corinth, serves as an example to modern church leaders to take cognizance of the impact of social and ideological contexts on their own styles of leadership.

Patronage as dominant social system in the Roman world during the New Testament era Patronage was one of the most important forms of social exchange in the Roman world during the Republic as well as in Imperium Romanum. It functioned as a pervasive, voluntary form of interaction between socially disproportionate individuals and groups involved in a reciprocal exchange of material goods and services. This essay presents an overview of the nature of the various forms of interaction between patrons and their clients in the Roman world, such as that between former masters and their freedmen; the Emperor and the populus Romanus; brokers as mediators of imperial benefits to their clients; and the functions of patrons in the Roman collegia. Finally, the implications of this assessment of patronage in the Roman world for our understanding of the New Testament is discussed briefly.

�It is high time that we say something about time!� New Testament perspectives on the last days In this article Mediterranean views on time prevalent during the New Testament period, are discussed. The discussion is preceeded by an overview on apocalyptic thought in early Judaism(s), around the first two centuries BCE. The discussion on Mediterranean views on time is followed by an analysis of New Testament perspectives on the concept of time, as influenced by the impact of the Christ-event on early Christians� understanding of the past, present and future. Various theological explanations for the delay of the �parousia� by New Testament authors, such as Paul and the authors of 2 Peter and Revelation, also receive attention.

We present a case of spontaneous regression of a neuroendocrine tumor following pregnancy in the absence of chemotherapy, radiotherapy, or alternative medicine (including herbal medicine). The diagnosis of a nonsecretory carcinoid tumor was confirmed using CT imaging, octreotide scan, and histology. Furthermore, serial imaging has demonstrated spontaneous regression of the carcinoid suggesting that pregnancy did not worsen the course of the disease but instead may have contributed to tumour regression. We discuss mechanisms underlying tumour regression and the possible effect of pregnancy on these processes.

'The end is here!' Textual strategy and historical understanding in the Letter of Jude. After a brief discussion of the performative functions of persuasive discourse in general, the sociohistorical context of the letter of Jude is constructed. This is followed by a literary analysis of the rhetorical strategies in the letter in order to persuade the intended readers to reject a group of teachers in their midst with conflicting perceptions of reality. In this regard, the author's transtextual reinterpretation and contextual application of well-known motifs, persons and groups from Jewish history, who all serve as types of divine intervention and punishment, receive particular attention. Jude applies the principles of identification and association to villify his opponents. By hermeneutically shifting the emphasis from his present context to the past, Jude, through various textual strategies, identifies the opponents with the notorious 'archetypes of sinners' from history who defined the nature of sin and disobedience to God. But, at the same time, the present 'chaos' caused by these teachers are also related to the final eschatological events in the divine calender.

New Testament perspectives on the Sabbath and the Sunday In order to come to terms with New Testament views on the Sabbath and the Sunday, an investigation of Jewish schematizations of time and of the Sabbath in particular, around the first century A.D. is undertaken. This is followed by a discussion of relevant New Testament texts on the Sabbath and the Sunday. Finally, the available information from the New Testament is placed within the interpretative framework of the �Christ event� which inaugurated the eschaton, and which also replaced the strong emphasis on specific holy days within early Christianity. However, the Sunday was probably chosen by some early Christian groups as the most suitable day to commemorate the resurrection of Christ.

The way in which Jesus was crucified After an overview of various forms of crucifixion in the ancient world, the available archaeological data and artistic renderings of different means of crucifixion are discussed. The New Testament information concerning the crucifixion of Jesus is then discussed and evaluated. It is concluded that, in the view of the absence of convincing literary evidence, the statue representing the 'crucofixion of Marsyas in the Hermitage museum provides a contemporary example of a possible manner in which Jesus could haye been crucified.

Jesus of Nazareth�s liberating vision for a violent society All political, economical and religious power in first century Palestine were in the hands of less than 5% of the population. This gave rise to a situation of "social rootlessness" among and different violent responses from many Jewish pedants. Within this society, characterized by "ideological" and physical violence, Jesus of Nazareth proclaimed an encompassing new reality, the Kingdom of God. In this regard He not only offered salvation to the victims of violence, hut also expected a new, violent-free, orientation and code of conduct towards God and all human beings from his followers.

This essay focuses on Jesus' understanding of the term kingdom of God as reflected in the Synoptic Gospels. Advancing from the viewpoint that he used it as a master symbol for the new reality which he proclaimed during his public ministry, the following aspects are discussed in this regard: Jesus’ view of himself, God, others, time and place. Throughout the essay attention is paid to Jesus’ activities in creating an encompassing new reality with new ‘borders’, which differed radically from the world views of the Jewish religious leaders of his day.

New Testament perspectives on divorce New Testament perspectives on divorce practices in the first century Mediterranean world is first of all undertaken. Against this socio-historical framework the New Testament "divorce" texts are then analysed. Pronouncements on divorce in the Synoptic Gospels and the Pauline corpus, being our main sources of information in this regard, are respectively investigated in terms of their communicative functions within their textual and cultural contexts. A short summary of the New Testament views with regards to marriage and divorce, and the intercultural relevance thereof, concludes the essay.

A broadened perspective to the past? The social scientific approach to the New Testament This paper focuses on the possibilities that the social scientific approach holds out for the understanding of the New Testament. A review of the contributions of the sociological and the cultural anthropological approaches to the New Testament is undertaken before the social-scientific approach as a whole is evaluated. The use of social-scientific models, in particular, in the construction of the possible social contexts of the New Testament documents, is evaluated in terms of the ability of these contexts to establish ‘new’ systems of meaning.

No abstract available.

The letter of Jude: A symbolic universe endangered The readers to whom Jude adresses his letter experience alienation from their symbolic universe because of their contact with certain people who hold a different interpretation of God. Within the letter's textworld Jude maintains his reader's symbolic universe by changing their image from that of a weak group to a strong group with a clearly defined status and role. He also presents their world as an ordered whole and as the only legitimate form of existence where God protects those who obey his commands and punishes those who place themselves outside the readers' symbolic universe through their conduct.

The point of view of the narrator and the function of the Jerusalem congregation within the summaries in Acts This paper focusses on Luke�s presentation of the Jerusalem congregation in the summaries (Acts 2:42-47, 4:32-35, and 5:12-16) and their function within the narrative framework of Acts. A brief investigation of the author-narrator�s point of view makes it clear that it is not his aim to give a comprehensive account or a biography of the Jerusalem congregation. The references to them in the summaries are solely employed to support the overarching theme of Acts. As secondary characters within the broader narrative framework of Acts they therefore serve as the visible fulfilment of the first part of Christ�s promise to the apostles in chapter 1:8.