A Christian apologetic response to the claim of ‘prophet’ by the founders of Islam and Mormonism, Muhammad and Joseph Smith, jr.: Joseph Smith, jr.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, better known as the Mormon Church, adamantly believes that its founder, Joseph Smith, Jr. was a prophet called of God. He not only allegedly helped to restore New Testament Christianity to its original form, but he received additional revelations and prophecies to assist in bringing the Christian Church to maturity. The entire Mormon structure stands or falls with the truthfulness or falseness of Joseph Smith’s claims to be a prophet. This article is in response to those stated claims. Smith believed in multiple gods, with Heavenly Father being an exalted human being from another planet. He also taught that his “spirit children”, whom he conceived with at least one goddess wife, could become gods and goddesses too, if they would only comply with certain laws and ordinances. An examination of his failed prophecy concerning the building of the Independence, Missouri, Mormon Temple in 1832, as well as his failed Civil War prophecy, demonstrated his inability to know what the future held, but also that God was not in the midst of his forecasts. If anyone was to be acknowledged as a biblical prophet of God, that prophet’s theology and ability to know the future had to be consistent with those who went before him. Neither Joseph Smith’s theology, nor his prophetic prowess, were consistent. Therefore, he cannot rightly be aligned with those who were recognized as biblical prophets, who were called by God to act as His spokespersons

A Christian apologetic response to the claim of ‘prophet’ by the founders of Islam and Mormonism, Mohammad and Joseph Smith, jr. – Mohammad

Die artikel fokus op die vraag of die Bybelse vereistes wat aan ? profeet van die Here gestel word van toepassing gemaak kan word op Mohammed, die stigter van Islam, soos wat sy volgelinge glo. Hierdie bewering word opgeweeg deur ‘n vergelyking van Mohammed se teologie met die leerstelling wat in die Ou en Nuwe Testament gevind word, insluitende dit wat Mohammed oor Jesus Christus se identiteit geglo het, asook die verstaan na wie in Deuteronomium 18 verwys word. Op grond van dit wat Mohammed oor homself verkondig het, asook wat hy geglo het oor die Bybelse profete en oor Jesus, tesame met die Islamitiese geskiedskrywing oor Mohammed en die ooreenkomste met dit waarteen beide die Ou en Nuwe Testament waarsku, kom die artikel tot die verreikende gevolgtrekking dat Mohammed nie ‘n profeet van God volgens die ordening vir Bybelse profete was nie. The article focuses on the question if the biblical particulars of prophethood apply to Muhammad, the founder of Islam, as he and his followers believed. This claim is being weighed by focusing on a comparison of Muhammad’s theology with doctrine found in the Old and New Testament, including what Muhammad believed Jesus to be, as well as understanding who Deuteronomy 18 referred to. Based upon what Muhammad believed about himself, as well as what he believed about the biblical prophets and about Jesus, coupled with Islamic history and legend spoken about Muhammad in contrast to the warnings issued in both the Old and New Testaments, the article comes to the far reaching conclusion that Muhammad  was not a prophet of God after the order of the biblical prophets

A Christian apologetic response to the claim of ‘prophet’ by Muhammad and Joseph Smith, jr. – A truly Biblical prophet

Moslems en Mormone beskou hulle stigters, Mohammed en Joseph Smith jr., as profete van God ooreenkomstig dit wat in die Bybel oor Bybelse profete gestel word. Ten einde ? basis te kan hê om hierdie aansprake apologeties te oorweeg, fokus hierdie artikel op die Bybelse definisie van ? profeet, sowel as eienskappe wat ? ware profeet onderskei van ? valse. Dit ondersoek wat dit beteken om ? Bybelse profeet te wees, veral aan die hand van drie persone in die Bybel waarna Moslems en  Mormone dikwels verwys en met wie Mohammed en Joseph Smith jr. vergelyk word, naamlik Moses, Johannes die Doper en Jesus. Dit gee die basis vir toekomstige navorsing om die aansprake van Mohammed en Joseph Smith jr., asook wat hulle bereik het te weeg, om sodoende vas te stel of een of beide van hulle aan die kriteria van ? Bybelse profeet voldoen. Muslims and Mormons around the world claim that their founders, Muhammad and Joseph Smith, jr. were prophets of God after the order of the biblical prophets and in accordance with the Bible. To deal apologetically with these claims to prophethood this article deals with the biblical definition of a prophet, as well as characteristics of a true prophet in distinction from a false prophet. It defines what it means to be a biblical prophet, with special attention paid to those whom the Muslims and Mormons believe that Muhammad and Joseph Smith, jr. were patterned, Moses, John the Baptist, and Jesus. This gives the basis for future research to deal with the claims and accomplishments of Muhammad and Joseph Smith, jr. individually, to determine whether or not they fit the criteria of a biblical prophet established in this article

Globalização financeira: a crise do sudeste asiático e seus reflexos na economia brasileira

Este trabalho possui como objetivo estudar as características do processo de Globalização em seu aspecto financeiro. Para tanto, serão apresentados alguns conceitos de globalização, bem como o que este fenômeno representou nas últimas duas décadas, e o que ocasionou em termos econômicos para os países em desenvolvimento, com enfoque na economia brasileira. Ainda sob este prisma, ressalta-se também nesta pesquisa monográfica a importância do Consenso de Washington no cenário de abertura comercial, presente nas políticas financeiras e comerciais adotadas pelos países emergentes. Frente às bases firmadas pela Globalização Financeira, a Crise do Sudeste Asiático apresenta-se como uma consequência da interdependência econômica estabelecida em diversas transações comerciais. Diante de tamanha interdependência financeira, a partir de dados coletados, busca-se provar que os reflexos da Crise Asiática alcançaram os principais centros financeiros do mundo, atingindo de forma decisiva o Brasil. Assim, esta pesquisa em sua conclusão, diante da sequência de temas abordados, busca demonstrar que o processo de Globalização não respeita qualquer tipo de fronteira entre as nações. Prova disto foi a tamanha repercussão atingida pela crise financeira do Sudeste Asiático, que como exposto, afetou a economia brasileira

Caracterização da resposta de fungos patogênicos a diferentes condições de interação intra e inter-reinos

Tese (doutorado)—Universidade de Brasília, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Departamento de Biologia Celular, 2011.Nas últimas décadas, a relevância clínica do Reino Fungi vem aumentando, principalmente em virtude da maior incidência de micoses sistêmicas e do número limitado de fármacos eficazes no tratamento de infecções fúngicas. Dentre os fungos de importância médica podemos destacar o fungo dimórfico e oportunista Candida albicans, o qual é capaz de infectar uma ampla gama de tecidos, além de ser um dos principais agentes causadores de infecções nosocomiais. A maioria das septicemias nosocomiais causadas por esse microrganismo deve-se à formação de comunidades microbianas denominadas biofilmes. A formação de biofilme confere ao patógeno maior resistência a terapias antifúngicas e às defesas do hospedeiro. Nesse contexto, avaliamos o efeito do propranolol, um antagonista beta-adrenérgico, na formação do biofilme de C. albicans. Os resultados indicaram que o propranolol desempenha um efeito inibitório na filamentação e na adesão de C. albicans a superfícies, inibindo assim a formação do biofilme por esse fungo. A inibição da formação de biofilmes por C. albicans também é mediada pelo farnesol, uma molécula autoindutora produzida por esse patógeno. Nesse trabalho foi também demonstrado o potencial antimicrobiano do farnesol no fungo termodimórfico Paracoccidioides brasiliensis, o qual é descrito como o agente etiológico da paracoccidioidomicose. Nossos resultados mostraram que o farnesol desempenha um significante efeito fungicida em P. brasiliensis, provavelmente por desencadear a degradação de organelas intracelulares. Além disso, o farnesol, assim como o sobrenadante de uma cultura crescida de C. albicans, inibem o processo de transição morfológica de P. brasiliensis, sugerindo um possível envolvimento dessa molécula em interações interespecíficas entre esses fungos. Os resultados obtidos tanto para o propranolol quanto para o farnesol mostramse promissores e devem ser melhor explorados, principalmente tendo-se em mente o alto custo e a alta toxicidade geralmente apresentados pelas drogas antifúngicas atualmente disponíveis. Outro fungo patogênico e oportunista que merece destaque é Cryptococcus neoformans. Esse fungo é capaz de sobreviver e se replicar no interior de macrófagos, revelando a existência de mecanismos que permitem sua adaptação ao ambiente inóspito do fagossomo da célula hospedeira. Uma hipótese é de que os atributos necessários para a sobrevivência de C. neoformans ao ambiente do interior de macrófagos foram previamente selecionados a partir de interações entre esse fungo e predadores ambientais, como amebas. A fim de verificarmos essa hipótese, comparamos a resposta transcricional de C. neoformans ao microambiente de macrófagos e de amebas. Nossos resultados sugerem que, embora o fungo expresse alguns grupos de genes específicos em resposta a um dado fagócito, de modo geral a responda metabólica de C. neoformans a amebas e macrófagos é bastante similar, indicando privação nutricional e estresse oxidativo nesses ambientes. _________________________________________________________________________________ ABSTRACTIn recent decades, the clinical relevance of the Fungi Kingdom is increasing, mainly due to higher incidence of systemic mycoses and the limited number of effective drugs to treat fungal infections. Among the medically important fungi, we can highlight the opportunistic dimorphic fungus Candida albicans, which is able to infect a wide range of host tissues, besides being one of the major causative agents of nosocomial infections. C. albicans is associated to nosocomial infections in part due its ability to adhere to a variety of biomaterials such as catheters, forming biofilms. Biofilms have clinical repercussions mainly due to their notorious resistance to antimicrobials agents and host immune defenses. The difficulty in treating biofilm-associated infections emphasizes the importance of studying drugs that are active against its formation. In this context, we evaluated the effects of propranolol, which has been used clinically as a beta-adrenergic receptor antagonist, in C. albicans adherence and biofilm formation. Here, we demonstrate that propranolol inhibits germ tubes formation and the adherence of C. albicans cells on abiotic surfaces as well as on epithelial cells, resulting in decreased in biofilm formation. C. albicans biofilm development can also be inhibited by the autoinducer farnesol as quorum-sensing mechanism. Moreover, studies revealed that farnesol affect the growth of a number of bacteria and fungi, pointing to a potential role as an antimicrobial agent. In this sense, we evaluated the effects of farnesol on the thermal dimorphic fungus Paracoccidioides brasiliensis, the etiologic agent of the most prevalent mycosis in Latin America, paracoccidioidomycosis. Our data indicate that farnesol acts as a potent antimicrobial agent against P. brasiliensis. The fungicide activity of farnesol reduces the viability of this pathogen and delays the dimorphism, suggesting an antimicrobial activity against P. brasiliensis, probably due the massive cytoplasmic organelles degeneration. The results showed by both propranolol and farnesol are particularly interesting, since it could be further explored in order to evaluate the possible use of these compounds as antimicrobial agents. Another pathogenic and opportunistic fungus of clinical relevance is the yeast Cryptococcus neoformans. This fungus is able to survive and replicate within the phagossome of macrophages, revealing that it have evolved mechanisms allowing its survival within the phagocytic cells, which are considered an inhospitable habitat. Since replication in an animal host is not essential as part of C. neoformans life cycle, it was proposed that fungal virulence for mammals originated from selection by environmental predators, such as amoebas. In this perspective, we compared the transcriptional response of C. neoformans after interaction with macrophages and amoebas. Our results suggest a conserved metabolic response of C. neoformans to the environment of both phagocytic cells by the expression of genes related with nutritional and oxidative stress

Venus cloud bobber mission: A long term survey of the Venusian surface

We have examined the Venus Balloon concept in order to further develop the ideas and concepts behind it, and to creatively apply them to the design of the major Venus Balloon components. This report presents our models of the vertical path taken by the Venus Balloon and the entry into Venusian atmosphere. It also details our designs of the balloon, gondola, heat exchanger, power generator, and entry module. A vehicle is designed for a ballistic entry into the Venusian atmosphere, and an atmospheric model is created. The model is then used to set conditions. The shape and material of the vehicle are optimized, and the dimensions of the vehicle are then determined. Equipment is chosen and detailed that will be needed to collect and transmit information and control the mission. A gondola is designed that will enable this sensitive electronic equipment to survive in an atmosphere of very high temperature and pressure. This shape and the material of the shell are optimized, and the size is minimized. Insulation and supporting structures are designed to protect the payload equipment and to minimize mass. A method of cooling the gondola at upper altitudes was established. Power needs of the gondola equipment are determined. Power generation options are discussed and two separate thermoelectric generation models are outlined

Activity of scorpion venom-derived antifungal peptides against planktonic cells of Candida spp. and Cryptococcus neoformans and Candida albicans Biofilms

The incidence of fungal infections has been increasing in the last decades, while the number of available antifungal classes remains the same. The natural and acquired resistance of some fungal species to available therapies, associated with the high toxicity of these drugs on the present scenario and makes an imperative of the search for new, more efficient and less toxic therapeutic choices. Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are a potential class of antimicrobial drugs consisting of evolutionarily conserved multifunctional molecules with both microbicidal and immunomodulatory properties being part of the innate immune response of diverse organisms. In this study, we evaluated 11 scorpion-venom derived non-disulfide-bridged peptides against Cryptococcus neoformans and Candida spp., which are important human pathogens. Seven of them, including two novel molecules, showed activity against both genera with minimum inhibitory concentration values ranging from 3.12 to 200 μM and an analogous activity against Candida albicans biofilms. Most of the peptides presented low hemolytic and cytotoxic activity against mammalian cells. Modifications in the primary peptide sequence, as revealed by in silico and circular dichroism analyses of the most promising peptides, underscored the importance of cationicity for their antimicrobial activity as well as the amphipathicity of these molecules and their tendency to form alpha helices. This is the first report of scorpion-derived AMPs against C. neoformans and our results underline the potential of scorpion venom as a source of antimicrobials. Further characterization of their mechanism of action, followed by molecular optimization to decrease their cytotoxicity and increase antimicrobial activity, is needed to fully clarify their real potential as antifungals

Joseph Smith’s plain and precious truths restored: A Christian apologetic response

It has been the claim of Joseph Smith, the founder of Mormonism or the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints that ‘many plain and precious truths’ have been removed from the Bible, although Smith did not explicitly or concisely elaborate on what those missing truths were. Later, Dr Clyde J. Williams of Mormon-owned Brigham Young University provided that concise list. Writing for Ensign magazine in October 2006, Williams argued for at least eight specific doctrines that were ‘restored’. Upon examination and rebuttal, it is demonstrated that the Bible remains sufficient for all matters pertaining to Christian faith and practice, as John Calvin and the Reformers concluded years ago, and is emphasised in their stance on Sola Scriptura

Transcriptional Profiling of Patient Isolates Identifies a Novel TOR/Starvation Regulatory Pathway in Cryptococcal Virulence.

Human infection with Cryptococcus causes up to a quarter of a million AIDS-related deaths annually and is the most common cause of nonviral meningitis in the United States. As an opportunistic fungal pathogen, Cryptococcus neoformans is distinguished by its ability to adapt to diverse host environments, including plants, amoebae, and mammals. In the present study, comparative transcriptomics of the fungus within human cerebrospinal fluid identified expression profiles representative of low-nutrient adaptive responses. Transcriptomics of fungal isolates from a cohort of HIV/AIDS patients identified high expression levels of an alternative carbon nutrient transporter gene, STL1, to be associated with poor early fungicidal activity, an important clinical prognostic marker. Mouse modeling and pathway analysis demonstrated a role for STL1 in mammalian pathogenesis and revealed that STL1 expression is regulated by a novel multigene regulatory mechanism involving the CAC2 subunit of the chromatin assembly complex 1, CAF-1. In this pathway, the global regulator of virulence gene VAD1 was found to transcriptionally regulate a cryptococcal homolog of a cytosolic protein, Ecm15, in turn required for nuclear transport of the Cac2 protein. Derepression of STL1 by the CAC2-containing CAF-1 complex was mediated by Cac2 and modulated binding and suppression of the STL1 enhancer element. Derepression of STL1 resulted in enhanced survival and growth of the fungus in the presence of low-nutrient, alternative carbon sources, facilitating virulence in mice. This study underscores the utility of ex vivo expression profiling of fungal clinical isolates and provides fundamental genetic understanding of saprophyte adaption to the human host.IMPORTANCECryptococcus is a fungal pathogen that kills an estimated quarter of a million individuals yearly and is the most common cause of nonviral meningitis in the United States. The fungus is carried in about 10% of the adult population and, after reactivation, causes disease in a wide variety of immunosuppressed individuals, including the HIV infected and patients receiving transplant conditioning, cancer therapy, or corticosteroid therapy for autoimmune diseases. The fungus is widely carried in the soil but can also cause infections in plants and mammals. However, the mechanisms for this widespread ability to infect a variety of hosts are poorly understood. The present study identified adaptation to low nutrients as a key property that allows the fungus to inhabit these diverse environments. Further studies identified a nutrient transporter gene, STL1, to be upregulated under low nutrients and to be associated with early fungicidal activity, a marker of poor clinical outcome in a cohort of HIV/AIDS patients. Understanding molecular mechanisms involved in adaptation to the human host may help to design better methods of control and treatment of widely dispersed fungal pathogens such as Cryptococcus