Search Results (10)

This essay is an attempt to propose an outline of a new respiratory animal philosophy. Based on an analysis of the forgetting of breath in Western philosophy, it aims to gesture towards a future, breathful and compassionate world of co-sharing and co-breathing. In the first part, the basic features of forgetting of breath are explained based on David Abram’s work in respiratory ecophilosophy. This part also introduces an important contribution to modern philosophy by Ludwig Klages. The second part is dedicated to reflections on what I understand as an unfortunate transition from soul and pneuma to spirit and Geist. Based on these analyses, I proceed towards an idiosyncratic thought on the nocturnal mystery of pneuma, with references to ancient Upanishadic and 20th-century phenomenological Levinasian thought. Based on these teachings, I argue that, at the bottom of her existence, the subject is a lung partaking in an immense external lung (Merleau-Ponty). In the fourth part of the essay, I extend my reflections toward comparative animal respiratory phenomenology and argue for the immense compassion for all our fellow breathing beings. Finally, in the concluding, fifth part of this essay, I am arguing for a future biocentric and breathful environment, signifying and bringing a new compassionate-respiratory alliance into the world. Full article

Efficient and low-carbon energy utilization is a crucial aspect of promoting green and sustainable development. Multi-energy microgrids, which incorporate multiple interchangeable energy types, offer effective solutions for low-carbon and efficient energy consumption. This study aims to investigate the sharing of energy and carbon in multiple multi-energy microgrids (MMEMs) to enhance their economic impact, low-carbon attributes, and the efficient utilization of renewable energy. In this paper, an energy–carbon co-sharing operation model is established, incorporating carbon capture systems (CCSs) and two-stage power-to-gas (P2G) devices within the MMEMs to actualize low-carbon operation. Furthermore, based on cooperative game theory, this paper establishes an energy–carbon co-sharing Nash negotiation model and negotiates based on the energy–carbon contribution of each subject in the cooperation as bargaining power so as to maximize both the benefits of the MMEM alliance and the distribution of the cooperation benefits. The case study results show that the overall benefits of the alliance can be increased through Nash negotiation. Energy–carbon co-sharing can effectively increase the renewable energy consumption rate of 8.34%, 8.78%, and 8.83% for each multi-energy microgrid, and the overall carbon emission reduction rate reaches 17.81%. Meanwhile, the distribution of the benefits according to the energy–carbon co-sharing contribution capacity of each entity is fairer. Full article

Paul’s expression “in the heavenlies” provides an intriguing showcase of the power dynamics of the divine–human relationship (e.g., 1:3, 20; 2:6; 3:10; 6:12). While scholars have identified the theme of union with Christ as an interpretive key for understanding believers’ position in the heavenlies, few have provided adequate attention to “in the heavenlies” according to the significance of theosis. I argue that a patristic idea of theosis offers an interpretive lens in understanding believers’ lives in the heavenlies. Thus, this study aims to situate the discussion on the heavenlies vis-à-vis the conversation around theosis in the New Testament. Full article

The ability to adapt to changing environmental conditions is crucial for living organisms, as it enables them to successfully compete in natural niches, a process which generally depends upon protein phosphorylation-mediated signaling transduction. In the present study, protein kinase PoxMKK1, an ortholog of mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase Ste7 in Saccharomyces cerevisiae, was identified and characterized in the filamentous fungus Penicillium oxalicum. Deletion of PoxMKK1 in P. oxalicum ΔPoxKu70 led the fungus to lose 64.4–88.6% and 38.0–86.1% of its plant-polysaccharide-degrading enzyme (PPDE) production on day 4 after a shift under submerged- and solid-state fermentation, respectively, compared with the control strain ΔPoxKu70. In addition, PoxMKK1 affected hypha growth and sporulation, though this was dependent on culture formats and carbon sources. Comparative transcriptomics and real-time quantitative reverse transcription PCR assay revealed that PoxMKK1 activated the expression of genes encoding major PPDEs, known regulatory genes (i.e., PoxClrB and PoxCxrB) and cellodextrin transporter genes (i.e., PoxCdtD and PoxCdtC), while it inhibited the essential conidiation-regulating genes, including PoxBrlA, PoxAbaA and PoxFlbD. Notably, regulons modulated by PoxMKK1 and its downstream mitogen-activated protein kinase PoxMK1 co-shared 611 differential expression genes, including 29 PPDE genes, 23 regulatory genes, and 16 sugar-transporter genes. Collectively, these data broaden our insights into the diverse functions of Ste7-like protein kinase, especially regulation of PPDE biosynthesis, in filamentous fungi. Full article

For several decades, many scholars have widely debated the nexus between devolution of fiscal powers and efficiency. However, several studies have neglected the role of institutions and other institutional settings in fiscal decentralization. This study augments the literature by revisiting the fiscal decentralization–growth nexus regarding institutional quality in 24 developing countries over the period 1990–2014. By using estimators of fixed effects (FE), random effects (RE), and the system generalized method of moments (GMM), it is shown that growth depends on the level of fiscal authority and its interaction with institutions. In this case, increasing the extent of cosharing has a detrimental effect on growth in countries with poor governance, a high risk of corruption, and nondemocratic governments. However, shared rule contributes to growth by enhancing the degree of law and order and the quality of bureaucracy. Full article

We retrospectively collected PD patients with a performance of bile culture between 2007 and 2019 in our institute. As to bile culture, we used a swab to do intraoperative bile cultures after transection of the CBD. IAA was defined as the documental bacteriological culture from either a turbid discharge from the intraoperatively placed drain in patients with a clinical picture consistent with infection or a postoperative fluid collection managed by CT-guided placement of drains. A total of 1244 PD patients were identified, and 539 (43.3%) subjects with bile sampling were included for analysis. Among these study patients, 433 (80.3%) developed bile contamination (positive bile culture). Bile contamination showed a significantly higher rate of IAA compared to non-bile contamination (17.1% vs. 0.9%, p < 0.001). The rate of co-shared microorganisms in both bile and abscess was 64.1%. On the multivariate analysis, age and specific bile microorganisms (Enterococcus species, Escherichia Coli, Streptococcus species, Citrobacter species, and Candida) are significantly associated with development of IAA. Specific bile microorganisms are the highly significant factors associated with development of IAA. The strategy to prevent bile spillage during PD should be considered to minimize afterward contamination of the abdominal cavity and prevent IAA. Full article

This study investigated the implementation model and research methods of a peer education program for new parents focused on infant feeding and nutrition. Two hundred and sixty-nine parents with an infant aged birth to two years old were invited to become co-researchers in a Participatory Action Research (PAR) study over three years. Data included focus group and online participant meeting transcripts, social media data, correspondence between the implementation team and peer educators, and field notes. All data were consolidated regularly and discussed by project participants and the research team. After each PAR cycle, structured content analysis was conducted, informing the next iteration of the implementation model and research methods. Participating parents were highly engaged in child feeding peer-to-peer education, but felt more effective and comfortable being considered as a child-feeding information resource sharer or ‘champion’ rather than a formal peer educator. Similarly, quantitative data collection was only effective when it was integrated seamlessly into the implementation model. PAR methodology suited the diversity and dynamic real-life study setting, facilitating substantial improvements to the peer nutrition intervention model and data collection methods. Our study demonstrated that a genuine collaboration between health professionals and participants to implement research in practice can achieve both intervention outcomes and research aims. Full article

Pasture-based livestock farming generates income in regions with limited resources and is key to biodiversity conservation. However, costs derived from fighting disease can make the difference between profit and loss, eventually compromising farm survival. Animal TB (TB), a chronic infection of cattle and other domestic and wild hosts, is one of the primary limitations of beef cattle farming in some parts of Europe. When an animal tests positive for TB, a loss of profit is caused in the farm, which is due mainly to the animal’s slaughter, replacement of the slaughtered animal and the need to immobilize the rest of the herd. We estimated the economic impact in terms of loss of profit as a result of incremental costs and forgone incomes. We show that farms with a larger number of heads are more capable of dealing with the loss of profit caused by the disease. The quantification of the loss of profit contributes to the ongoing debate on the co-sharing of TB costs between government and farmers. The compensation farmers receive from the public administration to mitigate the economic effects of the disease control interventions is only intended to balance the loss due to slaughter of the infected cattle, being the loss of profit a more global concept. Full article

In the renewal of old communities, one of the development directions is to improve health and enhance well-being. A healthy community includes four aspects of health, namely, healthy production, healthy lifestyle, healthy environment and ecosystem, and healthy physical and mental states of residents living in the community. Urban agriculture (UA), as a form of the community garden, is a supplementary form for the lack of production function in the urban community. It also has the potential to contribute to sustainable and resilient urban communities. This study focuses on analysing the health benefits of UA and attempts to identify old community residents’ attitudes and perceptions towards UA and understand their confusion and worry. The purpose of this study is to promote the healthy and sustainable development of old communities by integrating UA into the micro-transformation of old communities and provide planning and design strategies and community development ideas for the micro-transformation. Surveys were conducted on 10 old communities in Yuexiu district, located in Guangzhou, China. Statistical analysis was conducted using IBM Statistical SPSS version 26 to obtain information on the factor structure of residents’ perceptions towards the health benefits of UA. The analysis results showed significant differences between gender groups and the status of children on old community residents’ perceptions towards general UA benefits. The main factors accounting for old community residents’ perceptions towards the health benefits of UA were environmental health benefits, physical and psychological health benefits, and community health benefits. When developing UA in old communities, co-construction and co-sharing mode, public participation mode, and promotion mode are three important development strategies. Construction location, design style, and seasonal design are also critical for the construction of UA in old communities. Full article

Prior research of knowledge sharing between firms mainly focuses on enabling factors, such as benefits resulting from knowledge sharing, leading to an overlook at barriers. Guided by transaction cost economics and social exchange theory, our study constructed an evolutional game model to analyse the dynamic evolution process of the firm’s knowledge sharing behaviour in a setting of supply chain networks. Using a simulation in our game model, we firstly reveal how a long-term strategy for supply chain partners towards knowledge sharing is determined through reaching an equilibrium between enabling factors (revenue gained in various forms) and impeding factors (knowledge leakage) in a dynamic process. Secondly, our analysis demonstrates that the competition or rivalry side of the “co-opetition” relationship acts as the major barrier for knowledge sharing due to the sharer’s concern of knowledge leakage. Thirdly, our model has identified knowledge relevancy as the inherent property of knowledge and the firm’ ability of knowledge inference as two important factors influencing knowledge leakage. Full article