Search Results (427)

In the face of escalating ecological crises, this study explores the ecological wisdom embedded in Laozi’s concept of “Dao” and Ralph Waldo Emerson’s belief in the “Over-Soul,” conducting a systematic comparative analysis of their views on nature within the framework of ecological religion. Laozi’s “Dao” serves as the cornerstone of Daoist thought, emphasizing the unity of heaven, earth, and humans as the origin and governing law of the universe. It advocates “Dao follows nature” (道法自然), urging humans to relinquish excessive interference and utilitarian desires, humbly integrating into nature’s inherent rhythms for harmonious coexistence while inspiring reverence for nature’s sacredness and inherent worth. Emerson’s “Over-Soul,” central to New England Transcendentalism, posits a universal spirit permeating all existence, with nature as its outward manifestation and symbolic expression of the divine. Through direct engagement with nature, individuals access spiritual elevation, moral insight, and reverence for all life forms. Despite distinct cultural origins, both Laozi and Emerson sacralize nature, foster opposition to anthropocentric exploitation, and envision harmonious human–nature relations—albeit through different pathways: Wuwei and surrender for Laozi; intuitive communion for Emerson. While their metaphysical visions do not fully align with modern ecocentric notions of objective intrinsic value (as articulated in contemporary environmental ethics), they offer profound resources for reverent coexistence. This comparative study deepens cross-cultural understanding of ecological wisdom, challenging modernity’s instrumental worldview and providing philosophical insights for constructing a rational, reverent ecological ethic. By bridging Eastern and Western mystical traditions, it highlights their shared potential to inspire sustainable development, spiritual renewal, and a transformative shift toward coexistence with the non-human world. Full article

Background: Conservative treatment for adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) includes physiotherapeutic scoliosis-specific exercises (PSSE) and bracing. One PSSE-based approach is the Rigo Concept, which emphasizes three-dimensional (3D) postural correction, expansion techniques, muscle activation, and postural integration. Recently, increasing interest has been directed toward incorporating whole-body vibration (WBV) into physiotherapy. WBV is a reflex-based neuromuscular training method shown to improve muscle strength and power and enhance proprioception, which may be beneficial in the treatment of AIS. Objectives: This study aimed to assess the effects of physiotherapy based on the Rigo Concept combined with WBV on sagittal spinal curvatures, trunk symmetry, and the angle of trunk rotation (ATR) in girls with AIS. Methods: This prospective controlled experimental study included 45 girls (12.8 ± 1.7 years) with AIS who participated in a 5-day physiotherapy session based on the Rigo Concept. Of these, 22 participants additionally received WBV using a Galileo Med 35 platform (3 × 3 min/day, frequency 25 Hz, peak-to-peak displacement 2 mm), forming the Rigo–WBV group. The remaining participants received the Rigo Concept alone (Rigo–ONLY). Participants were allocated to the study groups using a quasi-random method based on the order of enrollment. ATR was defined as the primary endpoint, while thoracic kyphosis, lumbar lordosis, sacral slope, coronal balance, and scapular position were considered secondary outcomes. All outcomes were assessed before and after the intervention. Results: Neither the Rigo–WBV nor the Rigo–ONLY intervention affected sagittal spinal curvatures (p > 0.05). Coronal balance improved in both the Rigo–WBV (Δ 0.5 cm, p < 0.001) and Rigo–ONLY groups (Δ 0.4 cm, p = 0.005). In the Rigo–ONLY group, an improvement in scapular height asymmetry was observed (Δ 1.1°, p = 0.010). Following the Rigo–WBV intervention, ATR decreased in the main thoracic (Δ 1.9°, p < 0.001), thoracolumbar (Δ 1.9°, p < 0.001), lumbar curve (Δ 2.1°, p < 0.001), and pelvis (Δ 1.0°, p < 0.001). In the Rigo–ONLY group, a reduction in ATR was observed only in the thoracolumbar curve (Δ 1.9°, p < 0.001). Conclusions: In terms of clinical and postural changes, five-day physiotherapy based on the Rigo Concept, with or without WBV, does not influence sagittal spinal curvatures in girls with AIS. Both interventions may improve coronal balance. Moreover, the Rigo Concept combined with WBV may reduce ATR. Full article

Background/Objectives: Safe placement of sacral vertebra 1 (S1) screws is essential in lumbosacral instrumentation and iliosacral fixation. Existing anatomical safe zones are largely based on averaged geometry and do not provide quantitative probability estimates for permissible deviations from an ideal entry point. This study aims to develop a probabilistic, computed tomography–based (CT-based) safe zone model for S1 screw placement. Methods: This retrospective imaging-based anatomical modeling study will analyze 1000 anonymized lumbosacral CT scans. A reproducible reference entry point will be defined on the lateral S1 projection, and bilateral offset-based virtual screw trajectories will be evaluated. Two independent raters will classify each trajectory as intraosseous or extraosseous. Probabilistic safety maps will be generated by aggregating binary classifications across offsets and directions. Interobserver reliability will be assessed using Cohen’s kappa, and anatomical influences will be analyzed using multivariable regression models. Results: The study is expected to generate continuous probabilistic safety maps illustrating the likelihood of intraosseous S1 screw placement across predefined offset distances and directions from the reference entry point. These maps are anticipated to demonstrate a gradual transition from high to low safety probabilities rather than a binary safe–unsafe boundary, and to identify anatomical factors influencing screw containment. Conclusions: This protocol describes a CT-based probabilistic modeling approach to S1 screw placement that aims to provide a more nuanced and quantitative definition of anatomical safe zones. If successful, the proposed method may improve preoperative planning and intraoperative decision-making by moving beyond averaged geometric constraints toward probability-informed screw placement. Full article

Background: Fragility fractures of the pelvis (FFPs) are increasingly prevalent given ageing populations. Conservative management is often primarily utilised due to its initial minimal displacement and the high risks of surgery in this vulnerable population. However, this can lead to rapid deconditioning, especially with non-weight-bearing protocols. Parathyroid hormone (PTH), as a bone anabolic agent, has the potential to improve clinical and radiological outcomes in FFPs, but the evidence remains limited. Methods: A systematic review and meta-analysis following PRISMA guidelines was undertaken. Database search results were independently screened by two authors, and data were extracted. The primary outcome measure was time to fracture healing as assessed by imaging, with the secondary outcome measure of pain levels (VAS/NRS). Results: There were 1230 articles screened, and 893 unique results identified. Six studies were included in the final analysis. These compared the use of PTH and its analogues with standard care, placebo, or sacroplasty. The findings suggest that PTH may accelerate fracture healing and reduce pain in this patient population, although evidence is limited and at high risk of bias. Conclusions: Treatment with PTH may improve bone healing and visual analogue pain scores, although the evidence is limited. There may be a benefit from adjunctive PTH treatment for patients with FFPs; however, larger methodologically robust studies are required to confirm this. Full article

Management of septic arthritis of the pubic symphysis (SAS) presents with substantial clinical challenges. Firstly, the SAS is an extremely rare entity. Surgical resection of the symphysis plus targeted antibiotic therapy is a widely adopted treatment course. Some patients suffering from SAS develop posterior pelvic insufficiency fractures because of the weakened anterior pelvic ring or as a result of radiation therapy received during treatment for a malignant disease in the lesser pelvis. The literature demonstrates a lack of standardized strategies for restoring pelvic ring integrity based on pelvic instability and posterior pelvic insufficiency fractures caused by SAS. Background and Objectives: This study aimed to determine whether early, primary stand-alone dorsal fusion can be a viable treatment option in SAS and whether there is a clinical benefit compared with temporary anterior fixation or secondary posterior stabilization after failed anterior fixation. Materials and Methods: We performed a descriptive, retrospective analysis covering an eight-year period (2018–2025) including 21 patients who underwent symphyseal resection for destructive SAS. We evaluated peri- and postsurgical data to describe the different surgical methods and their respective outcomes. Results: Ten patients (10/21, 48%) received posterior stabilization (sacroiliac-joint fusion or spinopelvic stabilization). Seven patients (7/21, 33%) were anteriorly fixated either temporarily with an external fixator or permanently with ventral plate osteosynthesis. Four patients (4/21, 19%) did not receive any pelvic stabilization following symphyseal resection as pelvic integrity was present. Three of them (3/21, 14%) showed spontaneous sacroiliac-joint fusion, while 6/7 (86%) of anteriorly fixed patients presented with debilitating sacral insufficiency fractures, had longer hospital stays and a higher count of readmissions and re-operations. Primary posterior stabilization led to shorter hospital stays, less readmissions, and good clinical outcome. Conclusions: Primary posterior stabilization can be a viable course of treatment of SAS and should be considered especially when spontaneous sacroiliac-joint fusion is not present. We suggest that early stabilization of the posterior pelvic ring could be a sensible course of treatment and may prevent debilitating insufficient fractures. While there are many different surgical options for posterior stabilization available (spinopelvic/lumbosacral stabilization, sacroiliac-joint fusion and others), our preliminary data suggest that primary sacroiliac-joint fusion is a quick, minimally invasive and effective way to establish posterior pelvic stability. Full article

Cultural heritage is increasingly recognized as a pivotal driver of sustainable rural tourism, helping destinations diversify their offerings, reduce seasonality, strengthen local identity, and bring socio-economic benefits to depopulating communities. This study investigates its role in Šibenik-Knin County (Croatia), a Mediterranean region characterized by abundant tangible heritage (archaeological sites, medieval fortresses, sacral monuments, dry-stone architecture) and rich intangible traditions (gastronomic practices, klapa and ojkanje singing, local customs), yet still affected by a pronounced coastal–hinterland tourism imbalance. Through semi-structured interviews with ten key stakeholders from museums, tourist boards, academia, cultural institutions, and rural entrepreneurship organizations, complemented by literature review and analysis of policy and statistical data, the research reveals unanimous agreement that cultural heritage constitutes the county’s strongest competitive advantage and the most authentic foundation for year-round rural tourism products. However, systematic under-valorization persists due to chronic underfunding, weak cross-sectoral cooperation, limited professional capacity, and the absence of dedicated hinterland destination-management structures. The findings indicate that targeted investment, high-quality interpretation, and genuine community engagement can rapidly transform heritage resources into viable tourism assets, as demonstrated by existing successful cases. Realizing this potential requires coordinated governance, improved interpretive and digital infrastructure, and active resident involvement. Full article

This paper examines “film as a medium of religious experience and moral imagination” in contemporary Russia through the legal–moral politics of “insulting religious feelings.” Using the controversy over Aleksei Uchitel’s Matilda (2017) as a case study, it analyzes how the portrayal of Nicholas II’s premarital romance was construed as sacrilegious and mobilized by the Russian Orthodox Church (ROC) and State actors to police the boundaries of the sacred and public morality. Read alongside the Pussy Riot (2012) and Tannhäuser (2015) scandals, the case illuminates how claims of offense structure ROC-Kremlin bargaining over “traditional values”, showing how these values are articulated through references to Romanov memory and the sacralized figure of Nicholas II. Drawing on ROC statements, appeals to historical memory, and State responses to protests, the article reassesses what the film, and its reception, reveal about Church-State equilibrium in post-Soviet Russia. Full article

In an age in which the post-secular condition and digital capitalism are increasingly interwoven, the question of what role religion ought to play in the public sphere—and how it might regain critical and constructive force amid deepening crises of meaning—has become urgent. Contemporary digital capitalism, characterized by the pseudo-sacralization of algorithmic logic, generates a persistent absorptive power marked by ecstatic effects. This elevates technological rationality and market logic to a level of pseudo-sacral authority, exercising a form of symbolic and spiritual domination. Returning to Paul Tillich’s thought, this article reconstructs his vision of religious socialism not as a historical artifact, but as a critical public theology capable of resisting this form of demonic domination. Tillich’s central insight is that the crisis of capitalism is not merely economic but ontological: its culture of “autonomy” severs itself from its religious ground, allowing finite forms—now amplified by digital technology—to elevate themselves into ultimate meaning and thereby consolidate into self-absolutizing, demonic structures. Against this background, the article argues that Tillich’s religious socialism is not a proposal for institutional replacement, but a public theological practice rooted in “ultimate concern.” Its task is to expose the structures of usurpation operative within digital capitalism and to reconfigure the order of meaning through the symbolic vision of theonomy. Through this symbolic practice, religion is recovered as a deep dimension of culture capable of critically piercing the regimes of meaning-occlusion. Moreover, it is precisely the unfinished and open-ended characteristic of religious socialism that enables it to regain theoretical and symbolic vitality in the post-secular present. Full article

Background/Objectives: Adult spinal deformity (ASD) management often requires pelvic fixation, with S2 alar–iliac (S2AI) screws emerging as an alternative to traditional iliac screws. Despite multiple meta-analyses comparing these techniques, the methodological quality of these syntheses and technical heterogeneity across primary studies significantly impact their conclusions and subsequent clinical decision-making. This systematic review evaluates the evidence quality of meta-analyses comparing S2AI with traditional iliac screws for ASD management, focusing on methodological rigor, primary study overlap, and clinical heterogeneity. Methods: PubMed, Cochrane, and Epistemonikos were searched for meta-analyses comparing S2AI with iliac screws for patients with ASD. The Quality of Reporting of Meta-analyses (QUOROM) checklist and the revised Assessment of Multiple Systematic Reviews (AMSTAR 2) tool were adopted to assess the methodological quality. Primary study overlap was evaluated using the Corrected Covered Area (CCA) method. Clinical heterogeneity was assessed by examining characteristics of studies included in ≥67% of meta-analyses. Results: From a total of 29 publications, six meta-analyses met the inclusion criteria (4807 patients; mean age: 59 years; 33% female). All included meta-analyses exhibited critically low methodological quality per AMSTAR-2, with common flaws including failure to provide lists of excluded studies and lack of a priori protocols. Very high primary study overlap was observed (CCA: 31%), with only 11% (2 of 19) primary studies included in all meta-analyses, whereas 42% (8 of 19) primary studies were included by only a single meta-analysis. Substantial clinical heterogeneity existed regarding patient characteristics, surgical techniques, and outcome definitions. Conclusions: This systematic review of meta-analyses identified critically low methodological quality, high primary study overlap, and substantial clinical heterogeneity in the existing evidence comparing pelvic fixation techniques for ASD. While published meta-analyses generally favor S2AI screws, these significant limitations prevent drawing definitive conclusions about superiority. Future research should prioritize high-quality prospective studies with standardized reporting to generate more reliable evidence for improving surgical outcomes in ASD management. Full article

Background/Objective: The anterior vertebral body tethering (AVBT) technique, which preserves spinal mobility and avoids possible fusion problems in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) patients, continues to be increasingly used in spine surgery. The study aims to report the early-to-early-mid postoperative radiological results of thoracolumbar/lumbar AVBT on sagittal alignment, and the second aim is to compare AVBT with selective thoracic fusion (STF) and non-selective fusion (NSF) groups in AIS patients. Methods: Patients with a diagnosis of AIS were retrospectively evaluated in the study. All patients were categorized into three groups based on the surgical technique performed: AVBT (n = 17), NSF (n = 19), and STF (n = 15). The major curvature degree, coracoid height difference (CHD), sacral slope (SS), pelvic tilt (PT), pelvic incidence (PI), lumbar lordosis (LL), thoracic kyphosis (TK), cervical lordosis (CL), C7 tilt, sagittal vertical axis (SVA), T1 pelvic angle (TPA), and T1 spinopelvic inclination (T1SPI) were measured for radiological comparison. Scoliosis Research Society-22 (SRS-22) and Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) scores were used at the final follow-up for functional evaluation. Results: The T1SPI value of the NSF group was significantly higher than the STF group in the final follow-up (p = 0.033). The mean decrease of 8.85 ± 7.85 units in the final follow-up value compared to the postoperative CHD value of the patients in the AVBT group was found to be significant (p = 0.028). Statistically significant differences were found between preoperative and the first postoperative CL and TPA measurements (p = 0.001 and p = 0.042, respectively), as well as between preoperative and final follow-up CL measurements in the AVBT group (p = 0.001). No statistically significant differences were observed between the groups in CHD, SS, PT, PI, LL, TK, CL, C7 tilt, SVA, and TPA values (p > 0.05); similarly, the SRS-22 and ODI scores did not differ significantly among the groups (p > 0.05). Conclusions: Thoracolumbar/lumbar AVBT surgery led to significant improvements in shoulder asymmetry and cervical lordosis of AIS patients in the early to early-mid postoperative period. However, compared with spinal fusion techniques, thoracolumbar/lumbar AVBT did not demonstrate superiority in functional scores or sagittal parameters. The mid- to long-term benefits of thoracolumbar/lumbar AVBT remain uncertain and require further investigation. Full article

Dark tourism communication in Eastern Europe remains insufficiently examined, despite the region’s complex post-authoritarian memory landscape and the growing use of storytelling in tourism marketing. This study aims to clarify how Romanian dark tourism campaigns construct meaning through narrative structures and affective framing. Using a qualitative multi-method design, the analysis integrates ten promotional campaigns and six semi-structured interviews with professionals from tourism, memorial institutions, and cultural organizations. Results reveal four recurrent narrative–affective clusters, sacral-memorial, historical-didactic, spectral-sensational, and hybrid commercial, each shaped by trauma referentiality, emotional framing, and specific calls-to-action. These configurations map consistently onto Stone’s thanatological spectrum and highlight how practitioners negotiate authenticity and ethical boundaries. The study contributes a transferable narrative–affective model for dark tourism communication and underscores the need for transparency, contextual sensitivity, and responsible storytelling in the marketing of trauma-related heritage. Full article

Locomotor disorders involving the spine are a major cause of impaired performance and early retirement in sport horses. Swimming is increasingly incorporated into rehabilitation protocols, but its effects on spinal biomechanics remain poorly understood. This prospective study evaluated changes in thoracolumbar mobility in sixteen sport horses diagnosed with cervical or thoracolumbar axial musculoskeletal lesions over a 12-week rehabilitation program comprising 4 weeks of land-based training followed by 8 weeks during which swimming sessions were incorporated three times per week. Weekly measurements of thoracolumbar flexion–extension range of motion (ROM) were performed during straight-line trot on a hard surface using inertial measurement units attached to the withers, T18, and tubera sacrale. Group-level analyses revealed minimal changes across training phases: in horses with thoracolumbar lesions, mean ROM decreased slightly during the second month of aquatic training (−0.1° [95% CI −0.1; 0], Cohen’s d = 0.2), whereas no significant variation was detected in horses with cervical lesions. As the study did not include a control group, these temporal changes cannot be specifically attributed to swimming and should be interpreted as descriptive rather than causal. Individual trajectories showed heterogeneous patterns, but these were not consistent enough to alter the group-level interpretation. Overall, the findings suggest that thoracolumbar mobility remains relatively stable throughout this type of rehabilitation program, highlighting the importance of individualized monitoring rather than the expectation of a uniform biomechanical response. Full article

This article undertakes a cross-cultural comparative inquiry into the motif of “women’s weaving” in medieval Daoism and Christianity. Although the two traditions developed with minimal historical contact, both elevate women’s textile labor into a central metaphor for cosmogenesis, sacred order, and individual salvation. Nevertheless, their hermeneutic trajectories diverge in essential ways. Working within a tripartite analytical framework (intellectual roots, artistic images, ritual practices) to argue that Daoism interprets “women’s weaving” as a proactive technique of transformation and nurture, based on a cosmology of immanent huasheng lun. In this reading, the image is affiliated with the cosmic creativity of nüxian, the inner transformation of their body, and the autonomous pursuit of transcendence. By contrast, within Christianity’s transcendent theological horizon of creatio ex nihilo, “women’s weaving” is configured primarily as an ethical discipline of responsive obedience, closely tied to the mystery of the Incarnation, the imitatio Dei, and communal spiritual exercises and charity under monasticism. The cross-cultural resonance of this motif, I contend, is grounded in the “men’s ploughing and women’s weaving” economic formation, patriarchal gender order, and shared symbolic cognition; its decisive bifurcation arises from contrasting deep cultural structures—namely, cosmology, conceptions of the body, soteriology, and church–state arrangements. Through this micro-case, the article further argues that the sacralization of secular gender roles constitutes an agentic cultural choice, one that indexes distinct civilizational pathways in understanding creation, nature, the body, and freedom. Full article

Back pain in horses is a frequent musculoskeletal issue that affects performance and welfare. Magnetotherapy has been proposed as a complementary, non-invasive treatment to reduce pain and support soft tissue recovery, but studies in horses remain limited. This pilot study aimed to evaluate the effects of low-frequency pulsed magnetic field therapy on horses with hypersensitivity to palpation along the longissimus dorsi muscle. Four recreational horses participated in a 10-session magnetotherapy program, with changes assessed using palpation, neck flexibility tests, heart rate measurements and thermal imaging. Results showed a reduction in pain sensitivity and muscle tension, particularly in the withers, thoracic, lumbar and sacral regions. Heart rate decreased after treatment, which may indicate a relaxing effect. Thermal imaging confirmed that magnetotherapy did not increase surface temperature, confirming its non-thermal nature. No adverse effects or swelling were observed in any of the horses. These findings provide preliminary data from this pilot study, suggesting that magnetotherapy may be a beneficial adjunct in the treatment of back pain in horses, promoting relaxation and pain relief without inducing tissue heating. Further research on larger populations with a negative control group is needed to validate these findings and support broader clinical application. Full article

Balance is referred to as a state of equilibrium where forces of agonist and antagonistic muscles are equal. This is particularly relevant in the practice of Goju-Ryu Karate-Do, a martial art style with combinations of hard and soft techniques. Particularly, karate stances not only depend on technical aspects but also on the ability to achieve a centered posture. In this narrative review, we aim to integrate the existing knowledge about alignment parameters of the spine to various stances in Goju-Ryu Karate-Do to improve biomechanical understanding, allow technical modifications, and consequently enhance positive training experience. Balance is constantly challenged during the interplay of accelerated movements and subsequent controlled postures (Japanese: “Kamae”). This requires continuous neuromuscular coordination to maintain the body’s equilibrium. In particular, the body’s center of gravity, which is located around the second sacral vertebra in a standing position, needs to be kept within Dubousset’s “efficiency cone” for low energy consumption and minimal fatigue. This state is primarily maintained by aligning the spine, the pelvis, and the lower extremities, which is a result of complex biomechanical interactions of various spinopelvic parameters. Applying these concepts of Dubousset to stances in Goju-Ryu Karate-Do helps to explain why during the aging process or natural degeneration, technical modifications are needed to guarantee an optimal training experience in senior or disabled practitioners of Karate-Do. Biomechanical parameters of the spinopelvic axis are crucial in mastering the art of Goju-Ryu Karate-Do. Only with a balanced stance and an optimally situated center of gravity, a block or attack may be successful and movement strategies effective. However, technical modifications of stances must be considered in aged or disabled karateka to allow a sustained training experience. Full article