“Mindfulness Makes You a Way Better Lover”

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jeff Wilson
Keyword(s):  
The Body ◽  
Buddhist Meditation ◽  
Self Help ◽  
Key Concepts ◽  
Almost All ◽  
New Applications ◽  
Ted Talks

American self-help authors, coaches, and sexologists selectively adopt and apply Buddhist meditation techniques to meet their goals and sell products. This chapter draws upon books, articles, podcasts, TED talks, and other sources to demonstrate how these new applications of mindfulness are touted to enhance the sex act, delivering greater pleasure or effectively managing dysfunction. Key concepts include analysis of the economics involved in the appropriation of Buddhist practices, the role of gender in the “secular” use of meditation (almost all books recommend mindful sex for women, but few focus on men), the mixed Asian and Western frameworks for understanding the body and the meaning of sex, and the alternate uses to which elements of Buddhism may be put in different cultural settings. A specific genre of the use of meditation serves as a means to explore secular developments that draw upon Buddhist sources in a sometimes uneasy relationship.

Knowledge transfer requirements for the management of social enterprises and organisations

2018 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
pp. 102-112
Author(s):  
Zbigniew Zontek ◽  
Christopher Whitworth
Keyword(s):  
Knowledge Transfer ◽  
Situated Learning ◽  
Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis ◽  
Social Enterprises ◽  
For Profit ◽  
Not For Profit ◽  
Depth Study ◽  
Almost All ◽  
New Applications

The authors have extensively researched motivation and situated learning in social organisations and enterprises via qualitative processes. This was an original work in an under-researched area. The use of open interpretative phenomenological analysis allowed an in-depth study of over 30 individual’s motivations and processes. Their findings clearly demonstrate the role of, and need for, knowledge acquisition, restructuring and transfer into new and evolving NGO’s and similar not-for-profit ventures. Study of 10 very different organisations in two European countries revealed common mechanisms for gaining and utilising knowledge in new ways and for new applications. All were Communities of Practice (CoPs) with a well-defined purpose and rationale. Almost all those interviewed reported utilising their knowledge from earlier experiences, in new ways, and situations. This need for internal and external knowledge transfer was stressed by almost all participants, and how they solved it in their CoP forms a key outcome of the research.Keywords: Management, social enterprise, knowledge transfer.

scholarly journals Normal red blood cells’ shape stabilized by membrane’s in-plane ordering

2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
L. Mesarec ◽  
W. Góźdź ◽  
A. Iglič ◽  
V. Kralj-Iglič ◽  
E. G. Virga ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Red Blood Cells ◽  
Blood Cells ◽  
Extrinsic Curvature ◽  
The Body ◽  
Main Function ◽  
Disorder Phase Transition ◽  
Body Tissues ◽  
Almost All ◽  
Membrane Shape

AbstractRed blood cells (RBCs) are present in almost all vertebrates and their main function is to transport oxygen to the body tissues. RBCs’ shape plays a significant role in their functionality. In almost all mammals in normal conditions, RBCs adopt a disk-like (discocyte) shape, which optimizes their flow properties in vessels and capillaries. Experimentally measured values of the reduced volume (v) of stable discocyte shapes range in a relatively broad window between v ~ 0.58 and 0.8. However, these observations are not supported by existing theoretical membrane-shape models, which predict that discocytic RBC shape is stable only in a very narrow interval of v values, ranging between v ~ 0.59 and 0.65. In this study, we demonstrate that this interval is broadened if a membrane’s in-plane ordering is taken into account. We model RBC structures by using a hybrid Helfrich-Landau mesoscopic approach. We show that an extrinsic (deviatoric) curvature free energy term stabilizes the RBC discocyte shapes. In particular, we show on symmetry grounds that the role of extrinsic curvature is anomalously increased just below the nematic in-plane order-disorder phase transition temperature.

Bodies

2020 ◽  
pp. 146-192
Author(s):  
Robert Wuthnow
Keyword(s):  
Orthodox Jews ◽  
The Body ◽  
Propositional Knowledge ◽  
Religious Activities ◽  
Quarter Century ◽  
Buddhist Meditation ◽  
Knowledge And Beliefs ◽  
How People Learn ◽  
Bodily Sensations

This chapter addresses the role of bodies, which has been the focus of increasing interest in studies of religion. It explains how bodies are involved in religious practices conducted by people in concrete situations. It analyzes the extent and varied ways bodies are involved in religion, such as in comparisons of Muslim prayers, clothing of Orthodox Jews, and postures involved in Buddhist meditation. The chapter also describes the kinds of somatic and kinesthetic imprint religious activities may have on the body and how people learn or unlearn these bodily sensations. It reviews the treatments of topics on bodies that have matured beyond the discussions a quarter century ago in which embodiment was advanced as an epistemological move from which to question the centrality of ideas, propositional knowledge, and beliefs.

scholarly journals The role of the lymphatic system in the homeostasis of the interstitial fluid in the lung and pleural liquid

2019 ◽  
Vol 18 (1) ◽  
pp. 104-112 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. I. Lobov
Keyword(s):  
Endothelial Cells ◽  
Respiratory System ◽  
Interstitial Fluid ◽  
Lymphatic System ◽  
Lymphatic Vessels ◽  
Current Data ◽  
The Body ◽  
Almost All ◽  
Preclinical And Clinical Studies

Accomplishments in the identifcation of lymphatic endothelial cells and the ability to differentiate them from the endothelial cells of blood vessels have contributed to progress in recent decades in studying the role of the lymphatic system in the body. Preclinical and clinical studies of the last decade have shown that changes in the lymphatic vascular network are observed in almost all lung diseases. At the same time, it remains unclear whether the lymphatic vessels and lung nodes are being part of the overall process of lung remodeling or they make a defnite contribution to the pathogenesis of diseases of the respiratory system. This review presents current data on the morphology and physiology of lymphatic vessels and nodes, their role in the regulation of interstitial fluid homeostasis, lipid transportation and immune responses as well as describes the mechanisms of regulation of the transport function of lymphatic vessels. Data on the role of the lymphatic system of the lungs in the exchange of fluid in the interstitial space of the lungs are presented in the review. The results of studies of the last two decades on the formation and reabsorption of pleural fluid and the role of various lymphatic networks in regulating its volume are described. Finally, modern ideas on the mechanisms of pulmonary edema are outlined and important questions of the lymphatic biology of the respiratory system are identifed, still remaining unanswered today.

scholarly journals Adenosine and Inflammation: Here, There and Everywhere

2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (14) ◽  
pp. 7685
Author(s):  
Silvia Pasquini ◽  
Chiara Contri ◽  
Pier Andrea Borea ◽  
Fabrizio Vincenzi ◽  
Katia Varani
Keyword(s):  
Protective Factor ◽  
Therapeutic Strategies ◽  
The Body ◽  
Main Function ◽  
Pathogenetic Mechanism ◽  
Pharmacological Profile ◽  
Endogenous Modulator ◽  
Almost All ◽  
G Protein Coupled

Adenosine is a ubiquitous endogenous modulator with the main function of maintaining cellular and tissue homeostasis in pathological and stress conditions. It exerts its effect through the interaction with four G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) subtypes referred as A1, A2A, A2B, and A3 adenosine receptors (ARs), each of which has a unique pharmacological profile and tissue distribution. Adenosine is a potent modulator of inflammation, and for this reason the adenosinergic system represents an excellent pharmacological target for the myriad of diseases in which inflammation represents a cause, a pathogenetic mechanism, a consequence, a manifestation, or a protective factor. The omnipresence of ARs in every cell of the immune system as well as in almost all cells in the body represents both an opportunity and an obstacle to the clinical use of AR ligands. This review offers an overview of the cardinal role of adenosine in the modulation of inflammation, showing how the stimulation or blocking of its receptors or agents capable of regulating its extracellular concentration can represent promising therapeutic strategies for the treatment of chronic inflammatory pathologies, neurodegenerative diseases, and cancer.

5. Compliance and enforcement in international law

2021 ◽  
pp. 91-118
Author(s):  
Nicole Scicluna
Keyword(s):  
International Law ◽  
The Body ◽  
State Responsibility ◽  
Self Help ◽  
Legal Obligations ◽  
Un Security Council ◽  
International Legal System ◽  
Judicial Procedures ◽  
International Anarchy

This chapter assesses why international legal obligations are (or are not) complied with, and how they are (or are not) enforced. It begins by drawing a distinction between laws and norms. The chapter then examines the main explanations for international law compliance put forward by both international law and international relations scholars. These may be broadly grouped into two categories: instrumentalist explanations and normative explanations. The chapter also discusses the concept of state responsibility—that is, the body of rules governing when and how states may be held liable for violations of international law. International law-enforcement is indelibly shaped by the condition of international anarchy. According to the concept of self-help, an injured state may, under certain circumstances, unilaterally take countermeasures against the guilty party. Such measures may include sanctions, though these may also be ordered by the UN Security Council as a collective security measure. The international legal system also increasingly makes use of judicial procedures that approximate those found within states. In this connection, the chapter considers the role of courts and tribunals in adjudicating disputes and promoting compliance with international law.

scholarly journals Role of Intestinal Microbiota in Metabolism of Gastrodin In Vitro and In Vivo

Metabolites ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (4) ◽  
pp. 69
Author(s):  
Mahesh Raj Nepal ◽  
Ki Sun Jeong ◽  
Geon Ho Kim ◽  
Dong Ho Cha ◽  
Mi Jeong Kang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Intestinal Microbiota ◽  
The Body ◽  
Pharmacokinetic Parameters ◽  
Gastrodia Elata ◽  
Intestinal Contents ◽  
Almost All ◽  
Hydroxybenzyl Alcohol

Alteration in the number and composition of intestinal microbiota affects the metabolism of several xenobiotics. Gastrodin, isolated from Gastrodia elata, is prone to be hydrolyzed by intestinal microbiota. In the present study, the role of intestinal microbiota in gastrodin metabolism was investigated in vitro and in vivo. Gastrodin was incubated in an anaerobic condition with intestinal contents prepared from vehicle- and antibiotics-treated rats and the disappearance of gastrodin and formation of 4-hydroxybenzyl alcohol (4-HBA) was measured by liquid chromatography coupled to mass spectroscopy (LC-MS/MS). The results showed that almost all gastrodin incubated with control intestinal contents was metabolized to its aglycone in time- and concentration-dependent manners. In contrast, much less formation of 4-HBA was detected in intestinal contents from antibiotics-treated rats. Subsequently, in vivo pharmacokinetic study revealed that the antibiotic pretreatment of rats significantly affected the metabolism of gastrodin to 4-HBA. When administered orally, gastrodin was rapidly absorbed rapidly into plasma, metabolized to 4-HBA, and disappeared from the body within six hours. Interestingly, the pharmacokinetic parameters of 4-HBA were changed remarkably in antibiotics-treated rats, compared to control rats. The results clearly indicated that the antibiotics treatment of rats suppressed the ability of intestinal microbiota to metabolize gastrodin to 4-HBA and that, thereby, the pharmacodynamic action was significantly modulated.

scholarly journals L1-79 and the Role of Catecholamines in Autism

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
John Rothman
Keyword(s):  
Growth Factors ◽  
Tyrosine Hydroxylase ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
The Body ◽  
Nerve Terminals ◽  
The Core ◽  
Almost All ◽  
Core Symptoms ◽  
The Brain

A growing body of evidence supports a role for catecholaminergic dysfunction in the core symptoms of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). This paper reviews the direct and indirect role of catecholamines on the central and peripheral nervous systems in ASD. Catecholamines innervate every tissue in the body and almost all tracts of the brain, providing a common neurologic regulatory mechanism for all ASD symptoms. Because the morphology of the catecholaminergic synapse is regulated by growth factors that are released contemporaneously with neurotransmitters, an event that results in abnormally large catecholamine release, will also release high levels of growth factors, which can result in the budding and arborization of nerve terminals. Here, we hypothesize that a hypertrophic synaptic morphology can occur in catecholaminergic systems and increase catecholaminergic tone throughout the body, resulting in an imbalance between catecholaminergic neurologic mechanisms and those that oppose them, and consequently pathology. By exerting a presynaptic effect to inhibit tyrosine hydroxylase and thus the synthesis, storage and release of all catecholamines, L1–79 (a tyrosine hydroxylase inhibitor) may diminish neurotransmitter release and its associated growth factors exerting a therapeutic effect on ASD by reducing the hypertrophic morphology of the synapse and bringing catecholamines back into a homeostatic balance with oppositional neurologic and metabolic influences.

scholarly journals Effect of Vata Dosha on Intelligence Quotient and Emotional Quotient

2021 ◽  
pp. 179-186
Author(s):  
G. Sreelekshmi ◽  
Raole Vaidehi ◽  
N. R. Navoday Raju
Keyword(s):  
Intelligence Quotient ◽  
The Body ◽  
The Past ◽  
Emotional Quotient ◽  
Past Experiences ◽  
Almost All ◽  
Sensory Functions

According to Ayurveda the whole life processes are governed by the Tridosha i.e. Vata, Pitta and Kapha. Vata Dosha has been given prime importance because it is the primary force that motivates and mediates other Dosha, Dhatu and Mala for performing their functions in the body. Vata Dosha possesses various Guna. Based on such Guna it performs different Karma in the body. Vata control motor as well as sensory functions. It is a self-generating and self- propagating energy responsible for the regulation of almost all the activities in our body. It should be considered as an invisible force that is recognised through its functions. This paper aims at understanding the effect of Vata Dosha on Intelligence Quotient and Emotional Quotient. The word quotient means amount of a specified quality or characteristic. The characteristics of individuals are developed on the predominance of Dosha during intra-uterine life and it is mentioned in classical textbooks in Prakruti concepts. In the formation and maintenance of Deha Prakruti and Manasa Prakruti the role of Dosha is inevitable. Among the five types of Vata, Prana is responsible for controlling the functions of Buddhi and Manas, while Udana helps in recalling the past experiences.

scholarly journals Thyroid disorders and development of cognitive impairment: a review study

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hossein Khaleghzadeh-Ahangar ◽  
Anis Talebi ◽  
Parvaneh Mohseni-Moghaddam
Keyword(s):  
Neurological Disorder ◽  
The Body ◽  
Global Burden ◽  
Endocrine Disorders ◽  
Thyroid Disorders ◽  
Human Lifespan ◽  
Physiological Processes ◽  
Review Study ◽  
Almost All

Dementia is a neurological disorder that is spreading with increasing human lifespan. In this neurological disorder, memory and cognition are declined and eventually impaired. Various factors can be considered as the background of this disorder, one of which is endocrine disorders. Thyroid hormones are involved in various physiological processes in the body; one of the most important of them is neuromodulation. Thyroid disorders, including hyperthyroidism or hypothyroidism, can affect the nervous system and play a role in the development of dementia. Despite decades of investigation, the nature of the association between thyroid disorders and cognition remains a mystery. Given the enhancing global burden of dementia, the principal purpose of this study was to elucidate the association between thyroid disturbances as a potentially modifiable risk factor of cognitive dysfunction. In this review study, we have tried to collect almost all of the reported mechanisms demonstrating the role of hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism in the pathogenesis of dementia.

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