scholarly journals The Weight of Bodily Presence in Art and Liturgy

Religions ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (3) ◽  
pp. 164
Author(s):  
Hannah Lyn Venable

This essay addresses the question of virtual church, particularly on whether or not liturgy can be done virtually. We will approach our subject from a somewhat unusual perspective by looking to types of aesthetic experiences which we have been doing “virtually” for a long time. By exploring how we experience art in virtual and physical contexts, we gain insight into the corresponding experiences in liturgical practices. Drawing on Mikel Dufrenne, Maurice Merleau-Ponty and Gabriel Marcel, I first examine the importance of the body when we experience “presence” in aesthetic environments. Next, I consider the weight of the body in experiences of presence in liturgical practices, both in person and virtual, guided again by Gabriel Marcel as well as Bruce Ellis Benson, Emmanuel Falque, Christina Gschwandtner and Éric Palazzo. Through these reflections, I argue that what art teaches us about the significance of the physical closeness of the human applies to the practice of liturgy and that, while unexpected benefits will surface in virtual settings, nothing replaces the powerful experiences that arise when the body is physically present.

Author(s):  
Zoran Vrucinic

The future of medicine belongs to immunology and alergology. I tried to not be too wide in description, but on the other hand to mention the most important concepts of alergology to make access to these diseases more understandable, logical and more useful for our patients, that without complex pathophysiology and mechanism of immune reaction,we gain some basic insight into immunological principles. The name allergy to medicine was introduced by Pirquet in 1906, and is of Greek origin (allos-other + ergon-act; different reaction), essentially representing the reaction of an organism to a substance that has already been in contact with it, and manifested as a specific response thatmanifests as either a heightened reaction, a hypersensitivity, or as a reduced reaction immunity. Synonyms for hypersensitivity are: altered reactivity, reaction, hypersensitivity. The word sensitization comes from the Latin (sensibilitas, atis, f.), which means sensibility,sensitivity, and has retained that meaning in medical vocabulary, while in immunology and allergology this term implies the creation of hypersensitivity to an antigen. Antigen comes from the Greek words, anti-anti + genos-genus, the opposite, anti-substance substance that causes the body to produce antibodies.


Author(s):  
David Carus

This chapter explores Schopenhauer’s concept of force, which lies at the root of his philosophy. It is force in nature and thus in natural science that is inexplicable and grabs Schopenhauer’s attention. To answer the question of what this inexplicable term is at the root of all causation, Schopenhauer looks to the will within us. Through will, he maintains that we gain immediate insight into forces in nature and hence into the thing in itself at the core of everything and all things. Will is thus Schopenhauer’s attempt to answer the question of the essence of appearance. Yet will, as it turns out, cannot be known immediately as it is subject to time, and the acts of will, which we experience within us, do not correlate immediately with the actions of the body (as Schopenhauer had originally postulated). Hence, the acts of will do not lead to an explanation of force, which is at the root of causation in nature. Schopenhauer sets out to explain what is at the root of all appearances, derived from the question of an original cause, or as Schopenhauer states “the cause of causation,” but cannot determine this essence other than by stating that it is will; a will, however, that cannot be immediately known.


Pathogens ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (4) ◽  
pp. 412
Author(s):  
Natalia Rakislova ◽  
Lorena Marimon ◽  
Mamudo R. Ismail ◽  
Carla Carrilho ◽  
Fabiola Fernandes ◽  
...  

Postmortem studies are crucial for providing insight into emergent diseases. However, a complete autopsy is frequently not feasible in highly transmissible diseases due to biohazard challenges. Minimally invasive autopsy (MIA) is a needle-based approach aimed at collecting samples of key organs without opening the body, which may be a valid alternative in these cases. We aimed to: a) provide biosafety guidelines for conducting MIAs in COVID-19 cases, b) compare the performance of MIA versus complete autopsy, and c) evaluate the safety of the procedure. Between October and December 2020, MIAs were conducted in six deceased patients with PCR-confirmed COVID-19, in a basic autopsy room, with reinforced personal protective equipment. Samples from the lungs and key organs were successfully obtained in all cases. A complete autopsy was performed on the same body immediately after the MIA. The diagnoses of the MIA matched those of the complete autopsy. In four patients, COVID-19 was the main cause of death, being responsible for the different stages of diffuse alveolar damage. No COVID-19 infection was detected in the personnel performing the MIAs or complete autopsies. In conclusion, MIA might be a feasible, adequate and safe alternative for cause of death investigation in COVID-19 cases.


Materials ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (4) ◽  
pp. 963
Author(s):  
Ekaterina S. Dolinina ◽  
Elena V. Parfenyuk

Powerful antioxidant α-lipoic acid (LA) exhibits limited therapeutic efficiency due to its pharmacokinetic properties. Therefore, the purpose of this work was to evaluate the ability of silica-based composites of LA as well as its amide (lipoamide, LM), as new oral drug formulations, to control their release and maintain their therapeutic concentration and antioxidant activity in the body over a long time. The composites synthesized at different sol–gel synthesis pH and based on silica matrixes with various surface chemistry were investigated. The release behavior of the composites in media mimicking pH of digestive fluids (pH 1.6, 6.8, and 7.4) was revealed. The effects of chemical structure of the antioxidants, synthesis pH, surface chemistry of the silica matrixes in the composites as well as the pH of release medium on kinetic parameters of the drug release and mechanisms of the process were discussed. The comparative analysis of the obtained data allowed the determination of the most promising composites. Using these composites, modeling of the release process of the antioxidants in accordance with transit conditions of the drugs in stomach, proximal, and distal parts of small intestine and colon was carried out. The composites exhibited the release close to the zero order kinetics and maintained the therapeutic concentration of the drugs and antioxidant effect in all parts of the intestine for up to 24 h. The obtained results showed that encapsulation of LA and LM in the silica matrixes is a promising way to improve their bioavailability and antioxidant activity.


Biomolecules ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 79
Author(s):  
Svetlana N. Morozkina ◽  
Thi Hong Nhung Vu ◽  
Yuliya E. Generalova ◽  
Petr P. Snetkov ◽  
Mayya V. Uspenskaya

For a long time, the pharmaceutical industry focused on natural biologically active molecules due to their unique properties, availability and significantly less side-effects. Mangiferin is a naturally occurring C-glucosylxantone that has substantial potential for the treatment of various diseases thanks to its numerous biological activities. Many research studies have proven that mangiferin possesses antioxidant, anti-infection, anti-cancer, anti-diabetic, cardiovascular, neuroprotective properties and it also increases immunity. It is especially important that it has no toxicity. However, mangiferin is not being currently applied to clinical use because its oral bioavailability as well as its absorption in the body are too low. To improve the solubility, enhance the biological action and bioavailability, mangiferin integrated polymer systems have been developed. In this paper, we review molecular mechanisms of anti-cancer action as well as a number of designed polymer-mangiferin systems. Taking together, mangiferin is a very promising anti-cancer molecule with excellent properties and the absence of toxicity.


1894 ◽  
Vol 54 (326-330) ◽  
pp. 53-57 ◽  

For a long time I have adopted a process for separating the glycogen of the liver consisting in boiling with potash, pouring into alcohol, and collecting the precipitate. For the purpose of estimation, the precipitated glycogen was converted by means of sulphuric acid into glucose, the determination of which gave the information required. I afterwards applied the process to blood, and the various organs and tissues of the body, with the result that a more or less notable amount of cupric oxide reducing product was obtained, which I at the time looked upon as taking origin, as in the case of the liver, from glycogen.


2021 ◽  
Vol 100 (2) ◽  
pp. 254-261
Author(s):  
O.G. Sukhovjova ◽  
◽  
I.A. Ivanova ◽  
N.A. Kalugina ◽  
E.S. Zholobova ◽  
...  

The purpose of this publication is to describe the CANDLE syndrome (its etiology, pathogenesis, clinical manifestations) and present a clinical observation. CANDLE syndrome is a rare genetically inherited disease caused by impaired assembly by of the protease, which leads to the accumulation of abnormal (ubiquitinated) proteins in B-lymphocytes, fibroblasts, macrophages and some other cells of the body. As a result, an excessive activation of interferon synthesis occurs and a systemic inflammatory reaction develops with symptoms such as febrile fever, skin syndrome, represented by nodules and maculopapular rash, hepatosplenomegaly, lipodystrophy, amyotrophy, delayed physical development, as well as high laboratory activity. The article describes a clinical observation of a female patient with typical symptoms of CANDLE syndrome. However, due to the rarity of the disease and lack of publications describing it, it has not been possible to diagnose the child for a long time.


2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Chunhui Huo ◽  
Javaria Hameed ◽  
Muhammad Waqas Sadiq ◽  
Gadah Albasher ◽  
Wedad Alqahtani

PurposeThis paper aims to provide a valid insight into consumers' minds while considering word of mouth (WOM), brand image and uniqueness as independent variables while considering the tourism industry as the primary stakeholder.Design/methodology/approachThe study adopts qualitative research methods and data collected from 1,033 respondents using convenience sampling methodology. The data are collected from different tourists spots in China and Pakistan. The PROCESS macro was utilized in this study using SPSS version 25.0 to inspect the impacts by using Model 4 and the conditional effects indirectly by utilizing Model 14.FindingsCustomer's intimacy, search for novel and unexplored destinations highlight WOM interactions and perceived service value. Service value, interactional justice and professional attitude of hotel management mediated all the given relationships significantly. The brand image does not mediate any significant associations. Perceived service value and brand image predict customer's loyalty, and WOM is the direct measure of their intentions, and these variables are market trend indicators. A tourist's response toward different destinations is described in this study with comparative analysis of Chinese and Pakistani tourists. The study results showed a significantly positive relationship between hotel management professional behavior, customer's loyalty, customer's intimacy and WOM.Research limitations/implicationsThe recruited population might not be represented as the broader and larger visitor population, resulting in restricting establishing tactics. Moreover, this study's results provide significant insight into a tourism industry, hence providing a chance to manage customer loyalty better.Social, managerial and theoretical implicationsThis study contributes significantly to the body of knowledge and provides remarkable insight from the managerial perspective. Interactional justice results in significant value for hotel management directors and top management, front desk staff and operatives and front level employees and managers. Consumer sensitivity of fairness in interpersonal dealings calls for behavioral changes in frontline employees, especially those directly dealing with hotel visitors. Hotel staff and management should formulate a system to deal with the demands and needs of visitors. It should describe the rights and obligations of visitors and ensure that each customer is treated equally and with respect. Customers should be motivated to read the survey questionnaires kept in their rooms and offer their views on the services provided. This strategy might increase the customers' sense of empowerment and leading to notions of fairness in individual encounters.Originality/valueThis study provides an insight into the customer's minds while considering essential variables that include WOM, brand image, perceived service value and uniqueness.


2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (SPL1) ◽  
pp. 1655-1661
Author(s):  
Roshna Sukheoji Bhutada ◽  
Kritika Umate

The need of the day is a brisk lift to the resistant framework to keep it fit, battling today pandemic infections, for example, Covid — 19. One should get the right amount of nutrients from the diet, supplementation regimen to boost the immune system. These spices are always there to make tasty food as well as to protect the body from infectious diseases by building the immunity strong Ayurveda approaches to develop physiological reactions to facilitate immunity. Planning of diet is most important to boost immunity. As per many types of research to provide supplementary food which contains Zinc, Vitamin C, Vitamin D and immunity boosting food such as dealing with plenty of spices for a very long time. These spices include some rare to very common spices which we can found near us. The concern is that these viral infections are very prone to attack weak immunity and take the chance to affect the country to the globe. So the very common spices available will be always helpful to get through this Regular use of a few spices in the very simple form proves its importance as a medicine. In this article a review of spices is done which we are available near us, we are using it in our daily life and we are getting the benefit of these which a common people might not be fully aware of about role of immunity building of the body. 


Author(s):  
Aldona Kipāne

The article gives an insight into criminological problems of bullying in school phenomena. Although the term “bullying” is a modern word, such behaviour has been known for a long time. Bullying is a manifestation of violent behaviour, which threatens the victim's health and safety. The aim of this article is to describe and analyse bullying as a form of expression of violence, showing the criminological aspects of this phenomenon. To achieve the aim of the article the following tasks are defined: to provide the theoretical and practical framework of the research phenomenon, to study and evaluate certain elements of the criminological characterization of the bullying: the description of a victim and a perpetrator, the evaluation of factors and directions of prevention. Theoretical analysis methods such as deconstruction, descriptive and complex analysis, and empirical research methods – document analysis, comparison and compilation were employed in this study.


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