Religion-State Relations in Europe

Europe is often taken to represent a global exception in matters of religion and secularity and some argue that much of the reason for this lies in the way religion-state relations are arranged. This chapter assesses these and related claims while summarily tracing the character, development, and impact of different relationship patterns in Europe as both ‘religion’ and ‘state’ have undergone massive change over the last 500 years. None of the fifty-odd current states of Europe meet any strict standard of religion–state separation; it can be argued nonetheless that the emergent and identifiable common European model is largely consistent with liberal egalitarian values. Key concepts are introduced: secular state, confessional state, religious state, religious establishment, and separationism.

Phosphorylation dynamics in a flg22-induced, G-protein dependent network in Arabidopsis thaliana

flg22 is recognized by the plant cell as a signal indicating that bacteria are present. Here we show a rapid and massive change in protein abundance and phosphorylation state of the Arabidopsis root cell proteome in wildtype and a mutant deficient in G-protein coupled signaling. Many of the flg22-induced changes fall on proteins comprising the G protein interactome and on highly populated hubs of the immunity network. Approximately 95% of the phosphorylation changes in the G-protein interactome depend on a functional G protein complex; some on proteins in the G protein interactome. One of these is ATB?, an interactor to REGULATOR OF G SIGNALING 1 protein (AtRGS1), a 7-transmembrane spanning modulator of the nucleotide-binding state of the core G protein complex. A null mutation of ATB? confers basal endocytosis of AtRGS1. AtRGS1 level is lower in the atb? mutant in a proteasome-dependent manner. We propose that phosphorylation-dependent endocytosis of AtRGS1 is part of the mechanism to degrade AtRGS1 thus sustaining activation of the G protein complex required for regulation of system dynamics in innate immunity.

A CIO-centric local government data-sharing leadership ecosystem in China

The digital transformation of local government brings about massive change in IT leadership. As the strategic designer and process developer for government data sharing, the Chief Information Officer (CIO) needs to build self-centered leadership systems with strong coordination capabilities and adaptable mechanisms. Through a qualitative multi-case comparative study of three provinces in China, we applied IS innovation ecosystem theory to construct a CIO-centric local government data-sharing leadership ecosystem. The competencies, behaviors, and mechanisms of leadership roles are analyzed in five dimensions (personal, interpersonal, organizational, inter-organizational, and socio-economic and generation). Results show that a CIO-centric local government data sharing ecosystem can be resilient to administrative structure change, facilitating data sharing across levels, regions, and departments through collaborative networks and rotation approach. It provides useful insights into similar practices for constructing data sharing leadership ecosystem in local government, and can bring public value to citizens.

Dreaming of The Peaceful Ways: An Evaluation of The Indonesian Deradicalisation Program

The Indonesian deradicalization program conducted by Indonesian National Counterterrorism Agency (BNPT) comes under public scrutiny due the number of terrorist recidivism with a total of 47 individuals during 2018 until 2020. This indicates that the ongoing deradicalization program has not been successful and effective and it requires a massive change across all levels. This article aims to analyse the Indonesian deradicalization programs which has been adopting the peacemaking criminology approach and how it is implemented. Employing a qualitative study through desk research and informal interviews as the data collection techniques, this article examines various problems and challenges that are hampering the peacemaking-based deradicalization programs in Indonesia, including the problem of database on the ex-convicts, methods of approach and assessment, reliance on the top-down approach conducted by government institutions, pandemic challenges, and inconsistencies with the legal or judicial aspects. Adapting to the social change approach by including the involvement of the non-government stakeholders is important for deradicalization program to work. This article recommends that the evaluation of deradicalization policies in Indonesia should consider the re-focusing of deradicalization goals by aiming at behavioural changes rather than mindset and ideological changes, incorporating gender aspects in deradicalization programs, research-based programs formulation based on intersecting multidiscipline research fields and the possibility for the deradicalization as well as disengagement privatization programs to increase the effectiveness and reduce inefficiency.

Do Vaccinated People Reduce Their Precautionary Behaviours? A Test on a British Cohort

Background.There is a risk that people vaccinated against COVID-19 will drop out or reduce their behaviours (i.e. a phenomenon of risk homeostasis). Our aim is to assess the occurrence of this effect in a cohort of UK participants who were interviewed 141 days before and 161 days after the start of the vaccination programme.Methods.Of the 7651 people who could be followed up before and after the start of the programme and whose vaccination status was known, 178 had not received any injection and 583 were more or less advanced in the process (one vs. two doses since less vs. more than 14 days). The frequency of 14 precautionary behaviours was assessed at both times of measurement, as well as potential covariates (gender, age, comorbidities and history of COVID-19).Findings.Controlling for covariates, we found no decrease in precautionary behaviours, including among vaccinated individuals, regardless of how far along they were in the process.Interpretation.The results observed in this sample show that a massive change in behaviour among vaccinated individuals does not threaten the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic. The pressure to adopt precautionary behaviours remains strong and probably prevents the emergence of a risk homeostasis effect. Nevertheless, communication on the importance of precautionary behaviour should be maintained so that it does not regress in the long term.

Plausible role of Arq Ajīb in combating COVID-19: A multi-faceted review

The current pandemic caused by SARS-CoV-2 has led to a massive change in every aspect of our lives. It has grossly affected the healthcare system, business and world trade, disruption of movement and supply of essential goods and has crippled the global economy. Although few vaccines have been approved for the control of disease, targeted therapy options for this virulent disease still remain limited and elusive. Exhaustive search for potent therapeutic candidate is in progress, for which herbal armory are also being explored. Medicinal plants and their products play a vital role in alleviating various diseases and have been reported to exhibit a wide range of biological activities. Plant-based drugs with antiviral, anti-inflammatory and immunomodulotry activities were hypothetically considered as potential drugs to prevent and mitigate the prevailing situation caused by SARS-CoV-2. Arq Ajīb ‘a Unani formulation’ presents compelling approach in treating numerous diseases. The ingredients of Arq Ajīb and their phytocompounds have been reported for wide-ranging pharmaco-biological activities including antiviral, anti-inflammatory, immunomodulotry, anti-allergic, antitussive and bronchodilatory activities. Scientific data available on the formulation ingredients and their phytocompounds indicates that the formulation may have a significant role in augmenting the immune status of individual, protecting them from infection and providing symptomatic relief to patients affected with COVID-19. Hence, it may be considered as a potential drug for the development of novel therapeutic candidate for SARS-CoV-2 infection. This multi-faceted review highlights the therapeutic significance and pharmacological actions of Arq Ajīb and its ingredients to demonstrate the plausible role of the formulation in combating COVID-19. Keywords: Arq Ajīb, COVID-19, Pudina, Ajwain, Camphor, Unani formulation

Challenges of Applying AI in Healthcare in India

With the advent of digitalization, upcoming technologies like Artificial Intelligence (AI) are being utilized by healthcare services to manage various healthcare services to mimic human cognitive functions. This technology is expected to bring about a massive change in healthcare. Patient management, clinical decision support, patient tracking, and health care services are the four main AI-enabled fields of the healthcare industry. The method carrying out the study was based on secondary research by the themes of the studies performed earlier using Artificial intelligence in healthcare sector, through observations, interviews and valid documentations from prominent databases, by means of challenges and its analysis and the last by the issues associated with the study and the target groups are the front line workers in healthcare sectors. The AI applications in health care have gathered much attention, but AI's adoption issues have not been significantly tended. There are several challenges of its implementation, such as resolving the unequal relationship between trained physicians and patients and increasing physicians' efficiency to be more effective in their work; providing AI-enabled healthcare equipment in rural communities; and educating physicians or doctors in handling it. AI technologies have the potential to enhance patient outcomes. Still, they may also pose significant risks in terms of inadequate patient risk assessment, medical error, and suggestions for treatment, privacy violations, and others.

Dialoguing as if we're not that important

The idea that the world is interconnected foreshadows a massive change in how education is conceived and practised. It may even render ‘education’ non-existent. Māori philosophy centreing on the All – which is another term for interconnection but having a stronger flavour of unity between all things such that they are one – suggests that education, if it is to remain, must honour new ways of perceiving the world. Firstly, it must set about striving for an opposite goal, this being cultivating an uncertainty in students as they think about things in the world. Secondly (and relatedly), it calls for a self-erasure, which involves acknowledging the self’s vulnerability in the shadow of the All: this humility is not simply intellectual but bodily. In this article, I consider this self-erasure in the context of various korero (discussions) with an older whanaunga (relative). In these korero, we would be aware that there were phenomena that cannot be accounted for but that impinge on thought. These phenomena have implications for education – at least from a Māori perspective, despite the attempts of rational thought to evade them.

The Covid-19 outbreak, a Failure of Social Protection System: A Policy Perspective of Energy and Economic Recovery

COVID-19 has proliferated personage suffering around the world. The virus is contagious medically and economically as well. The study's main aim is to examine the failure of the social protection system caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Three major dimensions of the social protection system have been addressed in this research—a shock to the labor market, health emergency, and massive change in energy usage. Covid pandemic had cost the world economy more than $2 trillion. The labor market is badly affected significantly; workers engaged in the informal economy. The Director-General (WHO) has declared the COVID-19 pandemic as a public health emergency of international concern. It is one of the highest levels of alarm by WHO in history. Global Energy Review 2020 shows that those complete lockdowns have a 25% decline in the energy demand per week. As economic activity slowdown due to the closure of the industry, banned transportation, and lockdown. Conclusively, it is examined that the coronavirus pandemic has brought a worldwide failure of social protection system required a comprehensive policy and a firmed leadership to stand against the outbreak.

Economic Effects of the Digital Transformation on the Banking Market Using the Example of Savings Banks and Cooperative Banks in Germany

Due to the digital transformation, the banking sector in Germany is undergoing massive change. This structural change is massively influenced by technological progress, regulation and supervision, the low-interest phase and demographic change. The focus of this research is on the comparison of savings banks and cooperative banks in Germany, as there are many similarities between the two banking groups. Both belong to the so-called retail banks. The respective bank clients are very similar due to the regional principle, the structure in regional associations and in their clientele. The main purpose of this research is to investigate which of the two banking groups, savings banks or cooperative banks, is more operationally efficient under the same prevailing competitive pressure from the Digital Transformation. This paper summarises the analysis of both banking groups based on real ratios. The relevance of the findings on this scientific problem is that the comparison of savings banks and cooperative banks in Germany has not been addressed in the scientific literature so far. The aim of the research is to make a statement as to which banking group has performed better given the same external market factors. Furthermore, arguments and counter-arguments within the academic discussion on the topic of digitalization in the German banking market will be compiled. The results of the research can be useful for academics who deal with the digital transformation in the banking sector in Germany.