scholarly journals The Coronavirus Family, Its existence in mammals for centuries and The Future

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ailis OCarroll
Keyword(s):  
Disease Spread ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Human Society ◽  
Refugee Camps ◽  
Huge Number ◽  
Health Concept ◽  
The Common ◽  
The One ◽  
Living With Hiv ◽  
Trial Phase

Coronavirus (CoVs) have existed in mammals for centuries, historically, believed to only cause agriculturally devastating diseases in wild and domestic animals and the common cold type of symptoms in humans. Then in 2002, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV) emerged from China resulting in the deaths of over 770 people. 10 years later, Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) emerged from Saudi Arabia, with MERS-CoV continuing to cause outbreaks and as of Nov 2019 resulting in a total of 2,494 confirmed cases in 27 countries with 858 fatalities. With CoVs now understood to be widespread through mammals tested around the globe, another spill-over event was inevitable if no precautions and importance was put on understanding the risks of this zoonotic disease spread. To date, more than 200 novel coronaviruses have been found in bats and ~35% of bat virome sequenced to date is composed of coronaviruses. Their and other mammals unique immune systems need to be the focus of future research with reports estimating mammal populations to harbour viruses in numbers up to 300 thousand. The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic is devastating with cases and deaths rising so rapidly that any number written would be out of date by time of publishing. Developing countries, war zones, refugee camps and those with a huge number of already immunocompromised patients such as the 25 million people in Africa living with HIV, will be decimated if the spread is not limited. Vaccines are beginning clinical trial phase and a huge global emphasis on interferon (IFN) research and drug development is underway. This will be necessary to control our unacceptable flu season fatalities and inevitable future pandemics. It is also crucial to understand that the most effective way to prevent viral zoonosis is to maintain the barriers between natural reservoirs and human society, in mind of the ‘one health’ concept. We are all interconnected, each biome, environment, climate, plant, animal, with our health and existence all deeply depend on each other.

scholarly journals Conceptualizing the Digital Sharing Economy in the Context of Sustainability

2018 ◽  
Vol 10 (12) ◽  
pp. 4453 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maria J. Pouri ◽  
Lorenz M. Hilty
Keyword(s):  
Sharing Economy ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Human Society ◽  
Use Case ◽  
Production And Consumption ◽  
Information And Communication ◽  
Current Production ◽  
The Common ◽  
Structural Impacts ◽  
Practical Implications

Human society is increasingly influencing the planet and its environmental systems. The existing environmental problems indicate that current production and consumption patterns are not sustainable. Despite the remarkable opportunities brought about by Information and Communication Technology (ICT) to improve the resource efficiency of production and consumption processes, it seems that the overall trend is still not heading towards sustainability. By promoting the utilization of available and underused resources, the ICT-enabled sharing economy has transformed, and even in some cases disrupted, the prevailing patterns of production and consumption, raising questions about opportunities and risks of shared consumption modes for sustainability. The present article attempts to conceptualize the sustainability implications of today’s sharing economy. We begin with presenting a definition for the digital sharing economy that embraces the common features of its various forms. Based on our proposed definition, we discuss the theoretical and practical implications of the digital sharing economy as a use case of ICT. The analysis is deepened by applying the life-cycle/enabling/structural impacts model of ICT effects to this use case. As a result, we show the various positive and negative potentials of digital sharing for sustainability at different system levels. While it is too early to project well-founded scenarios to describe the sustainability status of digital sharing, the implications discussed in our work may help outlining future research and policies in this area.

scholarly journals Francophonie et études francophones: considérations historiques et métacritiques sur quelques concepts majeurs (Francophonie and Francophone studies: historical considerations and metacritiques on a few major concepts)

2006 ◽  
Vol 3 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
François Provenzano
Keyword(s):  
Theoretical Work ◽  
Point Of View ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Anglo Saxon ◽  
Francophone Studies ◽  
Academic Context ◽  
French Speaking ◽  
First Occurrence ◽  
The Common ◽  
The One

The so called French-speaking world is much more than a community of speakers using the same language. Since the era of decolonization, language has become a major economical stake for France, as well as an important symbolic struggle against Anglo-Saxon linguistic and political hegemony. In the academic context also, the developments of Francophone studies demonstrate a current preoccupation with integrating francophone reality into the common encyclopaedia. This paper steps back from such contemporary debates. Analysing the historical and epistemological backgrounds from which francophone projects have been emerging since the end of the nineteenth century, the paper discusses a number of useful concepts for approaching francophone realities. I argue that the main difficulty of the theoretical work in this field is the diversity of definitions of the object, as well as the inability to separate it from ideological content. Starting with the so called first occurrence of the word ‘francophonie’, I examine the institutional, sociolinguistic, poetical and socioliterary definitions that have attempted to explain the constitutive dimensions of an abstract francophone unity. Taking a metacritical point of view, and inspired by Pierre Bourdieu’s sociological works on the one hand and discursive approaches on the other, this article hopes to present pointers for future research into the study of French-speaking zones, peoples and cultures.

International Law and Religion

2017 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
International Law ◽  
Political Theory ◽  
Middle Ages ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Religion And Law ◽  
The Common ◽  
Preliminary Study ◽  
Humanist Tradition ◽  
The One ◽  
Relationship Of

This book maps out the territory of ‘international law and religion’ challenging receiving traditions in fundamental aspects. On the one hand, the connection of international law and religion has been little explored. On the other, most of current research on international legal thought presents international law as the very victory of secularization. In other words, international law would be the final product of a rationalist and humanist tradition that has become globally ‘adult’. By questioning that narrative of secularization this book places itself in almost uncharted territory. The book consists of a Preliminary Study, written by Martti Koskenniemi, and eighteen chapters arranged in four thematic sections. From the Middle Ages’ early conceptualizations of rights and law to contemporary political theory, the chapters bring to life debates concerning the interaction of the meaning of the legal and the sacred. The contributors approach their chapters from an array of different backgrounds and perspectives but with the common objective of investigating the mutually shaping relationship of religion and law. The collaborative endeavour that this volume offers makes available substantial knowledge on the question of international law and religion and provides referential points that would help in future research in the topic.

scholarly journals Corals as canaries in the coalmine: towards the incorporation of marine ecosystems into the ‘One Health’ concept

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael Sweet ◽  
Mark Bulling ◽  
Alfred Burian
Keyword(s):  
Coral Reefs ◽  
Ecosystem Health ◽  
One Health ◽  
Human Society ◽  
Global Networks ◽  
Feedback Mechanisms ◽  
Crucial Component ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Health Concept ◽  
The One

‘One World – One Health’ is a developing concept which aims to explicitly incorporate linkages between the environment and human society in order to facilitate optimising aspects of health. Historically, work has concentrated on aspects of disease, in particular on emerging zoonoses, with a focus on terrestrial systems. Here we argue that the marine environment is a crucial component of the ‘One World – One Health’ framework, and that coral reefs are the epitome of its underlying philosophy, providing vast contributions to a wide range of ecosystem services with strong and direct links to human society. Further, the sensitivity of corals to climate change, and the current emergence of a wide range of diseases, make coral reefs ideal systems for studying in order to develop our understanding of the links, impacts, and feedback mechanisms that can affect human and ecosystem health. There are well established protocols for monitoring corals and global networks of researchers, but there are substantial challenges in studying these ecosystems. We explore these challenges and conclude with a look at how developing technology offers ways of addressing them in the future. A greater integration of coral reef research into the ‘One World – One Health’ framework will enrich our understanding of the complex links within and between ecosystems and human society, supporting the development of measures for improving the health of both humans and the environment.

scholarly journals Obesity and Multiple Sclerosis—A Multifaceted Association

2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (12) ◽  
pp. 2689
Author(s):  
Thomas-Gabriel Schreiner ◽  
Tudor-Marcel Genes
Keyword(s):  
Multiple Sclerosis ◽  
Epidemiological Data ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Common Mechanism ◽  
Exclusion Criteria ◽  
Childhood And Adolescent Obesity ◽  
The Common ◽  
The One ◽  
Inflammatory Component

Background: Given the common elements in the pathophysiological theories that try to explain the appearance and evolution of obesity and multiple sclerosis, the association between the two pathologies has become an increasingly researched topic in recent years. On the one hand, there is the chronic demyelinating inflammation caused by the autoimmune cascade of multiple sclerosis, while on the other hand, according to the latest research, it has been shown that obesity shares an inflammatory component with most chronic diseases. Methods: The authors performed independent research of the available literature in the most important electronic databases (PubMed, Google Scholar, Embase, and Science Direct) in February 2021. After applying the exclusion criteria, the reviewers focused on the most relevant articles published during the last 10 years with respect to epidemiology and pathophysiology. Results: The data presented are a step forward in trying to elucidate the intricate relationship between obesity and MS, especially the causal relationship between childhood and adolescent obesity and MS, focusing on the epidemiological associations observed in the most relevant observational studies conducted in recent years. In the second part, the authors comment on the latest findings related to the pathophysiological mechanisms that may explain the correlations between obesity and multiple sclerosis, focusing also on the role of adipokines. Conclusions: Based on available epidemiological data, obesity in early life appears to be strongly associated with a higher risk of MS development, independent of other risk factors. Although much research has been done on the pathophysiology of obesity, MS, their possible common mechanism, and the role of adipokines, further studies are needed in order to explain what remains unknown. No relevant data were found regarding the association between obesity, disability (high EDSS score), and mortality risk in MS patients. Thus, we consider that this topic should be elucidated in future research.

THE EU SUGAR MARKET PROFILE AND ITS MAIN DRIVERS

2015 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lubos SMUTKA ◽  
Irena BENEŠOVÁ ◽  
Patrik ROVNÝ ◽  
Renata MATYSIK-PEJAS
Keyword(s):  
Market Failure ◽  
Current System ◽  
Quota System ◽  
Considerable Debate ◽  
Sugar Market ◽  
The Common ◽  
The One ◽  
Production Capacities ◽  
The Given ◽  
The Eu

Sugar is one of the most important elements in human nutrition. The Common Market Organisation for sugar has been a subject of considerable debate since its establishment in 1968. The European agricultural market has been criticized for its heavy regulations and subsidization. The sugar market is one of the most regulated ones; however, this will change radically in 2017 when the current system of production quotas will end. The current EU sugar market changed is structure during the last several decades. The significant number of companies left the market and EU internal sugar market became more concentrated. The aim of this paper is presentation characteristics of sugar market with respect to the supposed market failure – reduction in competition. The analysis also identifies the main drivers and determinants of the EU especially quota sugar market. In relation to paper’s aim the following results are important. The present conditions of the European sugar market have led to market failure when nearly 75 % (10 million tonnes) of the quota is controlled by five multinational companies only. These multinational alliances (especially German and French one) are also taking control over the production capacities of their subsidiaries. In most countries, this causes serious problems as the given quota is controlled by one or two producers only. This is a significant indicator of market imperfection. The quota system cannot overcome the problem of production quotas on the one hand and the demand on the other; furthermore, it also leads to economic inefficiency. The current EU sugar market is under the control of only Sudzucker, Nordzucker, Pfeifer and Langen, Tereos and ABF.

The concept of motivation for effective credit risk management

2020 ◽  
Vol 26 (11) ◽  
pp. 2567-2593
Author(s):  
M.V. Pomazanov
Keyword(s):  
Risk Management ◽  
Economic Modeling ◽  
Type I ◽  
Credit Risk Management ◽  
Curve Modeling ◽  
Business Functions ◽  
The Common ◽  
Lending Decisions ◽  
The One

Subject. The study addresses the improvement of risk management efficiency and the quality of lending decisions made by banks. Objectives. The aim is to present the bank management with a fair algorithm for risk management motivation on the one hand, and the credit management (business) on the other hand. Within the framework of the common goal to maximize risk-adjusted income from loans, this algorithm will provide guidelines for ‘risk management’ and ‘business’ functions on how to improve individual and overall efficiency. Methods. The study employs the discriminant analysis, type I and II errors, Lorentz curve modeling, statistical analysis, economic modeling. Results. The paper offers a mechanism for assessing the quality of risk management decisions as opposed to (or in support of) decisions of the lending business when approving transactions. The mechanism rests on the approach of stating type I and II errors and the corresponding classical metric of the Gini coefficient. On the ‘business’ side, the mechanism monitors the improvement or deterioration of the indicator of changes in losses in comparison with the market average. Conclusions. The study substantiates the stimulating ‘rules of the game’ between the ‘business’ and ‘risk management’ to improve the efficiency of the entire business, to optimize interactions within the framework of internal competition. It presents mathematical tools to calculate corresponding indicators of the efficiency of internally competing entities.

Road names in Vologda dialect: semantics, derivational relations

2018 ◽  
Vol 79 (7) ◽  
pp. 77-82
Author(s):  
E. P. Andreeva
Keyword(s):  
Lexical Item ◽  
The Road ◽  
Russian Word ◽  
The Common ◽  
The One

The road image in the worldview of Northern-Russian countryman is described in the article. The semantic and derivational potential of the common Russian word in the dialect context is analyzed, the motivated reasons of the dialect words named ‘place, area that is moving on’are defined. The language means explicating characteristics of the one of the key images in the dialect linguistic worldview are marked. The article purpose is show the functioning of the common Russian word road in the dialect from the one side and to watch what other dialect units make the list of the lexical item group, what links and relations are among them.

The Problem of the Typology of Rationality in Muslim Culture

2019 ◽  
Vol 62 (6) ◽  
pp. 88-99
Author(s):  
Andrey A. Lukashev
Keyword(s):  
Modern Philosophy ◽  
Theoretical Basis ◽  
Theoretical Models ◽  
The Other ◽  
Common Denominator ◽  
Islamic Culture ◽  
The Common ◽  
Per Se ◽  
The One ◽  
Muslim Culture

The typology of rationality is one of major issues of modern philosophy. In an attempt to provide a typology to Oriental materials, a researcher faces additional problems. The diversity of the Orient as such poses a major challenge. When we say “Oriental,” we mean several cultures for which we cannot find a common denominator. The concept of “Orient” involves Arabic, Indian, Chinese, Turkish and other cultures, and the only thing they share is that they are “non-Western.” Moreover, even if we focus just on Islamic culture and look into rationality in this context, we have to deal with a conglomerate of various trends, which does not let us define, with full confidence, a common theoretical basis and treat them as a unity. Nevertheless, we have to go on trying to find common directions in thought development, so as to draw conclusions about types of rationality possible in Islamic culture. A basis for such a typology of rationality in the context of the Islamic world was recently suggested in A.V. Smirnov’s logic of sense theory. However, actual empiric material cannot always fit theoretical models, and the cases that do not fit the common scheme are interesting per se. On the one hand, examination of such cases gives an opportunity to specify certain provisions of the theory and, on the other hand, to define the limits of its applicability.

Development of the Biomaterials Technology for the Infection Resistance

2018 ◽  
Vol 24 (8) ◽  
pp. 886-895 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tengzhou Xu ◽  
Zhou Chen ◽  
Zhaofeng Chen ◽  
Yuxin Fan ◽  
Haifeng Mao
Keyword(s):  
Disease Spread ◽  
Metallic Ions ◽  
Comparative Performance ◽  
Tissue Interactions ◽  
Infection Resistance ◽  
Glass Base ◽  
Microbial Proliferation ◽  
The Common ◽  
Multicenter Clinical Trials ◽  
Technical Solutions

Infections caused by microbial proliferation are one of the common issues and serious threats to the medical care, and they usually result in disease spread. Therefore, it is a significant issue for developing the antiinfective biomaterials to control this problem, according to the specific clinical application. Meanwhile, all their properties, the best anti-infective performance, the safe biocompatibility and the appropriate tissue interactions must be conformed to each other. At present, technologies are developing novel biomaterials and surfaces endowed with anti-infective properties, relying either on bactericidal or anti-biofilm activities. This review focuses on thoroughly summarizing numerous kinds of antibacterial biomaterials, including the antibacterial matrix biomaterials, antibacterial coatings and films, nanostructured materials and antibacterial fibers. Among these strategies, the utilization of bio-glass base and graphene base antibacterial matrix, and their effects on the antibiosis mechanism were emphatically discussed. Simultaneously, the effects and mechanisms of nano-coated metallic ions are also mentioned. Overall, there is a wealth of technical solutions to contrast the establishment of an implant infection. The lack of well-structured prospective multicenter clinical trials hinders the achievement of conclusive data on the efficacy and comparative performance of antibacterial biomaterials.

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