A Public Christian Library: A Unique Model For Evangelism

The following profile article is designed to share an example of a unique model of ministry based on the concept and vision of a public Christian library located in a marketplace environment, open and available to the general public. Prague Christian Library, located in the capital city of the Czech Republic, was originally established and received government approval as a non-profit foundation in the Spring of 1999

When Leadership Fails – A View From The Lens Of Four Employees

Leadership is a concept that has been used for decades and despite what we know about it there are many things left to the unknown. We must keep moving forward to search for answers as we seek to explain the many failures that exist today. For centuries, reports of lackluster and even abusive leadership in organizations have continued to be a negative force in organizations, adversely impacting culture and overall performance. Amid the challenges facing leaders as well as the necessity for rapid and continuous change in the organization, we see the development of many problems and consequent ails that need to be addressed.  We are often left with supervisors that abuse without regard for the breakdown of loyalty, job satisfaction and the development of a solid and rich culture that can support thriving and positive organizational outcomes. This has been captured in the voices and experiences of individuals interviewed for this qualitative case study analysis, demonstrating the continued impact of leadership in modern day organizations and well as addressing the perplexing question of how to distinguish who would or would not be a best fit for leadership positions in today’s organizations.  Despite years of research, theory and analysis, perhaps the greatest insight is gained through the lens of the employee

Reconciliation Potential of Rwandans Convicted of Genocide

This study examines the reconciliation potential of Rwandans incarcerated for the crime of genocide. Utilising survey data from 302 male and female prisoners incar‐ cerated in the Rwandan Correctional System, this study explores genocide perpe‐ trators’ depression, anxiety, anger-hostility and somatic symptoms, levels of post‐ traumatic stress, degree of social support and attitudes towards unity and reconci‐ liation. The data demonstrate that engaging in killing can have deep psychological impacts for genocide perpetrators. The data indicate that although more than two decades have passed since the genocide, perpetrators are experiencing high levels of genocide-related posttraumatic suffering. Perpetrators are persistently re-experi‐ encing genocide, purposefully avoiding thoughts and memories of the genocide, and experiencing physical and emotional arousal and reactivity. The sample had a strong desire for all Rwandans to live in peace and unity. There is, however, an urgent need for physical and mental health interventions, as well as services that facilitate the rebuilding of family relationships well in advance of release. Improving the physical and mental well-being of both perpetrators of the genocide and victims can only be a positive development as Rwanda continues to build a unified, reconciled and resilient future

Recovery After Genocide: Understanding the Dimensions of Recovery Capital Among Incarcerated Genocide Perpetrators in Rwanda

Utilizing survey data from 302 men and women incarcerated in the Rwandan correctional system for the crime of genocide, and structured interviews with 75 prisoners, this mixed methods study draws on the concept of recovery capital to understand how individuals convicted of genocide navigate post-genocide healing. Genocide smashes physical and human capital and perverts social and cultural capital. Experiencing high levels of posttraumatic stress symptoms with more than two-thirds of the sample scoring above typical civilian cut-off levels, raised levels of depression, and high levels of anxiety, and failing physical health, the genocide perpetrators require multiple sources of recovery capital to foster internal resilience as they look forward to rebuilding their own lives

SMART Cables for Observing the Global Ocean: Science and Implementation

The ocean is key to understanding societal threats including climate change, sea level rise, ocean warming, tsunamis, and earthquakes. Because the ocean is difficult and costly to monitor, we lack fundamental data needed to adequately model, understand, and address these threats. One solution is to integrate sensors into future undersea telecommunications cables. This is the mission of the SMART subsea cables initiative (Science Monitoring And Reliable Telecommunications). SMART sensors would “piggyback” on the power and communications infrastructure of a million kilometers of undersea fiber optic cable and thousands of repeaters, creating the potential for seafloor-based global ocean observing at a modest incremental cost. Initial sensors would measure temperature, pressure, and seismic acceleration. The resulting data would address two critical scientific and societal issues: the long-term need for sustained climate-quality data from the under-sampled ocean (e.g., deep ocean temperature, sea level, and circulation), and the near-term need for improvements to global tsunami warning networks. A Joint Task Force (JTF) led by three UN agencies (ITU/WMO/UNESCO-IOC) is working to bring this initiative to fruition. This paper explores the ocean science and early warning improvements available from SMART cable data, and the societal, technological, and financial elements of realizing such a global network. Simulations show that deep ocean temperature and pressure measurements can improve estimates of ocean circulation and heat content, and cable-based pressure and seismic-acceleration sensors can improve tsunami warning times and earthquake parameters. The technology of integrating these sensors into fiber optic cables is discussed, addressing sea and land-based elements plus delivery of real-time open data products to end users. The science and business case for SMART cables is evaluated. SMART cables have been endorsed by major ocean science organizations, and JTF is working with cable suppliers and sponsors, multilateral development banks and end users to incorporate SMART capabilities into future cable projects. By investing now, we can build up a global ocean network of long-lived SMART cable sensors, creating a transformative addition to the Global Ocean Observing System

Research into the safety of London bus passengers

Key recommendationsReduce harsh braking and acceleration incidents; • Encourage the use of forward collision warning systems to assist drivers negotiating congested traffic; • Enable passengers to sit down before bus pulls away from bus stops; • Encourage passenger behaviour change using nudge techniques or additional information sources to enable them to stay seated until the bus has completely stopped before alighting; • Encourage passengers to routinely hold onto grab-rails and seat rails whilst sat down; • Raise awareness of the impact of a driver’s behaviour and decision making on a passengers psychological and physical well-being through driver empathy training; • Review the issue of the ‘open’ forward-facing seats into the wheelchair / buggy area to prevent passengers being thrown out of them in instances of harsh braking; • Consider evaluating and increasing running times in the off peak-periods to enable drivers to accommodate the needs of older passengers to reach a seat on boarding and remain seated until fully stopped for alighting the bus; • Promote the needs of drivers and passengers to increase the dialogue on buses and raise awareness of expected behaviours e.g. passengers must always hold on to handrails; • Consider policy changes to enhance driver behaviour; particularly to not pull away until passengers are sat down; always kneel the bus and wait until bus has stopped before passengers stand to alight; • Potentially consider gamification of bus drivers to rate their driving and provide award

Working for an algorithm:Power asymmetries and agency in online work settings

Drawing on interviews with 77 high-performing eBay business sellers, this article investigates the power asymmetries generated by customer evaluations in online work settings. Sellers' accounts revealed a high degree of sensitivity to negative reviews, which, while infrequent, triggered feelings of anxiety and vulnerability. These accounts exposed power asymmetries at two levels: the transactional level between sellers and customers, and the governance level between sellers and eBay. Our findings highlight three main mechanisms underlying power asymmetries in this context. First, online customer evaluations have created a new form of employee monitoring in which power is exercised through the construction of visibility gaps between buyers and sellers, and through an implicit coalition between buyers and the platform owner, who join together in the evaluation procedures. Second, by mediating and objectifying relations, algorithms reproduce power asymmetries among the different categories of actor, thereby constraining human agency. Third, online customer evaluations prompt sellers to exploit their practical knowledge of the algorithm to increase their agency. Through the lived experience of working for an algorithm, our findings contribute new understandings of power and agency in online work settings

Recovery After Genocide: Understanding the Dimensions of Recovery Capital Among Incarcerated Genocide Perpetrators in Rwanda

Utilizing survey data from 302 men and women incarcerated in the Rwandan correctional system for the crime of genocide, and structured interviews with 75 prisoners, this mixed methods study draws on the concept of recovery capital to understand how individuals convicted of genocide navigate post-genocide healing. Genocide smashes physical and human capital and perverts social and cultural capital. Experiencing high levels of posttraumatic stress symptoms with more than two-thirds of the sample scoring above typical civilian cut-off levels, raised levels of depression, and high levels of anxiety, and failing physical health, the genocide perpetrators require multiple sources of recovery capital to foster internal resilience as they look forward to rebuilding their own lives

Death effector domain-containing protein induces vulnerability to cell cycle inhibition in triple-negative breast cancer

Lacking targetable molecular drivers, triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is the most clinically challenging subtype of breast cancer. In this study, we reveal that Death Effector Domain-containing DNA-binding protein (DEDD), which is overexpressed in > 60% of TNBCs, drives a mitogen-independent G1/S cell cycle transition through cytoplasm localization. The gain of cytosolic DEDD enhances cyclin D1 expression by interacting with heat shock 71 kDa protein 8 (HSC70). Concurrently, DEDD interacts with Rb family proteins and promotes their proteasome-mediated degradation. DEDD overexpression renders TNBCs vulnerable to cell cycle inhibition. Patients with TNBC have been excluded from CDK 4/6 inhibitor clinical trials due to the perceived high frequency of Rb-loss in TNBCs. Interestingly, our study demonstrated that, irrespective of Rb status, TNBCs with DEDD overexpression exhibit a DEDD-dependent vulnerability to combinatorial treatment with CDK4/6 inhibitor and EGFR inhibitor in vitro and in vivo. Thus, our study provided a rationale for the clinical application of CDK4/6 inhibitor combinatorial regimens for patients with TNBC