The theme of power in the theology of Adolf Von harnack

Harnack Is best known as a church historian of the first rank, but a case can also be made for his significance as a constructive theologian. This thesis sets out to examine his theology using an interpretive framework not employed before, namely, the theme of power which runs throughout his work. Use is made of the sociological typology of power developed by Dennis Wrong on the basis of Weber, of Michael Mann's work on the origins of social power, and of Peter Berger's classification of various theological approaches to secularisation and religious pluralism. The investigation broadens the base of Harnack research by making fuller use than has generally the case of publications other than Das Wesen and Dogmengeschichte. and pays attention to Harnack's devotional as well as his scholarly writing. The theory of power which emerges is strongly dualistic, distinguishing interior, ideological power from external, social power. Divine power empowers individuals from within, via their acceptance of the charismatic and competent authority of Jesus as legitimate authority, and the concomitant attribution of benign, nutrient power to the character of God. This acceptance produces markedly beneficial effects upon the individual’s emotional and moral state, which gives rise to constructive activity in the external world. Inherent in this theory is a high estimate of the empowering possibilities of ideas and personalities. Harnack argues that the early church underwent a regrettable process Ctranspotentiation'), involving the growth of external, coercive authority and a diminution in the availability of interior, divine/spiritual power. Harnack's work contains serious tensions related to its untenable dualism and its ambivalence about the possibility of legitimate external authority in the church. But his explanation of divine/spiritual empowering provided a plausible, attractive theodicy and apologetic in its time. With modifications it could do so again, and is of especial value in developing an existential theology of the inner life

The Good Night Out Campaign: evaluation of a nightlife worker training programme to prevent sexual violence in Liverpool

In 2019, Good Night Out Campaign (GNOC) facilitators (from Liverpool Local Authority and RASA Merseyside) worked with 11 nightlife venues to engage them in the GNOC, providing guidance on preventing and responding to sexual violence, training for over 150 nightlife workers, and materials to display in venues to raise awareness of the GNOC and encourage nightlife patrons to report incidents. This report provides a summary of findings from an evaluation of the GNOC training. Findings suggest that the GNOC training programme is associated with: improvements in knowledge; improved attitudes towards sexual violence; and, greater readiness and confidence to intervene in sexual violence, amongst nightlife workers

Fatigue reduces the complexity of knee extensor torque during fatiguing sustained isometric contractions

The temporal structure, or complexity, of muscle torque output reflects the adaptability of motor control to changes in task demands. This complexity is reduced by neuromuscular fatigue during intermittent isometric contractions. We tested the hypothesis that sustained fatiguing isometric contractions would result in a similar loss of complexity. To that end, nine healthy participants performed, on separate days, sustained isometric contractions of the knee extensors at 20% MVC to task failure and at 100% MVC for 60 s. Torque and surface EMG signals were sampled continuously. Complexity and fractal scaling were quantified by calculating approximate entropy (ApEn) and the detrended fluctuation analysis (DFA) α scaling exponent. Global, central and peripheral fatigue were quantified using maximal voluntary contractions (MVCs) with femoral nerve stimulation. Fatigue reduced the complexity of both submaximal (ApEn from 1.02 ± 0.06 to 0.41 ± 0.04, P < 0.05) and maximal contractions (ApEn from 0.34 ± 0.05 to 0.26 ± 0.04, P < 0.05; DFA α from 1.41 ± 0.04 to 1.52 ± 0.03, P < 0.05). The losses of complexity were accompanied by significant global, central and peripheral fatigue (all P < 0.05). These results demonstrate that a fatigue-induced loss of torque complexity is evident not only during fatiguing intermittent isometric contractions, but also during sustained fatiguing contractions

Neuromuscular responses to mild-muscle damaging eccentric exercise in a low glycogen state.

The aim of this study was to examine the effect of low muscle glycogen on the neuromuscular responses to maximal eccentric contractions. Fourteen healthy men (22±3years) performed single-leg cycling (20min at ∼75% maximal oxygen uptake (V̇O2 max); eight 90 s sprints at a 1:1 work-to-rest ratio (5% decrements from 90% to 55% V̇O2 max until exhaustion) the evening before 100 eccentric (1.57rads(-1)) with reduced (RED) and normal glycogen (NORM). Neuromuscular responses were measured during and up to 48h after with maximal voluntary and involuntary (twitch, 20Hz and 50Hz) isometric contractions. During eccentric contractions, peak torque decreased (RED: -16.1±2.5%; NORM: -6.2±5.1%) and EMG frequency increased according to muscle length. EMG activity decreased for RED only. After eccentric contractions, maximal isometric force was reduced up to 24h for NORM (-13.5±5.8%) and 48h for RED (-7.4±10.9%). Twelve hours after eccentric contractions, twitch force and the 20:50Hz ratio were decreased for RED but not for NORM. Immediate involuntary with prolonged voluntary force loss suggests that reduced glycogen is associated with increased susceptibility to mild muscle-damaging eccentric exercise with contributions of peripheral and central mechanisms to be different during recovery

Muscle Fatigue Analysis Using OpenSim

In this research, attempts are made to conduct concrete muscle fatigue analysis of arbitrary motions on OpenSim, a digital human modeling platform. A plug-in is written on the base of a muscle fatigue model, which makes it possible to calculate the decline of force-output capability of each muscle along time. The plug-in is tested on a three-dimensional, 29 degree-of-freedom human model. Motion data is obtained by motion capturing during an arbitrary running at a speed of 3.96 m/s. Ten muscles are selected for concrete analysis. As a result, the force-output capability of these muscles reduced to 60%-70% after 10 minutes' running, on a general basis. Erector spinae, which loses 39.2% of its maximal capability, is found to be more fatigue-exposed than the others. The influence of subject attributes (fatigability) is evaluated and discussed

Systems leadership in practice: thematic insights from three public health case studies.

BACKGROUND: 'Systems leadership' has emerged as a key concept in global public health alongside such related concepts as 'systems thinking' and 'whole systems approaches.' It is an approach that is well suited to issues that require collective action, where no single organisation can control the outcomes. While there is a growing literature on the theory of systems leadership in a number of fields, there remains a lack of published empirical studies of public health systems leadership for professionals to learn from. The aim of the current project was to conduct cases studies in UK public health to provide empirical evidence on the nature of effective systems leadership practice. METHODS: Three system leadership case studies were identified in the key domains of public health: health protection, healthcare public health and health improvement. A total of 27 semi-structured interviews were conducted. Data were thematically analysed to identify the components of effective systems leadership in each case and its impact. RESULTS: The thematic analysis identified themes around 'getting started,' 'maintaining momentum' and 'indicators of success' in systems leadership. In terms of getting started, the analysis showed that both a compelling 'call to action' and assembling an effective 'coalition of the willing' are important. To maintain momentum, the analysis identified themes relating to system structure, culture and the people involved. Regarding culture, the main themes that emerged were the importance of nurturing strong relationships, curiosity and a desire to understand the system, and promoting resilience. The analysis identified three components that could be used as indicators of success; these were a sense of enjoyment from the work, resource gains to the system and shifts in data indicators at the population level. CONCLUSIONS: This study has provided insight into the nature of systems leadership in public health settings in the UK. It has identified factors that contribute to effective public health systems leadership and offers a thematic model in terms of establishing a systems leadership approach, maintaining momentum and identifying key success indicators

Scoping the impact of COVID-19 on the nexus of statelessness and health in Council of Europe member states.

Background: Stateless communities in Europe include ethnic Russians in the Baltic States, recent migrants, refugees, Roma, and other members of minority groups.Increases in COVID19 infection have been observed in many European countries, including reported outbreaks in groups that include people and communities affected by statelessness, who often live in congested and sub-standard unhygienic conditions, work in informal sectors which hampers their adherence to public health measures (self-isolation/physical distancing/hand sanitation), or who are detained in immigration detention centres. The impact of COVID-19 on stateless people in Europe (estimated to be at least 600,000) is currently under researched, and there is an imperative to understand their experiences and situation, in order to generate evidence based measures, responses and actions to protect those most at risk. Method: In order to better understand their unique position during the COVID-19 pandemic, we conducted a scoping review to explore and assess the nexus between statelessness and health during COVID-19 in Europe. Literature was found representing ten Council of Europe countries (Bulgaria, Denmark, Greece, Italy, Romania, Russia, Slovakia, Ireland, Ukraine and the United Kingdom), with 15 publications representing multiple countries. Four publications specifically focused on stateless people. The remainder focused on populations which include people disproportionately affected by statelessness both in the migratory context and those in situ (minority groups including Roma and ethnic Russians, and refugees and migrants). Results: Three themes emerged from the analysis (Environmental determinants of health; access to healthcare services; and racism and vilification), with higher level abstraction centring on the nexus between existing adverse environmental determinants of health, compounded barriers to access healthcare during COVID-19; and the concerning rise in hate crime and scapegoating of minority populations during the COVID-19 emergency. Whilst the right to healthcare is a fundamental human right, with universal application and with access to healthcare services ensured to every human being without regards to race, religion or other criteria, including nationality status, this appears not to be the case for populations affected by statelessness during the COVID-19 health and state emergency. The right to a nationality (and realisation of the right to health and access to healthcare/public services) in the current pandemic times is crucial in a targeted effective and culturally sensitive public health response. Conclusion: The hidden nature of statelessness, coupled with the marginalisation of stateless people, exacerbates the structural underpinning and interplay between statelessness, human rights, health rights and right to nationality during the COVID-19 pandemic. The review further highlights the need to protect stateless people. We further cannot underestimate the need for sensitive legal, health and social response measures to tackle disease transmission in vulnerable groups, continued statelessness of people in Europe, and hate crime, xenophobia and discrimination of those perceived to be at risk of contagion

Women living with HIV, diabetes and/or hypertension multi-morbidity in Uganda: a qualitative exploration of experiences accessing an integrated care service

Purpose: Women experience a triple burden of ill-health spanning non-communicable diseases (NCDs), reproductive and maternal health conditions and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) in sub-Saharan Africa. Whilst there is research on integrated service experiences of women living with HIV (WLHIV) and cancer, little is known regarding those of WLHIV, diabetes and/or hypertension when accessing integrated care. Our research responds to this gap. Design/methodology/approach: The INTE-AFRICA project conducted a pragmatic parallel arm cluster randomised trial to scale up and evaluate “one-stop” integrated care clinics for HIV-infection, diabetes and hypertension at selected primary care centres in Uganda. A qualitative process evaluation explored and documented patient experiences of integrated care for HIV, diabetes and/or hypertension. In-depth interviews were conducted using a phenomenological approach with six WLHIV with diabetes and/or hypertension accessing a “one stop” clinic. Thematic analysis of narratives revealed five themes: lay health knowledge and alternative medicine, community stigma, experiences of integrated care, navigating personal challenges and health service constraints. Findings: WLHIV described patient pathways navigating HIV and diabetes/hypertension, with caregiving responsibilities, poverty, travel time and cost and personal ill health impacting on their ability to adhere to multi-morbid integrated treatment. Health service barriers to optimal integrated care included unreliable drug supply for diabetes/hypertension and HIV linked stigma. Comprehensive integrated care is recommended to further consider gender sensitive aspects of care. Originality/value: This study whilst small scale, provides a unique insight into the lived experience of WLHIV navigating care for HIV and diabetes and/or hypertension, and how a “one stop” integrated care clinic can support them (and their children) in their treatment journeys

Knowledge, attitudes, perceptions and practices towards cardiovascular disease risk prevention and management in patients living with HIV in Sub-Saharan Africa: A scoping review of qualitative literature

Background: Cardiovascular diseases are projected to bypass HIV as the most common cause of death in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) by 2030. People living with HIV (PLHIV) are more likely to develop complications of cardiovascular disease. This poses a major developmental challenge. Methods: A scoping review of qualitative literature mapped what is known about cardiovascular disease awareness, prevention, and management from the perspectives of PLHIV in SSA. Six qualitative studies from Malawi, Kenya, and South Africa were charted and analysed thematically. Results: Patients were aware of cardiovascular diseases but had varied attitudes and practices towards prevention. Social support and fear of developing life-threatening complications motivated some PLHIV to change their health behaviours. Financial hardship, unavailability of medication, and hearsay prevented adherence to lifestyle measures and medical treatment. Conclusions: Targeted prevention initiatives are critical in response to the unique needs of PLHIV and improve overall health indices in the SSA region

Comparison of recovery strategies on maximal force-generating capacity and electromyographic activity level of the knee extensor muscles

Context: With regard to intermittent training exercise, the effects of the mode of recovery on subsequent performance are equivocal. Objective: To compare the effects of 3 types of recovery intervention on peak torque (PT) and electromyographic (EMG) activity of the knee extensor muscles after fatiguing isokinetic intermittent concentric exercise. Design: Crossover study. Setting: Research laboratory. Patients or Other Participants: Eight elite judo players (age = 18.4 ± 1.4 years, height = 180 ± 3 cm, mass = 77.0 ± 4.2 kg). Intervention(s): Participants completed 3 randomized sessions within 7 days. Each session consisted of 5 sets of 10 concentric knee extensions at 80% PT at 120°/s, with 3 minutes of recovery between sets. Recovery interventions were passive, active, and electromyostimulation. The PT and maximal EMG activity were recorded simultaneously while participants performed isokinetic dynamometer trials before and 3 minutes after the resistance exercise. Main Outcome Measure(s): The PT and maximal EMG activity from the knee extensors were quantified at isokinetic velocities of 60°/s, 120°/s, and 180°/s, with 5 repetitions at each velocity. Results: The reduction in PT observed after electromyostimulation was less than that seen after passive (