Theodoret of Cyrus on Messalianism

This paper aims to review the positions of Theodoret of Cyrus on Messalianism. After a brief presentation on Messalianism and of the position taken against it by some Church Fathers and synods, the author formulates the hypothesis that Theodoret, while taking a position on Messalianism, was careful not to harm the reputation of Antioch, as this theological centre could be perceived in Alexandria as a fief of Messalianism in the East. In Historia religiosa Theodoret carefully avoids any association of his ascetic heroes with Messalianism. The report on Messianism in Historia ecclesiastica also carefully disconnects Antioch from Messalianism and declared that Syria was cleared up of their influence. Keywords: Theodoret of Cyrus; Messalianism; Antioch; Historia Religiosa; Historia ecclesiastica; Theodoret on Messalianis

Orthodoxy and evangelicalism : an overview of their relationship from the perspective of moral values

Orthodox–Evangelical relationships are dominated by proselytism (at least in Eastern Europe and in the former Soviet Union). This is understood as church conversion practiced through unfair means among people who are already Christians, belonging to so-called “historical churches.” However, beyond it, there is a real potential for cooperation using moral values as a starting point. As there is an increasing disagreement between the Orthodox and mainline Protestant on moral values, the Orthodox and Evangelicals might increase their cooperation as they witness traditional values of Christianity. This kind of cooperation might be partially contextual, but it is based on Biblicism, which both Orthodox and Evangelicals share as a core value. As this cooperation, based on shared moral values, certainly has real potential, and has to be used for the good of Christianity, it might also have its limitations. Orthodox Christians and Evangelicals have shared common moral values, but each one of them might interpret the content of these values differently. One of the differences in interpreting and explaining the content of moral values might be given by the different interpretations of what is called church tradition.Lucian Blaga University of Sibiu and Hasso Plattner Foundation.http://www.mdpi.com/journal/religionspm2022Church History and Church Polic

Some aspects of Adolf von Harnack’s criticism on Orthodox tradition

This article is a revised version of a lecture presented under the same title on 10 February 2011 in Leeds Trinity University College, as part of the Eastern Christian Studies Seminars. The Reverend Dr Daniel Buda is a research fellow, participating with Prof. Dr Graham Duncan, Head of the Department of Church History and Polity of the Faculty of Theology at the University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa.The aim of this article is to present the critique that Adolf von Harnack (1851–1930) formulated on the Orthodox tradition in his famous book Das Wesen des Christentums, as well as to comment on its affirmations in the context of his time and way of thinking and to try and find explanations for his criticism. The article concludes that although Harnack’s critique on the Orthodox tradition may have presented negative perception of Orthodoxy, particularly amongst Protestants and many Orthodox theologians who were furious after reading his paper, yet, his critical affirmations also have constructive aspects. However, some of the conclusions of Harnack’s criticism are genuinely rejected by the Orthodox theologians and are no longer sustainable. As a theologian, Harnack cannot be considered an opponent of the modern ecumenical movement, but rather as one of its pioneers. Harnack could be included in the category of frank ecumenists who prefer to express in a critical, but constructive way that which he believes about his own Christian tradition, as well as other Christian traditions.http://www.hts.org.zaam2013mn201

Mission and people with disabilities: a few thoughts and facts from an orthodox perspective

This article begins with a few thoughts and some historical and canonical encounters about how lay and ordained people with disabilities have been involved in Orthodox mission work in the past. It then presents two concrete contemporary situations in which people with disabilities are involved in Orthodox ordained ministry work despite the persisting tradition that disabled people not be ordained. The first example is taken from the Eritrean Orthodox Tewahedo Church, where the involvement of people with disabilities in both ordained and lay ministry provides significant support for a church that lives in a delicate situation. The second example is taken from the Romanian Orthodox Church and presents the case of Father Theophilus Părăian, one of the most prominent contemporary Romanian Orthodox monastic figures, who served as an ordained priest despite his disability. This article pleads for a deeper involvement of disabled people in both ordained and lay ministry in Orthodox churches.https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/175866312021-06-01hj2020Church History and Church Polic

Prevalence of various Upper Extremity Disorders in Patients with Carpal Tunnel Syndrome versus Patients without Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

Background and Purpose: Increasingly larger numbers of patients present with repetitive strain injuries of the upper extremities, especially carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS). A large number of these patients appear to have more than one upper extremity condition. The purpose of this study was to determine the probability that a patient diagnosed with carpal tunnel syndrome will also be diagnosed with other upper extremity and/or cervical spine disorders. Subjects: A group of 188 subjects diagnosed with carpal tunnel syndrome and a group of 203 subjects without carpal tunnel syndrome were selected through a chart review of patients at Loma Linda University Medical Center. Subjects were Caucasian or African-American, between the ages of 24 and 75 years. Methods: Patients were selected for the carpal tunnel syndrome group based on both clinical diagnosis and validation through electrodiagnosis. A group of subjects who had not been diagnosed with carpal tunnel syndrome, the control group, was selected by a chart review of patients seen by the same surgeons as the carpal tunnel group. The prevalence of different upper extremity disorders and other conditions was compared in the two groups. Results: Of the 188 subjects in the carpal tunnel group, 25 (13.3%) were also diagnosed with at least one ulnar nerve disorder, compared to none of the 203 subjects in the control group. Thirty-four subjects (20.2%) were diagnosed with at least one nerve disorder other than carpal tunnel syndrome in the carpal tunnel syndrome group, compared to 12 (5.9%) in the control group. Also, 21 subjects (11.2%) in the carpal tunnel syndrome group were diagnosed with trigger finger while only one (0.5%) had the same diagnosis in the control group. Seven subjects (3.7%) were diagnosed with ganglion cysts, and 30 subjects (16.0%) were diagnosed with at least one other upper extremity disorder that involved muscle, tendon, or joint capsule in the carpal tunnel group while one (0.5%) and two (1.0%) subjects respectively had these diagnoses in the control group. Discussion and Conclusion: As often seen in physical therapy clinics, when a patient has been diagnosed with carpal tunnel syndrome, there is a good chance that other upper extremity disorders have or will be diagnosed in the same patient. These conditions may or may not be related to carpal tunnel syndrome. An apparent predisposition of some patients to upper extremity disorders has been observed before and appears to be the case in this study. Clinicians should consider screening their patients for all these disorders, when only one of them may be readily apparent. Key Words: Carpal tunnel syndrome, Upper extremity disorders, Repetitive strain injury

Tax governance: how the EU supports third countries

Abstract This paper aims to provide an analysis of the legislative framework that regulates the inclusion of clauses on good governance in tax matters, in the agreements concluded between the European Union, with its Member States, and third countries. We provide a representation of the regulatory pathway from a set of standards on tax good governance according to the principles of transparency, exchange of information and fair tax competition towards a common EU external strategy for effective taxation. Agreements that the European Union has either in place or negotiating with countries and regions around the world are an excellent tool in fighting unfair trade practices and promoting international standards on good governance in the tax area, and set the basis for a fair competition in the economy of developing countries: a strong tax administration and institutions responsible for fighting illicit financial flows in developing countries can contribute to erase poverty and inequalities while promoting good governance and state-building

An integrative redescription of the nominal taxon for the Mesobiotus harmsworthi group (Tardigrada: Macrobiotidae) leads to descriptions of two new Mesobiotus species from Arctic

The Mesobiotus harmsworthi group has a global distribution, with localities in polar, temperate and tropical zones. Since the first species of the harmsworthi group was described in the beginning of the 20^{th} century, tens of new species within the group were found and named. However, the diagnosis of the nominal Mesobiotus harmsworthi is insufficient and enigmatic, thus it can be is a serious obstacle in solving the taxonomy of this group. Here, we integratively redescribe the nominal species for the genus Mesobiotus, i.e., Mesobiotus harmsworthi and clarify taxonomic statuses of the two subspecies: M. harmsworthi harmsworthi and M. harmsworthi obscurus that have been recognised as distinct taxa for more than three decades. Traditionally, egg chorion in M. harmsworthi was considered almost smooth and without any traces of areolation, however here we report many misunderstandings that accumulated across decades and we show that, in fact, the chorion in this species exhibits a partially developed areolation. We present an integrative (morphological, morphometric and molecular) diagnosis of the nominal taxon and we confirm that it differs from other species of the harmsworthi group by morphological characters of both animals and eggs. Additionally, we describe two new species of the genus Mesobiotus: M. skorackii sp. nov. from the Kyrgyz Republic (using classical morphological description) and M. occultatus sp. nov. from Svalbard Archipelago (by means of integrative taxonomy). Finally, we also provide the first genetic phylogeny of the genus Mesobiotus based on COI sequences which, together with molecular species delimitation, independently confirms the validity of the analysed taxa

Financial and Non-Financial Disclosures for Agriculture: is there any Connection in between GRI 13 and IAS 41?

This article compares and contrasts two financial and non-financial standards, IAS 41 Agriculture and GRI 13 Agriculture, Aquaculture and Fishing to check if they mirror one another and what are the connections or disconnections between them, whether they are complementary or supplementary to one another, otherwise just unrelated. This research is conducted on text-based analysis of density of keywords in the professional standards, as well as a check-up on firms’ market capitalisation and revenues, alongside with non-financial reporting data. This argument builds in on the potential association between financial and non-financial demands for companies and how their reported facts impact on society, environment, economic growth and trade-offs. There is a pressure mainly from public institutions for a merger of non-financial and financial data, yet, market reactions and primarily users’ needs advance at a difference pace. The conclusion explains that IAS 41 has its own sustainability in-built information capacity on biological assets maintenance, financial sustainability and even well-being of animals, while GRI 13 is definitely more detailed and dedicated in terms of food security, soil health, waste, animal health, economic inclusion and traceability. Despite some greenwashing techniques when reporting, non-financial reporting has a value enhancing effect and will fulfil its role of broadening and improving on decision usefulness

Mapeamento dos Estudos em Biodiversidade Realizados na Unidade de Gerenciamento de Recursos Hídricos Tietê-Jacaré (SP)

The State of Sao Paulo, as well as several other Brazilian states, has suffered an intense process of devastation of its natural heritage, resulting in the loss of about 80% of its native vegetation, with consequences for its fauna. The main objective of the research was to survey data and information on relevant scientific studies, completed or not, involving the issue of biodiversity in the region of UGRHI – Tietê-Jacaré (SP). Therefore, consultations were held in the databases of the Biota-Fapesp, in the Ministry of Environment, in the Environmental Secretary of Sao Paulo and in municipal sites. Among the results, we can point out the mapping of research institutions and their work done on biodiversity in the region, besides quantitative data on the remaining natural vegetation and an inventory of protected areas and other specially protected areas existing in the UGRHI. The integration of data and information contained in this work can serve as subsidies to the creation and implementation of public policies for conservation and preservation of biodiversity, which may, in turn, stimulate the relationship between local governments, the Watershed Committee Tietê-Jacaré and academic institutions.O Estado de São Paulo, assim como vários outros Estados brasileiros, sofreu intenso processo de devastação de seu patrimônio natural, acarretando a perda de cerca de 80% de sua vegetação nativa, com consequências em sua fauna associada. O objetivo principal da pesquisa foi realizar um levantamento de dados e informações sobre estudos científicos, concluídos ou em desenvolvimento, relacionados ao tema biodiversidade na região da UGRHI – Tietê-Jacaré (SP). Para tanto, realizaram-se consultas nas bases de dados do Programa Biota-Fapesp, do Ministério do Meio Ambiente, da Secretaria do Meio Ambiente de São Paulo e em sites municipais. Dentre os resultados obtidos, cabe destacar o mapeamento das instituições de pesquisa e os grupos taxonômicos estudados, além de dados quantitativos sobre a vegetação natural remanescente e um inventário das Unidades de Conservação e outras áreas especialmente protegidas existentes na UGRHI. A integração dos dados e informações contidos neste trabalho podem estimular as parcerias entre os governos municipais, o Comitê de Bacia Hidrográfica Tietê-Jacaré e as instituições acadêmicas na elaboração e efetivação de políticas públicas de conservação e preservação da biodiversidade

How Can Scientific Literature Support Decision-Making in the Renovation of Historic Buildings?:An Evidence-Based Approach for Improving the Performance of Walls

Buildings of heritage significance due to their historical, architectural, or cultural value, here called historic buildings, constitute a large proportion of the building stock in many countries around the world. Improving the performance of such buildings is necessary to lower the carbon emissions of the stock, which generates around 40% of the overall emissions worldwide. In historic buildings, it is estimated that heat loss through external walls contributes significantly to the overall energy consumption, and is associated with poor thermal comfort and indoor air quality. Measures to improve the performance of walls of historic buildings require a balance between energy performance, indoor environmental quality, heritage significance, and technical compatibility. Appropriate wall measures are available, but the correct selection and implementation require an integrated process throughout assessment (planning), design, construction, and use. Despite the available knowledge, decision-makers often have limited access to robust information on tested retrofit measures, hindering the implementation of deep renovation. This paper provides an evidence-based approach on the steps required during assessment, design, and construction, and after retrofitting through a literature review. Moreover, it provides a review of possible measures for wall retrofit within the deep renovation of historic buildings, including their advantages and disadvantages and the required considerations based on context