Christianity\u27s Potential Contribution to Australian Society

The proportion of Christians in the Australian population continues to decline. Internationally, the proportion of Christians in developing countries is tending to increase, whereas the proportion of Christians in developed countries generally is decreasing. This paper first provides a brief overview of the current Australian demographic data and trends in relation to Christian denominations and other religious groups over the past 100 years. Based on Christianity’s past contribution to Australian society, it then posits a framework for a way forward to contribute to the current and future issues and problems confronting Christianity in Australian society

A Study of Deuteronomic and Priestly Legislation With Particular Reference to Clean and Unclean Foods

Problem The laws of clean and unclean foods in Lev 11 and Deut 14: 3:21 have fascinated and perplexed generations of b ib lica l scholars. A great v ariety of suggestions have been proposed as reasons fo r the distin ctio n between the clean and unclean animals. Modern b ib lica l scholars claim, however, that the Levitical and Deuteronomic codes are in tern a lly inconsistent. These claims are of s u ffic ie n t magnitude that i f true might c a ll into question the assumption th at both were given by God at one time. Therefore, i t is the purpose of this study to re-examine the Old Testament sources and from the a p p lication of a c r itic a l hermeneutic to the te x t discover the possible reasons for the existence o f, and the differences in , the codes in the cultures in which they were given and used. Method The classical hermeneutical approach was employed whereby a hypothesis was formulated regarding the date, authorship, inten tion, and function of the codes. The u n it was then observed as a whole and the internal order and structure noted. Also, the flu id state o f the text was considered. That is , i t was recognized that the work of ed itin g , compiling, and updating was ongoing. Conclusion Although the two codes probably derived from a common ancient source during the monarchical period, independent c rys ta lliza tio n s occurred during the division of Israel and Judah. The individual h isto rical and ideological contexts precipitated metamorphoses in the codes which resulted in the differences. A fter 721 B.C. some compromise measures were attempted in an e ffo rt to re-amalgamate the two trad itio n s . The Deuteronomic and P rie s tly codes functioned uniquely in th e ir respective environments as did the food laws in succeeding communities which observed the animal classificatio n s. Although the ordinances themselves remained re la tiv e ly unchanged, each community attributed a d iffe re n t rationale to the clean/unclean d istin c tio n . Five rationales have been proposed. Each were o rig in a lly emphasized by a d iffe re n t community in accordance with its presuppositions, needs, and resources

X-ray Analysis of AGN from the GALEX Time Domain Survey

We analyze the X-ray properties for a sample of 23 high probability AGN candidates with ultraviolet variability identified in Wasleske et al. (2022). Using data from the Chandra X-ray Observatory and the XMM-Newton Observatory, we find 11/23 nuclei are X-ray detected. We use SED modeling to compute star formation rates and show that the X-ray luminosities are typically in excess of the X-ray emission expected from star formation by at least an order of magnitude. Interestingly, this sample shows a diversity of optical spectroscopic properties. We explore possible reasons for why some objects lack optical spectroscopic signatures of black hole activity while still being UV variable and X-ray bright. We find that host galaxy stellar emission and obscuration from gas and dust are all potential factors. We study where this sample falls on relationships such as $\alpha_{\rm OX}-L_{2500}$ and $L_{X}-L_{IR}$ and find that some of the sample falls outside the typical scatter for these relations, indicating they differ from the standard quasar population. With the diversity of optical spectroscopic signatures and varying impacts of dust and stellar emissions on our sample, these results emphasizes the strength of variability in selecting the most complete set of AGN, regardless of other host galaxy properties.Comment: 19 pages, 10 figures. Accepted to The Astronomical Journa

Resolving the policy paradox: the case of biofuel production in Ireland

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to determine the status of policy design and policy implementation in the biofuel sector in Ireland. The focus of the work addresses the overarching operational context of the biofuel sector in Ireland and the role of different actors in shaping and resolving inconsistencies in policy outlook and practice. Design/methodology/approach – This study used a qualitative research approach involving a series of semi-structured interviews with members of the relevant sub-groups concerned. This study sought to address two questions – whether current or proposed policy is likely to affect consumption of indigenous biofuel feedstocks in the biofuel sector and what are the controlling factors in the demand for indigenous feedstocks for biofuel. Findings – Outcomes suggest that while Irish government policy recognises the need to support the development of renewable energy, it also operates under a number of parallel and potentially inconsistent paradigms in relation to biofuels as a renewable energy commodity. It is contended that the outcome of this position is a lack of coherent and coordinated policy in the area of biofuel production, including second generation biofuel using indigenous feedstocks. Originality/value – This paper provides a new cross sectoral perspective on the status of biofuel policy in Ireland with particular reference to second generation biofuel feedstocks. It focuses analysis on the nature of policy-operational inconsistencies and the need for a deeper ecological perspective in governance

Molecular characterization and phylogenetic analysis of laccase producing fungal isolates with dye decolourizing potential

Twenty six fungi were isolated and screened for their ability to produce laccase on solid medium containing guaiacol and ABTS. Among these, six isolates showed positive laccase activity. They were quantitatively screened and the best two cultures were selected for further investigation. The two cultures also exhibited good dye decolorization ability. Molecular characterization based on the ITS rDNA region were carried out for the two cultures. The strains were identified as Psathyrella candolleana LCJ 178 and Myrothecium gramineum (GenBank accession numbers KF414680 and KF414681) respectively. These cultures showed the highest laccase production under submerged fermentation. This paper for the first time reports the production of laccase using Myrothecium gramineum and its ability to degrade dyes

Flip-flop footwear with a moulded foot-bed for the treatment of foot pain : a randomised controlled trial

Background: Foot pain is a common problem affecting up to 1 in 5 adults and is known to adversely affect activities of daily living and health related quality of life. Orthopaedic footwear interventions are used as a conservative treatment for foot pain, although adherence is known to be low, in part due to the perception of poor comfort and unattractiveness of the footwear. The objective of this trial was to assess the efficacy of flip-flop style footwear (Foot Bio-Tec©) with a moulded foot-bed in reducing foot pain compared to participant's usual footwear. Methods: Two-arm parallel randomised controlled trial using computer generated random allocation schedule at an Australian university podiatry clinic. 108 volunteers with disabling foot pain were enrolled after responding to an advertisement and eligibility screening. Participants were randomly allocated to receive footwear education and moulded flip-flop footwear to wear as much as they were comfortable with for the next 12 weeks (n = 54) or footwear education and instructions to wear their normal footwear for the next 12 weeks (n = 54). Primary outcome was the pain domain of the Foot Health Status Questionnaire (FHSQ). Secondary outcomes were the foot function and general foot health domains of the FHSQ, a visual analogue scale (VAS) for foot pain and perceived comfort of the intervention footwear. Results: Compared to the control group, the moulded flip-flop group showed a significant improvement in the primary outcome measure of the FHSQ pain domain (adjusted mean difference 8.36 points, 95 % CI 5.58 to 13.27, p < 0.01). Statistical and clinically significant differences were observed for the secondary measure of foot pain assessed by a VAS and the FSHQ domains of foot function and general foot health. None of the participants reported any pain or discomfort from the intervention footwear and six (footwear group = 4) were lost to follow up. Conclusions: Our results demonstrate that flip-flop footwear with a moulded foot-bed can have a significant effect on foot pain, function and foot health and might be a valuable adjunct therapy for people with foot pain

Perceived mental effort correlates with changes in tonic arousal during attentional tasks

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>It has been suggested that perceived mental effort reflects changes in arousal during tasks of attention. Such changes in arousal may be tonic or phasic, and may be mediated by the locus-coeruleus norepinephrine (LC-NE) system. We hypothesized that perceived mental effort during attentional tasks would correlate with tonic changes in cortical arousal, as assessed by relative electroencephalogram (EEG) band power and theta/beta ratio, and not with phasic changes in cortical arousal, assessed by P300 amplitude and latency.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Forty-six healthy individuals completed tasks that engage the anterior and posterior attention networks (continuous performance task, go/no-go task, and cued target detection task). During completion of the three attentional tasks a continuous record of tonic and phasic arousal was taken. Cortical measures of arousal included frequency band power, theta/beta ratios over frontal and parietal cortices, and P300 amplitude and latency over parietal cortices. Peripheral measures of arousal included skin conductance responses, heart rate and heart rate variance. Participants reported their perceived mental effort during each of the three attentional tasks.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>First, changes in arousal were seen from rest to completion of the three attentional tasks and between the attentional tasks. Changes seen between the attentional tasks being related to the task design and the attentional network activated. Second, perceived mental effort increased when demands of the task increased and correlated with left parietal beta band power during the three tasks of attention. Third, increased mental effort during the go/no-go task and the cued target detection task was inversely related to theta/beta ratios.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>These results indicate that perceived mental effort reflects tonic rather than phasic changes in arousal during tasks of attention. We suggest that perceived mental effort may reflect in part tonic activity of the LC-NE system in healthy individuals.</p