Nonlinear problems on the Sierpi\'nski gasket

This paper concerns with a class of elliptic equations on fractal domains depending on a real parameter. Our approach is based on variational methods. More precisely, the existence of at least two non-trivial weak (strong) solutions for the treated problem is obtained exploiting a local minimum theorem for differentiable functionals defined on reflexive Banach spaces. A special case of the main result improves a classical application of the Mountain Pass Theorem in the fractal setting, given by Falconer and Hu (1999)

Beauty and Art in Solovjev’s (1850–1903) and in Bulgakov (1874–1948). Does Beauty Save the World?

In Solovjev beauty is substance. He suggests „beauty” and „the good” to be Siamese twins and predicts that beauty will transform „material being” to a „moral order”, thus saves the world! The essay examines Solovjev’s eschatology that in fact denotes a special view of Creation: Creation awaits continuation by man’s ability to create beauty. Beauty in nature arises by the cosmic representative of Divine „All-unity”, by the sun. In human life man’s consciousness is to overtake the sun’s cosmic role and create beauty by re-creating in life. The relationship between the animals’ and human consciousness signifies the same relation as beauty in nature versus beauty in life: we should change our attitude towards nature, which doubtlessly is an ecumenical, ecological, and universally modern request. The formation of a righteous society springs off nature’s and society’s permanent spiritualisation by the sun-like lucidity of human ideas that brightly illuminate nature and matter. Solovjev’s eschatology holds that nature’s creation has not ended after Seven Days, but nature yields the seeds to co-Creatorship. This is precisely why man should change his attitude towards nature by spiritually enlivening it. The Churches’ unification, the future Universal Church, the manifestation of „All-unity”, would of course correlate to beauty.Co-creatorship, man’s task and ability to re-create beauty by changing his attitude towards nature doubtlessly belongs into the spheres of theurgy. This is the point where Sergej Nikolaevich Bulgakov entered the discussion with Solovjev and made quite a different point. He corrected Solovjev by insisting that only God’s descending acts into this world make theurgy, make continuous Creation possible. Basically, theurgy depends on God’s will. However, God’s „theurgic descent” and, as he called it, man’s „sophianic ascent” may join together and generate the possibility of co-creatorship, another of Christanity’s miracles. This, the intersecting of ascending and descending wills and wishes is what Bulgakov called „Sophia-urgy”.Diametrically opposed to Solovjev, Bulgakov defended that God entrusted theurgic might to the Church exclusively. Man – through the Church’s mediation – is merely „recipient” of theurgy, never its „creator”. The Eucharist sacrament shelters „sophianic” knowledge that is needed to begin the world’s transformation into beauty. „Spiritual beauty” is not of this world, but it is bound to the Eucharist, the cradle of life. Beauty in Bulgakov, and in Solovjev, is another expression for the spiritual reunification of the created and the Uncreated, in short the re-arrival of original beauty. Similar to Solovjev also Bulgakov hoped for nature’s spiritualisation as condition sine qua non to beauty’s future reign. Only, he focused on the Church’s tasks to reincarnate Sophia, the beauty of God’s Wisdom, on earth.In Solovjev beauty is substance. He suggests „beauty” and „the good” to be Siamese twins and predicts that beauty will transform „material being” to a „moral order”, thus saves the world! The essay examines Solovjev’s eschatology that in fact denotes a special view of Creation: Creation awaits continuation by man’s ability to create beauty. Beauty in nature arises by the cosmic representative of Divine „All-unity”, by the sun. In human life man’s consciousness is to overtake the sun’s cosmic role and create beauty by re-creating in life. The relationship between the animals’ and human consciousness signifies the same relation as beauty in nature versus beauty in life: we should change our attitude towards nature, which doubtlessly is an ecumenical, ecological, and universally modern request. The formation of a righteous society springs off nature’s and society’s permanent spiritualisation by the sun-like lucidity of human ideas that brightly illuminate nature and matter. Solovjev’s eschatology holds that nature’s creation has not ended after Seven Days, but nature yields the seeds to co-Creatorship. This is precisely why man should change his attitude towards nature by spiritually enlivening it. The Churches’ unification, the future Universal Church, the manifestation of „All-unity”, would of course correlate to beauty.Co-creatorship, man’s task and ability to re-create beauty by changing his attitude towards nature doubtlessly belongs into the spheres of theurgy. This is the point where Sergej Nikolaevich Bulgakov entered the discussion with Solovjev and made quite a different point. He corrected Solovjev by insisting that only God’s descending acts into this world make theurgy, make continuous Creation possible. Basically, theurgy depends on God’s will. However, God’s „theurgic descent” and, as he called it, man’s „sophianic ascent” may join together and generate the possibility of co-creatorship, another of Christanity’s miracles. This, the intersecting of ascending and descending wills and wishes is what Bulgakov called „Sophia-urgy”.Diametrically opposed to Solovjev, Bulgakov defended that God entrusted theurgic might to the Church exclusively. Man – through the Church’s mediation – is merely „recipient” of theurgy, never its „creator”. The Eucharist sacrament shelters „sophianic” knowledge that is needed to begin the world’s transformation into beauty. „Spiritual beauty” is not of this world, but it is bound to the Eucharist, the cradle of life. Beauty in Bulgakov, and in Solovjev, is another expression for the spiritual reunification of the created and the Uncreated, in short the re-arrival of original beauty. Similar to Solovjev also Bulgakov hoped for nature’s spiritualisation as condition sine qua non to beauty’s future reign. Only, he focused on the Church’s tasks to reincarnate Sophia, the beauty of God’s Wisdom, on earth

A Phenomenological Study of Doctoral Student Attrition in Counselor Education

Approximately half of doctoral students will withdraw from study before completing their doctorates (Bair & Haworth, 1999). The author sought to add to the limited literature pertaining to doctoral student attrition specifically in the field of counselor education. Phenomenology grounded the work of obtaining (a) enrollment experiences of students who withdrew from counselor education doctoral programs, and (b) thoughts/emotions associated with withdrawing from study. Findings included an application of doctoral attrition to Tinto’s (1975) Interactionalist model, how doctoral attrition continues to be an invisible problem, and recommendations for both doctoral students struggling to persevere and counselor education programs striving to increase retention rates

The Latex Allergy Crisis: Proposing a Healthy Solution to the Dilemma Facing the Medical Community

The explosion in the number and severity of latex allergies began with the emergence of the AIDS epidemic as the Centers for Disease Control issued universal precautions advising health care workers to use protective barriers to prevent the spread of the infection. This resulted in constant use of the gloves by medical workers and a great increase in demand for cost effective gloves. Essentially, the quality of the glove making process decreased, increasing the amount of allergy inducing proteins excreted to wearers. Afflicted workers include physicians, nurses, dentists, dental hygienists, operating room personnel, laboratory technicians and ambulance attendants among others. Many of the most extensively trained medical professionals in our society are being turned away from jobs or forced to quit due to the potential health consequences. This situation has resulted in mass product liability litigation against the manufacturers of the latex gloves, employment discrimination suits against the manufacturers of the latex gloves, employment discrimination suits against employers, and voluminous worker\u27s compensation lawsuits. Pursuit of these remedies has yielded mixed results, with some plaintiffs receiving multi-million dollar awards and others receiving nothing. As with most litigation, the outcome is rarely satisfactory to any party involved. This note first explores the nature of the latex allergy, followed by an explanation of the various types of litigation that have been brought by health care workers to obtain relief. In Part IV, this paper explores the issue of the latex allergy as a disability under the Americans with Disabilities Act. Finally, it will propose that education regarding prevention and accommodation measures combined with proper government agency regulations will ensure the health of individuals who chose to pursue a career in the medical field, will protect consumers, and will preserve the strength of the health care industry as a whole. Most importantly, the value obtained in accommodating these highly skilled workers outweighs the costs incurred by medical employers and providers