78 research outputs found
Why bios? : on the relationship between gospel genre and implied audience
No full textThis thesis addresses the gap in the scholarly record pertaining to the explicit relationship between gospel genre and implied audience. This thesis challenges the consensus that the canonical gospels were written to/for individual communities/churches and that these documents (gospels) address the specific historical/social circumstances of each community. It is argued in the thesis that the Evangelists chose the genre of biography because it was the genre that was best suited to present the words and deeds of Jesus to the largest possible audience. The central thesis is supported by four lines of evidence: two external and two internal (Chapters 3-6). Furthermore, the thesis is bolstered by a new typology for Greco-Roman biography that arranges the biographical examples within a relational matrix.
Chapter 2 is integral to the main thesis of this dissertation in that it proposes nuanced language capable of being applied to specific kinds of biographies with the emphasis on the relationship to implied audience. Chapter 2 sets the boundaries of the discussion of genre as a vital factor in potentially determining audience as well as raising the important consideration that genres are representative of authorial choice and intent.
Chapters 3 and 4 take up the discussion of the two lines of external evidence pertinent to placing the Gospels within the relational typology proposed in chapter 2. Chapter 3 supports the main argument of the thesis in that it demonstrates that the earliest Christian interpreters of the Gospels did not understand them to be sectarian documents written specifically to and/or for specific sectarian Christian communities. The second line of external evidence, taken up in chapter 4, deals with the wider context of Jesus literature in the second/third century. We argue that these texts, if any of them are indeed biographies, were part of the wider Christian practice of writing and disseminating literary presentations of Jesus and Jesus traditions.
Chapters 5 and 6 address the lines of internal evidence and chapter 5 deals specifically with the difficulty in reconstructing the various gospel communities that might lie behind the gospel texts. It is argued that the genre of biography does not allow us to reconstruct these communities with any detail. Finally, chapter 6 is concerned with the ‘all nations’ motif present in all four of the canonical gospels. The ‘all nations’ and ‘sending’ motifs in the Gospels suggest an evangelistic tone for the Gospels and further suggest an ideal secondary audience beyond those who could be identified as Christian
Artificial intelligence in risk management within the realm of construction projects: A bibliometric analysis and systematic literature review
No full textThe construction industry faces risks across various domains, including cost, safety, schedule, quality, and supply chain management. Recent artificial intelligence (AI) advancements offer promising solutions to enhance risk management. This systematic literature review (SLR) explores the integration of AI in construction risk management, focusing on AI applications, risk categories, and key algorithms. A total of 84 peer-reviewed articles published between 2014 and 2024 were analysed. The SLR method involved rigorous identification, selection, and critical appraisal of studies, followed by bibliometric analysis to uncover research trends, influential authors, and thematic clusters. The bibliometric analysis, including keyword co-occurrence and author collaboration networks, provided insights into the structure of the research landscape. Findings revealed that AI methods such as machine learning (ML), natural language processing (NLP), knowledge-based reasoning (KBR), optimisation algorithm (OA), and computer vision (CV) play crucial roles in predicting and managing risks. ML is employed for predictive modelling, NLP for document and compliance risk management, KBR for decision support, OA for optimising resources and schedules, and CV for real-time safety monitoring. Despite advancements, challenges related to data quality, model interpretability, and workforce skills hinder full AI integration. Future research should explore AI’s intersection with emerging technologies such as blockchain and adaptive risk models for responsible adoption. This paper contributes to the growing knowledge of AI’s transformative impact on construction risk management
Recent changes in the initiation liturgies: a comparative study
Get PDFIn this thesis the author examines the recent rites of initiation within the Orthodox, Roman Catholic, Church of England, and Methodist Churches. The object is two-fold: (l) to see whether there has been convergence in the recent liturgical practice and theological understanding of initiation; and (2)' to see the extent to which the rites of the present-day mark a deliberate return to the pool of symbolic actions and words that were current in the post-apostolic period (and maybe even earlier).From the witness of Scripture it is felt that no established practice was being set before us at that time, particularly as the primary role of Scripture is as a witness to Christ rather than as a manual of devotion. The establishing of normative procedures for initiation would seem to be a post-apostolic development which took distinctive eastern and western lines of development. The Orthodox Church continues to employ the ancient rites which extend back for over twelve hundred years, and its insistence on the unity of baptism, chrismation and eucharist in theological thought and administration is characteristic. The other denominations express in their recent rites the desire to return to an archetypal service, but at the same time wishing to maintain the validity of a fragmented initiation practice. The Church of England, .and Methodism which grew from it, show increasing use of ceremonial. Most of this had been removed from the Church of England's liturgy at the Reformation. Taking note of recent work by the World Council of Churches the author concludes that convergence in liturgy and theology, though incomplete, has taken place; and further, that faithful witness is borne to the practice and understanding of the early Church of the post-apostolic period. Some aspects may date from the New Testament times
The Business of Piracy in Somalia
Get PDFThis article argues that it will be difficult, if not impossible, to control Somali piracy for four reasons. First, Somali piracy is a land-based problem and naval control mechanisms are not changing the incentives for pirates. Second, improving Somalia's anarchic political situation will not necessarily stop piracy. Our analysis demonstrates that piracy is a business which improves with a more stable operating environment. Third, piracy is organized criminal activity, and like other organized crime groups will be difficult to control, especially if it becomes embedded in state structures. Finally, we argue that few of the relevant players have any real incentives to alter their behaviour.Piracy, Somalia, Law Enforcement, Organised Crime, EU Atalanta
Power, value, and the individual exchange: towards an improved conceptualization of terrorist finance
No full textThis thesis finds that the term ‘terrorist financing’ is a misnomer in that much of the activity encompassed by that term involves neither terrorism nor money. Instead, terrorist financing more accurately refers either to the flow of economic and material value to ‘terrorist’ actors or specific material expressions of support to ‘terrorism,’ however that contested term is defined. This finding not only directly challenges the dominant ways terrorist finance is now conceptualized, but also provides the first unified coherent conceptual framework capable of supporting systematic analysis of the topic. This thesis arrives at this conclusion by first critically examining the various – and often contradictory or incoherent – normative, legal, and political contexts that dominate ‘orthodox’ thinking on terrorism and terrorist finance, and then relocating the financing of terrorism squarely in context of the everyday realities of how terrorism and terrorist actors interact with global and local political economies. This thesis goes beyond existing critical works on terrorist financing, and constructs the necessary conceptual foundation for a vastly more coherent, systematic, and ultimately useful understanding of the financial and economic dimensions of terrorism
Diversified Impacts of Enabling a Technology-Intensified Agricultural Supply Chain on the Quality of Life in Hinterland Communities
No full textThe agricultural supply chain (ASC) in the hinterland refers to the entire post-harvest process of processing and distributing agricultural products in rural or secluded areas to be brought to big city markets. This scheme involves various stakeholders (farmers, trading centers, consumers), processes (logistics, storage, monitoring), and infrastructure (traffic and road systems, negative environmental emissions) to ensure the efficient flow of agricultural products from farms to consumers. The quality of life (QoL) in the hinterland can improve with the introduction of disruptive technologies, but no comprehensive studies have explored the QoL of individuals involved in the ASC–socioeconomic system of hinterland communities. This study elucidated and compared the diversified impacts of disruptive technologies brought by the Industrial Revolution 4.0 to the agricultural supply chain and their impacts on food security, sustainability, and climate change mitigation through the analysis of the related literature. This study also mapped out the role of disruptive technologies in the QoL of hinterland communities, particularly with respect to the farmers, trading center workers, and consumers. Points of discussion emerged with respect to precision agriculture, the Artificially Intelligent Internet of Things, big data analytics, blockchain, artificial intelligence, cyber-physical systems, robotics, automation, and e-commerce, and how these enabling technologies enhance fresh food supply and distribution and deliberately affect stakeholders’ life quality indexes through the analysis of situational case studies in India, South America, Malaysia, China, and Europe. The identification of these points of discussion was also achieved purely based on research performed on the related literature. The positive impacts of these technologies, such as the boosting of efficiency and the ensuring of a steady supply of fresh produce, ultimately improve the overall QoL. The technical insights from the studies were synthesized to develop new frameworks for QoL anchored in the agricultural supply chain (AgQoL) in the hinterland, and a six-dimensional network emphasizing the two trifectas of techno-socioenvironmental needs was established. Food-producing communities with a relatively high AgQoL should support food security in the region
Innovation in Pain Management
No full textThe transcript of a Witness Seminar held by the Wellcome Trust Centre for the History of Medicine at UCL, London, on 12 December 2002.First published by the Wellcome Trust Centre for the History of Medicine at UCL, 2004.©The Trustee of the Wellcome Trust, London, 2004.All volumes are freely available online at: www.history.qmul.ac.uk/research/modbiomed/wellcome_witnesses/.Annotated and edited transcript of a Witness Seminar held on 12 December 2002. Introduction by Dr Christina Faull; edited interview with Professor Patrick Wall.Annotated and edited transcript of a Witness Seminar held on 12 December 2002. Introduction by Dr Christina Faull; edited interview with Professor Patrick Wall.Annotated and edited transcript of a Witness Seminar held on 12 December 2002. Introduction by Dr Christina Faull; edited interview with Professor Patrick Wall.Annotated and edited transcript of a Witness Seminar held on 12 December 2002. Introduction by Dr Christina Faull; edited interview with Professor Patrick Wall.Annotated and edited transcript of a Witness Seminar held on 12 December 2002. Introduction by Dr Christina Faull; edited interview with Professor Patrick Wall.Annotated and edited transcript of a Witness Seminar held on 12 December 2002. Introduction by Dr Christina Faull; edited interview with Professor Patrick Wall.Unrelieved pain caused by cancer is experienced by more than 5 million people worldwide, and over the past 50 years has been accepted as unnecessary by both clinicians and politicians. Major innovations in the understanding of pain and our ability to treat it have been made. This Witness Seminar, chaired by Professor David Clark, describes the development of pain clinics, the introduction of the hospice in Britain, and global implementation of innovative technologies for cancer pain relief and advances in research during the latter part of the twentieth century. International health planners argue that the outstanding challenge is to put this knowledge into practice in healthcare settings around the world, often where resources are limited. Reynolds L A, Tansey E M. (eds) (2004) Innovation in pain management, Wellcome Witnesses to Twentieth Century Medicine, vol. 21. London: The Wellcome Trust Centre for the History of Medicine at UCL.The Wellcome Trust Centre for the History of Medicine at University College London is funded by the Wellcome Trust,which is a registered charity, no. 210183
Extreme enrichment of VNTR-associated polymorphicity in human subtelomeres: genes with most VNTRs are predominantly expressed in the brain
No full textThe human genome harbors numerous structural variants (SVs) which, due to their repetitive nature, are currently underexplored in short-read whole-genome sequencing approaches. Using single-molecule, real-time (SMRT) long-read sequencing technology in combination with FALCON-Unzip, we generated a de novo assembly of the diploid genome of a 115-year-old Dutch cognitively healthy woman. We combined this assembly with two previously published haploid assemblies (CHM1 and CHM13) and the GRCh38 reference genome to create a compendium of SVs that occur across five independent human haplotypes using the graph-based multi-genome aligner REVEAL. Across these five haplotypes, we detected 31,680 euchromatic SVs (>50 bp). Of these, ~62% were comprised of repetitive sequences with ‘variable number tandem repeats’ (VNTRs), ~10% were mobile elements (Alu, L1, and SVA), while the remaining variants were inversions and indels. We observed that VNTRs with GC-content >60% and repeat patterns longer than 15 bp were 21-fold enriched in the subtelomeric regions (within 5 Mb of the ends of chromosome arms). VNTR lengths can expand to exceed a critical length which is associated with impaired gene transcription. The genes that contained most VNTRs, of which PTPRN2 and DLGAP2 are the most prominent examples, were found to be predominantly expressed in the brain and associated with a wide variety of neurological disorders. Repeat-induced variation represents a sizeable fraction of the genetic variation in human genomes and should be included in investigations of genetic factors associated with phenotypic traits, specifically those associated with neurological disorders. We make available the long and short-read sequence data of the supercentenarian genome, and a compendium of SVs as identified across 5 human haplotypes.Pattern Recognition and BioinformaticsIntelligent System
"Petit spot" rejuvenated volcanism superimposed on plume-derived Samoan shield volcanoes: Evidence from a 645-m drill core from Tutuila Island, American Samoa
Get PDFAuthor Posting. © American Geophysical Union, 2019. This article is posted here by permission of American Geophysical Union for personal use, not for redistribution. The definitive version was published in Geochemistry Geophysics Geosystems 20(3), (2019): 1485-1507, doi:10.1029/2018GC007985.In 2015 a geothermal exploration well was drilled on the island of Tutuila, American Samoa. The sample suite from the drill core provides 645 m of volcanic stratigraphy from a Samoan volcano, spanning 1.45 million years of volcanic history. In the Tutuila drill core, shield lavas with an EM2 (enriched mantle 2) signature are observed at depth, spanning 1.46 to 1.44 Ma. These are overlain by younger (1.35 to 1.17 Ma) shield lavas with a primordial “common” (focus zone) component interlayered with lavas that sample a depleted mantle component. Following ~1.15 Myr of volcanic quiescence, rejuvenated volcanism initiated at 24.3 ka and samples an EM1 (enriched mantle 1) component. The timing of the initiation of rejuvenated volcanism on Tutuila suggests that rejuvenated volcanism may be tectonically driven, as Samoan hotspot volcanoes approach the northern terminus of the Tonga Trench. This is consistent with a model where the timing of rejuvenated volcanism at Tutuila and at other Samoan volcanoes relates to their distance from the Tonga Trench. Notably, the Samoan rejuvenated lavas have EM1 isotopic compositions distinct from shield lavas that are geochemically similar to “petit spot” lavas erupted outboard of the Japan Trench and late stage lavas erupted at Christmas Island located outboard of the Sunda Trench. Therefore, like the Samoan rejuvenated lavas, petit spot volcanism in general appears to be related to tectonic uplift outboard of subduction zones, and existing geochemical data suggest that petit spots share similar EM1 isotopic signatures.Reviews from Kaj Hoernle and three anonymous reviewers are gratefully acknowledged. M. G. J. acknowledges support from the American Samoa Power Authority and National Science Foundation grants OCE‐1736984 and EAR‐1624840. The Tutuila drill core was the brainchild of Tim Bodell, without whom we would still have no stratigraphic record of Tutuila volcanism. The support of Utu Abe Malae and Matamua Katrina Mariner was instrumental to the project's success. We dedicate this paper to the memory of Abe Malae and his efforts to support science and education in American Samoa. Images of the entire drill core are available online (escholarship.org/uc/item/6gg6p61w). All data presented are either part of this study or previously published and are referenced in text.2019-08-1
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