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Exorcism is a man's job. Christian churches legislate on who can carry out an exorcism, and independent charismatic healers tend overwhelmingly to be men. Yet there are exceptions. Ancient Syriac hagiography includes accounts of female saints who can cast out and repel demons, and the early 2010s saw the rise of the so-called "teenage exorcists" in the USA, Brynne Larson and Tess and Savannah Scherkenback. In this article we examine the ancient stories of holy women casting out demons and the media reports and Brynne Larson's book on the ministry she and her friends carried out. We find that while female exorcists challenge the boundaries of gender in religious identity, they nonetheless reflect a form of idealized femininity in a man's world. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Exorcism is flourishing once again in the Roman Catholic Church today. Discourse on the topic has been influenced by the publications of exorcists such as Malachi Martin and Gabriele Amorth. They claim biblical precedence and commissioning for their duties as exorcists and seek to emphasise their credentials by interacting with modern medicine. At the same time, they provide descriptions of demonic possession which surpass and even contradict the accounts found in the Gospels. We analyse the claims of modern exorcists concerning demons, those they possess, and how they are expelled, and evaluate these against the evidence in the Gospels. We discover that the narratives constructed by modern exorcists involves both a dramatisation of the supernatural that exceeds the exorcisms of Jesus, and the 'medicalisation' of exorcism as a means to legitimise the practice as a valid alternative or complement to modern medicine and psychology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Kabbalah Centre is an international organization founded in the 1960s by Philip Berg in the USA. Initially founded as a group for the study of Orthodox Judaism, through marketing strategies and de-traditionalisation, Kabbalah has been transformed, universalized, and presented as a series of "spiritual tools" for self-improvement by Berg and his successors. Through the Centre, religious seekers can adapt Kabbalistic elements to their personal spiritual journey, consume Kabbalistic products like Kabbalistic candles and incense or the Red String bracelets (The Kabbalah Centre, "The Kabbalah Online Store") and participate in Kabbalistic events, workshops, and seminars online ("Kabbalah University"). This article explores the ways in which the Centre aims to provide its members with a fully-equipped world of religious experiences, offering a form of consumable religion tailored to the selffocused lifestyle of the postmodern seeker. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Forest is an important element of Swiss landscape, with about 30 % of the country covered by it, forming a finely structured patchwork together with water bodies, agricultural land and settlements. It is highly valued by residents as part of their everyday living and recreational environment. The aim of this paper is to provide knowledge about how residents perceive and value forests and what their dominant preferences are. The data were collected through the Socio-cultural Forest Monitoring (WaMos). In this survey, 3022 persons responded by telephone interview or online survey. Respondents were well informed about forest issues, especially about recreation, animals and protection from natural hazards. Nevertheless, functions such as wood production, air quality and biodiversity were rated as even more important than recreational functions. Mixed forests and multisensory experiences were preferred, whereas wilderness was only moderately approved of. Respondents did not much appreciate sports and fun infrastructure, but valued infrastructure for contemplative and social activities and for education about forest issues. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new phosphafluorene (PF) based monomer, featuring a phosphine oxide substituted with a dodecyl chain, was synthesized. PF was copolymerized with benzodithiophene (BDTT) to form the copolymer PPF-BDTT which has a donor (BDTT)–acceptor (PF) structure. For the first time, direct post-polymerization modifications were performed on the phosphorus center of phosphafluorene-containing conjugated polymers. With Lawesson's Reagent, PPF-BDTT was transformed from a phosphine oxide to a phosphine sulfide. Reduction of the phosphine oxide of PPF-BDTT with HSiCl 3 , followed by reaction with AuCl∙SMe 2 , produced PPF-BDTT-Au, which contains AuCl coordinated to the phosphafluorene moiety. PPF-BDTT, PPF-BDTT-S, and PPF-BDTT-Au were characterized optically and electrochemically and the results compared to related BDTT containing copolymers. PPF-BDTT and its derivatives were found to have high LUMO and HOMO levels and larger bandgaps compared to common donor-acceptor copolymers. Organic solar cells were fabricated from PPF-BDTT, PPF-BDTT-S, and PPF-BDTT-Au, although the performances of these devices were poor with power conversion efficiencies ranging from 0.13% to 0.60%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The acceptance and support by those who live in and around the largest remaining wilderness of Europe is very important for the success of a planned network of designated wilderness areas that should preserve the area's wilderness values. A standardised questionnaire was administered in person to 322 local residents. A cluster analysis revealed two human-nature relationship types: traditional nature users and progressive nature friends, which differ significantly in their feelings towards wilderness and attitude towards protected areas. The generally positive attitudes towards wilderness and the neutral attitudes towards the existing protected areas are a good starting point for communication about, and establishment of, the wilderness areas. As a quarter of the local population is not aware that they are living in a protected area, they should be informed during information events in the localities about the exact location of the planned wilderness zones and the potential consequences for them. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To understand the influence of monomer sequence on the properties and performance of conjugated oligomers, a series of dimers, trimers, and tetramers were prepared from phenylene (P) and benzothiadiazole (B) monomers linked by vinylene groups. Optical and electrochemical studies established the influence of sequence on both the λmax and redox potentials of this series of structurally related oligomers. For tetramers with bromo end groups (PBBP, BPPB, PBPB, PPBB), the λmax ranged from 493 to 512 nm (Δ = 19 nm), the electrochemical oxidation potential from 0.65 to 0.82 (Δ = 0.17 V) and the reduction potential from -1.45 to -1.31 (Δ = 0.14 V), all of which are sequence-dependent. The effect of end groups (cyano, bromo, and alkyl) was also demonstrated to be important for the properties of these oligomers. DFT calculations of the tetramers were performed and the energy levels were correlated well with the experimentally determined spectroscopic data. Bulk heterojunction (BHJ) solar cells fabricated with selected tetramers as the donor and PC61BM as the acceptor exhibited power conversion efficiencies that varied by a factor of 3 as a function of sequence (0.47-1.85%). These results suggest that sequence control is important for tuning optoelectronic properties and photovoltaic performance of these structurally related conjugated oligomers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The complexation of Cm(iii) with transferrin is investigated in the pH range from 3.5 to 11.0 in the absence of carbonate and at c(carbonate)tot = 25 mM. In the absence of carbonate two Cm(iii) transferrin species I and II are formed depending on pH. An increase of the total carbonate concentration favors the formation of the Cm(iii) transferrin species II with Cm(iii) bound at the Fe(iii) binding site of transferrin at significantly lower pH values. The spectroscopic results directly prove that carbonate acts as a synergistic anion for Cm(iii) complexation at the binding site of transferrin. At c(carbonate)tot = 25 mM the formation of the nonspecific Cm(iii) transferrin species I is suppressed completely. Instead, three Cm(iii) carbonate species Cm(CO3)+, Cm(CO3)2− and Cm(CO3)33− are formed successively with increasing pH. The formation of Cm(iii) carbonate species results in a decreased fraction of the Cm(iii) transferrin species II at pH ≥ 7.4 which indicates that carbonate complexation is an important competition reaction for Cm(iii) transferrin complexation at physiological carbonate concentration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The complexation of Cm(III) with human serum transferrin was investigated in a pH range from 3.5 to 11.0 using time-resolved laser fluorescence spectroscopy (TRLFS). At pH ⩾ 7.4 Cm(III) is incorporated at the Fe(III) binding site of transferrin whereas at lower pH a partially bound Cm(III) transferrin species is formed. At physiological temperature (310 K) at pH 7.4, about 70% of the partially bound and 30% of the incorporated Cm(III) transferrin species are present in solution. The Cm(III) results obtained by TRLFS are in very good agreement with Am(III) EXAFS results, confirming the incorporation of Am(III) at the Fe(III) binding site at pH 8.5. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dramatically increasing urbanization is observable worldwide and brings pressure on space within urban areas as the built environment intensifies. Considerable evidence suggests that contact with nature is important for city dwellers, although it is not known whether residents' appreciation of the forms of urban green spaces is constant across different contexts. More specifically, it has not yet been shown whether our appreciation of nature is innate and inherently human, is cultural and something that we learn, or is a mixture of both. This article describes an exploratory study consisting of 17 interviews carried out in Zurich, Switzerland. Kelly's repertory grid technique is used to identify preferred urban landscapes, which were contrasted with identified rejected landscapes. Principle components analysis and multidimensional scaling reveal a clear separation of cultural and biological modes of landscape assessment in some respondents. The research contributes to an understanding of the meanings of urban green spaces, which would in turn provide planners with a tool to match urban natural resource management with the needs of residents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The rewilding of landscapes is one of the most important and intensively discussed landscape changes occurring in Switzerland, as the need for agricultural and forest land is decreasing. To ensure that decisions concerning future landscape management will be supported by the public, it is crucial to take public opinion into account. Hence the present study aims to assess the public attitudes towards nature and “rewilding” processes. In order to analyze these attitudes, we sent a standardized questionnaire to 4000 randomly selected households throughout Switzerland. A cluster analysis led to a typology with four different types of human-nature relationship (“nature lovers”, “nature sympathizers”, “nature-connected users” and “nature controllers”) that each characterize a particular attitude towards nature. These human-nature relationship types differ in their attitudes towards rewilding as well, allowing a rough classification of the sample into wilderness opponents (51.1%) and wilderness proponents (49.9%). However both groups agree with regard to their opinion concerning the rules and regulations that should apply in future wilderness areas. The parallels of the human-nature relationship typology of this survey with other typologies, and the implications for further research are discussed. We can conclude that, due to the differences concerning the attitudes towards wilderness between the human-nature relationship types, between the rural and urban dwellers, and between the language regions, a uniform strategy for the designation and management of wilderness areas in Switzerland is not possible. We recommend that, when managing landscape change, all stakeholders are included in a participatory process and we advise a thorough assessment of the attitudes of the involved persons towards nature and rewilding at the start of such processes. Such an assessment would facilitate the identification of well-defined target groups allowing specific interventions and management actions customized to the needs and characteristics of each of these groups. In addition we see the commonalities between wilderness opponents and wilderness proponents concerning the rules in wilderness areas as an ideal starting point for a successful participatory process. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Exorcists are once again in demand for their very specific set of skills in (religious) healing. The founding of the International Association of Exorcists (AIE), the development of the "Exorcism and Prayer of Liberation Course" at a Vatican university, and countless publications from prominent Catholic exorcists are evidence for the relevance of exorcism in contemporary societies. Even though it is strictly speaking a liturgical practice, current exorcism discourses incorporate medical approaches and terminology. The relationship between religion and medicine is subject to change in late modern societies, as illness, health, and healing have increasingly shifted from the realm of religion to the realm of modern medicine. While mainstream churches come to terms with the prevailing paradigms of modernity, healing practices such as exorcism are (again) gaining importance on the margins. This article illuminates the tension between religion and medicine, as religious experts (exorcists) interact with medical experts and give their religious healing practices legitimacy through reference to medical and psychological methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Forest ecosystems play a fundamental role in mitigating global environmental changes. The development of environmentally sound behavior, and inter- and intragenerational equity can help counteract these global changes. One type of formal and non-formal environmental education is forest education, which aims to promote the achievement of sustainable development in forest-related ecosystems. We conducted an empirical study among forest educators in Austria, using a mixed-method approach, to investigate the potential of forest education to promote education for environmental citizenship. Our findings suggest that forest education and encounters with nature can lead to increased self-responsibility and contribute to critically reflect experience-based changes in behaviour. In conclusion, forest education is a useful tool for environmental citizenship education that contributes to improved understanding of forest ecosystems and non-anthropocentric perspectives for future development. However, forest education lacks funding, integration into formal education curricula, and the harmonization of framework conditions in non-formal education. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Changes in cellular calcium levels are one of the earliest signalling events in plants exposed to pathogens or other exogenous factors. In a genetic screen, we identified an Arabidopsis thaliana 'changed calcium elevation 1' (cce1) mutant with attenuated calcium response to the bacterial flagellin flg22 peptide and several other elicitors. Whole‐genome resequencing revealed a mutation in asparagine‐linked glycosylation 12 that encodes the mannosyltransferase responsible for adding the eighth mannose residue in an α‐1,6 linkage to the dolichol‐PP‐oligosaccharide N‐glycosylation glycan tree precursors. While properly targeted to the plasma membrane, misglycosylation of several receptors in the cce1 background suggests that N‐glycosylation is required for proper functioning of client proteins. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Conspectus: Organic solar cells (OSCs) have been a rising star in the field of renewable energy since the introduction of the bulk heterojunction (BHJ) in 1992. Recent advances have pushed the efficiencies of OSCs to over 13%, an impressive accomplishment via collaborative efforts in rational materials design and synthesis, careful device engineering, and fundamental understanding of device physics. Throughout these endeavors, several design principles for the conjugated donor polymers used in such solar cells have emerged, including optimizing the conjugated backbone with judicious selection of building blocks, side-chain engineering, and substituents. Among all of the substituents, fluorine is probably the most popular one; improved device characteristics with fluorination have frequently been reported for a wide range of conjugated polymers, in particular, donor-acceptor (D-A)-type polymers. Herein we examine the effect of fluorination on the device performance of solar cells as a function of the position of fluorination (on the acceptor unit or on the donor unit), aiming to outline a clear understanding of the benefits of this curious substituent. As fluorination of the acceptor unit is the most adopted strategy for D-A polymers, we first discuss the effect of fluorination of the acceptor units, highlighting the five most widely utilized acceptor units. While improved device efficiency has been widely observed with fluorinated acceptor units, the underlying reasons vary from case to case and highly depend on the chemical structure of the polymer. Second, the effect of fluorination of the donor unit is addressed. Here we focus on four donor units that have been most studied with fluorination. While device-performance-enhancing effects by fluorination of the donor units have also been observed, it is less clear that fluorine will always benefit the efficiency of the OSC, as there are several cases where the efficiency drops, in particular with "over-fluorination", i.e., when too many fluorine substituents are incorporated. Finally, while this Account focuses on studies in which the polymer is paired with fullerene derivatives as the electron accepting materials, non-fullerene acceptors (NFAs) are quickly becoming key players in the field of OSCs. The effect of fluorination of the polymers on the device performance may be different when NFAs are used as the electron-accepting materials, which remains to be investigated. However, the design of fluorinated polymers may provide guidelines for the design of more efficient NFAs. Indeed, the current highest-performing OSC (∼13%) features fluorination on both the donor polymer and the non-fullerene acceptor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The complexation of acetate with Am(III) is studied as a function of the pH (1-6) by extended X-ray absorption fine-structure (EXAFS) spectroscopy. The molecular structure of the Am(III)-acetate complexes (coordination numbers, oxygen and carbon distances) is determined from the raw k3-weighted Am LIII-edge EXAFS spectra. The results show a continuous shift of Am(III) speciation with increasing pH value towards the complexed species. Furthermore, it is verified that acetate coordinates in a bidentate coordination mode to Am(III) (Am-C distance: 2.82 ± 0.03 Å). The EXAFS data are analyzed by iterative transformation factor analysis to further verify the chemical speciation, which is calculated on the basis of thermodynamic constants, and the used structural model. The experimental results are in very good agreement with the thermodynamic modelling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High-density urban living means that urban green spaces are important nodes of contact with nature. This study examines expected outcomes that motivate people to seek green spaces in urban settings. A sample of Swiss residents were presented with Shin, Kwon, Hammitt, and Kim's (2005) psychosocial outcomes scale and asked which activities they choose to undertake in nearby natural areas. The most important motivations for visiting nearby green spaces were related to restoration, with social bonding as a desirable side benefit. There were few observable differences between urban and rural residents and level of education attained. Older people are motivated to visit nearby green spaces by the wish to seek social contact while younger people are motivated by the wish to seek escape and to reflect. This study contributes to the understanding of the psychosocial outcomes that residents expect from engaging in an activity in an urban green space. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The knee is the most often injured body part in alpine skiing. The loads on different structures of the knee, and thus the risk of injury, is influenced by the flexion angle of the knee joint. A mechatronic ski binding continuously supplied with information about the knee joint’s flexion angle could adjust its release settings to react to the situation appropriately. In this study, a silicon-based piezoresistive sensor fibre and capacitive silicon sensor were compared with respect to their ability to measure the knee flexion angle. Each sensor type was incorporated in base layer compression pants. These sensor-underwear-systems were validated using a flexion test rig and in a human subject test (n = 20). The pants with capacitive sensors performed better, as they were more accurate (e.g. mean error 3.4° ± 5.1° of the capacitive sensor vs. 10.6° ± 7.5° of the resistive sensor in the human subject test) and had fewer hysteresis effects. Flexible sensors integrated into compression underwear can provide valuable data of the knee angles for performance measurements in sports or safety systems, and thus may help to reduce knee injuries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Existing frameworks for analysing interactions between social and natural systems (e.g. Social-Ecological Systems framework, Ecosystem Services concept) do not sufficiently consider and operationalize the dynamic interactions between people's values, attitudes and understandings of the human-nature relationship at both individual and collective levels. We highlight the relevance of individual and collective understandings of the human-nature relationship as influencing factors for environmental behaviour, which may be reflected in natural resource management conflicts, and review the diversity of existing social-cultural concepts, frameworks and associated research methods. Particular emphasis is given to the context-sensitivity of social-cultural concepts in decision-making. These aspects are translated into a conceptual model aiming not to replace but to expand and enhance existing frameworks. Integrating this model into existing frameworks provides a tool for the exploration of how social-cultural concepts of nature interact with existing contexts to influence governance of social-ecological systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The emerging ubiquity of geospatial information is providing an unprecedented opportunity to apply Geographical Information Systems (GIS)-based multiple criteria decision analysis (MCDA) to a broad spectrum of use cases. Volunteered geographic information, open GIS software, geoservice-based tools, cloud-based virtualized platforms, and worldwide collaboration of both domain experts and general users have greatly increased the quantity and accessibility of geospatially referenced data resources. Currently, there is a lack of GIS-based MCDA tools that integrate this decision-driven process within a widely accessible, robust geoframework environment, designed for user-friendly interaction. In this contribution, we present a conceptual workflow and proof-of-concept software application, Geocentric Environment for Analysis and Reasoning (GEAR), which provides a viable transition path to enhance geospatial MCDA in the age of open GIS. We propose a Web-based platform that leverages open-source geotechnologies to incorporate a wide variety of geospatial data formats in a common solution space to allow for spatially enhanced and time-relevant decision analysis. Through the proposed workflow, a user can ingest and modify heterogeneous data formats, exploit temporally tagged data sources, create multicriteria decision analysis models, and visualize the results in an iterative and collaborative workspace. A sample case study applied to disaster relief is used to demonstrate the prototype and workflow. This proof-of-concept Web-based application provides a notional pathway of how to connect open-source data to open-source analysis through a geospatially enabled MCDA workflow that could be virtually accessible to many levels of decision makers from individuals to entire organizations. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Recognition of pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs) induces multiple defense mechanisms to limit pathogen growth. Here, we show that the Arabidopsis thaliana tandem zinc finger protein 9 (TZF9) is phosphorylated by PAMP-responsive mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) and is required to trigger a full PAMP-triggered immune response. Analysis of a tzf9 mutant revealed attenuation in specific PAMP-triggered reactions such as reactive oxygen species accumulation, MAPK activation and, partially, the expression of several PAMP-responsive genes. In accordance with these weaker PAMP-triggered responses, tzf9 mutant plants exhibit enhanced susceptibility to virulent Pseudomonas syringae pv. tomato DC3000. Visualization of TZF9 localization by fusion to green fluorescent protein revealed cytoplasmic foci that co-localize with marker proteins of processing bodies (P-bodies). This localization pattern is affected by inhibitor treatments that limit mRNA availability (such as cycloheximide or actinomycin D) or block nuclear export (leptomycin B). Coupled with its ability to bind the ribohomopolymers poly(rU) and poly(rG), these results suggest involvement of TZF9 in post-transcriptional regulation, such as mRNA processing or storage pathways, to regulate plant innate immunity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Flagship species are among key marketing tools used by conservation organizations to motivate public support, but are often selected in an ad hoc, rather than systematic, manner. Furthermore, it is unclear whether selected flagship species do motivate public support. This paper describes a multi-method exploratory study, carried out in Switzerland, which aimed to determine the selection criteria for flagship species and measure whether a species selected according to these criteria was able to motivate support. Fourteen representatives of international, regional and local conservation organizations were interviewed and the selection criteria for their flagship species were identified. A charismatic species (the great spotted woodpecker) that meets these criteria and an apparently less charismatic species (the clover stem weevil) were selected as treatments in a quantitative experiment with 900 respondents. Using conjoint analysis, it was found that both charismatic and uncharismatic species have the ability to positively influence public preferences for habitat variables that encourage biodiversity in urban landscapes. These results may be used by conservation organizations to assist in the selection of flagship species, and in particular for flagship species that are intended to perform a specific conservation function. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Background: Human dermal mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) expressing the ATP-binding cassette (ABC) efflux transporter ABCB5 represent an easily accessible MSC population that, based on preclinical and first-in-human data, holds significant promise to treat a broad spectrum of conditions associated not only with skin-related but also systemic inflammatory and/or degenerative processes. Methods: We have developed a validated Good Manufacturing Practice-compliant expansion and manufacturing process by which ABCB5+ MSCs derived from surgical discard skin tissues are processed to an advanced-therapy medicinal product (ATMP) for clinical use. Enrichment for ABCB5+ MSCs is achieved in a three-step process involving plastic adherence selection, expansion in a highly efficient MSC-selecting medium, and immunomagnetic isolation of the ABCB5+ cells from the mixed culture. Results: Product Quality Review data covering 324 cell expansions, 728 ABCB5+ MSC isolations, 66 ABCB5+ MSC batches, and 85 final drug products reveal high process robustness and reproducible, reliable quality of the manufactured cell therapy product. Conclusion: We have successfully established an expansion and manufacturing process that enables the generation of homogenous ABCB5+ MSC populations of proven biological activity manufactured as a standardized, donor-independent, highly pure, and highly functional off-the-shelf available ATMP, which is currently tested in multiple clinical trials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Associations between biodiversity, human health and well-being have never been discussed with reference to agriculturally managed, species-rich mountainous meadows. We evaluated these associations between extensively managed (one mowing a year, no fertilization) and abandoned (no mowing since more than 80 years, no fertilization) semi-dry meadows located in the Austrian and Swiss Alps. We quantified the richness and abundance of plants, grasshoppers, true bugs, bumblebees, syrphids and landscape characteristics in the surroundings of the meadows. Associations between these biodiversity attributes and short-term psychological and physiological human health effects were assessed with 22 participants (10 males, 12 females; mean age 27 years). Participants´ pulse rate, systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) were not affected during visits to managed or abandoned meadows. However, perceived health benefits (e.g., stress reduction, attention restoration) were higher during their stays in managed than in abandoned meadows. Also, the attractiveness of the surrounding landscape and the recreation suitability were rated higher when visiting managed meadows. Perceived naturalness was positively correlated with plant richness and flower cover. A positive correlation was found between SBP and forest cover, but SBP was negatively correlated with the open landscape. A negative association was found between grasshoppers and recreational and landscape perceptions. We suggest to discuss biodiversity attributes not only in connection with agricultural management but also with cultural ecosystem services and health benefits to raise more awareness for multifaceted interrelationships between ecosystems and humans. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]