Foundation Level Research Articles

Navigation as a system approach: A qualitative descriptive study to inform a statewide cancer navigation approach in Australia.

This study aimed to identify challenges and facilitators in accessing cancer care in South Australia, from the perspectives of cancer survivors and caregivers, to inform responsive cancer navigation approaches. A qualitative descriptive study was conducted using an online qualitative survey (n = 75) and video, phone, and in-person semi-structured interviews (n = 22) with cancer survivors and caregivers (herein cancer consumers). Data analysis was performed in two phases: content analysis categorised consumer challenges and facilitators, while a subjective-inductive approach guided by the supportive care framework was used to develop a statewide navigation approach. Key challenges reported by consumers included perceived invalidation of medical concerns, delayed diagnoses, poor communication, inadequate information provision, fragmented care, and limited logistical, cultural, and psychological support. Inductive analysis identified four key themes: 1) cancer consumers have dynamic care needs that can evolve throughout a patient's cancer experience, 2) cancer consumers require a foundational level of information to support navigation, 3) some cancer consumers express a preference for community-based navigation services to help them manage their care, and 4) individuals with more complex care needs may require more intensive professional navigation services. A conceptual needs-based navigation approach (the Flinders Needs-Based Approach to Cancer Navigation)was developed based on these insights. This approach consists of three levels of navigation interventions: level 1 involves providing information-based navigation to all individuals affected by cancer, level 2 involves community-based navigation support offered to those requiring or wanting additional supported assistance, and level 3 offers professional navigation for individuals with complex needs. Our study highlights the importance of tailoring cancer navigation services to meet the evolving needs of patients, emphasising the role of both community and professional support, particularly for individuals with complex care requirements. Findings will inform further co-design discussions involving consumers, health professionals, and policymakers to implement cancer navigation services across South Australia.

Performance and robustness assessment of roadway masonry arch bridges to scour-induced damage using multiple traffic load models

Masonry arch bridges are highly vulnerable to floods and particularly to scour, as demonstrated by the many collapses that regularly occur in Europe. Scour levels that do not directly cause the collapse of a bridge may result in a significant reduction of their capability to withstand traffic loading. Thus, research on the performance of masonry arch bridges under combined scour and traffic loading, and their structural robustness, is of paramount importance.This study evaluates the behaviour of masonry arch bridges subjected to scour and traffic loading by analysing a representative case study with a three-dimensional finite element model developed in Abaqus according to a macro-modelling approach. Traffic load is selected in accordance with different code-based models, including those provided by Italian guidelines for safety assessment of existing bridges. The scouring process is imposed through the progressive removal of elements at the foundation level. Displacements and internal stress distributions for different bridge components are recorded and the capacity of the masonry bridge is estimated under increasing traffic load for different scour levels. Results are obtained in terms of both local and global response parameters to provide useful information on threshold levels for bridge safety and monitoring. The sensitivity of the bridge structural performance to material properties and traffic load position is also assessed. The study results can be useful to inform the decisions to be taken by bridge stakeholders (e.g. close bridge, limit traffic, keep bridge open) based on scour and/or structural response measurements.

Motivational whack-a-mole: Foundational boxes cannot be unpacked.

The proposed "black-box" problem and its solution are drawn from the same substance-oriented framework. This framework's assumptions have consequences that re-create the black-box problem at a foundational level. Specifically, Murayama and Jach's solution fails to explain novel behavior that emerges through an organism's development. A process-oriented theoretical shift provides an ontological explanation for emergent behavior and eliminates the black-box problem altogether.

Unravelling the cleavage-rate relationship from both the experimental and theoretical standpoint: The instance of fluorite dissolution.

The phenomenon of solid dissolution into a solution constitutes a fundamental aspect in both natural and industrial contexts. Nevertheless, its intricate nature at the microscale poses a significant challenge for precise quantitative characterization at a foundational level. In this work, the influence across three specific cleavage planes, namely (100), (111), and (110) on the dissolution kinetics of fluorite in aqueous environments was examined from both experimental and theoretical standpoints. For the very first time, the surface potential of fluorite planes during dissolution was measured by means of a fluorite single-crystal electrode. Experimental results indicate that the dissolution of fluorite leads to a marked increase in surface roughness as well as an augmentation in the surface area of all analyzed surfaces. The most significant alteration in roughness is observed on the (111) plane, whereas the most substantial increase in surface area occurs on the (110) plane. In comparison to the (100) crystallographic plane, which demonstrates the slowest dissolution kinetics, the (111) and (110) planes display dissolution at a comparatively expedited rate. Theoretical simulations corroborate this trend, concurrently facilitating an effective examination of the system's free-energy landscape to analyze the dynamics and rates associated with the attachment and detachment of ions to the fluorite surface. Notably, the presence of interfacial defects has the potential to influence the free energy landscape, thereby altering the transition of ions into the bulk solution. Ultimately, the interplay of correlations and discrepancies between experimental findings and theoretical predictions is critically examined.

Influence of soil hysteretic damping on lateral response of offshore wind turbine monopile in sandy soil

Damping plays an important role in the design of offshore wind turbine structures. The hysteretic damping of the seabed soil represents the energy dissipation caused by the soil-particle interaction and the nonlinear behavior of the soil under cyclic loading. However, the effect of sand damping on the lateral response of the monopile foundation of an offshore wind turbine is still unclear. In this paper, the effect of soil hysteretic damping on the lateral dynamic response of a monopile foundation in a sandy seabed is investigated using a subplastic soil constitutive model. The constitutive model response at the foundation level is verified by comparing the monotonic and cyclic responses of the monopile with the results of the 1g model test. The results show that when soil hysteretic damping is present in the monopile-soil system, the energy dissipation in the soil reduces the stress accumulation in the soil, resulting in a reduction in the bending moment and horizontal displacement of the monopile, compared with the case without soil hysteretic damping. The results are crucial for optimizing the monolithic design of offshore wind turbine structures.

Visual Impairment Spatial Awareness System for Indoor Navigation and Daily Activities.

The integration of artificial intelligence into daily life significantly enhances the autonomy and quality of life of visually impaired individuals. This paper introduces the Visual Impairment Spatial Awareness (VISA) system, designed to holistically assist visually impaired users in indoor activities through a structured, multi-level approach. At the foundational level, the system employs augmented reality (AR) markers for indoor positioning, neural networks for advanced object detection and tracking, and depth information for precise object localization. At the intermediate level, it integrates data from these technologies to aid in complex navigational tasks such as obstacle avoidance and pathfinding. The advanced level synthesizes these capabilities to enhance spatial awareness, enabling users to navigate complex environments and locate specific items. The VISA system exhibits an efficient human-machine interface (HMI), incorporating text-to-speech and speech-to-text technologies for natural and intuitive communication. Evaluations in simulated real-world environments demonstrate that the system allows users to interact naturally and with minimal effort. Our experimental results confirm that the VISA system efficiently assists visually impaired users in indoor navigation, object detection and localization, and label and text recognition, thereby significantly enhancing their spatial awareness and independence.

Innovation in technology solutions for erecting large-span coatings through module lifting

Based on the conducted analysis of the characteristics of known organizational and technological options for non-crane lifting, including the preliminary assembly of structural-technological coating blocks on low scaffolding using the pulling method with hydraulic lifting modules placed on the tops of design columns, or the pushing method, where the support beams are pushed to the design height resting on the tops of growing lifting column shafts with the growing unit located on the foundations, a new technology has been developed. This technology for large-span coatings erection uses mechanized process equipment in the form of lifting modules. According to this method, the vertical movement of the bearing beams of the large-span coating, pre-assembled into a structural-technological block on the foundations, is performed by pushing within the space between paired columns of the supporting frame, resting on the tops of the growing installation columns. The growing up of installation column sections occurs by alternately resting the column sections on the hydraulic jacks of the lifting modules, located in the intercolumn space on the foundations, and on the lifting latch beams fixed on the external surfaces of the paired columns. Vertical guiding profiles are fixed on the internal surfaces of the paired columns to function as deviation limiters for the column sections during the growing process. This approach reduces the amount of high-altitude assembly work to the operations of final securing of the coating beams at the design height between the tops of the paired columns of the supporting frame. It automates all processes of growing the installation column sections and moving the bearing beams of the coating from the foundation level to the column top level, reducing the overall number of construction and assembly operations, shortening the erection timelines for large-span coatings, and ensuring the complete execution of erection work within a tightly built site, with dimensions not exceeding the planned dimensions of the large-span coating being erected.

Theoretical Framework for the Supervision of Plateau-Characteristic Agroecological Security

To mitigate the conflict between ecological restoration and the pursuit of economic benefits in characteristic agriculture within plateau regions, this study proposes a theoretical framework for supervising plateau-characteristic agroecological security (PCAES). Initially, characteristic agriculture is conceptualized as an artificial ecosystem resulting from the complex interactions between the ecological environment and specific agricultural resources in a given plateau region; thus, PCAES is defined as a sustainable developmental state of plateau-characteristic agriculture that ensures a high-quality resource supply without compromising ecological integrity. Subsequently, a theoretical framework of PCAES is constructed by analyzing supervisory subjects, objects, and their interrelationships, followed by an in-depth study from three different perspectives. At the foundational level, the monitoring and evaluation mechanism focuses on gathering data regarding resource composition and environmental conditions to assess ecological security. At the intermediate level, the early warning and decision-making mechanism aims at estimating potential ecological security issues and then designing and selecting optimal measures. At a higher level, the control and assurance mechanism directs stakeholders toward compliance with ecological safety regulations via resource allocation and macro-policy interventions while ensuring effective system operation. This study holds significant implications for advancing green development initiatives, enhancing agricultural scientific innovation, and promoting sustainable practices in plateau agriculture.

Prioritization of Secondary Education over Basic Education in Ghana: The Gains and Losses

This paper explores the prioritization of Secondary Education over Basic Education in Ghana and its consequences for educational equity and sustainable development. Basic Education, encompassing early childhood and primary levels, forms the foundation for lifelong learning and socio-economic growth. However, Ghana’s recent policies, particularly the Free Senior High School (SHS) policy, have shifted focus towards expanding Secondary Education, leading to increased enrollment yet creating challenges at the foundational level, such as inadequate funding, infrastructure, and teaching quality. Using Human Capital Theory and Educational Ladder Theory, this study underscores the importance of Basic Education in building essential skills for higher education and employment. A mixed-methods approach comprising literature review, document analysis, and comparative case studies reveals that an overemphasis on Secondary Education may undermine foundational competencies. Key recommendations advocate targeted reforms and increased investment in Basic Education, including setting qualification standards and in-service training for early childhood educators, equitable resource allocation, and structured professional development for teachers. By aligning Basic and Secondary Education policies, Ghana can ensure continuity and coherence across educational stages, strengthening its education system’s resilience and promoting equity, inclusivity, and sustainable development.

Case Article—Humanitarian Supply Chains and Inventory Management: Planning Medical Supply at the International Committee of the Red Cross

This case is based on an actual project with the International Committee of the Red Cross. The rich context allows instructors to cover important topics in inventory management, supply chain management, and humanitarian logistics at a level appropriate for different student backgrounds. At a foundational level, the case presents opportunities to practice concepts like cycle stock, safety stock, and service level. Technical audiences can appreciate applications of machine learning and optimization for inventory management. Practice-oriented audiences learn about the challenges of applying commercial operations metrics and heuristics like ABC analysis to humanitarian logistics. Realistic data and models are provided. Funding: B. Thakur-Weigold acknowledges funding from the Engineering for Humanitarian Action initiative launched by the ICRC, ETH Zurich, and EPFL. International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), Eidgenössische Technische Hochschule (ETH) Zürich, and École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL). Supplemental Material: Supplemental materials are available at https://www.informs.org/Publications/Subcribe/Access-Restricted-Materials .

Development of a pharmacy research career pathway discussion tool

Abstract Introduction Research is one of the four pillars of the RPS curriculum and forms Domain 5 of the credentialing pathway. However, gaining and using these research skills in the workplace appears challenging with low self-reported research confidence identified1, lowest domain pass rates in RPS Credentialing reports2 and a minority of the workforce identified as research active3. In order to support Welsh practitioners, Pharmacy Research Wales (PRW) has developed a tool to aid research discussions and awareness, identifying National research opportunities and potential career pathways, with relevant practice and portfolio evidence. Aims Develop a pharmacy research career pathway discussion tool to support career planning and evidence for the RPS credentialing portfolio. Method A literature search and review of RPS, National and local guidelines informed the tool drafting. A Microsoft form “tool” questionnaire was developed (PRW working group) and disseminated by email to a pharmacist cohort (n=10) established by Health Education Improvement Wales to support consultant credentialing. Subsequently members were invited to an in-person one-hour stakeholder development group (n=7) to discuss the tool and agree any modifications. A support moderator took anonymised notes which were reviewed for accuracy, with stakeholder clarification where necessary. No ethics approval was required as no patient involvement and data were anonymised. Questions explored usefulness, self-explanation, pathway self-recognition and improvements. A second draft was presented at 2023 RPS Wales conference research workshop for feedback. Results A schema was drafted describing timelines from foundation to consultant together with relevant examples of research opportunities and suggested portfolio evidence. All survey responses (7/10) indicated usefulness of tool: “good visual guide; draws everything together for the research domain” with 6/7 recognising this pathway as part of their own journey. Respondents (4/7) indicated it was not “self-explanatory”, suggesting removal of abbreviations, an introduction or a step-by-step guide but were positive for use as a mentor/mentee discussion tool. At the RPS research workshop tables (n=6) of ~7 delegates discussed and were asked to self-identify their research progression. Delegates annotated the tool (n=12) with 3, 8, and 1 respectively reporting foundation, advanced and consultant levels. Discussion and conclusion A research tool has been developed to support discussions relating to research career pathway planning and execution. Although there are methodological limitations to this work, for example sample size, it has been well received by the workforce with feedback highlighting areas such as increased awareness of research opportunities, a clear overview of research pathway examples and time investments required, supporting the need for advanced planning. Although aimed at Welsh practitioners, the template is generic and could be extrapolated to the UK workforce. The schema exemplars uni-professional and multi-disciplinary team pathways, the latter relying on research active medical staff. A high percentage of currently credentialled consultant pharmacists described using this latter route, confirming the need to build our own clinical academic workforce and support NHSE survey2 recommendations. Further work is required to embed this tool within the workforce and leadership bodies, facilitating research career pathway awareness, discussions and growth both within and across organisations.

Supporting prescriber progression: a group concept mapping study

Abstract Introduction Education reforms allow pharmacists to become prescribers earlier in their career and from 2026, new registrants will be independent prescribers.1 In NHS Scotland, an operational framework supports the development of pharmacist independent prescribing.2 We wanted to supplement the operational framework by identifying our core areas of prescribing to articulate prescribing progression and inform education and training provision. Aim To develop a core prescribing framework to support safe prescribing and a spiral approach to expanding scope of practice. Methods We conducted a participatory mixed-method approach using group concept mapping methodology.3 Phase 1 (brainstorming): all hospital pharmacists working in a patient-facing clinical role were invited to enter statements on a cloud-based platform (Padlet®) using the prompt ‘In my day-to-day practice I prescribe and/or make prescribing recommendations about the following medicines / conditions …’. The statements were triangulated with electronic inpatient pharmacist prescribing data over the previous three months. Phase 2 (sorting and rating): a project group comprised of pharmacists with different levels of practice and areas of clinical expertise, individually sorted the statements into groups based on the statements’ conceptual similarity and rated each statement by level of practice (post-registration foundation, advancing, advanced) and importance for including in a core framework (5-point Likert scale). R software applied multidimensional scaling to sorting data to create a similarity matrix, cluster map and Go-Zones. ChatGPT generated cluster titles. The project group discussed the results and following a few revisions, consensus was achieved on the content of the prescribing framework. This study was not considered research and was approved by the pharmacy quality improvement team in line with local governance process. Results Forty-three pharmacists participated in the brainstorming phase and generated 158 statements. Fourteen pharmacists participated in the sorting and rating phase. Multidimensional scaling analysis identified three clusters of prescribing activities: initiating, adjusting and deprescribing. The data identified activities involving initiating medicines and autonomous decision making rated at advancing/advanced level practice while adjusting/deprescribing medicines (often with the caveat of within guidelines, protocols or team decisions) was rated at post-registration foundation level. The prescribing framework includes the activities considered important and is organised by cluster and level of practice. Discussion / Conclusion This study provides a structured conceptualisation of prescribing across the levels of practice. The prescribing framework reflects the needs of our patients and hospital inpatient service and provides a scaffolded approach to progressing from inexperienced to more advanced prescribing roles. Post-registration foundation prescribing activities focus on processes or types of prescribing, whilst advanced are more autonomous and complex. Limitations we didn’t collect clinical area of practice as part of the demographic information for the brainstorming phase and some specialities may not be represented. Further work includes a training needs analysis and developing entrustable professional activities for core and higher risk areas of prescribing (e.g. post-operative pain).

NGHIÊN CỨU HIỆU QUẢ CỦA PHƯƠNG PHÁP TƯƠNG TÁC TRONG PHÁT TRIỂN KĨ NĂNG NÓI TIẾNG TRUNG QUỐC GIAI ĐOẠN CƠ SỞ TẠI TRƯỜNG ĐẠI HỌC HÙNG VƯƠNG

The ultimate goal of foreign language teaching and learning is communicative competence. Speaking holds a particularly vital position in the communication process. For language-specialized students at the foundation level, developing speaking skills is of utmost importance. Among these, interactive methods employed in communicative tasks have a positive impact on the language acquisition process in general and speaking skills in particular. From the perspective of applied linguistics, this study employs scientific experimentation to demonstrate the constructive influence of interactive methods on enhancing vocabulary usage, grammatical structures, accurate language forms, attention engagement, retelling, and precise responses of students towards teaching Chinese speaking skills at the foundation level. The research also suggests the application of interactive methods in the development of Chinese speaking skills at the foundation level at Hung Vuong University.

Introducing a Framework for Surgical Discharge Summaries to Improve Accuracy and Succinctness in a Busy District General Hospital.

Background Discharge summaries (TTOs) are essential documents in the effective communication between primary and secondary care, particularly in conveying critical post-discharge instructions to patients. Inconsistencies and omissions in TTOs can significantly undermine patient outcomes and disrupt continuity of care. This is particularly relevant to surgical patients, who often require specific follow-up care such as the removal of clips or drains shortly after discharge. Following the recent transition from paper-based to electronic records at a busy district general hospital (Royal Blackburn Hospital, Blackburn), the quality of TTOs was noted to be substandard.This quality improvement project aimed to enhance the accuracy and clarity of surgical TTOs. Methods A targeted framework was developed in collaboration with local consultants and the consideration of national guidelines to guide the content of surgical TTOs, focusing on five essential components: Reason for Admission, Intervention, Surgical Details, Discharge Plan, and Follow-up Instructions. Initial retrospective data analysis includedTTOs (n=60) across five surgical wards, evaluating their quality against the framework. The framework was then introduced via educational initiatives and integrated into the hospital's electronic patient record (EPR) system (CERNER). The impact of these interventions was assessed through data collection after two Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) cycles. Results Baseline data highlighted significant deficiencies; 42 (70%) of TTOs were missing at least one key element, with missing follow-up details most often the reason. Many TTOs also included excessive or inappropriate information, and their format varied greatly depending on individual writing styles. Following the first PDSA cycle and the introduction of the framework, the numberof TTOs containing all essential data points increased by 14 (30% increase), while those missing two or more elements decreased by 16 (48% decrease). After the second cycle, further improvements were observed, with the number of TTOs missing one or more data points decreased by 6 (21%). Despite the overall progress, follow-up information continued to be the most frequently omitted element. Feedback from resident doctors was positive and the unanimous opinion was that the framework improved not only the quality of TTOs, but also how efficiently they were written. Conclusions Implementing a standardised framework significantly improved the quality of surgical TTOs, particularly by increasing the inclusion of critical information. These results are encouraging. However, anecdotal evidence suggests there is a lack of training in writing TTOs at both undergraduate and foundation levels. Ongoing efforts are required to address these areas to ensure a sustained improvement in quality.

Factors Impacting Perceptions of Gender Inequality in the Spanish Society

This study uses Ordinary Least Squares Multiple Regression with data on perceptions regarding gender equality from the Spanish general population. Overall, the results indicate that perceptions of equal treatment under the law and equality in political life are significantly associated with perceptions of gender equality. However, perceptions of discrimination in education do not seem to affect perceptions of gender equality significantly. In addition, the results show a clear association between the belief that gender equality leads to a fairer society and the perception of gender equality itself. Results also suggest that while certain perceptions related to the law, society, and political life are instrumental in shaping views on gender inequality, there remains a foundational level of perceived inequality in Spanish society. As a concluding remark, when examining the impact of female representation in leadership positions, the results provide empirical support that the presence of women in leadership positions improves the perception of gender equity in the contexts in which it occurs; this fact reflects the importance of promoting the participation of women in management positions through public policies.

Development of the Joint Expeditionary Medical Officer.

The Uniformed Services University is known for its dual mission of preparing military medical officers for operational readiness and leadership roles. The Joint Expeditionary Medical Officer (JEMO) project is a novel internal program that was initiated in 2022 and aims to fortify and evaluate the essential Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs) within the School of Medicine's Molecules to Military Medicine curriculum that are pivotal for the development of a deployment-ready military medical officer. The JEMO-KSA program identifies and deliberately develops a core set of mission-critical skills during the course of students' undergraduate medical education. This helps ensure that Uniformed Services University graduates attain a strong foundational level of operational readiness across various military medical domains. Currently, 371 distinct KSAs have been integrated into the curriculum, with over 86% being assessed at different time frames. Over time, our goal is to present individual students with a customized JEMO "report card" depicting their readiness level; a document that could be updated and expanded throughout their military medical career. The JEMO project represents a significant stride toward optimizing the readiness of military medical officers by systematically identifying, strengthening, and assessing vital operational skills and abilities. With an ongoing commitment to excellence, the project envisages creating an even more robustly structured curriculum that is continually refined to address current operational readiness, setting a new standard for military medical education. While challenges such as accurately measuring the impact of integrated KSAs and continuously updating them to meet evolving military needs remain, the forward momentum associated with the JEMO project will help facilitate the development of military medical officers who have the KSAs to actively support mission success while simultaneously enhancing the overall effectiveness of military health care.

Ground failures and foundation performances in Adıyaman–Gölbaşı following the 6 February 2023 Kahramanmaraş–Türkiye Earthquake Sequence

The 6 February 2023 Kahramanmaraş–Türkiye earthquake sequence (M7.8 and M7.6) presents an exceptional opportunity to investigate both the effects of local soil conditions on damage patterns under strong shaking conditions and the performance of building foundations in areas that experienced ground failure. The significant ground failure and structural damage in Adıyaman–Gölbaşı triggered an intensive series of detailed reconnaissance and field surveys. This article aims to present the resulting database of observations on ground failures, building, and foundation performances. The field reconnaissance of ground failures and their effects on building performances involved aerial and walk-down surveys, including high-quality photographs taken across the town. In addition, data on building damage statistics compiled by the Ministry of Environment, Urbanization, and Climate Change were accessed and analyzed. The subsurface characteristics of the town were characterized using available data from pre-earthquake site investigation campaigns employed for town planning purposes. It is concluded that the ground failures in the town primarily resulted from soil liquefaction and cyclic softening. Most of the poor building and foundation performances and ground failures were documented in the northern part of Atatürk Boulevard, closer to the lake of Gölbaşı, where soil site characteristics were unfavorable. This revealed once again the significant effects of local soil site conditions, particularly soil liquefaction, on the intensified ground failures, foundation, and structural damage levels.

De la sustancia al yo como fundamento de la persona. Respuesta a John F. Crosby

This text continues the debate started with the article by Juan Manuel Burgos, The self as the ontological root of the person. Reflections on John F. Crosby, “Who” 6 (2017), pp. 33-54, to which John Crosby responded with the text On solitude, subjectivity and substantiality. Response to Juan Manuel Burgos, “Who” 8 (2018), pp. 7-18. In it, he responds to Crosby’s reflections by pointing out: 1) Crosby’s insistence on the relevance of intersubjectivity can be assumed as long as it is accepted that the self is situated at a more decisive foundational level of the person; 2) I accept, following Crosby, that the expression incommunicability can be used to refer to the person, although perhaps the use of this expression weakens his theses on intersubjectivity; 3) I continue to consider the use of the notion of substance to refer to the person to be inadequate and I believe that its functions should be replaced by a self understood in an ontological or foundational way.

Can Industrial Digitalization Boost a Consumption-Driven Economy? An Empirical Study Based on Provincial Data in China

A consumption-driven economy refers to an economic growth model primarily driven by domestic consumption and is a common goal for the economic growth of various countries. To explore the impact of industrial digitalization on a consumption-driven economy, this paper conducts an empirical study based on data from 31 provinces in China from 2013 to 2021. The empirical test results indicate: first, industrial digitalization significantly promotes the development of a consumption-driven economy, mainly reflected in the improvement of economic foundation and consumption levels, but shows no significant effect on improving the consumption structure. Second, mechanism analysis results show that industrial digitalization can promote the development of a consumption-driven economy by fostering innovation and advancing the industrial structure. Third, heterogeneity analysis results reveal that the promotion effect of industrial digitalization on the consumption-driven economy exists only in eastern and central China but not in western China, indicating that industrial digitalization in underdeveloped areas cannot exert a positive effect on the consumption-driven economy.

Christian Interiority in the Wild

Abstract: We live in an era of crisis when the Earth itself calls us to reconsider our most basic assumptions. Encounters with the wild world and with wild beings may impact us deeply, yet we rarely acknowledge them as sources for our own spirituality, let alone for our academic work as scholars of spirituality. By exploring how such encounters engage us at a more foundational level than that of articulated meaning, this essay strives to take another step toward thinking through the full implications of a participative epistemology and relational ontology.