Scarce Resources Research Articles

Exploiting Anytime Algorithms for Collaborative Service Execution in Edge Computing

The diversity and scarcity of resources across devices in heterogeneous computing environments can impact their ability to meet users’ quality-of-service (QoS) requirements, especially in open real-time environments where computational loads are unpredictable. Despite this uncertainty, timely responses to events remain essential to ensure desired performance levels. To address this challenge, this paper introduces collaborative service execution, enabling resource-constrained IoT devices to collaboratively execute services with more powerful neighbors at the edge, thus meeting non-functional requirements that might be unattainable through individual execution. Nodes dynamically form clusters, allocating resources to each service and establishing initial configurations that maximize QoS satisfaction while minimizing global QoS impact. However, the complexity of open real-time environments may hinder the computation of optimal local and global resource allocations within reasonable timeframes. Thus, we reformulate the QoS optimization problem as a heuristic-based anytime optimization problem, capable of interrupting and quickly adapting to environmental changes. Extensive simulations demonstrate that our anytime algorithms rapidly yield satisfactory initial service solutions and effectively optimize the solution quality over iterations, with negligible overhead compared to the benefits gained.

#1559 Using nephrology clinic data to emulate cohorts: a comparison between an electronic health records service and Chronic Renal Insufficiency Cohort

Abstract Background and Aims The amount of data contributed to evidence-synthesis is inequitably distributed among various countries in a way that most of the data is emerged from developed and/or upper middle and high income countries. One efficient and low-cost solution can be the implementation of scattered electronic health records (EHR) sources in those countries into emulated cohort studies. We aim to compare the characteristics of a custom-built nephrology clinic electronic health records (CBNC-EHR) service that is in practice for more than 13 years with Chronic Renal Insufficiency Cohort (CRIC) study which has approximately the same span and enrollment to find out about the feasibility, strengths, and challenges of the proposition. Method We compared measured variables of baseline characteristics and follow-up strategy of CRIC study with the data provided by CBNC-EHR to estimate if the care-centered database is capable of emulating a cohort study. Results Among variables of socioeconomic information at CRIC study, CBNC-EHR provides 33% at full, 33% are “partially available or easily accessible” (PAEA), and 33% are not available. 71% of variables of medical history are fully available for all patients, while only 14% are PAEA, and 14% are not available. For kidney function measures, CBNC-EHR provides 55% of variables completely, while the remaining 45% are PAEA. Obviously, no blood or urine sample were collected during ambulatory care, and no questionnaire on different aspects of health were used to gather supplementary data, contrary to CRIC study. Compared to follow-up strategy of CRIC study, which indicated Annual visits and laboratory tests and 6-month telephone follow-ups, CBNC-EHR yields data only upon personally-decided attention of patients for follow-up care, which varies widely from one patient to another. Nevertheless, the majority of patients have at least one office visit in a year, accompanied by relevant laboratory tests. CBNC-EHR provides a complete list of risk factors and comorbidities of each patient, which makes it suitable for subgrouping, as was designed in CRIC study regard the diabetes status of patients. CBNC-EHR currently has data of 6481 individuals with renal failure, compared to 3000 enrollment goal of CRIC study. However, much higher rates of dropout (estimated to be approximately 20%) and utilization of inclusion and exclusion criteria will contribute to the actual available cases to emulate a cohort study. Conclusion Implementing a care-centered database into emulation of a cohort study, is challenging and complicated. Lack of consistency, high dropout rates, imperfect baseline and complementary information, and need for extensive data cleaning are all difficulties. However, contribution to equitability of data share in evidence-synthesis, extremely lower cost of conduction, and less heterogeneity are strengths of this procedure which can have a remarkable effect on transforming medical data from less-developed countries (which understandably prioritize healthcare to research due to scarcity of resources) to effective research studies. In this paper, we compared a renowned nephrology cohort with a private nephrology clinic EHR in a developing country and showed virtual availability of data to emulate a cohort study based on the care-centered database.

Evaluación de la calidad del agua subterránea para uso agrícola en Balzar, provincia del Guayas, Ecuador

Water is a natural and vital resource for living beings and ecosystems. Groundwater is of great importance for human consumption and agricultural activities, but over the years, it has become an increasingly scarce resource. The objective of this research was to evaluate the quality of groundwater extracted from wells used for crop irrigation in Balzar, province the Guayas, Ecuador. Four treatments and three repetitions were used; groundwater extracted from three wells plus a distilled water core. Physical, chemical, microbiological analyzes and a toxicity test with dark incubation were carried out on seeds of radish (Raphanus sativus), cocoa (Theobroma cacao) and corn (Zea mays). Turbidity exceeded permitted levels under TULSMA regulations and bicarbonate and chlorine levels exceeded the permitted limit. The microbiological analysis reflected fecal coliform values above 1000 UFC.100 mL-1 of water, indicating the presence of contaminants in the water sources. Phytotoxicity tests carried out with radish seeds showed a stimulation of radicle growth in well one and mild toxicity in wells two and three. For cocoa and corn seeds, moderate and mild toxicity was evident, respectively in the three wells. Although the maximum permissible limits were exceeded in some variables, the water from the three wells can be used for irrigation; however, there is a need to take measures to improve the quality of the water in these wells.

ROX Index Variation as a Predictor of Outcomes in COVID-19 Patients

Background: During the COVID-19 pandemic, emergency departments were overcrowded with critically ill patients, and many providers were confronted with ethical dilemmas in assigning respiratory support to them due to scarce resources. Quick tools for evaluating patients upon admission were necessary, as many existing scores proved inaccurate in predicting outcomes. The ROX Index (RI), a rapid and straightforward scoring system reflecting respiratory status in acute respiratory failure patients, has shown promise in predicting outcomes for COVID-19 patients. The 24 h difference in the RI accurately gauges mortality and the need for invasive mechanical ventilation (IMV) among patients with COVID-19. Methods: Study design: Prospective cohort study. A total of 204 patients were admitted to the emergency department from May to August 2020. Data were collected from the clinical records. The RI was calculated at admission and 24 h later, and the difference was used to predict the association with mortality and the need for IMV, a logistic regression model was used to adjust for age, sex, presence of comorbidities, and disease severity. Finally, the data were analyzed using ROC. Results: The difference in respiratory RI between admission and 24 h is a good predictor for death (AUC 0.92) and for mechanic ventilation (AUC: 0.75). Each one-unit decrease in the RI difference at 24 h was associated with an odds ratio of 1.48 for the risk of death (95%CI: 1.31–1.67) and an odds ratio of 1.16 for IMV (95% IC: 1.1–1.23). Conclusions: The 24 h variation of RI is a good prediction tool to allow healthcare professionals to identify the patients who will benefit from invasive treatment, especially in low-resource settings.

DeHNSSo: The delft harmonic Navier-Stokes solver for nonlinear stability problems with complex geometric features

A nonlinear Harmonic Navier-Stokes (HNS) framework is introduced for simulating instabilities in laminar spanwise-invariant shear layers, featuring sharp and smooth wall surface protuberances. While such cases play a critical role in the process of laminar-to-turbulent transition, classical stability theory analyses such as parabolized or local stability methods fail to provide (accurate) results, due to their underlying assumptions. The generalized incompressible Navier-Stokes (NS) equations are expanded in perturbed form, using a spanwise and temporal Fourier ansatz for flow perturbations. The resulting equations are discretized using spectral collocation in the wall-normal direction and finite-difference methods in the streamwise direction. The equations are then solved using a direct sparse-matrix solver. The nonlinear mode interaction terms are converged iteratively. The solution implementation makes use of a generalized domain transformation to account for geometrical smooth surface features, such as humps. No-slip conditions can be embedded in the interior domain to account for the presence of sharp surface features such as forward- or backward-facing steps. Common difficulties with Navier-Stokes solvers, such as the treatment of the outflow boundary and convergence of nonlinear terms, are considered in detail. The performance of the developed solver is evaluated against several cases of representative boundary layer instability growth, including linear and nonlinear growth of Tollmien-Schlichting waves in a Blasius boundary layer and stationary crossflow instabilities in a swept flat-plate boundary layer. The latter problem is also treated in the presence of a geometrical smooth hump and a sharp forward-facing step at the wall. HNS simulation results, such as perturbation amplitudes, growth rates, and shape functions, are compared to benchmark flow stability analysis methods such as Parabolized Stability Equations (PSE), Adaptive Harmonic Linearized Navier-Stokes (AHLNS), or Direct Numerical Simulations (DNS). Good agreement is observed in all cases. The HNS solver is subjected to a grid convergence study and a simple performance benchmark, namely memory usage and computational cost. The computational cost is found to be considerably lower than high-fidelity DNS at comparable grid resolutions. Program summaryProgram Title: DeHNSSoCPC Library link to program files:https://doi.org/10.17632/9bnms99kk2.1Developer's repository link:https://github.com/SvenWesterbeek/DeHNSSoLicensing provisions: GPLv3Programming language: MatlabSupplementary material: The supplementary material contains the code as well as a user manual.Nature of problem: Fluid flows are subject to laminar-to-turbulent transition following the growth of instabilities. To avoid computationally demanding Direct Numerical Simulations (DNS), perturbation theory is often applied to their analysis. However, classical stability methods based on the Orr-Sommerfeld equation or the Parabolized Stability Equations neglect the influence of streamwise gradients in varying degrees. The validity of these assumptions is difficult to estimate a priori.Solution method: The Delft Harmonic Navier-Stokes Solver (DeHNSSo) solves the harmonic Navier-Stokes equations nonlinearly on domains featuring sharp and smooth spanwise invariant surface features using a generalized grid approach in combination with an embedded boundary method. This allows the user to include the effects of streamwise gradients on flow at a fraction of the cost of DNS.Additional comments including restrictions and unusual features: In DeHNSSo, the equations are solved using direct matrix solvers. As such, memory is treated as a scarce resource. The problem is formulated in a mode-independent manner such that left-hand side matrices need only be computed and stored once despite incorporating nonlinear terms. Additionally, DeHNSSo offers the user the possibility to prescribe inhomogeneous boundary conditions to introduce and solve the receptivity problem or manipulate instabilities. Due to the double Fourier expansion, the solver is restricted to spanwise and temporally periodic problems.

Circular Economy Strategies in Practice: A Qualitative Examination of Industry Adaptation and Innovation

Objective: This study explores how companies across various industries are implementing circular economy strategies in practice, focusing on the drivers, practices, challenges, enablers, and outcomes of their efforts. Theoretical Framework: The study draws upon multiple theoretical perspectives, including the multi-level perspective on sustainability transitions, the resource-based view of the firm, and institutional theory, to understand the complex factors influencing the adoption and implementation of circular economy strategies. Method: A qualitative, multiple-case study design was employed, involving semi-structured interviews with key informants from 20-30 companies actively engaged in circular economy initiatives. Data were analyzed using a combination of deductive and inductive coding approaches, with member checking and peer debriefing used to enhance trustworthiness. Results and Discussion: The findings reveal that environmental sustainability concerns are the primary driver for companies adopting circular economy strategies, with regulatory pressures, competitive advantage, customer demands, and resource scarcity also playing significant roles. Companies are implementing a wide range of circular economy practices, including eco-design, circular business models, reverse logistics, and industrial symbiosis. Key challenges identified include lack of technical knowledge and skills, inadequate infrastructure and technology, and regulatory barriers, while enablers such as leadership commitment, collaboration and partnerships, and employee engagement are crucial for successful implementation. The study also highlights the positive outcomes of circular economy adoption, including environmental benefits, economic gains, innovation and competitive advantage, customer satisfaction, and employee engagement. Research Implications: This study contributes to the theoretical development of the circular economy field and offers practical implications for managers and policymakers. Originality/Value: This study addresses the lack of comprehensive, cross-sectoral research on circular economy implementation in practice, providing valuable insights into the experiences of companies across different industries.

The effect of COVID‐19 lockdown periods and societal restrictions on blood product usage in adult trauma patients: A retrospective observational study

Background. Blood products, though potentially lifesaving, are a scarce and costly resource. Trauma injuries, which contribute to the demand for these resources, increase in proportion to alcohol consumption. South Africa’s COVID-19 lockdown measures included a ban on alcohol sales and curfews.Objective. To investigate the effect of these societal measures on blood product usage. Methods. We retrospectively compared medical patient data from the South African National Blood Service database of red cell concentrate (RCC) usage in four disciplines during the COVID-19 period with data from the 3 years preceding the pandemic. We also examined trauma case patterns using an institutional database from the Harry Gwala Regional Hospital (HGRH) Emergency Department during the same periods. Results. In total, 16 922 RCCs at HGRH and 528 734 RCCs in KwaZulu-Natal were issued across the four disciplines, from March 2017 - March 2021. RCC usage significantly decreased among trauma patients at institutional and provincial levels during the COVID-19 period (provincial pre-lockdown mean 10.99 units per day; SD 6.89, 95% CI 10.63 - 11.35 v. lockdown 7.46 units per day; SD 5.42, 95% CI 6.14 - 8.79; p<0.01). Further, RCC usage significantly increased during the weekend immediately following the lifting of the first alcohol ban, along with a significant decrease in the number of trauma patients seen during hard lockdown periods. Conclusions. Societal restrictions, including curfews and banning alcohol consumption, decreased the use of RCCs in trauma patients. Government policies aimed at reducing alcohol-related traumatic injuries would likely have a significant impact on RCC usage.

The effect of the initial distribution of labor-related property rights on the allocative efficiency of labor markets

IntroductionThe Coase Theorem posits that frictionless markets efficiently allocate scarce resources as long as property rights are fully specified. Our empirical study investigates how the initial allocation of labor-related property rights influences the allocative efficiency in labor markets for skilled workers within a highly competitive environment—professional basketball. Specifically, we compare two regimes: one where employers can trade workers to other employers without the worker's consent, and another where workers are free agents, able to negotiate and move freely without their employer's consent.MethodsWe utilize the NBA as a “laboratory” to conduct our analysis, constructing a unique panel dataset that includes 3,132 player-season observations spanning 17 regular seasons from 2003/04 to 2019/20. To address our research question, we employ linear panel regression models to analyze the data.Results and discussionThe findings reveal a decline in productivity among workers who transition to new employers as free agents, a phenomenon not observed among non-free agents. This observation suggests that allocative efficiency might be higher when workers are traded without their consent compared to when they exercise their autonomy as free agents. These findings highlight the significant impact that the initial distribution of labor-related property rights has on labor market efficiency, potentially challenging the assumptions of the Coase Theorem. However, the lack of a statistically significant difference in productivity changes between free agents and non-free agents moving to new employers prevents us from definitively rejecting the predictions of the Coase Theorem.

A Research Article on Sustainable Construction Material

The construction industry is facing increasing pressure to adopt sustainable practices to mitigate environmental impacts and address resource scarcity. Sustainable construction materials play a pivotal role in achieving these goals by reducing carbon emissions, minimizing waste generation, and promoting circular economy principles. This research article provides a comprehensive review of advancements in sustainable construction materials, encompassing various categories such as recycled materials, bio-based materials, and low-carbon alternatives. It explores a wide array of materials such as Human Hair fiber, bamboo, coconut fiber, and more. Each material's sustainable attributes, including recyclability, durability, energy efficiency, and reduced environmental impact, are thoroughly examined. Furthermore, the review investigates the manufacturing processes, life cycle assessment, and environmental performance of these materials. It discusses the challenges and barriers to the widespread adoption of sustainable construction materials, including cost considerations, regulatory hurdles, and technological limitations.

Investigation into the Challenges Experienced by School Management Teams (SMTs) Post-Pandemic in Rural High Schools in the Mopani-West Education District

The purpose of this study was to investigate the challenges faced by SMTs in dealing with poor academic performance in the Mopani-West District of Limpopo Province, South Africa. Studies have indicated that schools in rural areas fail to meet their full potential due to a combination of factors including insufficient instructional resources, shortage of qualified educators, insufficient infrastructure, and poverty and inequality. The study adopted a qualitative approach following an interpretative case study design. Using purposive sampling a total of 18 participants, comprising six principals, six departmental heads, and six learners who met the research criteria were selected. The study sample included one principal, one departmental head, and one learner from each of these six schools in the Mopani-West District. Three schools from the sample were identified as high-performing, while the other three were identified as underperforming. Data were elicited using semi-structured interviews, followed by thematic data analysis to unveil rich narratives and patterns within the research inquiries. The findings of the study revealed that resource scarcity in schools significantly hampered the quality of education. Issues such as insufficient teaching materials, a shortage of teachers, and the absence of technology create stark disparities between less and more privileged schools. The study also highlighted the impact of inadequate infrastructure on learning as one of the pressing concerns that compromise quality teaching and learning. Recommendations were made accordingly.

Utilization of Telemedicine for Evaluation of Patients and Distribution of a Scarce Resource During the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Utilization of Telemedicine for Evaluation of Patients and Distribution of a Scarce Resource During the COVID-19 Pandemic.

A Review on Biofloc System Technology, History, Types, and Future Economical Perceptions in Aquaculture.

Given the scarcity of water and land resources, coupled with the competitive nature of aquaculture, the long-term viability of this industry will depend on strategies for vertical development. This involves enhancing production environments, increasing productivity, and advancing aquaculture technologies. The use of biofloc technology offers a potential solution to mitigate the adverse environmental impacts and the heavy reliance on fishmeal in the aquaculture sector. This method is designed to effectively assimilate inorganic nitrogen found in aquaculture wastewater, thereby enhancing water quality. Additionally, this process produces microbial protein, which can serve as a viable supplemental feed for aquatic animals. Furthermore, this technique has the potential to reduce the feed conversion ratio, thereby lowering overall production costs. This article provides an overview of the evolving field of biofloc system technology within aquaculture. In this study, we will examine the historical development and various types of biofloc systems, as well as the factors that influence their effectiveness. Finally, we will explore the economic potential of implementing biofloc systems in aquaculture.

The Global Competitiveness of Turkish Carpet Industry: Comparative Advantages of Tufted and Woven Carpet

Countries with scarce resources should specialize in industries in which they are more productive. The carpet industry is an industry where Turkey is at the top of the list in exports. The woven and tufted carpet industry has a large part of the world carpet trade. The aim of this study is to analyze the competitiveness of Turkey in the weaving and tufted carpet industries and to compare it with China, Belgium and India. As a result of the study, Turkey has a comparative advantage in the weaving and tufted carpet sector. It has a comparative advantage in both sectors in Belgium and India. However, China's comparative advantage is not found in both sectors.

Environmental Degradation: Causes, Effects and Solutions

Environmental degradation is a pressing global issue with far-reaching consequences for ecosystems, human health, and sustainable development. This comprehensive article explores the various causes of environmental degradation, ranging from poverty and urbanization to industrialization, deforestation, pollution, natural disasters, population growth, climate change, unrestricted development, soil damage, energy use, unsustainable agriculture, and landfills. It examines the various effects of environmental degradation, including impacts on human health, biodiversity loss, global warming, ozone layer depletion, atmospheric changes, scarcity of natural resources, loss of the tourism industry, and economic recession. Moreover, the article suggests a wide array of solutions to address environmental degradation, encompassing tree plantation, regenerative farming, spiritual renewal, pollution control, reduced fuel consumption, waste management strategies, water conservation, sustainable initiatives, public awareness campaigns, social movements, government policies and international cooperation through UN initiatives.

Predictive validity of the STarT Back screening tool among older adults with back pain.

The predictive validity of the STarT Back screening tool among older adults is uncertain. This study aimed to assess the predictive validity of the SBT among older adults in primary care. This prospective cohort study included 452 patients aged ≥55 years seeking Norwegian primary care with a new episode of back pain. A poor outcome (persistent disabling back pain) was defined as a score of ≥7/24 on the Roland-Morris Disability Questionnaire (RMDQ) at 3, 6 or 12 months of follow-up. The ability of the SBT risk groups to identify persistent disabling back pain was assessed with multivariable logistic regression, area under receiver operating characteristics curve (AUC), and with the accuracy measures sensitivity, specificity, predictive values and likelihood ratios. The adjusted odds ratios (95% CI) for persistent disabling back pain were 2.40 (1.34-4.30) at 3 months, 3.42 (1.76-6.67) at 6 months and 2.81 (1.47-5.38) at 12 months for the medium-risk group (n = 118), and 8.90 (1.83-43.24), 2.66 (0.81-8.67) and 4.53 (1.24-16.46) for the high-risk group (n = 27), compared to the low-risk group (n = 282). There were no statistically significant differences in odds between the medium- and high-risk groups at any time point. AUC values (95% CI) were 0.65 (0.59-0.71), 0.67 (0.60-0.73) and 0.65 (0.58-0.71) at 3, 6 and 12 months. Accuracy measures were poor at all time points, with particularly poor sensitivity and negative likelihood ratio values. The predictive validity of the SBT risk groups in predicting persistent disabling back pain in older adults was poor. This study found that the STarT Back screening tool had poor predictive validity among older adults and that it may need recalibration or extension before widespread implementation among older adults. Having valid tools for this population may aid clinicians with allocating scarce healthcare resources, which is especially important considering the rapidly ageing population and its expected challenge to the healthcare systems.

The Regional Firm Density and the Growth of Firms in the Portuguese Textile and Clothing Industry

This paper focuses on the relationship between the regional firm density and the growth of firms in the Portuguese textile and clothing industry to investigate how their geographic clustering influences said growth. Despite the concentration of this industry in the Northern region of Portugal in only four poles, our results show that the location of firms in the cluster is not relevant for growth when the whole industry is considered. However, disaggregate analysis shows that the clothing industry does exhibit both location externalities and cross-location effect, while textile manufacture exhibits neither. In addition, our empirical evidence reveals that the growth of firms located in the cluster is positively correlated with external finance. This result suggests that location becomes a solvency signal for firms, and, specifically, this might help to explain why textile manufacturers firms are located in the cluster. These findings are relevant for entrepreneurs and Portuguese policymakers, as it jeopardizes the optimal allocation of scarce resources in the Portuguese textile cluster.

Energy efficiency as an accelerator to environmental and operational performance

As oil and gas operators continue to enhance and start implementing their plans to meet their regulators’ and customers’ net-zero related demands, the industry should not overlook those low-hanging fruit that will bear results in the short term and, if done well, also contribute to long-term objectives. An effective approach to energy management will contribute to environmental, operational and financial outcomes, by addressing resource scarcity and price volatility, delivering on licence-to-operate considerations, complying with regulations, and delivering a competitive advantage through greater efficiency and enhanced reputation. Key considerations are as follows. Data quality: fuel, power, steam, condensate balances will highlight data gaps and inconsistencies. Energy usage: inefficiencies in operations such as boilers, turbines, as well as systemic issues, such as cycle efficiency and steam and condensate losses, can be identified. Emissions monitoring and reporting: clear and consistent data about fuel and power consumption directly feeds into greenhouse gas corporate reporting schemes. Quality assurance of monitoring and reporting processes: review and challenge dashboards and reports for completeness, accuracy and clarity. Management operating system: redesign management processes to improve workflows and optimise operations. Loss accounting: Production and Energy Loss Accounting (PELA) improves staff collaboration and effectively tackles hidden losses. In this paper, dss+ will share how, using a mix of operational efficiencies and capex, an integrated oil and gas company active in 30 countries identified potential to reduce its emissions by 38 m tonnes of CO2 leading to over US$6 m in savings per annum over 4 years for just four of its assets.

Environmental impact assessment of biohydrogen production from orange peel waste by lab-scale dark and photofermentation processes

Orange peel waste (OPW), as a relevant and recoverable residue, is composed of peel, internal tissue, pulp, and seeds. This organic residue is rich in carbohydrates useful for biofuel production processes. Biohydrogen is obtained from dark fermentation (DF) and photofermentation (PF), which are complementary in the bioprocessing chain. The objective of this work was to compare the environmental impact assessment of a sequential dark–photofermentation process (Scenario DF-PF) and the individual fermentation processes: dark fermentation (Scenario DF) and photofermentation (Scenario PF). The assessment was performed at a laboratory scale, and the functional unit (FU) was defined as the production of 1 kg H2. Scenario DF showed the lowest environmental impacts regarding global warming and fossil resource scarcity indicators, with 375.5 kg CO2-eq/FU and 108.8 kg oil-eq/FU, respectively, followed by Scenario DF-PF and Scenario PF. Scenario DF-PF presented the lowest impact regarding the water consumption indicator (7.6 m3/FU), followed by Scenario DF, which had 46.6% more impact. Additionally, Scenario DF-PF required 3.3 times less substrate than Scenario DF due to more efficient substrate conversion. The high share of fossil fuels in the Mexican electricity mix directly impacts the processes that require electric energy, such as the PF process. Therefore, eco-friendly light sources should be used to minimize effects. Valorization of OPW could follow two routes depending on whether the aim is to reduce a specific environmental impact indicator or biowaste conversion efficiency.

Democracy as Secular Theodicy

Scholars across political philosophy, theology, economics, sociology, sociobiology, and history presently acknowledge that theistic and secular religions are similar in form and function. This essay goes further by establishing that all religions are congruent and otherwise complementary rather than being merely similar. All religions, regardless of their basis, are institutionalized behavioral responses to the “evil” represented by the scarcity of economic resources. All religions serve to unify populations for defense, cooperation, and production and proffer apologias for evil’s persistence in the presence of presumptively omnipotent, omniscient, and benevolent sovereigns (gods, kings, elected officials, etc.). All religions comprise a mix of metaphysical constructs and all religious “truths” are pragmatic in the sense of reflecting “what works,” to what end it works, and for whom it works. Leibnizian theodicy, an aspect of theology and precursor of radical utilitarianism and welfare economics, argues that creating “the best of all possible worlds” entails divine trade-offs that purportedly minimize evil. Today’s political economics and philosophy similarly entail faith-based approaches to creating “the greatest good for the greatest number,” often implying the backing of divine wisdom. The upshot is the panoply of man-made evils, often intentional, that are characteristic of illiberal democratic majorities and theocratic states.

Invisible innovation: Intellectual labour on regional university campuses in Australia

In Australia, regional university campuses occupy a geographically and institutionally peripheral position in a metrocentric higher education system. We argue that the concentration of research funding and capabilities at metropolitan campuses devalues the intellectual labour of academics working on regional university campuses. The authors use collaborative autoethnography to explore a common theme of ‘gap filling’, that is, mobilising scarce resources to create unique solutions for local issues, and draw on Southern Theory to theorise the implications for our work in the location-based power relations of the Australian knowledge production economy. In this context, we utilise Eversole's concept of ‘invisible innovation’ to theorise how the important place-based knowledge work associated with ‘gap filling’ on regional university campuses is rendered invisible by the metrocentric geopolitics of knowledge production within Australia. The research reveals that the place-based knowledge work of regional academics fills gaps in regional services and resources through innovations largely unrecognised within the higher education system.