Static Stretching Combined with Conscious Slower Breathing May Increase Parasympathetic Activity and Reduce Stress in Adult Women

Background: Women are thought to be more susceptible to stress than men in a stressful society, and reducing stress is crucial for women to maintain their health. Static stretching (SST) is applied in various fields to not only increase muscle flexibility but also reduce stress. Additionally, conscious slower breathing (CSB) predominates parasympathetic activity, causing a relaxing effect. These results indicate that combining SST and CSB may be more useful in reducing stress. However, to the best of our knowledge, the effect of this combination remains unclear. Objective: This study aimed to elucidate the effects of the combination of SST and CSB on autonomic activity and stress in adult women. Methods: Eleven healthy Japanese adult female participants performed SST with nonconscious natural breathing for 20 min. The same participants performed SST in combination with CSB (2 s inspiratory and 4 s expiratory) for 20 min on another day. Salivary cortisol and chromogranin A levels were measured before and after stretching as stress markers of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis and sympathetic nervous system. The coefficient of variation of the R-R interval (CVR-R) and high-frequency component (HF), which reflect parasympathetic nerve activity, and heart rate and low-frequency component (LF)/HF ratio, which reflect sympathetic nerve activity, were measured before, during, and after stretching. Results: SST decreased cortisol levels but with no significant changes in chromogranin A, heart rate, CVR-R, HF, or LF/HF ratio. The combination of SST and CSB increased CVR-R and HF levels in addition to decreasing cortisol levels but with no significant changes in chromogranin A, heart rate, or LF/HF levels. Conclusion: These results indicate that the combination of SST and CSB may increase parasympathetic activity and reduce stress. However, future randomized controlled trials with larger sample sizes should support this conclusion.

What Happens in Organizations When Enhancing Organizational Culture Toward Being More Conscious?

The purpose of this study is to offer a better comprehension of what happens in organizations when enhancing organizational culture through consciousness by linking the market-oriented ecosystem variables and analyzing their relationship with a conscious organization.Design and methodology:Two questionnaires were used to test the hypotheses,the market-oriented ecosystem 38-item(Yeung&Ulrich,2019),and the conscious organization model 7-item adaptation(Sisoda,2018).Pearson correlations were calculated to measure the strength of the linear relationship among the variables involved in each one of the hypotheses,and coefficient alpha(coefficient𝛼)was used to analyze the reliability,to measure the internal consistency of the scales.Relevant findings:Context,ecosystem organizational structure,governance,and people ecosystem were positively correlated to a conscious organization.The originality of this study is based on use of the interaction among the variables of the market-oriented ecosystem model(continuous changing context,ecosystem organizational structure,governance,and people ecosystem)and a conscious organizational culture.Finally,the practical implications of having high levels of the market-oriented ecosystem variables predict high level of consciousness in organizations.These variables require careful consideration,a proactive planning process to enhance organizational culture through consciousness.

The Claimed Revolution to Understand Consciousness:Information Plays the Driving/Essential Role for the Structuration and Behavior of the Living Organisms

A prestigious conference claimed recently a revolution in neuroscience to understand consciousness.In this paper it is shown that this revolution already came,revealing the determinant role of information for human and living structures,both for their structuration and behavior,explaining consciousness at human as the result of the activity of the Informational System of Human and Living Structures.For this,it is emphasized and discussed the informational structure of the eukaryotic cell,the basic/representative composing unit of the multicellular body of human,animals,and plants,showing that the composition and functions of the informational system are basically similar with that of human.To reveal the driving role of informational mechanisms in human and subhuman organisms,it is introduced the concept of matter-related information,showing that information can be hidden/“embodied”or released/“disembodied”in or from the elemental micro/macro components of the body,during the multiple chain/cascade interactions including transduction processes.It is shown that such interactions are initiated from two main categories of informational sources:implicit(genetic)and explicit(external/internal)sources,the first category leading to structuration of the body and the second the reactive behavior.Consciousness in human and subhuman organisms,expressed by two corresponding informational relations,is the result of the release of information by the mind,acting as an informational operator/device,the development degree of mind and consciousness depending on the complexity degree and adaptation.An analogy of this Informational Model of Human and Living Structures(IMHLS)with the ancient model of chakras is highlighted,showing that these models support each other,applied with beneficial effects in Reiki technique and music-based cognitive multi-task therapy for neuro-rehabilitation.

When Conscious Consumerism Backfires:A Critical Study on Social Exclusion,Partnerships,and White Saviorism

Purpose:What factors influence conscious consumerism,especially related to race and gender identities?This scholarship explores three white women-led social responsibility organizations’(SROs)aspirations to encourage conscious consumerism as well as factors that influence conscious consumerism.Design/methodology/approach:Using the Black feminist thought and sustainability development theory,the data were analyzed using a thematic analysis to explore the activation of the white savior industrial complex(WSIC)in SROs.Interviews provided in-depth knowledge of the SRO culture including,but not limited to,insight on social exclusion and partnerships.Findings:Noonday Collection,Sseko Designs,and Trades of Hope,all SROs,aspire to be dedicated to people,planet,and profit and encourage conscious consumerism as a means for their customer base and sales consultants to“do their part”,and yet,an unintended consequence of the SROs’work is social exclusion and white saviorism.Originality:This scholarship investigates what can be done to dismantle the overreliance of conscious consumerism in an effort to finally strip white saviorism,and its role in the white savior industrial complex(WSIC),of its power.

The Axiology of Consciousness in Mocombeian Consciousness Field Theory

This work explores the axiology of consciousness in Mocombe’s consciousness field in the material world.The paper critically assesses Mocombe’s consciousness field theory(CFT)within the larger body of contemporary ontological debates regarding the nature,origin,and constitution of consciousness in the universe.The work goes on to highlight the manifestation of Mocombe’s consciousness field in the material resource framework that is the earth,and the nature and origins of ethics and values.

Analysis of Commuting Modal Shift in Consideration of Social Interaction of Consciousness for Environment

It is the matter for achievement of the low carbon transport system that the excessive use of private vehicles can be controlled appropriately.Not only improvement of service level of modes except private vehicle,but also consciousness for environmental problem of individual trip maker is important for eco-commuting promotion.On the other hand,consciousness for environment would be changed by influence of other person.Accordingly,it is aimed in the study that the structure of decision-making process for modal shift to the eco-commuting mode in the local city is described considering environmental consciousness and social interaction.For the purpose,the consciousness for the environment problem and the travel behavior of the commuter at the suburban area in the local city are investigated by the questionnaire survey.The covariance structure about the eco-consciousness is analyzed with the database of the questionnaire survey by structural equation modeling.As the result,it can be confirmed with the structural equation model that the individual environmental consciousness is strongly related with the intention of self-sacrifice and is influenced with the local interaction of the individual connections.On the other hand,the intention of modal shift for the commuting mode is analyzed with the database of the questionnaire survey.It can be found out that the environmental consciousness is not statistically significant for commuting mode choice with the present poor level of service of public transport.However,the intention of self-sacrifice for the prevention of the global warming is statistically confirmed as the factor of modal shift with the operation of eco-commuting bus service with the RP/SP integrated estimation method.As the result,the multi-agent simulation system with social interaction model for eco consciousness is developed to measure the effect of the eco-commuting promotion.For the purpose,the carbon dioxide emission is estimated based on traffic demand and road network condition in the traffic environment model.On the other hand,the relation between agents is defined based on the small world network.The proposed multi-agent simulation is applied to measure the effect of the eco-commuting promotion such as improvement of level of service on the public transport or education of eco-consciousness.The effect of the promotion plan can be observed with the proposed multi-agent system.Finally,it can be concluded that the proposed multi-agent simulation with social interaction for eco-consciousness is useful for planning of eco-commuting promotion.

Correlations between the Global Earth Healing and Global Consciousness Projects—Brain-Mind-Matter-Interactions through Physical Noise Generators

Inspired by Roger Nelson’s Global Consciousness Project (GCP), the Global Earth Healing Project (GEHP) uses a network of several hundred physical noise generators to amplify the combined intentions of their users in order to infuse positive affirmations into the global consciousness. As mentioned in the original study design, it was intended to use the GCP as a reference for the effectiveness of its activities. The data of the GEHP consisting of 21 events from 2013 to 2020 is analyzed and statistically compared to the data of the GCP. An astonishing synchronicity was observed, which suggests an interaction between the brain states of the observers and the physical noise generators of the GCP.

Quantum Theory of Consciousness

Both consciousness and quantum phenomenon are subjective and indeterministic. In this paper, we propose consciousness is a quantum phenomenon. A quantum theory of consciousness (QTOC) is presented based on a new interpretation of quantum physics. We show that this QTOC can address the mind and body problem, the hard problem of consciousness. It also provides a physics foundation and mathematical formulation to study consciousness and neural network. We demonstrate how to apply it to develop and extend various models of consciousness. We show the predictions from this theory about the existence of a universal quantum vibrational field and the large-scale, nearly instantaneous synchrony of brainwaves among different parts of brain, body, people, and objects. The correlation between Schumann Resonances and some brainwaves is explained. Recent progress in quantum information theory, especially regarding quantum entanglement and quantum error correction code, is applied to study memory and shed new light in neuroscience.

Connecting the P300 to the diagnosis and prognosis of unconscious patients

The residual consciousness of unconscious patients can be detected by studying the P300, a wave among event-related potentials. Previous studies have applied tones, the subject＇s name and other names as stimuli. However, the results were not satisfactory. In this study, we changed the constituent order of subjects＇ two-character names to create derived names. The subject＇s derived names, together with tones and their own names, were used as auditory stimuli in event-related potential experiments. Healthy controls and unconscious patients were included in this study and made to listen to these auditory stimuli. In the two paradigms, a sine tone followed by the subject＇s own name and the subject＇s derived name followed by the subject＇s own name were used as standard and deviant stimuli, respectively. The results showed that all healthy controls had the P300 using both paradigms, and that the P300 in the second paradigm had a longer latency and two peaks. All minimally conscious state patients had the P300 in the first paradigm and the majority of them had the P300 in the second paradigm. Most vegetative state patients had no P300. Patients who showed the P300 in the two paradigms had more residual consciousness, and patients with the two-peak P300 had a higher probability of awakening within a short time. Our experimental findings suggest that the P300 event-related potential could reflect the conscious state of unconscious patients.

Efficacy of acupuncture to regain consciousness in patients with traumatic brain injury: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Background:Traumatic brain injury(TBI)is a leading cause of death and disability worldwide,and consciousness disorder is a common problem in TBI patients.Acupuncture has been used to improve neurological deficits in patients with TBI.This meta-analysis aims to evaluate the effects and safety of acupuncture in improving consciousness in patients with TBI when compared with other therapies.Methods:A systematic search was conducted in electronic databases PubMed,EMBASE,Web of Science,the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials,Allied and Complementary Medicine Database,WHO International Clinical Trials Registry Platform,ClinicalTrials.gov,and Google Scholar for randomized controlled trials that investigated the effect of acupuncture on patients with TBI.From the inception of databases to March 2023.Results:A total of 653 participants were included in nine trials.We found that acupuncture adjunct to routine treatment significantly improved the wakeup rate of patients in TBI when compared with routine treatment alone(relative risk=1.36,95%confidence interval:1.16 to 1.59,I2=4.78%,P=0).Additionally,we found that acupuncture is significantly associated with reduced impaired consciousness after TBI when adjunct to medicine therapy.As a safe intervention,acupuncture can also improve the activities of daily living for people with TBI(mean difference=15.71,95%confidence interval:9.19 to 22.22,I2=0%,P=0).Conclusion:Acupuncture can improve consciousness and braise wakeup of patients with TBI when adjunct to conventional treatment compared with routine treatment alone.Further high-quality studies are needed to confirm these findings and to determine the optimal acupuncture treatment parameter for TBI.

Students' sustainability consciousness with the three dimensions of sustainability:Does the locus of control play a role?

The persistent environmental problems and the growing difficulty to achieve sustainable development require a re-evaluation of person’ sustainable knowledge, attitude, and behaviour. To go to where we want to go, we must first assess where we are now. The study investigated the level of sustainability consciousness of students in India, and sustainability consciousness was expressed in sustainability knowledge, attitude, and behaviour. Sustainability consciousness was further examined using the three dimensions, such as environment, society, and economy. By drawing the perception map of students and studying the role of the locus of control, the reasons why sustainability knowledge does not appear in sustainability behaviour were analyzed. Quantitative analysis was conducted for a sample of 205 students from higher educational institutions across central India(Madhya Pradesh) from January to March in 2022. The data were analyzed using the SPSS 26 and Smart Partial Least Square(PLS) 3.0. The research revealed that sustainability attitude impacts sustainability behaviour more than sustainability knowledge. The results showed that respondents’ sustainability knowledge is higher than their sustainability attitude and behaviour. Moreover, it was discovered that economic concerns can lead to sustainability behaviour. In order to study respondents’ behaviour regarding sustainability consciousness, the study divided respondents into two groups according to the locus of control: the internal and external locus of control. It was found that most respondents thought whatever happened around them was beyond their control. Further, the locus of control influenced sustainability behaviour in groups with the internal locus of control. The study helps to explain why sustainability knowledge and attitude cannot translate into sustainability behaviour and provides a basis for achieving sustainable development. The conclusions of this study are crucial for governments, educational institutions, and organizations that empower youth to change their behaviour.

Survey study of the etiology of non-traumatic altered consciousness in the Emergency Department at Suez Canal University Hospital in Egypt

BACKGROUND Disorders of consciousness including coma in non-trauma patients can be caused by a wide variety of pathologies affecting the central nervous system.They represent a frequent challenge in emergency medicine and are combined with a very high in-hospital mortality.Hence,early treatment of these patients is vital and increases the likelihood of a good outcome.AIM To identify the causes of altered consciousness presentation to the Emergency Department at Suez Canal University Hospital.METHODS This was a descriptive cross-sectional study conducted on 87 patients with acute non-traumatic disturbed level of consciousness(DLOC)at the Emergency Department.RESULTS The mean age of the studied patients was 60.5±13.6 years.Among them,60%were males and 40%were females.The most common cause of acute non-traumatic DLOC was systemic infection,such as sepsis and septic shock(25.3%),followed by respiratory causes(24.1%)and neurological causes(18.4%).CONCLUSION The most common cause of acute non-traumatic DLOC was systemic infections followed by respiratory and neurological causes.

Creative Activity and the Development of Consciousness:A Discussion With Piaget and Rudolf Steiner

This study aims to discuss the possibility of becoming conscious of certain aspects of one’s own existence through creative activity.The discussion involves Piagetian constructivism and Steiner’s ideas about human development and is justified by the contribution of creative activity to the development of autonomy,according to Piaget,and to the development of an ethical individuality,according to Steiner.The participation of adults in sessions of creative process,as well as the questions posed after this activity,asking for the relationships between what they created and their life,is evidence of practices favourable to increasing the grasping of consciousness of self and of the process of developing an ethical individuality.

The Great Cholesterol Quandary and Global Consciousness Awakening

Ancestors of human species have been living on the planet earth for about six million years while the modern form of humans only evolved about 200,000 years ago. Civilization is only about 6000 years old, and industrialization started in the 1800s. World population interconnectedness is enhanced with love and mercy but disrupted with dishonest, lies and wars. Human species has been feeding on animal fat as the finest and prime source of energy for all human history. In 1953 Ancel Keys and collaborates illusionized human kind that their historical source of energy is toxic. Massive health, behavioral as well as economic consequences followed. Human hearts known historically to be the seat of spirit, soul and emotions is proven by our group to orchestrate with global energetic fields. Global consciousness as represented by the planetary electromagnetic fields is in critical need to be feed with awakening merciful information. Documents refuting Ancek Keys dogma and reverting humanity to the truth in their energy source is presented in this review. The harmony we expect is not only physiological but will affect our global planetary environment for the wellbeing of human species in earth.

A Review on Sustainable Product Design, Marketing Strategies and Conscious Consumption of Bamboo Lifestyle Products

Conscious consumption is a trend that is here to stay since consumers are becoming more aware of their purchasing decision and its impact on their health & environment. To sustain in the market on the move towards sustainability and meet the demands, companies need to re-examine their footprints and incorporate green practices in their products and organization. Using eco-friendly material & processes is one of the remedies to come up with this, and bamboo is one of the most versatile, green and renewable natural resources on planet earth. Traditionally bamboo has been exploited to a large extent but cutting-edge options available for bamboo are still limited and have a scope of indulging fully in the lifestyle of people in India. The global market size of bamboo was valued at UED 53.28 billion in 2020, and it is expected to grow at compound annual growth rate of 5.7% from 2022 to 2028. There is increasing demand for sustainable construction, and furniture and handicraft products also have considerable weightage. Manny brands and craft clusters of bamboo are realizing and promoting this green quotient of bamboo to the market to attract the eco-conscious audience and trying to cope up with the advancement of sustainability, like certifications of being a green organisation. Despite the exceptional qualities of bamboo, it is considered as a marginalized material due to low production rate, high competition with the non-eco-friendly or cheaper alternatives, aesthetics and marketing gaps. There is a gap between willingness to purchase and an actual purchase when it comes to the sustainable products and marketing plays a major role in conversions. The main purpose of the research is to study and understand the product, craft, design, production processes and marketing practices of bamboo lifestyle products and how conscious consumption patterns influence the bamboo products and the industry in relevance to the sustainability. Exploratory research method was applied with the literature survey and reviewing of the research papers from the peer reviewed journals. They were classified and reviewed based on the areas relevant to the bamboo products. The research outcome revealed the research gaps and the results were discussed and presented with the perspectives of product design, conscious consumption and marketing strategies in relevant to the sustainability of bamboo lifestyle products.

Consciousness Field Theory and Antihuman Psychology

Against behaviorism,humanism,and cognitive psychology,this work explores Mocombe’s antihuman psychology as a product of his consciousness field theory.The paper critically assesses Mocombe’s consciousness field theory within the larger body of contemporary ontological debates regarding the nature,origin,and constitution of consciousness,especially human consciousness,vis-à-vis their relations to the psychological theories of behaviorism,humanism,and cognitivism,concluding that consciousness field theory posits an alternative psychological theory of the mind,i.e.,antihuman psychology,to behaviorist,humanist,and cognitivist conceptions of the mind.

What is Mind,What is Consciousness,and Where This Resides

The main purpose of this paper is to respond to the questions what is mind and consciousness and where this resides.The answers are based on the frontline Informational Model of Human Body and Living Structures(IMHBLS),which shows that mind and consciousness can be described by the activity of the Informational System of the Human Body and Living Structures(ISHBLS),consisting of seven informational components,each of them with specific activity and functions,inter-correlated to support the immaterial/informational manifestation of the body expressed by mind and consciousness.The basic concept of matter-related and virtual information results as a consequence of the operability of the physics,chemistry,biologic,or mathematics laws,which actually act as informational operators,such processes are informationally driven and manifested finally as a“media-like functions”of mind and consciousness,on the“screen/display”of prefrontal cortex.The mind is therefore described as the capacity of every individual to access the data field of own life experience,where the thought acts as an informational operator,which can activate the required information from internal/external reality.Consciousness is the result of the info-representation of the explored reality,accumulated by the momentary connection,and compared/combined with the life experience,serving as judgment reference/criteria.The question is discussed in relation with the localization of consciousness,showing that this resides in the brain,as a result of the activity of ISHBLS.The discussion on the experimental evidences concerning the minimal basic components necessary and sufficient to sustain consciousness,compared with the results of the informational model,indicates the cortico-thalamus axis,in a full agreement each other.One of the basic findings is that the activation of consciousness is operated in two steps,one consisting in a feed-forward reception and another in feedback perception for recognition of the info-significance,which is fully supported by the recently reported experimental results.The phenomena of intuition,inspiration,premonition,“deja vue”,retrocausality,and intentionality are discussed.This model unifies the eastern and western concepts/models on consciousness and mind,explaining the energetic Yung/Yin Chinese model by YES/NO-informational Bit-type behavior,the Plato’s ideas/forms by“information”concept as a participating component of reality,Aristotle’s materialist view with matter structuration(assisted by information),and archaic model of the seven“chakras”at human,as vital informational centers connected with the body.

From the Consciousness Field to the Constitution of Society

This work explores the phenomenological structural basis of Mocombe’s consciousness field theory.The paper critically assesses Mocombe’s consciousness field theory within the larger body of contemporary ontological debates regarding the nature,origin,and constitution of consciousness in the universe.The work goes on to highlight how human consciousness and society are constituted from Mocombe’s consciousness field to societal social structure,which Mocombe calls social class language game.

Measuring consciousness in coma and related states

Consciousness is a prismatic and ambiguous concept that still eludes any universal definition. Severe acquired brain injuries resulting in a disorder of con-sciousness(DOC) provide a model from which insights into consciousness can be drawn. A number of recent studies highlight the difficulty in making a diagnosis in patients with DOC based only on behavioral assessments. Here we aim to provide an overview of how neuroimaging techniques can help assess patients with DOC. Such techniques are expected to facilitate a more accurate understanding of brain function in states of unconsciousness and to improve the evaluation of thepatient's cognitive abilities by providing both diagnostic and prognostic indicators.

Neuroimaging characterization of recovery of impaired consciousness in patients with disorders of consciousness

Elucidation of critical brain areas or structures that are responsible for recovery of impaired consciousness in patients with disorders of consciousness is important because it can provide information that is useful when developing therapeutic strategies for neurorehabilitation or neurointervention in patients with disorders of consciousness.In this review,studies that have demonstrated brain changes during recovery of impaired consciousness were reviewed.These studies used positron emission tomography,electroencephalography/transcranial magnetic stimulation,diffusion tensor tractography,and diffusion tensor tractography/electroencephalography.The majority of these studies reported on the importance of supratentorial areas or structures in the recovery of impaired consciousness.The important brain areas or structures that were identified were the prefrontal cortex,basal forebrain,anterior cingulate cortex,and parietal cortex.These results have a clinically important implication that these brain areas or structures can be target areas for neurorehabilitation or neurointervention in patients with disorders of consciousness.However,most of studies were case reports;therefore,further original studies involving larger numbers of patients with disorders of consciousness are warranted.In addition,more detailed information on the brain areas or structures that are relevant to the recovery of impaired consciousness is needed.