How Christian Teachers Perceive Their Engagement Facilitates Spiritual Formation Within At-Risk Male Students: A Case Study

The purpose of this qualitative intrinsic case study was to understand the experiences of teacher’s perception of their engagement to facilitate spiritual formation within at-risk students at Southeast Christian Alternative School (pseudonym). This participating school is recognized by the North Carolina Department of Administration as a non-public school. The program uses a Wilderness Therapeutic approach to learning. Four essential elements were explored. Teacher’s engagement concerning behavior management was assessed through processes that tactically managed disorderly conduct or acts of misbehavior. Implementation of any behavior plans or behavior models were applicable. Teacher’s engagement concerning spirituality was assessed through active practices of spiritual disciplines and soul care. Teacher’s engagement concerning Christian pedagogy was assessed through exhibitions of faith integrated in teaching and learning. This facet encompassed a personal cognizance of content, application, and methodology that developed the curriculum and the student (Kieser & Parsons, 2014). Lastly, teacher’s engagement concerning Christian discipleship was assessed. Any demonstrations of transition beyond pedagogy toward application succor was applicable. The theory guiding this research was Fowlers’ (1981) Stages of Faith. The assessment of the participants development of faith is essential to facilitating spiritual formation within their students. Braun and Clarke’s (2006) six-step approach to qualitative analysis was chosen as a useful framework to analyze the data. The research sample was identified as the group of teachers, administrator, and assistant director working within a Christian alternative school. Two of the primary themes revealed were discuss the issues and straying away from God

Corporate Compliance in International Technology Licensing

According to the U.S. Congress, it can be inferred that In general, the process of commercializing intellectual property is very complex, highly risky, takes a long time, cost much more than you think it will, and usually fails.” This quote from the Congressional Committee on Science and Technology is validation on how complex commercializing intellectual property protected technology and transferring it is. International businesses are required to comply with a vast range of domestic and foreign laws and regulations when transferring or licensing their technology. A key concern is how the achieved technology would be used elsewhere and the responsibility they feel for having access to it. The objective of this work is to provide a comprehensive comparative study on the formulation of international technology licensing transactions in compliance with corporate regulations and fair competition, tax regulations and intellectual property protection rights. Also, this paper is headed to hopefully provide a game plan for developing countries which are not in possession of a comprehensive regulation for the discussed matter, to help them benefit through this comparative study of three very developed texts of law and practices in three very diverse legal systems

University of San Diego News Print Media Coverage 2005.06

Printed clippings housed in folders with a table of contents arranged by topic.https://digital.sandiego.edu/print-media/1029/thumbnail.jp

30th European Congress on Obesity (ECO 2023)

This is the abstract book of 30th European Congress on Obesity (ECO 2023

Obesity-induced chronic inflammation in C57Bl6J mice, a novel risk factor in the progression of renal AA amyloidosis?

Background: Compelling evidence links obesity induced systemic inflammation to the development of chronic kidney disease (CKD). This systemic inflammation may result from exacerbated adipose inflammation. Besides the known detrimental effects of typical pro-inflammatory factors secreted by the adipose tissue (TNF-α, MCP-1 and IL-6) on the kidney, we hypothesize the enhanced obesity-induced secretion of serum amyloid A (SAA), an acute inflammatory protein, to play a key role in aggravating obesity-induced CKD. Methods: Groups of male C57Bl/6J mice (n = 99 in total) were fed a low (10% lard) or high (45% lard) fat diet for a maximum of 52 weeks. Mice were sacrificed after 24, 40 and 52 weeks. Whole blood samples, kidneys and adipose tissues were collected. The development of adipose and renal tissue inflammation was assessed on gene expression and protein level. Adipocytokine levels were measured in plasma samples. Results: A distinct inflammatory phenotype was observed in the adipose tissue of HFD mice prior to renal inflammation, which was associated with an early systemic elevation of TNF-α, leptin and SAA (1A-C). With aging, sclerotic lesions appeared in the kidney, the extent of which was severely aggravated by HFD feeding. Lesions exhibited typical amyloid characteristics (2A) and pathological severity positively correlated with bodyweight (2B). Interestingly, more SAA protein was detected in lesions of HFD mice. Conclusion: Our data suggest a causal link between obesity induced chronic inflammation and AA amyloidosis in C57Bl/6J mice. Though future studies are necessary to prove this causal link and to determine its relevance for the human situation, obesity may hence be considered a risk factor for the development and progression of renal AA amyloidosis in the course of CKD. (Figure Presented)