Bark Structure of Southern Upland Oaks

Bark structure of eleven oak species commonly found on southern pine sites was examined and described. In inner bark (phloem), groups of thick-walled lignified fibers and sclereids are interspersed among thin-walled cellulosie elements (parenchyma, sieve tube members, and companion cells). These fibers and selereids greatly influence the bark's density, hardness, and other physical and mechanical characteristics. The innermost periderm is the boundary between inner and outer bark. In oriter bark (rhytidome), areas of collapsed, dead phloem are enclosed by periderm layers. Periderm shape and spacing vary greatly within species. Great differences in exterior roughness and bark thickness also occur within species

Producing Sacredness and Defending Secularity: Faith in the Workplace of Taiwanese Scientists

Although a recent body of scholarship focuses on how business professionals infuse spiritual practices in their workplaces, comparatively little attention has been paid to faith in the scientific workplace, especially in an Eastern, non-Christian context. Between 2014 and 2015, we conducted a survey of 892 scientists in Taiwan and completed interviews with 52 of our survey respondents. In this paper, we examine how scientists navigate religion in the scientific workplace. Survey results demonstrate that while scientists perceive religion and scientific research as generally separate in the abstract, in practice, they regard the boundary between religion and their workplace as somewhat permeable. Interviews further show how different groups of Taiwanese scientists create sacredness and defend secularity in scientific work. Results have implications for future research on how scientists (and potentially those in other types of professions) in non-Western and non-Christian countries navigate faith at work

A Catholic Science? Italian ScientistsConstruct Religious Identity during Religious Shifts

Scholars have argued that learning science is linked to a decrease in personal faith among scientists. We do not know much, however, about the so-called secularizing effect of science among scientists outside the US, where such religious processes could operate differently. Because the negotiation between science and religion is more salient when faith is in transition, we examine how scientists in Italy (a predominantly Catholic context) construct religious identity during religious shifts. Drawing from interviews with 81 Italian physicists and biologists, we ask whether scientists have experienced any religious shifts and how they went through these shifts, addressing personal secularization theories by analyzing whether and how scientists reconstruct their religious identities by utilizing science. We uncover four patterns of identity construction: constructing a non-religious identity, forming a spiritual identity, reformulating an existing Catholic identity, and re-achieving a Catholic identity. We show that Italian scientists narratively respond to Catholicism more than science in constructing religious identities during religious shifts. Our findings, thus, problematize the so-called personal secularizing effect of science, providing implications for a more fruitful dialogue between science and religion in Italy and more globally

Individuals’ Experiences with Religious Hostility, Discrimination, and Violence: Findings from a New National Survey

While concerns about the consequences of anti-Semitism, Islamophobia, and other forms of religious bias have grown in the past several years, the data available to examine these issues have been limited. This study utilizes new data from a nationally representative survey of U.S. adults featuring oversamples of key religious minority groups and an instrument dedicated to measuring the extent to which individuals experience hostility, discrimination, and violence due to their religion. Findings show that, while a sizable minority of Christian adults report such experiences, a much greater share of Muslim and Jewish adults report experiences with interpersonal hostility, organizational discrimination, and violent victimization due to their religion. Analyses show that these patterns are largely unchanged after accounting for individuals’ race and ethnicity, national origin, and other characteristics, suggesting that experiences with religious hostility are not epiphenomenal to other social locations

Addressing female genital mutilation in Europe: a scoping review of approaches to participation, prevention, protection, and provision of services.

BACKGROUND: Public and policy attention to female genital mutilation (FGM) in diaspora communities has increased in Europe, but research remains limited and misinformation abounds. As a first step to addressing these issues, this study explored FGM prevention and response interventions in Europe, using a scoping literature review and key informant interviews. METHODS: A scoping study design was selected, using Arksey and O'Malley's six-stage scoping framework to review identified sources. Key informant interviews were used to inform and add depth to literature findings. Findings were summarised thematically, guided by the Scottish Government's '4Ps' framework for tackling violence against women (i.e. participation, prevention, protection, providing services). RESULTS: Seventy literature sources, of 1095 screened, plus 16 individual and 3 group interview sources were included. Several countries have developed promising interventions supporting FGM resistance and recovery. However, gaps remain including community participation, professional knowledge and linkages, and evaluation of approaches. CONCLUSIONS: This scoping review is an initial attempt to describe available primary evidence on European initiatives responding to FGM. Further research is required to determine whether interventions are effective, while policy and practice development must be shaped and driven by the experiences, needs, and views of affected communities

Missing from the debate? A qualitative study exploring the role of communities within interventions to address female genital mutilation in Europe.

INTRODUCTION: Public attention on female genital mutilation (FGM) in diaspora communities is increasing in Europe, as health and social welfare implications become better understood. This study explored the role of potentially affected communities within interventions to address FGM in Europe, examining current practices, promising interventions and remaining gaps. METHODS: A qualitative study design incorporated 18 individual key informant interviews and five semistructured group interviews with policy-makers, service providers and community representatives. Data were analysed thematically, guided by the Scottish Government '4Ps' framework for addressing violence against women and girls, that is, prevention, protection, provision of services and participation. RESULTS: Participants emphasised both the importance of community participation and the lack of consistent engagement by policy-makers and practitioners. All indicated that communities had a key role, though most interventions focused on awareness-raising rather than community empowerment, behaviour change or influence on the design, delivery and/or evaluation of interventions. CONCLUSIONS: Despite clear consensus around the need to engage, support and empower potentially affected communities and several examples of meaningful community participation in addressing FGM (eg, REPLACE, REPLACE 2, Ketenaapak, Tackling FGM Initiative), the role of communities remains inconsistent and further engagement efforts are necessary

Can Religiosity Be Explained by ‘Brain Wiring’? An Analysis of US Adults’ Opinions

Studies examining how religion shapes individuals’ attitudes about science have focused heavily on a narrow range of topics, such as evolution. This study expands this literature by looking at how religion influences individuals’ attitudes towards the claim that neuroscience, or “brain wiring,” can explain differences in religiosity. Our analysis of nationally representative survey data shows, perhaps unsurprisingly, that religiosity is negatively associated with thinking that brain wiring can explain religion. Net of religiosity, though, individuals reporting religious experiences are actually more likely to agree that brain wiring can explain religiosity, as are individuals belonging to diverse religious traditions when compared to the unaffiliated. We also find that belief in the general explanatory power of science is a significant predictor of thinking that religiosity can be explained by brain wiring, while women and the more highly educated are less likely to think this is true. Taken together, these findings have implications for our understanding of the relationship between religion and science, and the extent to which neuroscientific explanations of religiosity are embraced by the general US public

Evangelicals, Evolution and Inerrancy: a comparative study of congregational boundary work

A number of evangelical Christian denominations and networks uphold a specific doctrine of scripture stating that the Bible is the “inerrant” word of God. Those who adhere to biblical inerrancy tend to reject literary interpretations of the creation accounts in the Bible and therefore to reject evolutionary theory. Indeed, evolution rejection frequently functions as a key boundary for biblical inerrantists that must be strictly maintained. In this comparative study, we analyse interview data and other materials to uncover the mechanisms by which evolution rejection as a boundary is strengthened, maintained or weakened within two evangelical church congregations that adhere to biblical inerrancy: one in London, U.K., and one in Texas, U.S. We find significant differences in boundary work between the two congregations and consider how the interplay of three factors, namely: 1) orientation of the congregation (internal or external), 2) religious context (minority or majority), and 3) boundary salience, may lead to boundary strengthening or weakening

Construction and evaluation of group tests in reading for grades one, two, and three.

Thesis (Ed.M.)--Boston Universit