Religion as an Existential Resource: On Meaning-Making, Religious Coping and Rituals

In this paper, we make a contribution to the treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder. We show how religion can function as an existential resource. Religions enable people to perceive an underlying pattern of order and purpose below the surface of life’s incomprehensible inevitabilities such as death and suffering. Religion then works as a meaning-making system that can positively influence the individual’s mental health. Recently, the relations between religion and health have been studied particularly in the context of the ‘religious coping paradigm’. Religious coping is aiming at a ‘search for significance’. Religious coping will often occur where non-religious coping fails, especially in situations involving loss of life, health and relational embeddedness. Religious activities and acts can also enable religious coping. A crucial religious act is the ritual. What are the functions of ritual, and how can a ritual contribute to the mental health of an individual in crisis? What is, in this context, the role of myths and symbols? Several examples are given of how rituals can work as therapeutic tools in the treatment of traumatic disorders. We conclude by stating that religion, being a robust form of meaning-making, is not the sole system able to contribute to working through a trauma, and that its success is far from guaranteed. | Durch unseren Artikel möchten wir zur Behandlung der Folgen der posttraumatischen Belas- tungsstörung beitragen. Wir zeigen, wie die Religion als Kraftquelle der Existenz funktionieren kann. Die Religionen ermöglichen den Menschen, das Muster einer tieferen Ordnung und eines tieferen Sinnes in Bezug auf scheinbar unverständliche Beschaffenheiten des Lebens wie der Tod oder das Leiden, zu erblicken. Auf diese Weise funktioniert die Religion als ein Sinngebendes System, das die geistige Gesundheit positiv beeinflussen kann. Neulich wurden die Zusammenhänge zwischen Religion und Gesundheit im Rahmen des „religiösen Bewältigungsparadigmas“ geforscht. Das Ziel der religiösen Bewältigung ist die „Suche nach Bedeutung und Wichtigkeit“. Religiöse Bewältigung findet häufig dann statt, wenn die nicht-religiöse Bewältigung versagt, vor allem in Situationen, in denen Themen wie Verlust des Lebens, Gesundheit oder Beziehungen betroffen sind. Auch religiöse Taten und Handlungen können die religiöse Bewältigung ermöglichen. Eine der grundlegenden religiösen Handlungen ist das Ritual. Was sind die Funktionen des Rituals und wie kann das Ritual zur psychischen Gesundheit der in der Krise befindlichen Person beitragen? Welche Rolle spielen die Mythen und Symbole in diesem Zusammenhang? Wir zeigen zahlreiche Beispiele dafür, wie Rituale bei traumatischen Störungen zum therapeutischen Instrument werden können. Als Schlussfolgerung behaupten wir, dass die Religion – obwohl sie eine grundlegende Form der Sinngabe ist, aber doch nicht das einzige System, das zur Verarbeitung des Traumas beitragen kann und dessen Erfolg bei Weitem nicht sicher ist

Short-Term Hyperglycemic Dysregulation in Patients With Type 1 Diabetes Does Not Change Myocardial Triglyceride Content or Myocardial Function

OBJECTIVE—To evaluate the effects of hyperglycemia due to partial insulin deprivation on myocardial triglyceride (TG) content and myocardial function in patients with type 1 diabetes

Age-related motor neuron degeneration in DNA repair-deficient Ercc1 mice

Degeneration of motor neurons contributes to senescence-associated loss of muscle function and underlies human neurodegenerative conditions such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and spinal muscular atrophy. The identification of genetic factors contributing to motor neuron vulnerability and degenerative phenotypes in vivo are therefore important for our understanding of the neuromuscular system in health and disease. Here, we analyzed neurodegenerative abnormalities in the spinal cord of progeroid Ercc1Δ/− mice that are impaired in several DNA repair systems, i.e. nucleotide excision repair, interstrand crosslink repair, and double strand break repair. Ercc1Δ/− mice develop age-dependent motor abnormalities, and have a shortened life span of 6–7 months. Pathologically, Ercc1Δ/− mice develop widespread astrocytosis and microgliosis, and motor neuron loss and denervation of skeletal muscle fibers. Degenerating motor neurons in many occasions expressed genotoxic-responsive transcription factors p53 or ATF3, and in addition, displayed a range of Golgi apparatus abnormalities. Furthermore, Ercc1Δ/− motor neurons developed perikaryal and axonal intermediate filament abnormalities reminiscent of cytoskeletal pathology observed in aging spinal cord. Our findings support the notion that accumulation of DNA damage and genotoxic stress may contribute to neuronal aging and motor neuron vulnerability in human neuromuscular disorders

Ornamental plants: a summary of research, 1993-1994

Aesthetic evaluation of crabapples at the Secrest Arboretum in Wooster, Ohio: 1993-1994 / Erik A. Draper and James A. Chatfield -- Evaluation of crabapples for apple scab at the Secrest Arboretum in Wooster, Ohio: 1993-1994 / James A. Chatfield and Erik A. Draper -- The Ohio State University Water Quality Assessment Program / Mary Ann Rose, John Peterson and Laura Kramer -- Root rot of Taxus spp in Ohio caused by Phytophthora cinnamomi / Michael A. Ellis, Sally A. Miller, August F. Schmitthenner and Kenneth D. Cochran -- Winter injury on woody ornamental plants in Ohio: the winter of 1993-1994 / T. Davis Sydnor, James A. Chatfield, Randall H. Zondag, Pamela J. Bennett, Joseph F. Boggs, Kenneth D. Cochran -- Ornamental plant problems in Ohio: 1994 / James A. Chatfield, David J. Shetlar, Nancy Taylor, Joseph F. Boggs, Pamela J. Bennett, Randall H. Zondag, Michael A. Ellis, Allen Baumgard -- Ornamental plant problems in Ohio: 1993 / James A. Chatfield, Joseph F. Boggs, Paul Kauffman, David J. Shetlar, Nancy Taylor, Randall H. Zonda

Ornamental plants: annual reports and research summaries

The Ohio State University Extension Nursery, Landscape, and Turf Team (ENLTT) -- Extension Nursery, Landscape, and Turf Team (ENLTT) directory -- An evaluation of composts for landscape soil amendments / Mary Ann Rose and Hao Wang -- Aesthetic evaluation of crabapples at Secrest Arboretum in Wooster, Ohio: 1994-1995 / James A. Chatfield, Erik A. Draper, Kenneth C. Cochran, Peter W. Bristol and Charles E. Tubesing -- Evaluation of crabapples for apple scab at Secrest Arboretum in Wooster, Ohio: 1995 / Erik A. Draper, James A. Chatfield, Kenneth C. Cochran, Peter W. Bristol and Charles E. Tubesing -- Emergence, longevity, and aesthetic evaluations of flowers in ornamental crabapples at Secrest Arboretum in Wooster, Ohio: 1995 / Erik A. Draper, James A. Chatfield and Kenneth C. Cochran -- Environmental and cultural ornamental plant problems in Ohio: 1995 / Pamela J. Bennett and Jane A. Martin -- 1995 -A Challenging Year for Ohio golf courses / Joseph W. Rimelspach, John R. Street, Karl Danneberger, William E. Pound, Barbara Bloetscher -- Plant insect pest problems in Ohio: 1995 / Joseph F. Boggs, David J. Shetlar, Gary Yu Gao, Daniel Balser, Douglas C. Caldwell, Randall H. Zondag and James A. Chatfield -- Gypsy moth in Ohio: 1995 / Allan Baumgard, David F. James and Randall H. Zondag -- Landscape ornamental disease problems in Ohio: 1995 / James A. Chatfield, Nancy Taylor, Randall H. Zondag, Mary Ann Rose, Gary Yu Gao, Daniel R. Balser and David J. Shetlar -- The Response of native and naturalized trees to construction activity / T. Davis Sydnor, Joseph F. Boggs and Mary Ann Ros

The performance of a heat pipe based solar PV/T roof collector and its potential contribution in district heating applications

Photovoltaic–thermal water collectors have the ability to convert solar energy into electricity and heat, simultaneously. Furthermore, the combination of photovoltaic–thermal solar collectors with a water cooling system can increase significantly the electrical and thermal efficiencies of the system, which can improve the total thermal efficiency of buildings. In this paper, the findings of six experimental configurations of solar-thermal collectors are presented and analysed. Five of the solar-thermal panel configurations were implemented with a cooling cycle. Two of the solar-thermal panels were equipped with monocrystalline silicon modules, the other two collectors were equipped with polycrystalline silicone modules, one of the collectors was based on heat pipe technology and was equipped with a cooling system, while the last collector did not include any cooling cycle. The duration of the experiments was four days during the September of 2014 and they were conducted under different solar radiation conditions. The second part of the paper presents the simulation results for five of the solar-thermal panels connected with a cooling water tank (volume of 500 litre), a domestic hot water tank (volume 350 litre) and a water-water heat pump, in terms of covering the hot water demands of a single family dwelling. The results showed that the hybrid solar collectors would be able to cover approximately 60% of the dwelling’s hot water needs for days with low levels of solar radiation, while for days with high solar radiation they could cover the hot water requirements of the family by 100%

Ornamental plants: annual reports and research reviews

Ohio State University Extension Nursery, Landscape, and Turf Team Directory: 1998 / Jack Kerrigan -- Floriculture Industry Roundtable of Ohio: 1998 / Charles Behnke -- Ohio State University Extension Buckeye Yard and Garden Line / James A. Chatfield, Pamela J. Bennett, Joseph F. Boggs, Gary Y. Gao, Jane C. Martin, David J. Shetlar and Randall H. Zondag -- Environmental and cultural problems of ornamental plants in Ohio: 1997 / Pamela J. Bennett and Jane C. Martin -- Insect and mite activity noted in Ohio nurseries and landscapes: 1997 / Joseph F. Boggs, David J. Shetlar, Jane C. Martin, Pamela J. Bennett, James A. Chatfield, Gary Y. Gao and Chris Carlson -- Summary of ornamental diseases in Ohio: 1997 / James A. Chatfield, Nancy J. Taylor, Stephen N. Nameth, Chris Carlson, Joseph F. Boggs, Jane C. Martin, Dan Balser and David Madison -- Weed problems in Ohio landscapes and nurseries: 1997 / Gary Y. Gao, Joseph F. Boggs, Pamela J. Bennett, Jane C. Martin, Mary Ann Rose, Joseph W. Rimelspach, Randall H. Zondag and William E. Pound -- Wildlife problems in Ohio landscapes: 1997 / Gary Y. Gao, Joseph F. Boggs, Jane C. Martin, Charles T. Behnke and James A. Chatfield -- Summary of turf cultural and disease problems in 1997 / Gary Y. Gao, Joseph F. Boggs, Pamela J. Bennett, Jane C. Martin, Joseph W. Rimelspach and James A. Chatfield -- Master Gardeners serve Ohio / Marianne Riofrio -- The greening of Poland's nurseries / Kenneth D. Cochran and Wojtek Grabczewski -- The marketing potential of Ginkgo biloba in the United States / Kenneth D. Cochran -- Composts in the Landscape: Effects on Soil pH and plant growth / Mary Ann Rose and Hao Wang -- How to optimize disease control using composts / Harry A. J. Hoitink, Wei-Zheng Zhang, David Y. Han, Alexandra G. Stone, Matthew S. Krause and Warren A. Dick -- The flowering sequence of ornamental plants as a tool for predicting the phenology of insect pests / Daniel A. Herms -- Reducing maintenance costs may mean selecting plants with the fewest flaws / T. Davis Sydnor-- Comprehensive aesthetic evaluations of crabapples at Secrest Arboretum in Wooster: 1993-1997 / Erik A. Draper, James A. Chatfield, Kenneth D. Cochran, Peter W. Bristol and David E. Allen -- Precision control of microirrigation for container-grown mini-roses / Robert C. Hansen, Ted H. Short, C. C. Pasian and R. Peter Fynn -- Red thread (Laetisaria fuciformis) control study on perennial ryegrass / Joseph W. Rimelspach, Kerry Kline, Karl Danneberger and Michael Boehm-- Red thread (Laetisaria fuciformis) control study on Kentucky bluegrass / Joseph W. Rimelspach, Kerry Kline, Karl Danneberger and Michael Boehm -- Red thread - from novelty to nuisance / Joseph W. Rimelspach -- Chrysanthemum cultivars differ in response to photoperiod when grown under far-red absorbing filters / M. J. McMahon -- Improving fuchsia cutting performance by grafting / D. M. Napier and M. J. McMahon -- Paint/paclobutrazol mix on the inside surface of rooting wedge cells to control poinsettia cutting height / Claudio C. Pasian -- Response of poinsettias to paclobutrazol in paint applications / Claudio C. Pasian and Daniel K. Struve -- Dynamic transpiration of highly stressed container-grown Acer rubrum / Ted H. Short, Ahmet Irvem and Robert C. Hansen -- Effects of temperature on the development of Asiatic Lilies / J. Steininger and C. C. Pasian-- New publications for 1997-199