Christian contemplative prayer: a grounded theory exploration of well-being and embodiment within Christian spirituality

Christian contemplative prayer (CCP) is a spiritual and religious form of receptive meditation rooted in scriptural teachings and ancient practices. Despite its growing popularity, there is limited empirical evidence related to CCP long-term practitioners’ lived experience. Although scholars suggest CCP influences practitioners’ well-being, the importance of embodiment within this practice is under-theorized. CCP scholarship has primarily investigated: 1) psychotherapy intervention, 2) phenomenological investigation, and 3) well-being related to this prayer practice. This thesis examines the lived experience of long-term CCP practitioners, within their prayer practice. Drawing on participant semi-structured interview data, this thesis utilizes a grounded theory methodology to generate a conceptual framework that integrates CCP practice, well-being, and embodiment. This framework suggests practitioners’ perspective of well-being, as reflected within a self-reported eudaemonic context. It also suggests an integrated aspect of embodiment within this prayer practice related to: Embodied Self, Embodied in Christian Community, Embodied Space, and Embodied in God. Aspects of Christian spirituality including lived experience, conscious process, holistic development, self-transcendence towards God, and uniqueness of individual’s spiritual experience also helped to orient and explore the emergent participant data. The findings further emerged with greater understanding of the diversity found within the actual practice of silent, embodied CCP. Each of these aspects help to develop a substantive grounded theory integrating CCP practice, well-being and embodiment in the lived experience of long-term CCP practitioners

Investigations of Supramolecular and Catalytic Properties of PPI Dendrimers

The research reported in this thesis focused on supramolecular and catalytic properties of poly(propylene imine) (PPI) dendrimers. Analytical techniques used in this research included high resolution NMR spectroscopy, as well as UV-vis and fluorescence spectroscopies and scanning electron microscopy. This investigation showed that: (1) PPI dendrimers interact with diacids to form interlock self-assemblies by electrostatic interactions (with an increase in dendrimer generation, smaller diacids are required to form the most efficient self-assembly); (2) PPI/diacid self-assemblies are able to encapsulate fluorescent dyes within the void spaces of the PPI/diacid moieties; (3) PPI-3 can chelate many types of metal cations, and these cations compete for the binding sites along the surface of the dendrimer; (4) PPI-3 can catalyze the hydrolysis of esters under very mild conditions (mildly basic pH and room temperature)

LANDSAT menhaden and thread herring resources investigation, Gulf of Mexico

The author has identified the following significant results. The most significant achievements thus far include the successful charting of high probability fishing areas from LANDSAT MSS data and the successful simulation of an operational satellite system to provide tactical information for the commercial harvest of menhaden

Consequences of disk scale height on lisa confusion noise from close white dwarf binaries

Gravitational radiation from the Galactic population of close white dwarf binaries (CWDBs) is expected to produce a confusion-limited signal at the lower end of the sensitivity band of the Laser Interferometer Space Antenna (LISA). The canonical scale height of the disk population has been taken to be 90 pc for most studies of the nature of this confusion-limited signal. This estimate is probably too low, and the consequences of a more realistic scale height are investigated with a model of the LISA signal due to populations of CWDBs with different scale heights. If the local space density of CWDBs is held constant, increasing the scale height results in both an increase in the overall strength of the confusion-limited signal as well as an increase in the frequency at which the signals become individually resolvable. If the total number of binaries is held constant, increasing the scale height results in a reduction of the number of expected bright signals above the confusion-limited signal at low frequencies. We introduce an estimator for comparing this transition frequency that takes into account the signal spreading at higher frequencies. © 2006. The American Astronomical Society. All rights reserved

Historical Datasets of Dugong (Dugong Dugon) Observations In The Kimberley Region Of Western Australia - Data Report - Report No. 2008-03

Research Need and Objective : Many sections of the northern WA coastline have become heavily industrialised in the last three decades particularly throughout the Pilbara region where offshore and onshore oil and gas exploration and processing facilities are abundant. There have been recent moves to develop similar industry along the Kimberley coast to access the Browse Basin, a 140,000 Km2 offshore gas field approximately 300km off the Kimberley Coast. This has resulted in extensive debate and the need to define the natural values of this region, which is considered to be one of the world’s most ecologically diverse (WWF 2008). Given the remoteness of the Kimberley and the costs involved in undertaking research programs in this region, desktop studies of unpublished data are a valuable first step in defining natural values. While unpublished dugong distribution and abundance datasets may not be standardised or provide the capacity for detailed analysis they can provide useful historical snapshots with which to focus future research needs. This data report reproduces hard copy format maps and summary data collected in two programmes: 1. Estimates of dugong abundance and distribution in the West Kimberley region collected during preliminary assessment surveys conducted by Dr RIT Prince in 1984 and a series of strip transect aerial surveys throughout 1985; and 2. A longitudinal dataset of incidental observations from 1996-2007, covering both the west and east Kimberley collected by the Australian Customs Service. The strip transect surveys and incidental observation datasets have been entered into a GIS framework with associated metadata. A full description of the methodologies used in the collection of these datasets as well as the processes involved in incorporating them into a GIS framework are listed

The information and learning commons: some reflections

The Information and Learning Commons modes of library organization has become more prevalent over the past few decades and allows academic libraries to provide wider-ranging and more cohesive services to their constituents. Several issues, including relying upon a single, mythical Patron in planning for services; poor organization; a lack of cohesion and centralized leadership; and the digital divide may hinder the effectiveness of the Commons and negatively impact both patrons and staff. If these problems can be surmounted, this model shows great promise for both current and future application in academic libraries

Saltwater in Coastal Carolina Aquifers

2010 S.C. Water Resources Conference - Science and Policy Challenges for a Sustainable Futur