Hesitations About Special Divine Action: Reflections on Some Scientific, Cultural and Theological Concerns

The new interest in special divine action has led to a close reading of the great debates and discussions of the early modern period in an attempt to understand contemporary resistance to the notion of divine action, and to develop strategies for reaffirming the notion in a refined manner. Although continuing engagement with and evaluation of the Humean legacy on miracles and divine action will be of central importance to this programme of review, there are other issues that also need to be addressed. In this article I identify some of the factors that have caused or continue to cause difficulties for the articulation of a concept of special divine action and I suggest how they might be engaged

Correlating and predicting the air infiltration through the cracks of suspended timber floors

This paper shows that the visible gap length may be used as a physical parameter when correlating pressure difference to volume flow rate (or air velocity) through the cracks between floorboards and can be termed the Equivalent Crack Length. The crack widths, which previously have been determined separately from the edge effect coefficient and the laminar flow coefficient, were significantly different. When analysed graphically they can be shown to correlate by an empirical relationship. A generalised equation is proposed that, in conjunction with the empirical relationship, allows predictions to be made of the volume flow rate through the cracks between floorboards for a known pressure difference

Poly(aryl ethers) and related polysiloxane copolymer molecular coatings: Preparation and radiation degradation

The radiation degradation of poly(arylene ether sulfones) and related materials is studied. These basic studies are important both as a means to developing stronger, more stable matrix resins for composite materials, as well as to improve the data base in regard to chemical structure-physical property relationships. Thirty homo and copolymers were synthesized, at least partially characterized and, in several cases suitable film casting techniques were developed. Four samples were chosen for initial radiation degradation. Poly(dimethyl siloxane) soft bocks/segments can preferentially migrate to the surface of copolymer films. Since siloxanes are utilized as thermal control coatings, this form of 'molecular' coating is of interest. The chemistry for preparing such copolymers with any of the polymers described was demonstrated

Photon induced secondary electron emission

Numerical models for predicting photon-induced secondary electron emission are presented. The results are compared with experimental measurements made using a Co-60 gamma ray source

The life history of longnose gar, Lepisosteus osseus, an apex predator in the tidal waters of Virginia

Longnose gar (Lepisosteus osseus) inhabit all of the major tributaries of Chesapeake Bay in Virginia, extending from fresh to estuarine waters. Literature concerning longnose gar from tidal environments is limited and this is study concerns important aspects of the life history (e.g., growth, reproduction, dimorphism, movements, and diet). Age, growth, and reproduction are important life history aspects for understanding the biology of fishes and may be affected by the environment in which an individual lives. This study found no differences in the age, growth, and fecundity parameters between longnose gar from tidal portions of Chesapeake Bay tributaries and previous studies in non-tidal environments. Fecundity averaged 30,000 eggs and a von Bertalanffy growth model described growth of longnose gar to be sexually dimorphic, rapid in the first year of life, and leveling off after maturity. Sexual dimorphism has been documented previously in two species of the family Lepisosteidae, L. osseus and L. oculatus. The present study expands upon previous work on this species by examining a broader array of morphometric characters, while removing the bias associated with overall body length. A stepwise discriminant function analyses found that five characters best distinguish the sexes: head width, mid-snout width, anal-fin height, anal-fin width, and prepectoral-fin length. Discriminant function analyses with the five characters and standard length yielded misclassification rates of 8.8% and 6.2% for females and males, respectively. Another goal of this project was to characterize the movements of longnose gar by using both acoustic and conventional tagging methods and by examining historical catch records from a trawl survey. Two individuals moved 69 and 74 km, which is greater than the distance observed in the only other report on long-distance movement by longnose gar individuals. Spawning data were collected from two acoustically tagged longnose gar and spawning residency time was approximately one month. Winter distributions of longnose gar, previously unknown, occurred both inshore and mid-channel and were similar to the summer and fall. Finally, this study characterized the diet of longnose gar inhabiting tidal rivers in Virginia. The top five prey types recovered from stomachs were white perch, menhaden, killifishes (Fundulus spp.), Atlantic croaker, and spot. Marine and anadromous fishes (%W = 59.4%) and resident fishes (%W = 40.6%) were equally important in the diet of longnose gar. The diet varied with the seasonal prey fish assemblages, longnose gar length, and salinity, reinforcing the categorization of the species as an opportunistic predator. The relative abundance, rapid growth, and high fecundity of this apex predator warrant further study and inclusion into ecosystem models

Perceptions : a quantitative look at the impacts of GSAs on bullying and overall school climate

Bullying and school climate are salient topics in today\u27s society particularly in the educational setting. They are especially salient topics for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer (LGBTQ) youth because they are targeted more frequently and with more intensity. However, there is little existing information regarding risk and protective factors for this population. This quantitative study examined the perceptions of the faculty and staff at one high school, Helix Charter High School in San Diego, California, with regard to the Gay/Straight Alliance (GSA) and its impacts on bullying and overall school climate. The 72 participants answered an online survey. The survey had a total of 24 items, which were comprised of six areas: Demographics, Gay/Straight Alliances, LGBTQ Youth, Bullying of LGBTQ Youth, Personal Experiences, and Closing. This study found that though most respondents were aware of the GSA on campus they were not directly involved with the club. Additionally, many participants reported feeling confident about raising LGBTQ issues within the classroom but nearly 60% do not do so regularly. While findings suggest that the majority of participants are supportive of the GSA, they also report a lack of true understanding with regard to the specific needs of LGBTQ youth. Recommendations for future research include expanding the survey to other high schools as well as surveying the students at Helix Charter High School to allow for a side-by-side comparison of responses

\u27I am not disabled. It\u27s my environment that makes me disabled\u27: A critical ethnography of age-related vision loss (ARVL) in older adulthood

This thesis aims to deepen understandings of how various aspects of the environment shape how older adults with age-related vision loss (ARVL) negotiate and engage in occupation. The thesis further raises critical awareness of the ways in which environmental features, embedded in ageist and ableist assumptions, shape and perpetuate experiences of disability for older adults with ARVL. A critical ethnography was undertaken, informed by theoretical concepts drawn from critical gerontology, environmental gerontology, a critical occupational perspective, and critical disability theory. A total of ten older adults with ARVL participated in three data generation sessions consisting of a narrative interview, semi-structured in-depth interview, and participant observation session. Seven community organization representatives participated in a semi-structured in-depth interview and sixteen relevant documents were critically reviewed. This work is comprised of five integrated manuscripts, in addition to the introduction, methodology, and discussion chapters. Chapter two presents a scoping review that explores pre-existing research addressing factors, including demographic, emotional, behavioral, diagnostic, and environmental, which influence the occupational engagement of older adults with ARVL. Chapter four provides a rationale for expanding the application of a critical sensibility to existing conceptualizations of the environment in an effort to expand the field of environmental gerontology beyond a micro-and meso-level approach towards a holistic view of the environment. Chapter five explores how a critical disability theory approach could lead to new research foci in the study of ARVL. Key findings of the critical ethnography are presented in chapters six and seven. Chapter six focuses on exploring those attributes that older adults with ARVL perceive as being the markers of a \u27good old age\u27 and how their negotiations of everyday occupation occur in relation to these markers. Chapter seven aims to highlight how experiences of disability for the informants are shaped through interactions with environmental features, thereby highlighting the socio-political production of disability. This work points to novel empirical, methodological, and theoretical insights relevant to the ARVL field. This work also has implications for persons with vision loss, vision rehabilitation professionals, and researchers as well as for the development of vision-friendly environments and inclusive social policy

A participatory filmmaking process with children with disabilities in rural India: Working towards inclusive research

Children with disabilities often experience exclusion within their communities, and this exclusion can extend into research processes. The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, however, emphasizes that children of all abilities need to be involved as decision makers in matters affecting them. This article provides an in-depth description of the process of a participatory action research project carried out with children with disabilities from a rural village in India. It argues for the utility of participatory filmmaking as a research methodology that supports inclusion of children with disabilities as co-researchers in research and action processes. The different phases of the research project, namely the preparatory, participatory research, and the action phase, are made transparent along with the details of activities carried out within each phase. The technical and pragmatic challenges faced within this participatory filmmaking process are pointed out, and strategies used to negotiate challenges and adapt this methodology to fit context-specific needs are shared. This account of the complex, yet flexible and adaptable, participatory filmmaking process is presented as means to support critical and informed uptakes of participatory filmmaking for inclusive research practices with children with disabilities