On the Metaphysical Necessity of Suffering from Natural Evil

Why does God permit suffering in the world? If God is wholly good, omnipotent, and omniscient, why would He not intervene to prevent us from suffering? These are questions that pertain to the problem of evil: how to reconcile the existence of God with the evil occurrences of this world, without sacrificing any of His divine attributes. The most potent version of the problem of evil is a recent formulation known as the evidential argument from evil. The evidential argument states that while the existence of God is not logically incompatible with the fact that there are evil occurrences, there are particular instances of suffering that lower the probability that God exists altogether. In the most noteworthy formulation of the evidential argument, William Rowe designates these particular instances of suffering as gratuitous suffering: any sort of unnecessary or pointless suffering that a being could undergo and which serves no greater good. Rowe declares that gratuitous suffering counts as evidence against the existence of God. I intend to offer an explanatory defense of God in light of Rowe’s evidential argument from evil. I will contend that no suffering is gratuitous and that Rowe’s argument is unsound

HETE Satellite Power Subsystem

The HETE (High-Energy Transient Experiment) satellite a joint project between MIT\u27s Center for Space Research and AeroAstro. is a high-energy gamma-ray burst/X-Ray/UV observatory platform. HETE will be launched into a 550 km circular orbit with an inclination of 37.7°, and has a design lifetime of 18 months. This paper presents a description of the spacecraft\u27s power subsystem, which collects, regulates, and distributes power to the experiment payload modules and to the various spacecraft subsystems (radios, electronics, sensors, and actuators). The spacecraft uses four solar power arrays for primary power during orbit-day, and six rechargeable nickel-cadmium batteries during orbit-night. Two Power Point Trackers (PPT) are used to regulate the operating points of the solar arrays. The outputs from the PPTs provide the spacecraft\u27s main power bus, which is used to recharge the batteries through three Battery Charge Regulators (BCR), and to supply power to distributed DC-DC switching converters for individual subsystems. The benefits gained by using a distributed-power scheme are improved regulation, electrical isolation of payload subsystems, simplified wiring, and fault tolerance. Each experiment subsystem can be powered on and off independently, with minimum disturbance to other subsystems

Motivations of Antitrafficking Volunteers

Abstract Human trafficking is a worldwide crisis, and agencies rely on volunteers to help serve its victims. Past researchers have suggested that motivation to volunteer is multifaceted and that volunteer turnover hinders accomplishing mission objectives. The research question was to examine if there were any differentiating motivations of antitrafficking volunteers from the current literature. This study was a qualitative case study of an antitrafficking religion-sponsored agency in the United States. Self-determination theory guided the research consisting of 7 agency volunteers. Candidates met the established criteria of minimum age and duration of service. The interpretive phenomenological analysis process helped to assess individual data separately and then collectively with participants adding clarification and member checking through follow-up e-mails. The analysis process produced themes about relating to others, work competency, autonomy, sense of obligation, religious motivations, personal satisfaction, recognition, and agency leadership styles as motivators. Their religious affiliation with the agency produced a strong emphasis on spiritual motivations. An element of egocentric motivations emerged as differences from the current volunteering literature. The egocentric motivations emerged from the participant\u27s view that God was watching and their actions brought God\u27s favor to them. Agency leaders need to focus on helping potential and current volunteers feel important as contributors to the spiritual wellbeing of themselves and others. This finding was a key aspect of recruitment and retention of volunteers, who could help this underserved population and thus promote positive social change

Temporary commitments to the Greater Boston District Office of the Division of Child Guardianship from January 1, 1957 to June 30, 1957

Thesis (M.S.)--Boston Universit

Linking descriptive assessment to functional analysis and treatment of transition-related problem behavior

Activity transitions are difficult for many children with developmental disabilities, leading to problem behavior and decreased instructional time in schools. Assessing the function of transition-related problem behavior, especially in the school setting, requires special attention. Functional analysis methodology has been employed and can demonstrate functional relations. However, functional analyses may not always capture the naturally occurring contingencies or detect idiosyncratic variables. Thus, the current study examined the concurrent validity and treatment utility of assessing transition-related problem behavior descriptively. Two boys with autism (8 and 11-years-old) and one boy with Down syndrome (6-years-old) participated. All sessions were conducted at an outpatient behavior analysis clinic. Descriptive assessments occurred during natural transitions with caregivers and results were used to design functional analysis test conditions that mimicked the components of the natural transitions. Based on the outcomes from the descriptive assessments and functional analyses, function-matched interventions were developed and evaluated in a reversal deign for each child. Treatment consisted of signaling reinforcement in the post-transition activity and differentially reinforcing independent transitions in the absence of problem behavior. In general, outcomes from the functional analyses confirmed that the variables identified in the descriptive assessment were functionally related to each child’s problem behavior. Additionally, function-matched interventions were effective at reducing problem behavior for all children. The benefits of assessing transition-related problem behavior both descriptively and experimentally are discussed. Keywords: transitions, problem behavior, functional behavior assessmen

Edward Sullivan, correspondence with Edward D. “Sandy” Ives

Edward Sullivan, correspondence with Edward D. Sandy Ives dating between 1975 and 1977, about life in Veazie and stories he wrote about the area; photo of Lawrence (Larry) Conners, log driver and lumberman.https://digitalcommons.library.umaine.edu/mf064/1008/thumbnail.jp

Implementing Value Pricing for U.S. Roadways

This paper reviews the current status of congestion-based road pricing in the United States and examines some of the characteristics of successful and unsuccessful projects, including their marketing aspects. It is concluded that forward momentum has been established for innovative road pricing, but future progress toward more widespread use of congestionbased pricing is likely to take advantage of local opportunities which present themselves, and will proceed cautiously. Considerable emphasis will be placed on marketing strategies in order to win consumer acceptance

The Development and Validation of the M.A.W.W.: A Measure to Assess Men\u27s Allyhood toward Women in the Workplace

In the workplace, women can experience stereotyping and marginalization as a result of their gender (Eagly & Carli, 2007; Gipson, Pfaff, Mendelsohn, Catenacci, & Burke, 2017). Having allies, or people who are supportive of or who advocate for an oppressed group can help members of marginalized communities to achieve personal and social success (Drury, 2014; Evans & Washington, 1991). The Men’s Allyhood toward Women in the Workplace (M.A.W.W.) measure seeks to evaluate men’s supportiveness of women in the workplace, enabling researchers and practitioners to understand and improve the climate for women at work. The M.A.W.W. was first developed with the input of five subject matter experts who commented on the clarity and relevance of a list of 84 proposed items. The item pool was pared down from 84 items to 59 which were then subjected to an exploratory factor analysis. The exploratory factor analysis narrowed the item pool from 59 to seventeen items. Although it was hypothesized that the M.A.W.W. would yield six factors, only three factors were supported by the analysis: Knowledge & Awareness, Action, and Skills & Capacity. These three factors showed internal consistency reliabilities that ranged from acceptable to excellent. A confirmatory factor analysis then led to the deletion of two more items, yielding a total of fifteen items for the final, three-factor version of the M.A.W.W. Convergent validity of this final measure was demonstrated by positive correlations with scales assessing affirming attitudes toward women in general. Evidence of divergent validity was shown with negative correlations with scales assessing negative and prejudicial attitudes against women. Furthermore, construct evidence was demonstrated with statistical analysis showing no correlation between the M.A.W.W. and a personality scale

The special education administrator role as perceived by principals, superintendents and special education administrators in West Virginia

This study was designed to examine the expectations held by key administrative personnel within West Virginia’s county school systems regarding the role of the special education administrator. Seven functional areas of administration containing forty specific tasks were examined to identify potential areas of conflict among and between special education administrators, superintendents and principals. Data resulting from 202 returns of the questionnaires and demographic surveys from the 260 individuals contacted were analyzed to test fourteen null hypotheses. Respondents were asked to rate perceived performance of tasks as well as their perception of the degree of importance of each. Demographic data were used to develop a profile of the three respondent groups. The analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to test all hypotheses. An alpha level of a .05 was set as the criterion used to reject the null hypotheses. In instances where the null hypothesis was rejected, the Scheffe’ method of multiple comparisons was used for post hoc analysis. In some instances, the Scheffe’, because it is a very conservative test, did not identify where those differences indicated by the ANOVA occurred. In these instances, the Duncan Multiple Range Test was applied to pinpoint those differences. Analysis of the data resulted in these major findings: There were significant ( .05 level) differences among or between the three groups of administrators regarding the perceived performance of all seven functions. There were significant ( .05 level) differences among or between the subject groups regarding the perceived performance of twenty-one of the forty tasks contained within the seven functions. There were significant ( .05 level) differences among or between the three groups of administrators regarding the perceived degree of importance assigned to six of the seven functions. There were significant ( .05 level) differences among or between the three subject groups regarding the perceived degree of importance assigned to eighteen of the forty tasks contained within the seven functions