When Pneumatology meets Demonology: Options for Reconciling Divine Omnipresence and Divine Absence.

The classic divine attribute of omnipresence has been somewhat neglected in contemporary theology. One area that is seldom addressed is the relationship between divine presence, especially with respect to the Holy Spirit, and divine absence, especially with respect to evil spirits (the spirit world being of particular interest to Pentecostal/charismatic theology). This paper examines the theological conundrum relating to the ubiquity of the Spirit and the presence of evil, and then surveys the biblical portrayals of divine presence and absence. Potential solutions are presented and evaluated for an understanding of omnipresence that is compatible with experiential evil. A model based on the cultic concept of graded holiness is suggested as an aid for conceptualizing divine presence and absence

Strontium Metabolism Studies

Abstract Not Provided

Strategies for the prevention of obesity in children

The prevalence of obesity is increasing at an unprecedented rate in the United Kingdom, in both adults and children. Obesity is a risk factor for many chronic diseases and may also lead to psychological disorders. The long-term successful treatment of obesity is a difficult goal to achieve. Preventing obesity, particularly in children, has become a public health objective. In this thesis, two strategies for the prevention of obesity in children are presented. The first study utilised a health promotion approach. A school-based programme, aimed at children aged 5-7 years, was developed and delivered in lunchtime clubs over four school terms (initial cohort, n 218). Healthy eating and/or physical activity were the focus of the learning objectives in an interactive and supportive teaching environment. Results of the intervention showed an improvement in children's knowledge and a modest increase in fruit intake, which was independent of a rise in parental consumption. Schools appear to provide an important opportunity for children to undertake physical activity. Satisfaction with the programme was high for parents and teachers. This pilot study is the first such interventioh in this age group in the UK and it may provide guidance for future initiatives. The teaching materials developed are to be made available nationally. In a second study, the effect of glycaemic index (GI) on appetite and satiety was investigated in a cohort of children aged 9-11 years (n 37). In this within-subject design study, all subjects received three test breakfasts, low-GI, low-GI with added sucrose or high-GI, in a random order, for three days each. This was followed by a buffet style lunch where food intake was recorded covertly. Results showed a significantly lower lunch intake after the low GI and low GI with added sucrose breakfasts when compared to both the high-GI and a trial day when habitual breakfast was eaten at home. Satiety pre-lunch was rated lower after the high-GI breakfast compared to the other two breakfasts. This is the first study to investigate the effect of low-GI meals on appetite and satiety in a group of normal and overweight children. It adds to the growing body of evidence for a role of low-GI foods in weight management. Obesity is a complex and multifactorial condition, which must be addressed on many levels. The research undertaken in this thesis provides evidence for pursuing both a health promotion approach and dietary manipulation to decrease the GI of a diet as potential strategies for the prevention of obesity in children

Iwi interests and the RMA: An evaluation of the quality of first generation council plans

This working paper analyses the processes adopted by councils for involving hapū /iwi in plan implementation, including the resource consents process. Three topic issues were investigated to assess plan implementation — urban amenity, storm water, and issues of importance to iwi. Questions were asked about the capacity of hapū/iwi to engage in the resource consent process, which resource issues were of concern to them, their relationship with council and consent applicants, and their perception of the consent process. Most resources listed in the questionnaire were of concern to hapū/iwi, with water quality, wāhi tapu and heritage the most commonly cited. In conclusion, we found a general dissatisfaction on the part of hapū/iwi with councils’ performance with respect to both Treaty relationships and consent processing under the RMA. A further contributing factor to the poor relationships found between hapū/iwi and councils, was the lack of clarity over the role of hapū and iwi in resource management. In several districts, diverging responses from hapū/iwi and councils to questions about level of understanding and commitment suggests there is a need for more effective communication. These problems are compounded by the generally low capacity of hapū/iwi to participate in resource consent processes. These findings suggest that there is much to be done to improve relationships and behaviour of these key stakeholder groups in the plan implementation process if key provisions in the RMA related to hapū/iwi interests are to be fulfilled. The differences shown in reciprocal perceptions have serious implications for establishing a sound working partnership between councils and hapū/iwi in their areas. Making clear these discrepancies is a first step towards taking the measures needed for building a better partnership. Further, the capacity of hapū/iwi to participate could be better utilised if there was greater integration between regional and district councils on issues of significance and processes for iwi involvement

Nurses’ contributions to the resolution of ethical dilemmas in practice

Background: Complex and expensive treatment options have increased the frequency and emphasis of ethical decision making in healthcare. In order to meet these challenges effectively we need to identify how nurses contribute the resolution of these dilemmas. Aims: To identify the values, beliefs and contextual influences that inform decision making. To identify the contribution made by nurses in achieving the resolution of ethical dilemmas in practice. Design: An interpretive exploratory study was undertaken, eleven registered acute care nurses, working in a district general hospital in England were interviewed, using semi-structured interviews. In-depth content analysis of the data was undertaken via NVivo coding and thematic identification. Participants and context: Participants were interviewed about their contribution to the resolution of ethical dilemmas within the context of working in an acute hospital ward. Participants were recruited from all settings working with patients of any age and any diagnosis. Ethical considerations: Ethical approval was obtained from local the National Research Ethics Committee Findings: Four major themes emerged: ‘Best for the patient’, ‘Accountability’, ‘collaboration and conflict’ and ‘concern for others’. Moral distress was also evident in the literature and findings, with moral dissonance recognised and articulated by more experienced nurses. The relatively small, single site sample may not account for the effects of organisational culture on the results; the findings suggested that professional relationships were key to resolving ethical dilemmas. Discussion Nurses use their moral reasoning based on their beliefs and values when faced with ethical dilemmas. Subsequent actions are mediated though ethical decision making frames of reference including deontology, consequentialism, the ethics of care and virtue ethics. Nurses use these in contributing to the resolution of these dilemmas. Nurses require the skills to develop and maintain professional relationships for addressing ethical dilemmas and to engage with political and organisational macro and micro decision making. Conclusion: Nurses’ professional relationships are central to nurses’ contributions to the resolution of ethical dilemma

Second international conference on strontium metabolism

The main object of the work was to study the mechanisms of discrimination in the transfer of strontium and calcium across biological membranes. 3. The experimental work was done in rats and in human subjects using radioactive and stable tracers and intravenous and oral doses of stable strontium. All experiments were carried out under in vivo conditions. 4. The studies using the rat as experimental animal investigated the passage of stronttum-85 with respect to calcium-47 across the gastrointestinal membrane from the bloodstream to the intestine. The isotopes were given intravenously and the rats were examined both feeding and fasting. From the first study which was over a 24 hour interval it appeared that strontium was excreted to a slightly greater extent than calcium into the intestine during feeding. When the rats were fasted, less of both isotopes was excreted by this route although the difference between strontium and calcium was increased. The Sr/Ca faecal excretion ratio increased from 1.2 in the feeding rats to 2,2 in the fasting animals, Intravenously administered strontium-85 was excreted equally in urine and faeces - approximately 10% of the dose by each route of excetion. Calcium-47 however was mainly excreted in stool (approximately 8%) while less than 1% was excreted via the kidney. Fasting caused reduced levels of both 85Sr and 47Ca in the urine. These excretory differences resulted in (a) greater bone deposition of 47Ca than 85Sr both during feeding and fasting and (b) greater levels of both isotopes in the skeleton of the fasting rats than of the feeding animals. A second rat study was performed to investigate the effect of time on the distribution of the isotopes compared to the 24 hour study. In this case animals were sacrificed at 0.5, 1, 2 and 4 hours after injection of the dose. The results of this experiment indicate that calcium is excreted into the intestine slightly faster than strontium and the differences between 85Sr and 47Ca at 24 hours were due to discrimination in reabsorption by the gut. It appeared that there was little difference between the isotopes between 1 and 4 hours. In fasting the reabsorption of the secreted isotopes was greater than during feeding. The passage of strontium with respect to calcium across the human placenta was investigated. Neutron activation techniques were used to measure stable strontium and flame emission spectrometry for calcium. It was shown that calcium passes more readily than strontium across the membrane from mother to child by a factor of about 2. The concentration of calcium in the serum of the newborn was about 20% higher than that of the mother. The effect of stable strontium on the excretions of strontium and calcium was studied in man during both oral and intravenous administration of the element. It was shown that a large dose of stable strontium administered orally was similarly distributed in the excretions as was the trace level of an average diet. Retention of such a dose was for a short period of time in a subject who had no error in calcium metabolism. Intravenously administered stable strontium was mainly excreted via the kidney. Ammonium Chloride and Aluminium Phosphate Gel have been used in attempts to modify stable strontium excretion but with little success. Both intravenously and orally administered stable strontium had a marked effect on the urinary calcium excretion. This was reduced to about half of the normal level when strontium was administered by either route

The Relationship Between Concussion History and Sex on Lower Extremity Biomechanics During a Cutting Task

Athletes with a history of sports related concussion (SRC) have been shown to exhibit lower extremity (LE) mechanics during high impact landing tasks that are conducive to increased injury risk. The underlying cause, and extent of this phenomena is currently unknown. PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to analyze the relationship between SRC history and sex on LE biomechanics during a land-and-cut task. METHODS: College athletes with a history of SRC and a control group of healthy athletes matched by sport, position, sex, and age were recruited for this study. Both groups were comprised of 9 males and 11 females. Athletes performed an unanticipated land-and-cut task. The task consisted of each athlete standing on a 60 cm box with a visual stimulus positioned three meters away from the athlete. Various colors (green, pink, blue, and red) were presented as the visual stimulus. Athletes were instructed to only respond to a green or red light. When a red or green light was shown, athletes were instructed to step off the box, land on both limbs and perform a 45-degree cutting movement to the left or right, respectively. Two separate point biserial correlations were conducted (one for each sex) correlating group (0 = control, 1 = SRC) with the following dependent variables: vertical ground reaction force (vGRF), peak knee extensor moment (pKEM), peak knee abduction moment (pKAM), peak ankle dorsiflexion angle (pDF), peak knee flexion angle (pKFA), and peak knee abduction angle (pKA). A linear regression equation was obtained for significant correlations. RESULTS: There was a significant negative moderate correlation between group and KF in males (r = -.69, p \u3c .01). There were no other significant correlations between group and LE biomechanical variables in either males or females (p \u3e .05). A linear regression analysis showed SRC history was a significant predictor of KF (KF = 63.71 – 12.43(group); R2 = .473, p = .002) CONCLUSION: Males in the SRC group were associated with lower KF. Specifically, the regression analysis indicated that males with an SRC history had a predicted 12.4 degree decrease in KF during the land-and-cut task. This suggests previously concussed males may be at increased risk for LE injury

Evaluation of iwi and hapū participation in the resource consents processes of six district councils

This working paper analyses the processes adopted by councils for involving hapū/iwi in plan implementation, including the resource consents process. Three topic issues were investigated to assess plan implementation — urban amenity, storm water, and issues of importance to iwi. Questions were asked about the capacity of hapū/iwi to engage in the resource consent process, which resource issues were of concern to them, their relationship with council and consent applicants, and their perception of the consent process. Most resources listed in the questionnaire were of concern to hapū/iwi, with water quality, wāhi tapu and heritage the most commonly cited. In conclusion, we found a general dissatisfaction on the part of hapū/iwi with councils’ performance with respect to both Treaty relationships and consent processing under the RMA. A further contributing factor to the poor relationships found between hapū/iwi and councils, was the lack of clarity over the role of hapū and iwi in resource management. In several districts, diverging responses from hapū/iwi and councils to questions about level of understanding and commitment suggests there is a need for more effective communication. These problems are compounded by the generally low capacity of hapū/iwi to participate in resource consent processes. These findings suggest that there is much to be done to improve relationships and behaviour of these key stakeholder groups in the plan implementation process if key provisions in the RMA related to hapū/iwi interests are to be fulfilled. The differences shown in reciprocal perceptions have serious implications for establishing a sound working partnership between councils and hapū/iwi in their areas. Making clear these discrepancies is a first step towards taking the measures needed for building a better partnership. Further, the capacity of hapū/iwi to participate could be better utilised if there was greater integration between regional and district councils on issues of significance and processes for iwi involvement

A systematic review of the psychological and social benefits of participation in sport for children and adolescents: informing development of a conceptual model of health through sport

Background: There are specific guidelines regarding the level of physical activity (PA) required to provide health benefits. However, the research underpinning these PA guidelines does not address the element of social health. Furthermore, there is insufficient evidence about the levels or types of PA associated specifically with psychological health. This paper first presents the results of a systematic review of the psychological and social health benefits of participation in sport by children and adolescents. Secondly, the information arising from the systematic review has been used to develop a conceptual model.Methods: A systematic review of 14 electronic databases was conducted in June 2012, and studies published since 1990 were considered for inclusion. Studies that addressed mental and/or social health benefits from participation in sport were included.Results: A total of 3668 publications were initially identified, of which 30 met the selection criteria. There were many different psychological and social health benefits reported, with the most commonly being improved self-esteem, social interaction followed by fewer depressive symptoms. Sport may be associated with improved psychosocial health above and beyond improvements attributable to participation in PA. Specifically, team sport seems to be associated with improved health outcomes compared to individual activities, due to the social nature of the participation. A conceptual model, Health through Sport, is proposed. The model depicts the relationship between psychological, psychosocial and social health domains, and their positive associations with sport participation, as reported in the literature. However, it is acknowledged that the capacity to determine the existence and direction of causal links between participation and health is limited by the fact that the majority of studies identified (n=21) were cross-sectional.Conclusion: It is recommended that community sport participation is advocated as a form of leisure time PA for children and adolescents, in an effort to not only improve physical health in relation to such matters as the obesity crisis, but also to enhance psychological and social health outcomes. It is also recommended that the causal link between participation in sport and psychosocial health be further investigated and the conceptual model of Health through Sport tested. © 2013 Eime et al.; licensee BioMed Central Ltd.C