The Greening of Faith: God, the Environment, and the Good Life (20th Anniversary Edition)

The recent release of Pope Francis’s much-discussed encyclical on the environment, Laudato Si’: On Care for Our Common Home, has reinforced environmental issues as also moral and spiritual issues. This anthology, twenty years ahead of the encyclical but very much in line with its agenda, offers essays by fifteen philosophers, theologians, and environmentalists who argue for a response to ecology that recognizes the tools of science but includes a more spiritual approach—one with a more humanistic, holistic view based on inherent reverence toward the natural world. Writers whose orientations range from Buddhism to evangelical Christianity to Catholicism to Native American beliefs explore ways to achieve this paradigm shift and suggest that “the environment is not only a spiritual issue, but the spiritual issue of our time.”https://scholars.unh.edu/unh_press/1003/thumbnail.jp

How soon should serum potassium levels be monitored for patients started on diuretics?

Case series show that hypokalemia following initiation of diuretic therapy occurs in most patients within 2 to 8 weeks. However, no studies are available that adequately predict the risk of this complex and multifactorial condition. Patients taking diuretics should have a potassium level checked in the first 2 to 8 weeks after initiating therapy. Mild hypokalemia (3.1 to 3.4 mmol/L) may be transient, so a repeat measurement may be considered before initiating potassium replacement. Dietary sodium restriction may also help to conserve potassium, because this will decrease urinary flow rate and potassium loss. The frequency with which to check potassium levels should be guided by the patients' underlying clinical conditions and dietary potassium and sodium intake. (Grade of Recommendation: C, based on case series

Alternative High School Scheduling: A View from the Student\u27s Desk

In 1995, the Metropolitan Educational Research Consortium (MERC) commissioned a study of alternative high school schedules to determine their effects on teaching strategies, teacher and student satisfaction, and student and school performance. This paper presents the results of the analysis of teacher surveys and focus group interviews in twelve high schools utilizing different scheduling alternatives

Alternative High School Scheduling: Student Achievement and Behavior Research Report

In 1995, the Metropolitan Educational Research Consortium (MERC) commissioned a study of alternative high school schedules to determine their effects on teaching strategies, teacher and student satisfaction, and student and school performance. Two previous papers emanating from this study reported the views of teachers and students regarding alternative schedules in twelve high schools utilizing different scheduling alternatives to address. This paper uses commonly collected statistical data, and survey and interview responses from those same schools to determine the impact of alternative schedules on student achievement and behavior

Alternative High School Scheduling: A View from the Teacher\u27s Desk

in 1995, the Metropolitan Educational Research Consortium (MERC) commissioned a study of alternative high school scheduling models to determine the effects of different high school schedules on teaching strategies, teacher, and student satisfaction, and student and school performance. Specifically, it was hypothesized that block schedules would (1) improve teacher classroom and work behavior, (2) improve the working conditions for teachers and students, and (3) improve student and school outcomes. This paper presents the first report of the data. It presents the results of the analysis of the survey administered to teachers, students and administrators in the Spring of 1995. The paper also presents a complete list of findings from these analysis in the appendices to this document. This paper will also be followed by a second report in the Fall of 1996 which will focus on the analysis present our analysis of the actual student performance data

Alternative High School Schedules

Currently there are four scheduling models being used in Chesterfield County Public High Schools. Manchester, Midlothian, Thomas Dale and Meadowbrook High Schools use the traditional six period day which evenly divides the school day into six periods of approximately 51 minutes in length that meet for the full year. Matoaca High School uses a seven period schedule which divides the school day into seven periods of approximately 45 minutes in length that meet for the full year. Clover Hill and L.C. Bird High Schools use a seven period alternating block schedule which divides the school day into three periods of approximately 88 minutes which meet every other day (for a total of six alternating classes) for the full year and one period of 55 minutes that meets every day for the full year. Monacan and James River High Schools use a semester block schedule which divides the school day into four periods of approximately 90 minutes which meet every day for one semester. Students take a new set of four course in the second semester. As indicated in the Preface, the Metropolitan Educational Research Consortium, (MERC) housed at Virginia Commonwealth University was engaged by the Chesterfield County School Division to provide a report that portrays how the perceptions of students, parents and teachers in six schools using different scheduling models are impacted by the schedule. The perceptions of interest in the present study include school processes and practices especially as they related to teaching and learning. The schedules are also described against results most commonly used to characterize school and student performance. As noted, the study\u27s finding should be considered as a status report as opposed to an evaluation of the scheduling models, since the schools that were studied have had limited experience with the new scheduling option (one year in most cases). The purpose of this study was to determine the impact of the scheduling model utilized at each school on (1) the satisfaction levels of parents, students, and teachers, (2) teaching, (3) relationships among students, teachers, and parents, (4) student performance, and (5) the costs and benefits associated with each scheduling model

Projected Deaths of Despair from COVID-19

More Americans could lose their lives to deaths of despair, deaths due to drug, alcohol, and suicide, if we do not do something immediately. Deaths of despair have been on the rise for the last decade, and in the context of COVID-19, deaths of despair should be seen as the epidemic within the pandemic. The goal of this report is to predict what deaths of despair we might see based on three assumptions during COVID-19: economic recovery, relationship between deaths of despair and unemployment, and geography. Across nine different scenarios, additional deaths of despair range from 27,644 (quick recovery, smallest impact of unemployment on deaths of despair) to 154,037 (slow recovery, greatest impact of unemployment on deaths of despair), with somewhere in the middle being around 68,000. However, these data are predictions. We can prevent these deaths by taking meaningful and comprehensive action as a nation

How can I improve patient adherence to prescribed medication?

Two randomized clinical trials have shown that simplified dosing schedules have improved patient adherence to medication as prescribed. Some, but not all, randomized controlled trials show multidimensional interventions can also improve adherence. These interventions include combinations of patient and family education, home monitoring of disease status, and increased convenience of care, such as workplace access. (Grade of Recommendation: B, based on randomized controlled trials

Message, Mode and Milieu: Recalling an Ancient Approach to Christian Discipleship Sufficient for the Western-Consumerist Context of the American College Student

American university students today are steeped in the ideals and practices of Western-consumerism. Rather than leading lives of self-sacrifice, as Jesus modeled, these emerging adults, even those who claim to be Christians, typically reflect the self-centered ideals of the consumerist culture around them. There are at least two reasons for this reality. First, Western-consumerism tenets are diametrically opposed to Christian values. Students are pulled along by powerful cultural forces, which serve to shape both belief and behavior. Second, the Western social construct is becoming less conducive to a life lived in close community. As a result, this emerging generation is not able to locate and maintain relationships with mentors and Christian communities. Section 1 details this problem, examining the negative influences Western-consumerist culture has on its participants. This section demonstrates the difficulties this particular worldview presents for Christians. Section 2 examines other proposed solutions to this problem, identifying several key weaknesses in these approaches. Ultimately, this study is focused on finding an effective way to disciple young adults, empowering them to incarnate God’s love in the Western-consumerist context. Section 3 outlines my thesis. I have identified three key elements to establishing a sufficient foundation for effective spiritual formation for the young adult, including: 1) A message: Young people must hear and understand the meta-narrative of Scripture, and realize they have a place within this great Story; 2) A mode: This generation of emerging adults requires a holistic learning environment that engages their entire being, heart, mind and body; 3) A milieu: Students need mentors and Christian community to help them firmly establish behaviors that are in sync with their beliefs. When all three of these elements are in place, effective discipleship of the young life in Christ can happen