The Role of Psychotherapy in Effective Integration of Spiritually Transformative Experiences

Building upon the rich literature in the discipline of spiritually transformative experiences (STE) studies, this paper examined the role of psychotherapy in facilitating the integration of STE narratives. STEs are broadly defined as a discrete experience of an altered state of consciousness that brings about a profound transformation in the spiritual identity and life expression of the experiencer (Brook 2017). STEs include near death experiences, mystical experiences, spiritual energy or kundalini awakenings, diverse psychic experiences, and inspired creativity (Kason 1994). Current psychological frameworks, theories, and interventions for STE integration were reviewed. Additionally, one clinician registered with the American Center for Integration of Spiritually Transformative Experiences (ACISTE) was interviewed to determine the most effective therapeutic approaches with this population . It is hoped that the results of this research will bring awareness to the mental health field about the importance of tailored treatment plans for STEs and highlight the role therapists can play in integrating profound spiritual maturation in these individuals

The Impact of Teachers' Trust in Principal on Teacher Burnout

This explanatory mixed methods study explored the relationship between teachers’ perceived trust in their principal and teacher burnout. This study also explores novice teachers’ lived experience of trust in their principal and stress. Snowball sampling through a public Facebook post was used to gather participants during the 2019-2020 school year for an online survey. The survey was conducted using the Faculty Trust in Principal subscale of the Omnibus-T Scale and Maslach’s Burnout Inventory for Educators to survey 165 Ontario teachers. Follow-up semi-structured interviews were conducted with three novice teachers within the first 5 years of their careers to outline their lived experiences and identify traits of principals that indicate trustworthiness. Results identified a negative correlation between trust in principal and emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, as well as a positive correlation between trust in principal and sense of personal accomplishment. Results also indicated a connection between increased faculty trust in principal when they had a shorter working relationship. The novice teachers interviewed perceive that principals can develop their trust through the individual consideration and idealized influence components of transformational leadership. Participants also identified principals reducing their workloads and trusting them as important components for trust development. Novice Ontario teachers identified stress due to high expectations, precarious employment, and the pressure to build a positive reputation as influencers in trust development

Chemical Control of Root-Knot Nematodes in Established Vineyards

Chemical control of root-knot nematodes (Meloidogyne spp.) in established vineyards was investigated. A liquid soil fumigant (1,3-dichloropropene) and four systemic (nonfumigant) nematicides in granular form, viz. aldicarb, carbofuran, oxamyl and fenamiphos were applied as soil treatments during bud burst and after harvest. Significant average yield and cane mass increases were recorded during the three years following split treatment at bud burst with aldicarb and oxamyl and when aldicard was applied as a single treatment after harvest

The Relationship between the Mite, Eriophyes vitis (Pagst.) and Leaf Curl on Vitis vinifera L. cv. Shiraz

Eriophyes vitis (Pagst.) is known as the grape erineum or blister mite. The distribution of the erineum mite is world wide, being a pest of grapevines in nearly every vine growing country. Three physiologically distinct strains of the mite are reported, each characterised by the type of injury produced: the bud strain (which causes stunted growth), the erineum or blister strain (blisters with abnormal hairs) and the leaf-curling strain (distinct leaf curl) (Jeppson, Keifer & Baker, 1975)

Direct evidence for a piezoelectriclike effect in coherently strained SiGe/Si heterostructures

A hybrid acoustic spectroscopy technique has been used to demonstrate the (reversible) conversion of high frequency electric fields into longitudinal acoustic waves within a modulation-doped pseudomorphic Si/Si0.88Ge0.12/Si heterostructure. This provides compelling evidence for the existence of a piezoelectriclike coupling within such structures

The impact on religious involvement of women in the paid labour force, 1975-2005

xiii, 131 leaves ; 29 cm.Canadians’ religious involvement has declined significantly over the last thirty years (Bibby 2004a), but explanations haven’t successfully determined the reasons for the decline. Women’s employment rate increased significantly during the same time period, which could account for the decline, particularly as Canadians have become increasingly pragmatic about time following the rise of the dual earner family. This thesis postulates that Canadians’ pragmatism dominates religious involvement, particularly as Canadians have less time to engage in those activities and tasks they deem necessary and worthwhile. It examines the costs and benefits of religious involvement—utilizing a rational choice framework—and insists that religious groups need to respond more effectively to affiliates’ needs and desires. The data demonstrates that Canadians’ perception of worth of their religious involvement (as measured through enjoyment) better predicts involvement than association

Consumption of high ω-3 fatty acid diet suppressed prostate tumorigenesis in C3(1) Tag mice

Prostate cancer incidence and mortality are high in the Western world and high ω-6/ω-3 PUFA in the Western diet may be a contributing factor. We investigated whether changing from a diet that approximates ω-6 fat content of the Western diet to a high ω-3 fat diet at adulthood might reduce prostate cancer risk. Female SV 129 mice that had consumed a high ω-6 diet containing corn oil for 2 weeks were bred with homozygous C3(1)Tag transgenic male mice. All male offspring were weaned to the corn oil diet (CO) until postpuberty when half of the male offspring were transferred to a high ω-3 diet containing canola oil and fish oil concentrate (FS). High ω-3 diet increased ω-3 and decreased ω-6 fat content of mice tissues. Average weights of prostate and genitourinary bloc were significantly lower in mice consuming high ω-3 diet at adulthood (CO-FS) than mice fed a lifetime high ω-6 diet (CO–CO). There was slower progression of tumorigenesis in dorsalateral prostate of CO-FS than in CO–CO mice. CO-FS mice had slightly lower plasma testosterone level at 24 and 40 weeks, significantly lower estradiol level at 40 weeks and significantly less expressed androgen receptor (AR) in the dorsalateral prostate at 40 weeks than CO–CO mice. Consumption of high ω-3 diet lowered the expression of genes expected to increase proliferation and decrease apoptosis in dorsalateral prostate. Our results suggest that consumption of high ω-3 diet slows down prostate tumorigenesis by lowering estradiol, testosterone and AR levels, promoting apoptosis and suppressing cell proliferation in C3(1)Tag mice

Antibody prevalence to African swine fever virus, Mycobacterium bovis, foot-and-​mouth disease virus, Rift Valley fever virus, influenza A virus, and Brucella and Leptospira spp. in free-ranging warthog (Phacochoerus africanus) populations in South Africa

The warthog (Phacochoerus africanus) can be used as a model for investigating disease transmission at the human, wildlife, and livestock interface. An omnivore and scavenger, a warthog moves freely between natural ecotypes, farmland, and human communities and is susceptible to diseases of zoonotic, agricultural, and conservation concern. A retrospective study using 100 individual serum samples collected from May 1999 to August 2016 was performed to determine antibody prevalence to seven pathogens in warthogs from five locations in northeastern South Africa. Higher prevalence of antibodies to African swine fever virus and Mycobacterium bovis were detected in warthogs from the Greater Kruger National Park ecosystem in comparison to lower prevalence of antibodies to M. bovis and no antibodies to African swine fever virus in warthogs from uMhkuze Game Reserve. Low prevalence of antibodies to foot-and-mouth disease virus, Rift Valley fever virus, and influenza A virus was detected in all locations, and no antibodies against Brucella and Leptospira spp. were detected. No statistically significant difference in antibody prevalence was found between sexes for any disease. At the univariate analysis, M. bovis seropositivity was significantly different among age categories, with 49% (35/71) of adults found positive versus 29% (4/14) of juveniles and 9% (1/11) of sub-adults (Fisher’s exact test, P¼0.020), and between the sampling locations (Fisher’s exact test, P¼0.001). The multivariate model results indicated that juvenile warthogs had lower odds of testing positive to M. bovis antibodies than adults (juveniles’ odds ratio [OR]¼0.17, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.02–1.0), although this result was not statistically significant at the 5% level (P¼0.052). For warthogs sampled at Satara Buffalo Camp, the odds (OR¼0.22, 95% CI: 0.035–0.96) of being M. bovis antibody positive were significantly lower (P¼0.043) than for warthogs sampled at Skukuza. Of particular interest in this study was the detection of warthogs seropositive for influenza A virus.KNP Veterinary Wildlife Services, South African Medical Research Council, National Research Foundation of South Africa and Smithsonian Institution National Zoological Park.http://www.jwildlifedis.orgam2021PharmacologyProduction Animal Studie