2,258 research outputs found
Physicalism, conceptual analysis, and acts of faith
No full textFrank Jackson and the author each take the other to hold a position in philosophy of mind that it is extremely difficult to sustain. This chapter tries to say something about how that can be. It seeks to demonstrate the sanity of Jackson's opponents and the fragility of his own position than to hold out for the truth of any particular doctrine. It wants to bring to the surface an assumption in ontology, which is seen as a crucial part of the grounding of Jackson's particular version of physicalism. Once it is appreciated that this assumption is contestable, Jackson's opponents may be seen in a different light from the one in which they appear in his writings. More generally, a connection will appear between the vast literature on physicalism as a topic in philosophy of mind and the equally vast literature on material constitution as a topic in metaphysics
Cult: A Composite Novel
Get PDFCult (redacted)
The first component of the thesis is a composite novel called Cult which falls into two parts with seven narratives in each. Part 1 tracks the protagonist, Ellen, from her first involvement with the cult through to her eventually leaving it. Although fiction, the first half of the book answers the kinds of questions the author is asked when people discover that she was once a sannyasin (a follower of the guru Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh). While the experiences of meditation, group therapy and communal living are all faithfully rendered within the stories, the need for strong characters, narrative drive and a lightness of touch takes precedence.
Part 2 picks up Ellen’s story some twenty or so years later and explores what becomes of her in middle age. It also looks at other groups in society, such as academia, the law and the internet dating community which each have their own jargon, hierarchies, rituals and rules but are not considered to be cults.
The book examines the question raised in the Epigraph, ‘how do we be together when we feel so alone’ with a focus on relationships other than the familial and the romantic.
Collisions, Chasms and Connections: a Performative Exploration of the Composite Novel Form
The second part of the thesis is both a critical and creative response to three contemporary American books: Olive Kitteridge by Elizabeth Strout; A Visit from the Goon Squad by Jennifer Egan; and Legend of a Suicide by David Vann. The critical element comprises a close reading of the three books; a chronological reconstruction of their overarching storylines; and a consideration of what their authors have said about writing the books. It concludes that, in the composite novel, the simultaneous presentation of multiple views and storylines operate much like a 3D image to give the impression of depth to the characters and situations rendered. The creative element of the essay is a playful and personal response to the texts
A Theme Analysis of Experiences Reported by Adult Children of Alcoholics in Online Support Forums
No full textGrowing up with an alcoholic parent can have a lasting effect on children and contribute to a variety of challenging outcomes in adulthood. This study identified the various experiences that adult children of alcoholics discuss with their peers in online support groups. Trained coders conducted a thematic analysis of 504 message board posts collected over a period of 60 days from three different online support groups to identify issues that children of alcoholics face in adulthood. Seven themes emerged from the analysis: a) empowerment through support, b) interference of parent in adulthood, c) connection to inner child and need to re-parent, d) low self-esteem and insecurity, e) anger and resentment, f) romantic relationship problems, and g) problems communicating. The results of this study provide insight into the issues that adult children of alcoholics need to address as part of their own recovery and suggest avenues of exploration for practitioners who work with high risk families.Peer reviewe
A Comparative Analysis of the Equity Outcomes in Three Sugarcane–Ethanol Systems
Get PDFThis article identifies equity outcomes associated with three biofuel systems in Brazil, Ethiopia, and Guatemala. Acknowledging that winners and losers are socially and politically generated, the article identifies some of the factors behind the distribution of winners and losers along different stages of three sugarcane–ethanol supply chains. Analyzing the outcomes for equity within each case study reveals an uneven distribution that, we argue, is related to the procedure and structure of the given sugarcane–ethanol system, and the recognition of the impacts on different actors within those structures. Increasing equity in sugarcane–ethanol systems will require greater openness in decision-making processes, in order that multiple voices are taken into account in the promotion, production, and consumption of biofuels—particularly those of smaller and less powerful actors
Partner Facilitation and Partner Interference in Individuals' Weight Loss Goals
No full textDrawing on the logic of the relational turbulence model, this study examined the ways in which romantic partners facilitate and interfere with individuals’ weight loss goals. Participants (N = 122) described the ways in which their romantic partner had recently helped or hindered their weight loss at four times over the course of 2 months. We conducted a content analysis of responses to identify themes of partner facilitation (Research Question 1 [RQ1]) and partner interference (RQ2) in individuals’ weight loss goals. Results revealed seven themes of partner facilitation: (a) partner enabling diet, (b) motivation and encouragement, (c) emotional support and positive reinforcement, (d) exercising together, (e) partner enabling exercise, (f) dieting together, and (g) relationship influence and priorities. Four themes of partner interference emerged in the data: (a) inability to plan for healthy meals, (b) inability to control the food environment, (c) preventing or discouraging exercise, and (d) emotional or relational discouragement.Peer reviewe
Book Review: Disability Rights and the American Social Safety Net
No full textAuthor: Jennifer L. Erkulwater
Reviewer: Karin F. Brockelman
Publisher: Cornell University Press, 2006.
Cloth, ISBN: 0-8014-4417-9, 272 pages
Cost: $42.50, US
Food and eating in fiction since 1950 with particular reference to the writing of Angela Carter, Doris Lessing, Michele Roberts and Alice Thomas Ellis.
No full textPhDEating is a fundamental activity. What people eat, how and with whom, what
they feel about food, what they do or do not want to eat and why - even who
they eat - are of crucial significance in any reading of human behaviour.
In this thesis, I consider the diverse and complex uses of food and eating
in fiction since 1950, especially that written by women. I argue both that food
and eating carry much of the meaning of a novel or story and that the acts of
cooking, feeding and eating depicted are inseparable from issues of power and
control: individually, interpersonally, culturally, politically.
My discussion centres on the writing of Angela Carter, Doris Lessing,
Michele Roberts and Alice Thomas Ellis. Drawing on psychoanalytic theory,
sociology, anthropology, Foucault, Bakhtin and others, the thesis aims to
construct an interdisciplinary perspective which both resists reductive
interpretations and emphasises the centrality, complexity and diversity of food
and eating in literature in our culture.
I begin with an examination of the ambiguities of maternal feeding and
nurturing, moving on to explore the links between appetite, eating and sexuality.
I explore cannibalism and vampirism as manifestations of oppression, but also as
indicating insatiable emptiness and transgressive appetite. The body itself is
crucial, and my argument considers the paradox of not eating as
control/enslavement, also tracing self-starvation as a positive route towards
wholeness and connection. The last part of my argument focuses on social
eating, examining conventions, rituals and food itself in connection with power
relations, and finally considers how we might truly speak of food and eating in
the context of society as a whole
A case study of the process of formulating a strategic plan for the delivery of mental health services in an urban school district
No full textA mental health committee was formed in an urban public school district to formulate and conduct a district-wide needs assessment in order to provide school district administrators and board of education members with a set of guidelines for improving the delivery of mental health services. A total of 962 school district employees completed the district-wide needs assessment survey. Participants consisted of regular, bilingual and special education teachers, school support staff, and administrators throughout the district. The purpose of this project was threefold: (1) to identify the needs of students, parents, and staff within the school district as they relate to the delivery of mental health programs and services, (2) to determine the extent of interest and readiness in improving the delivery of these programs and services, and (3) to understand the relevant context of the school district in which the target population and their needs are embedded. Through this case study, the process of forming a committee, utilizing a program planning framework, conducting a needs assessment, and developing a comprehensive mental health plan was examined. Results indicated an interest to design programs that address student needs at the multiple service delivery levels, as well as parent and staff programs. Program development areas identified included: (a) school-wide positive behavior support; (b) character education; (c)anti-harassment and bullying programs; (d) increasing the availability of individual and group counseling services for regular education students; (e) coordinating comprehensive services for high-risk students; and (f) parent training and staff development programs. Areas for school and district-wide improvement prior to engaging in program design, implementation, and evaluation activities included securing financial resources, identifying locations to carry out programs, and gauging the impact of New Jersey State directed budget cuts on personnel, district finances, and the development of new programs. The comprehensive mental health plan also is presented. Results from this project highlight the importance of school-based mental health services and the value for school districts in assessment of the delivery of these services. Future research should include the direct assessment of student and parent opinions as well as including these populations in the program planning process.Psy.DIncludes bibliographical references (p. 166-170)by Jennifer FosterIncludes abstrac
Neuropeptide orphanin FQ inhibits dendritic morphogenesis through activation of RhoA
No full textBrain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) plays a facilitatory role in neuronal development and promotion of differentiation. Mechanisms that oppose BDNF's stimulatory effects create balance and regulate dendritic growth. However, these mechanisms have not been studied. We have focused our studies on the BDNFinduced neuropeptide OrphaninFQ/Nociceptin (OFQ); while BDNF is known to enhance synaptic activity, OFQ has opposite effects on activity, learning and memory. We have now examined whether OFQ provides a balance to the stimulatory effects of BDNF on neuronal differentiation in the hippocampus. Golgi staining in OFQ knockout (KO) mice revealed an increase in primary dendrite length as well as spine density, suggesting that endogenous OFQ inhibits dendritic morphology. We have also used cultured hippocampal neurons to demonstrate that exogenous OFQ has an inhibitory effect on dendritic growth and that the neuropeptide alters the response to BDNF when re-administered. To determine if BDNF and OFQ act in a feedback loop, we inhibited the actions of the BDNF and OFQ receptors, TrkB and NOP using ANA-12 and NOP KO mice respectively but our data suggests that the two factors do not act in a negative feedback loop. We found that the inhibition of dendritic morphology induced by OFQ is via enhanced RhoA activity. Finally, we have evidence that RhoA activation is required for the inhibitory effects of OFQ on dendritic morphology. Our results reveal basic mechanisms by which neurons not only regulate the formation of proper dendritic growth during development but also control plasticity in the mature nervous system.This is the peer reviewed version of the following article: Alder, J., Kallman, S., Palmieri, A., Khadim, F., Ayer, J. J., Kumar, S., Tsung, K., Grinberg, I. and Thakker-Varia, S. (2013), Neuropeptide orphanin FQ inhibits dendritic morphogenesis through activation of RhoA. Devel Neurobio, 73: 769–784, which has been published in final form at https://dx.doi.org/10.1002/dneu.22101. This article may be used for non-commercial purposes in accordance with Wiley Terms and Conditions for Self-Archiving.Peer reviewe
Making the grade: school report cards and league tables
No full textJennifer Buckingham examines the school report cards scheme being considered by the Australian government and recommends a balanced approach to performance incentives for Australian schools. The most controversial aspect of school report cards is the awarding of an overall letter grade of A, B, C, D or F to each school. In New York, under Schools Chancellor Joel Klein, schools that persistently receive failing grades face strong sanctions, including closure. Initial research indicates that schools given F and D grades have improved their performance substantially in the following year. Since the implementation of Florida’s A+ Accountability Plan in 1999, student test scores have improved significantly, particularly those of minority students. This model combines accountability with parental choice, giving students in failing schools the option to attend a better-performing school. \u27If school performance is to improve, there must be incentives for good performance and penalties for poor performance. It is also crucial to get the incentives right,\u27 says the reports author, Jennifer Buckingham. \u27The best approach is a combination of top-down and bottom-up accountability. Governments should set the standards by which parents and the public evaluate and judge schools. Parental choice is better than state sanctions\u27
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