Digital Commons Network^™

"The Politics Of Deracialization: South Asian American Candidates, Nicknames, And Campaign Strategies", Shyam Sriram, Stonegarden Grindlife

Shyam K. Sriram (ssriram@butler.edu)

No abstract provided.

Decreased Symptoms Of Depression After Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction: Potential Moderating Effects Of Religiosity, Spirituality, Trait Mindfulness, Sex, And Age, Jeffrey M. Greeson, Moria J. Smoski, Edward C. Suarez, Jeffrey G. Brantley, Andrew G. Ekblad, Thomas R. Lynch, Ruth Quillian Wolever

Jeffrey M. Greeson

Objective: Mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) is a secular meditation training program that reduces depressive symptoms. Little is known, however, about the degree to which a participant's spiritual and religious background, or other demographic characteristics associated with risk for depression, may affect the effectiveness of MBSR. Therefore, this study tested whether individual differences in religiosity, spirituality, motivation for spiritual growth, trait mindfulness, sex, and age affect MBSR effectiveness.

Methods: As part of an open trial, multiple regression was used to analyze variation in depressive symptom outcomes among 322 adults who enrolled in an 8-week, community-based MBSR program.

Results: As hypothesized, depressive …

Changes In Spirituality Partly Explain Health-Related Quality Of Life Outcomes After Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction., Jeffrey M Greeson, Daniel M Webber, Moria J Smoski, Jeffrey G Brantley, Andrew G Ekblad, Edward C Suarez, Ruth Quillian Wolever

Jeffrey M. Greeson

Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction is a secular behavioral medicine program that has roots in meditative spiritual practices. Thus, spirituality may partly explain Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction outcomes. Participants (N = 279; M (SD) age = 45(12); 75% women) completed an online survey before and after an 8-week Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction program. Structural equation modeling was used to test the hypothesis that, following Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction, the relationship between enhanced mindfulness and improved health-related quality of life is mediated by increased daily spiritual experiences. Changes in both spirituality and mindfulness were significantly related to improvement in mental health. Although the initial mediation hypothesis …

A Randomized Controlled Trial Of Koru: A Mindfulness Program For College Students And Other Emerging Adults., Jeffrey M Greeson, Michael K Juberg, Margaret Maytan, Kiera James, Holly Rogers

Jeffrey M. Greeson

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effectiveness of Koru, a mindfulness training program for college students and other emerging adults. PARTICIPANTS: Ninety students (66% female, 62% white, 71% graduate students) participated between Fall 2012 and Spring 2013. METHODS: Randomized controlled trial. It was hypothesized that Koru, compared with a wait-list control group, would reduce perceived stress and sleep problems, and increase mindfulness, self-compassion, and gratitude. RESULTS: As hypothesized, results showed significant Group (Koru, Wait-List)×Time (Pre, Post) interactions for improvements in perceived stress (F[1, 76.40]=4.50, p=.037, d=.45), sleep problems (F [1, 79.49]=4.71, p=.033, d=.52), mindfulness (F [1, 79.09]=26.80, p CONCLUSIONS: Results support the …

The Epistemology Of Esoteric Culture: Spiritual Claim-Making Within The American Neopagan Community, Marty Laubach

Marty Laubach

Non-institutionalised religious communities within western esotericism, such as New Age or Neopagan subcultures, are dynamic marketplaces for knowledge construction that may appear to be chaotic and governed only by the rule of caveat emptor. However, a close examination reveals authorization processes developing along similar lines as those followed by scientific empiricism during the seventeenth century. Claims of esoteric knowledge are developed from psychism experiences, and are authenticated by examining the claimant’s social standing, the narrative structure of the claim and the interests of the claimant and the judge. Such claims are authorized by incorporation into collective action, publications, workshops and …

Mapping Reality: An Introduction To Theatre, Charlie Mitchell, Michelle Hayford

Michelle Hayford

This book seeks to give insight into the people and processes that create theatre. Like any other world—be it horse racing, fashion, or politics—understanding its complexities helps you appreciate it on a deeper plane. The intent of this book is not to strip away the feeling of magic that can happen in the presence of theatre but to add an element of wonder for the artistry that makes it work. At the same time, you can better understand how theatre seeks to reveal truths about the human condition; explores issues of ethics, gender, ethnicity, class, sexuality, and spirituality; and exists …

Diet Composition And Insulin Action In Animals Models, Leonard Storlien, J A. Higgins, T C. Thomas, John Brown, Hongqin Wang, Xu-Feng Huang, Paul Else

Xu-Feng Huang

Critical insights into the etiology of insulin resistance have been gained by the use of animal models where insulin action has been modulated by strictly controlled dietary interventions not possible in human studies. Overall, the literature has moved from a focus on macronutrient proportions to understanding the unique effects of individual subtypes of fats, carbohydrates and proteins. Substantial evidence has now accumulated for a major role of dietary fat subtypes in insulin action. Intake of saturated fats is strongly linked to development of obesity and insulin resistance, while that of polyunsaturated fats (PUFAs) is not. This is consistent with observations …

"A Tulsi By Any Other Name: Evaluating South Asian American Support For A Hindu Member Of Congress", Shyam Sriram

Shyam K. Sriram (ssriram@butler.edu)

No abstract provided.

Seeing And Not Believing: Concern For Visual Culture In The Humanist, Rick Clifton Moore

Rick Clifton Moore

A recent study of a magazine distributed by a powerful conservative Christian group determined the organization showed strong concern for “visual culture.” The publication directed its readers on how to understand the seen world. The present study analyzes a periodical of an avowedly secular group to understand how they might manifest similar or different concerns. On the whole, the content of the magazine called The Humanist appears to indicate that visual culture is as important to agnostics as it is to theists.

A Cry For Human Rights: Elizabeth Cady Stanton's "Solitude Of Self", Megan Palmer O'Donnell

Megan N. O'Donnell

No abstract provided.

Give 'Em What They Want: Patron-Driven Collection Development, Karen S. Fischer, Hope Barton, Michael Wright, Kit Clatanoff

Hope I Barton

Patron-Driven Acquisitions (PDA) is the hot topic in collection management. It sets traditional notions of collection-building upside down, while also presenting vendors and publishers with very different business models. Collaborating with ebrary and YBP, the University of Iowa Libraries established a PDA pilot program in September 2009 which has proven to be extremely popular with users and seems to be working in the Libraries’ favor. PDA has advantages (you only buy materials that are used) but has some potential pitfalls too, like going broke quickly, or building an ebook collection that doesn’t necessarily fit in the long run. To help …

Improving The Quality Of Spiritual Care As A Dimension Of Palliative Care: The Report Of The Consensus Conference, Christina Puchalski, Betty Ferrell, Rose Virani, Shirley Otis-Green, Pamela Baird, Janet Bull, Harvey Chochinov, George Handzo, Holly Nelson-Becker, Maryjo Prince-Paul, Karen Pugliese, Daniel Sulmasy

Holly Nelson-Becker

A Consensus Conference sponsored by the Archstone Foundation of Long Beach, California, was held February 17–18, 2009, in Pasadena, California. The Conference was based on the belief that spiritual care is a fundamental component of quality palliative care. This document and the conference recommendations it includes builds upon prior literature, the National Consensus Project Guidelines, and the National Quality Forum Preferred Practices and Conference proceedings.

The 2012 U.S. Election And Political Messages In Sermons, Daniel Roland, Darin Freeburg

Daniel Roland

This study sought to determine to what degree clergy members of various denominations mentioned the 2012 Presidential Election in their sermons. A convenience sampling of 1,012 sermon texts prepared and delivered by 141 Protestant Christian clergy members from August 5 through November 4, 2012, were gathered and analyzed for occurrences and type of political messages. Analysis found that political messages were more likely to be given by clergy located in Blue States and least likely to be given by clergy located in Red States. Extensive political messages were more likely delivered by clergy located in Swing States. Clergy members were …

The 2012 U.S. Election And Political Messages In Sermons, Daniel Roland, Darin Freeburg

Darin Freeburg

This study sought to determine to what degree clergy members of various denominations mentioned the 2012 Presidential Election in their sermons. A convenience sampling of 1,012 sermon texts prepared and delivered by 141 Protestant Christian clergy members from August 5 through November 4, 2012, were gathered and analyzed for occurrences and type of political messages. Analysis found that political messages were more likely to be given by clergy located in Blue States and least likely to be given by clergy located in Red States. Extensive political messages were more likely delivered by clergy located in Swing States. Clergy members were …

Diet Composition And Insulin Action In Animal Models, Leonard H. Storlien, J Higgins, T C. Thomas, Marc A. Brown, Hong-Qin Wang, Xu-Feng Huang, Paul Else

Xu-Feng Huang

No abstract provided.

Using Sermon Text Archives To Investigate The Construction Of Social Values: A Proposal For A Collaborative Research Agenda In Social Epistemology, Daniel Roland

Daniel Roland

This article presents a detailed description of a research agenda and methodology inspired by Jesse Shera’s notion of social epistemology as the study of “the ways in which society generates new knowledge, disseminates it, and uses it to contribute to the values the society seeks.”1 The research agenda is ambitious and echoes the call that Shera put forth with Margaret Egan that librarianship be a discipline “for the effective investigation of the whole complex problem of the intellectual processes of society.”2 The research agenda focuses on sermons as a communication medium that significantly influences the social construction of knowledge. With …

Manifest Destiny Adapted For 1990s’ War Discourse: Mission And Destiny Intertwined, Roberta Coles

Roberta Coles

Civil religious themes have long been integral to public discourse in America. Specifically the themes of mission and destiny best known in the farm of Manifest Destiny, still carry the country through periods of foreign conflict. This paper analyzes the discourses of President George Bush during the Persian Gulf War and President Bill Clinton during the Kosovo conflict. I identify the themes of mission by example and mission by intervention and argue that these forms of mission are intertwined. The use of these themes by presidents of different political parties indicates that while they remain useful, they are adapting for …

A Primary Human Challenge, Carroy U. Ferguson

Carroy U "Cuf" Ferguson, Ph.D.

We may ask why, at both the individual and collective levels, it has seemed so difficult for us to choose to evolve our human games with Joy. There is no one answer for such a question, for each of us has the gift of free will. I will suggest, however, that built into our human games is what I call a primary human challenge. That primary human challenge is a dynamic tension, flowing from our creative urge for the freedom “to be” who we really are in our current physical form, and simultaneously to embrace our responsibility for our Being-ness.

The Santa Barbara Public Library: History And Thematic Identifications, Michele Gibney

Michele Gibney

The paper describes the history of the public library in Santa Barbara from 1870 to 1926 while taking into account two of the thematic underpinnings of the American library tradition: women in the profession and the importance of books and libraries in the community. It is divided into three sections including, the importance of books and libraries, women librarianship, and the history of the Santa Barbara Public Library. The library’s ideology and history espouses the themes inherent in American library history. At the same time, some of the qualities of Santa Barbara’s library contradict prevalent ideas of the times—especially in …

Aporias Of Identity: Bicommunalism, Hybridity And The 'Cyprus Problem', Costas M. Constantinou

Costas M. Constantinou

From Exceptionalism To Imperialism: Culture, Character, And American Foreign Policy, Meghan A. Burke, Lauren Langman

Meghan A. Burke

No abstract provided.

Walter Beach, Paul J. Rich

Paul J. Rich

A variation of these remarks was part of the memorial service I led for Walter at the Southern Political Science and American Political Science Associations after his death, and was published in the Policy Studies Journal and Review of Policy Research. He was my predecessor as President of the Policy Studies Organization and he also was a friend and mentor. We miss him dearly but fortunately he lived long enough to see the PSO move to Washington, only a couple blocks from his office.

Bridging Bays, Bridging Borders: Global Justice And Community Organizing In The San Francisco Bay Area, Bhavna Shamasunder, Joshua Abraham, Cheryl Brown, Juliet Ellis, Lili Farhang, Lila Hussain, Tony Lopresti, Manuel Pastor, Erica Swinney

Bhavna Shamasunder

No abstract provided.

Oliver Optic 1822-1897, Children's Author, Dale Freeman

Dale H. Freeman

No abstract provided.

Voluntarismo En Estados Unidos Y El Debate De Robert Putnam, Paul J. Rich

Paul J. Rich

El debate en tomo a "bolear solo" (Bowling Alone) que inicio Robert Putnam respecto a la salud del voluntarismo estadunidense presen­ ta como muy novedosas algunas caracteristicas del desarrollo de la sociedad civil y la cultura politica que en realidad habian sido sefiala­ das con anterioridad por Seymour Martin Upset y otras. Para comprender Estados Unidos, es necesario entender el signifi­ cado de la sociedad civil y de la fructifera presencia del volunta­ rismo que es su savia vital.' Las asociaciones estadunidenses -inclu­yendo a las Iglesias, organizaciones civiles, los consejos escolares, fraternidades y grupos filantr6picos-- son campos de entrenamiento vitalicios …

The Mystery Of Mathew Carey, Paul J. Rich

Paul J. Rich

The discovery of letters in the archives of the Historical Society in Philadelphia led to new insights into early American publishing and its links with the struggle for Mexican independence. At the center of the story was Mathew Carey, who as a young irishman escaped British authority by going to France, where he met Lafayette and subsequently with a loan from the marquis traveled to America where he established a publishing house that spuriously produced books that were smuggled to Mexico.

The Batson Doctrine: The Supreme Court's Utter Failure To Meet The Challenge Of Discrimination In Jury Selection, Leonard Cavise

Leonard Cavise

No abstract provided.