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The Best Of The News-Letter

Insights: The Newsletter of the Neal A. Maxwell Institute for Religious Scholarship

The most informative articles that have appeared in the F.A.R.M.S. Newsletters during the past seven years have been organized into two convenient reports . They include concise summaries of each new report, update, publication, or project sponsored by the Foundation.

Chiasmus In Mesoamerican Texts

Insights: The Newsletter of the Neal A. Maxwell Institute for Religious Scholarship

The growing literature on chiasmus generally deals with its use in the Near East and Mediterranean areas. Some Book of Mormon students have wondered if the same form might appear in the New World, but until now the labor required to even begin answering that question had not been done.

Parallelism In The Book Of Mormon

Insights: The Newsletter of the Neal A. Maxwell Institute for Religious Scholarship

Parallelism is a fundamental feature of biblical Hebrew composition, appearing In many different varieties and contexts. Don Parry has recently completed an Impressive research effort, identifying and classifying many poetic parallel passages in the Book of Mormon.

Spotlight On Janet Twigg

Insights: The Newsletter of the Neal A. Maxwell Institute for Religious Scholarship

The Foundation Is pleased to recognize our devoted employees and volunteers. At this time, congratulations are in order for our office manager, Janet Twigg.

1988 Contributions Now Payable

Insights: The Newsletter of the Neal A. Maxwell Institute for Religious Scholarship

In 1988, as in the past, all who donate $10.00 or more ($5.00 for low-income families and students) will receive the Foundation's quarterly newsletter Insights. If you want to keep your name on the mailing list, now is a good time to make your tax-deductible contribution. To indicate your renewal, complete the attached order form and send it with your contribution to the F.A.R.M.S. office.

Hebrew And Uto-Aztecan Languages Compared

Insights: The Newsletter of the Neal A. Maxwell Institute for Religious Scholarship

Three years ago Brian Stubbs, then a doctoral candidate In linguistics at the University of Utah, received a grant from F.A.R.M.S. to find out if elements of Hebrew could be detected among native tongues of the Uto-Aztecan family of western North America. He has now prepared a technical report summarizing his extensive research.

First Annual Book Of Mormon Lecture

Insights: The Newsletter of the Neal A. Maxwell Institute for Religious Scholarship

On March 2, 1988, Richard L. Anderson will deliver the First Annual Book of Mormon Lecture sponsored by the Foundation. The title of his lecture is "Religious Validity: The Sacramental Covenants in 3 Nephi."

Enlarged Edition Of Lehi In The Desert

Insights: The Newsletter of the Neal A. Maxwell Institute for Religious Scholarship

The new expanded edition of Lehi in the Desert is an essential starting place for understanding the many things Hugh Nibley has contributed over the past four decades to Book of Mormon scholarship. This classic material broke ground in previously unexplored areas, which proved enormously fruitful. This vigorous and insightful research into the cultural and spiritual roots of Lehi and the Jaredites has never been equalled or exhausted.

Full Issue

Insights: The Newsletter of the Neal A. Maxwell Institute for Religious Scholarship

No abstract provided.

Report From The Advisory Board

Insights: The Newsletter of the Neal A. Maxwell Institute for Religious Scholarship

In the last six months, the Board of Advisors (see the names listed at the bottom of the first page of this issue of Insights) has been reorganized and has now assumed several new roles in F.A.R.M.5. planning and operation. Three committees have been formed, concerned respectively with research, evaluation, and production.

Our Staff Expands

Insights: The Newsletter of the Neal A. Maxwell Institute for Religious Scholarship

F.A.R.M.S. extends a warm welcome to new members of our staff. Brenda Kay Miles, an anthropology student at Brigham Young University, performs superbly as our new fulltime secretary. Originally from Albuquerque, New Mexico, she has spent most of her life in Utah and presently resides in Provo with her husband. Another indispensable new member is Richard Olsen, a Salt Lake native and art teacher by profession, who has replaced Greg McMurdie in shipping and inventory. Last year Richard volunteered his time and talents in doing the graphic artwork for the 24-page 1986-87 F.A.R.M.S. Catalog {copies of which may still be …

Farms Spotlighted

Insights: The Newsletter of the Neal A. Maxwell Institute for Religious Scholarship

Two articles published recently in separate issues of This People magazine feature two men central to F.A.R.M.S.' success as a scholarly research foundation. The first, "Taking the Stand," by James Bel l, focuses on John W. Welch, the organization 's creator and president. The article reveals how Welch first encountered studies of chiasmus in the New Testament and then discovered the same literary form in the Book of Mormon, both while serving a mission in Germany twenty years ago. It goes on to tell how F.A.R .M.S. originated.

Book Of Mormon Critical Text Completed

Insights: The Newsletter of the Neal A. Maxwell Institute for Religious Scholarship

The third and final volume of the 1200-page Book of Mormon Critical Text has now been completed. Four years in preparation, this monumental project is a significant milestone in Book of Mormon scholarship. The Critical Text is a tool for scholarly reference-not for casual reading. It shows the textual variants that exist among the manuscripts and the major English editions of the Book of Mormon, including the present-day text. In addition, numerous parallel references to Biblical phraseology and concepts are provided in the footnotes, along with philological notes and references to Judaic expressions.

Chiasmus In Helaman 6:7-13

Insights: The Newsletter of the Neal A. Maxwell Institute for Religious Scholarship

Now available is John W. Welch's recent report on the discovery of a particularly fine example of chiasmus in the Book of Mormon. Welch comments, "This text seems to be among the clearest examples of chiasm in the Book of Mormon." This chiasm, found in Helaman 6:7-13, is the full report for the 64th Year of the Reign of the Judges, a year in which great change occurred among the Nephite and Lamanite peoples. During that yea r, both Nephites and Lamanites enjoyed an extraordinary peace, prosperity, and freedom of travel uncommon at any other time before in Nephite history. …

Expanded Reports Now Available

Insights: The Newsletter of the Neal A. Maxwell Institute for Religious Scholarship

Four reports previously made available through the foundation have recently been upgraded, each in the following way.

Mormon Concept Of Scripture Discussed

Insights: The Newsletter of the Neal A. Maxwell Institute for Religious Scholarship

The Mormon concept of scripture was one of the main topics discussed at the consultation session on the study of the Latter-day Saints held at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Religion and the Society of Biblical Literature in Atlanta last November. Two of the papers read at that time are now available on the attached order form.

"Time Vindicates The Prophet"

Insights: The Newsletter of the Neal A. Maxwell Institute for Religious Scholarship

Are Mormons Christians? This fundamental question is deeply probed and precisely answered in Volume 3 of the Collected Works of Hugh Nibley, The World and the Prophets. As Professor R. Douglas Phillips writes, the re-publication of this classic work, now available through F.A.R.M.S., "can only be most welcome."

Meeting Minutes, Wku Staff Council

Staff Council

Minutes of December 2023 meeting.

Construing Children’S Perceptions Of Ideal Learning Spaces: Home Vs. School, Rawan Natheer Abdel Rahman

Thesis/ Dissertation Defenses

Learning is an intrinsic aspect of human experience, predominantly shaped by interactions within the socio-physical environment, including engagements with educators, peers, and the built surroundings. The design and character of these learning spaces influence children's cognitive, perceptual, and motor development while also embodying different pedagogical philosophies. Therefore, designing these spaces to align with educational shifts and enhance learning experiences requires a deep understanding of learner’s needs and perceptions. With the COVID-19 pandemic necessitating a shift to home-learning, there arose a unique opportunity to explore children’s perception of ideal learning spaces as they experienced both home and school settings. [Aims:] This …

Costs Associated With Voluntary Speed Reduction Requests In Central California Marine Sanctuaries To Protect Endangered Whales, K. Eric Wolfe, Ian A. Mathis

Journal of Ocean and Coastal Economics

International trade is vital to the U.S. economy. As waterborne traffic accounts for about 40 percent of all international cargo value and 70 percent of international tonnage, regulatory changes involving waterborne transportation may significantly impact the United States (US) economy on both local and national levels. A Voluntary Speed Reduction (VSR) program reduces vessel speeds off the central coast of California for vessels 300 gross tons and larger from May 1^st to November 15^th to protect whales and other marine mammals. This study investigates the magnitude of changes in vessel costs associated with VSR requests.

This analysis contributes …

A Review On Ship Recycling Industry In Bangladesh From Global Perspective, Ahammad Abdullah, Zobair Ibn Awal, M Ziauddin Alamgir, Md. Jobayer Mia, Farihatul Mim, Utpal K. Dhar

Journal of Ocean and Coastal Economics

At present, the global center of the ship breaking and recycling industry is in South Asia, specifically Bangladesh, India, and Pakistan. These three countries account for 70–80 percent of the international recycling market for ocean-going vessels, with China and Turkey covering most of the remaining market. Only about 5 percent of global volume is scrapped outside these five countries. Bangladesh has environmentally beneficial coastal region and affordable labor that make the shipbreaking and recycling business as a potential sector for the country. In addition, ship recycling and its related businesses are helping to solve our nation’s unemployment issues at all …

Network Science: Activity Guide Introduction

Worlds of Connections Resources

Welcome to the Worlds of Connections network science activity guides. We are

happy to share our fun, engaging, and hands-on activities and hope you enjoy them. College students, teachers, middle school youth in afterschool programs, learning researchers, artists/designers, psychologists, and sociologists helped create these guides over several years. We suggest that you use them to build community in clubs, classrooms, and camps; develop systems thinking and network science knowledge; plus promote curiosity and opportunities to discover.

Virginia Refugee’S Access To Covid 19 Health Information, Krunal Patel, Sarah R. Blackstone, Fern R. Hauck

Virginia Journal of Public Health

Background: This study examined how refugees in central Virginia, United States were able to access public health information about COVID-19 and any barriers to following COVID-19 prevention guidelines.

Methods: Individual interviews were conducted with refugees (n = 40) attending a family medicine clinic serving refugees and immigrants. Participants answered questions about their primary methods of obtaining COVID-19 and COVID-19 vaccine information, how they prefer to receive this information, information given by employers, precautions taken at their place of work, and current vaccination status.

Results: We found that television and social media played a large role for refugees in obtaining COVID-19 …

Predictors Of Lung Cancer Screening Recommendation In Virginia Using The Community Health Assessment Survey, Aashish Batheja, Carrie Miller, Sunny Jung Kim, Bernard Fuemmeler F., Rajsh Balkrishnan

Virginia Journal of Public Health

Purpose: The purpose of this analysis was to determine the factors that may influence the probability of being recommended a lung cancer screening by a health professional in Virginia.

Methods: Data were obtained from the Community Health Assessment Survey conducted by the University of Virginia (UVA) Health System and Cancer System in collaboration with Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) Cancer Center. SAS software was used to conduct a logistic regression with the following variables: age, sex, race, current smoking status, cancer history, education level, income level, insurance, and rurality.

Results: Statistically significant positive predictors included being a current smoker (OR: 3.504, …

Promoting Community Health Research Partnerships Through A Small Grants Program: Processes And Lessons Learned, Sophie G. Wenzel, Amanda J. Nguyen, Kristin Miller, Leigh Guarinello, Allison Mckell, Kathryn Hosig

Virginia Journal of Public Health

While there are multiple ways to engage communities in health research, one approach is through partnership-based research in which community representatives are involved as intentional partners in the research process, from conceptualization and co-creation to implementation, analysis, interpretation, and dissemination. However, there remain numerous challenges to supporting and sustaining such partnerships.

Since its launch in 2019, the integrated Translational Health Research Institute of Virginia (iTHRIV) has sought to foster community engaged health research among its four research/clinical institutions through a community partnership-based grant program. Over five funding cycles, iTHRIV has awarded 14 one-year research grants addressing topics such as opioid …

Empowering Community Health Workers In Guatemala, Oswald M. Attin, Gineska Castillo, Grace Sibert, Andrea Harper

Virginia Journal of Public Health

Introduction:

Community health workers (CHW) have been integral in helping middle- and low-income countries. This research paper discusses the benefits of the involvement of CHWs in health screenings.

Methods:

Health screenings were performed for three rural communities in Guatemala, in 2021, alongside a church in Zacapa, to identify community wide health risks. The screenings included a detailed questionnaire that collected demographic data, height and weight, a blood glucose check, a hemoglobin check, and a blood pressure reading. Additional nutritional data was collected to understand diet patterns and habits. In-depth educational sessions were done with the CHWs, emphasizing preventative care, and …

Detection Of Suicide Clusters Using Small-Area Geographic Data From The Virginia Violent Death Reporting System, 2010 – 2015, Kurtis M. Anthony, Allison Ertl, Rachel A. Leavitt, Alexander E. Crosby, Ryan M. Diduk-Smith, Kevin A. Matthews

Virginia Journal of Public Health

Introduction: From 1999 to 2020, the suicide rate in Virginia increased from 13.1 to 15.9 per 100,000 persons aged 10 years and older. Few studies have examined spatial patterns of suicide geographies smaller than the county level.

Methods: We analyzed data from suicide decedents aged ≥10 years from 2010 through 2015 in the Virginia Violent Death Reporting System. We identified spatial clusters of high suicide rates using spatially adaptive filtering with standardized mortality ratio (SMR) significantly higher than the state SMR (p < 0.001). We compared demographic characteristics, method of injury, and suicide circumstances of decedents within each cluster to decedents outside any cluster.

Results: We identified 13 high-risk suicide clusters (SMR between 1.7 and 2.0). Suicide decedents in the clusters were …

Let Public Health Profesionals Do Their Jobs, Ben Barber

Virginia Journal of Public Health

No abstract provided.

Social Determinants Of Health, Telehealth, And Hiv/Aids: Implications For Public Health Research And Practice In The State Of Virginia, Sonal S. Sathe, Adati Tarfa

Virginia Journal of Public Health

Purpose: The purpose of this commentary is to assert the importance of addressing the social determinants of health to support HIV/AIDS control efforts, to describe the importance of telehealth in HIV/AIDS control, and to recommend courses of action to support HIV/AIDS control efforts within the state of Virginia.

Discussion: We provide an overview of the social determinants of health and their role in HIV/AIDS control, telehealth and its uptake within the HIV/AIDS community, and issues in Virginia facing HIV/AIDS control.

Conclusion and Recommendations: We conclude that addressing social determinants of health, especially stigma, is an important measure of HIV/AIDS control …

Virginia Journal Of Public Health Fall 2023

Virginia Journal of Public Health

No abstract provided.