title: Exploring the Nature and Function of Religious Beliefs in Psychosis: A Case Study Approach

authors: Lenny, Megan

subjects: Psychosis

abstract: This study investigated the potential developmental, maintaining, or protective role of religious beliefs in the presentation of psychotic symptoms. It examined the ways in which individuals with psychosis might use religion to interpret and apply meaning to their experiences. The research was based upon the constructivist paradigm which attempted to understand individual perceptions of reality. A qualitative approach was used such that five male participants took part in individual semi-structured interviews on two separate occasions. These participants explored with the researcher their understanding of religious experience, psychotic experience, and the interactions between the two. A thematic analysis approach was used to analyze and organize the data, while a case study approach was used to present the stories of participants. Similarities across participants were grouped together to form themes, and these provided the basis for discussion.
Key factors identified by participants as important in terms of conceptualizing religious experiences included developmental pathways, elements of faith, and meaning of faith. Similarly, factors important in the conceptualization of psychotic experiences included causative attributions, features of experience, and outcomes of experience. The associations between religion and schizophrenia were categorized into three general themes, which included religion in the content of symptoms, religion as a meaning system, and religion as a coping strategy. Together it was concluded hat religion generally functioned as a constructive framework when used to understand experiences of psychosis. Overall, findings suggest that religion can certainly act as a protective factor and increase resistance to distress typically associated with unexplainable experiences, such as the positive symptoms of psychosis.

text: Exploring the Nature and Function of Religious Beliefs in Psychosis: A Case Study Approach This study investigated the potential developmental, maintaining, or protective role of religious beliefs in the presentation of psychotic symptoms. It examined the ways in which individuals with psychosis might use religion to interpret and apply meaning to their experiences. The research was based upon the constructivist paradigm which attempted to understand individual perceptions of reality. A qualitative approach was used such that five male participants took part in individual semi-structured interviews on two separate occasions. These participants explored with the researcher their understanding of religious experience, psychotic experience, and the interactions between the two. A thematic analysis approach was used to analyze and organize the data, while a case study approach was used to present the stories of participants. Similarities across participants were grouped together to form themes, and these provided the basis for discussion.
Key factors identified by participants as important in terms of conceptualizing religious experiences included developmental pathways, elements of faith, and meaning of faith. Similarly, factors important in the conceptualization of psychotic experiences included causative attributions, features of experience, and outcomes of experience. The associations between religion and schizophrenia were categorized into three general themes, which included religion in the content of symptoms, religion as a meaning system, and religion as a coping strategy. Together it was concluded hat religion generally functioned as a constructive framework when used to understand experiences of psychosis. Overall, findings suggest that religion can certainly act as a protective factor and increase resistance to distress typically associated with unexplainable experiences, such as the positive symptoms of psychosis.

year: 2010

title: Identifying transition temperatures in bloodmeal-based thermoplastics using material pocket DMTA

authors: Bier, James Michael

subjects: Bioplastics

abstract: Bloodmeal can be used to manufacture thermoplastics, but requires water, urea, sodium sulphite, and sodium dodecyl sulphate to modify chain mobility. Transition temperatures of bloodmeal, modified bloodmeal, and processed bloodmeal-based thermoplastics were compared using material pocket dynamic mechanical thermal analysis. The glass transition temperature (T ɡ) of bloodmeal dropped from 493 to 263 K using only water as a plasticizer but was restored when freeze dried. Modifying bloodmeal lowered T ɡ to 193 K. This was raised by drying, but not to that of unmodified bloodmeal indicating a permanent change. Three additional transitions were identified above T ɡ, for modified bloodmeal between 300 and 480 K. These were thought to be transitions of dehydrated bulk amorphous regions, amorphous regions between crystallites and chains segments in crystallites and were also seen at lower temperatures when replacing some water with tri-ethylene glycol (TEG). Material pockets increased resolution in processed samples. One broad T ɡ was observed in consolidated bars, at 335 or 350 K with or without TEG. In material pockets, these resolved into three transitions, similar to those observed before processing. Changes in relative magnitudes suggested some chain rearrangement leading to more bulk amorphous regions. Differences were detected between onset of drop in storage modulus and peaks in loss modulus and tan δ in pockets or bars, but generally led to the same conclusions. For bar samples, it was helpful to compare natural and log modulus scales. Good practice would use all these techniques in parallel to correctly identify relaxation temperatures.

text: Identifying transition temperatures in bloodmeal-based thermoplastics using material pocket DMTA Bloodmeal can be used to manufacture thermoplastics, but requires water, urea, sodium sulphite, and sodium dodecyl sulphate to modify chain mobility. Transition temperatures of bloodmeal, modified bloodmeal, and processed bloodmeal-based thermoplastics were compared using material pocket dynamic mechanical thermal analysis. The glass transition temperature (T ɡ) of bloodmeal dropped from 493 to 263 K using only water as a plasticizer but was restored when freeze dried. Modifying bloodmeal lowered T ɡ to 193 K. This was raised by drying, but not to that of unmodified bloodmeal indicating a permanent change. Three additional transitions were identified above T ɡ, for modified bloodmeal between 300 and 480 K. These were thought to be transitions of dehydrated bulk amorphous regions, amorphous regions between crystallites and chains segments in crystallites and were also seen at lower temperatures when replacing some water with tri-ethylene glycol (TEG). Material pockets increased resolution in processed samples. One broad T ɡ was observed in consolidated bars, at 335 or 350 K with or without TEG. In material pockets, these resolved into three transitions, similar to those observed before processing. Changes in relative magnitudes suggested some chain rearrangement leading to more bulk amorphous regions. Differences were detected between onset of drop in storage modulus and peaks in loss modulus and tan δ in pockets or bars, but generally led to the same conclusions. For bar samples, it was helpful to compare natural and log modulus scales. Good practice would use all these techniques in parallel to correctly identify relaxation temperatures.

year: 2012

title: Insecure, unpredictable, hoping to survive: Four cases of Māori people living precariously in Hamilton, Aotearoa New Zealand

authors: Uerata, Lynley Moana

subjects: Māori

abstract: A conceptualisation of precarity is introduced and adopted. A critique of contemporary conceptualisations of precarity is presented, drawing especially on Stuart Hall’s interpretation of articulation and Marx’s concept of relative surplus population. Much of the literature on precarity focusses on the neoliberal mode of contemporary capitalism originating in the late 1970s. However, there is limited literature which explores precarity as a way of life. A precarious way of life is characterised by interacting forms of precarity which embed insecurity, instability, and unpredictability in the everyday lives of real people. An account of the Māori experience of precarity since the pre-colonial era to the present-day is presented. Māori are the indigenous people of Aotearoa New Zealand who were colonised by the British Empire in the 1800s. 
The main research questions addressed in my thesis are: What forms of precarity are present in the everyday context? How do forms of precarity relate to each other? How do forms of precarity relate to being Māori? What kinds of support do those living with precarity gain from social structures, institutions, and social actors? What is the role of culture in the way Māori experience and mediate precarity? An analysis of semi-structured in-depth engagements with Māori people living precariously in Hamilton, Aotearoa New Zealand in 2016, based on four case studies, shows the character and significance of forms, sources, and effects of precarity in everyday life. As historical processes continue to overdetermine experiences of social structures and institutions in the present, in a contemporary capitalist context precarity arises from a wide range of interacting sources, forms, and effects of precarity. Among the different kinds of actors and organisations which comprise the support systems constructed to mediate precarity in the everyday context, cultural practices and resources can play a significant role for people who are culturally connected. When people are integrated into their local and cultural communities, they can cope better with a precarious way of life.

text: Insecure, unpredictable, hoping to survive: Four cases of Māori people living precariously in Hamilton, Aotearoa New Zealand A conceptualisation of precarity is introduced and adopted. A critique of contemporary conceptualisations of precarity is presented, drawing especially on Stuart Hall’s interpretation of articulation and Marx’s concept of relative surplus population. Much of the literature on precarity focusses on the neoliberal mode of contemporary capitalism originating in the late 1970s. However, there is limited literature which explores precarity as a way of life. A precarious way of life is characterised by interacting forms of precarity which embed insecurity, instability, and unpredictability in the everyday lives of real people. An account of the Māori experience of precarity since the pre-colonial era to the present-day is presented. Māori are the indigenous people of Aotearoa New Zealand who were colonised by the British Empire in the 1800s. 
The main research questions addressed in my thesis are: What forms of precarity are present in the everyday context? How do forms of precarity relate to each other? How do forms of precarity relate to being Māori? What kinds of support do those living with precarity gain from social structures, institutions, and social actors? What is the role of culture in the way Māori experience and mediate precarity? An analysis of semi-structured in-depth engagements with Māori people living precariously in Hamilton, Aotearoa New Zealand in 2016, based on four case studies, shows the character and significance of forms, sources, and effects of precarity in everyday life. As historical processes continue to overdetermine experiences of social structures and institutions in the present, in a contemporary capitalist context precarity arises from a wide range of interacting sources, forms, and effects of precarity. Among the different kinds of actors and organisations which comprise the support systems constructed to mediate precarity in the everyday context, cultural practices and resources can play a significant role for people who are culturally connected. When people are integrated into their local and cultural communities, they can cope better with a precarious way of life.

year: 2021