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Although religious intolerance and marginalization still exist today, research suggests that perhaps one of the most marginalized groups is those who report no religion. Through interviews with 31 nonreligious couples (N = 62 individuals), we investigated what nonreligious parents want religious people to understand about them and their families. Using a team-based approach to qualitative data analysis, we identified three themes related to what our participants wanted religious people to know: (1) we are good people, good parents, and not that different from you; (2) religion does not equate with morality; and (3) do not judge beliefs, actions are what matter. We identified an additional theme regarding how they would like to convey these and other matters to religious people, that we termed as (4) I do/do not want to talk about religion and here is why. Implications include suggestions and recommendations to increase understanding, tolerance, and respect between religious and nonreligious individuals, family members, and groups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective and Background: We used qualitative methodology to explore forgiveness motivations and processes in an ethnically, economically, and geographically diverse sample of 198 highly religious Christian, Muslim, and Jewish families in the United States (N = 480). Prior research has identified several significant relational implications and outcomes of forgiveness. However, there is a need for additional research on forgiveness processes and motivations among highly religious families. Method: Families were interviewed jointly through a semistructured interview protocol. Analysis was conducted using thematic and team‐based coding procedures. Results: Core themes included (a) "Why forgive?": Relational, religious, and spiritual motivations; (b) "What enables state forgiveness?": Relational, religious, and spiritual processes; and (c) The role and development of trait forgiveness (forgivingness). Conclusion: Findings highlight the relational, religious, and spiritual motivations and processes present in forgiveness and the role religious/spiritual beliefs and practices play in those processes. Additionally, findings illustrate participants' value of the virtue of forgivingness and reported religious and relational processes that helped in developing the trait of forgivingness. Implications: We offer several questions that can be used as a starting point for practitioners to work within the worldview of religious clients to empower individuals, couples, and families to forgive. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Capturing and sequencing small RNAs is standard practice; however, identification of a group of these small RNAs-small interfering RNAs (siRNAs)-has been more difficult. We present smalldisco, a command-line tool for small interfering RNA discovery and annotation from small RNA-seq datasets. smalldisco can distinguish short reads that map antisense to an annotated genomic feature (e.g. exons or mRNAs), annotate these siRNAs, and quantify their abundance. smalldisco also uses the program Tailor to quantify 3' nontemplated nucleotides of siRNAs or any small RNA species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the context of the COVID-19 shutdowns, we explored associations between family dinner and family well-being among 731 adult parents in the United States who currently had at least one child residing in their home. The panel survey was administered during the summer of 2020 (June 18 through July 22). Participants were asked to respond to questions about relational processes before the COVID-19 shutdowns, at the height of the shutdowns, and currently (i.e., at the time of data collection). Results suggest that maintaining regular family meals or increasing the frequency of these meals was associated with increased closeness and more positive perceptions of the impact of the pandemic. Participants' qualitative responses to several open-ended questions are used to provide additional insights and nuance to the quantitative findings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Given disruptions to families' routines and processes wrought by the COVID-19 pandemic, this article explores associations between changes in the frequency of spiritual practices and relational well-being during COVID-19. Using a survey of 1,510 adults in the United States administered during the summer of 2020, we employed a mixed methods approach. Significant associations were found between the frequency of engaging in spiritual practices and relational well-being. Specifically, engaging in spiritual practices was associated with increased emotional closeness and a greater likelihood of reporting a positive lasting effect of the pandemic on family relationships. Our findings suggest that some families and individuals may find that engaging in individual or group spiritual practices, including yoga and meditation, mindfulness, and enjoying nature, fostered resilience and growth during the pandemic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We explored associations between changes in the frequency of home-centered religious practices and family relational conflict, emotional closeness, and the perceived long-term impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on relationships. The panel survey of 1,510 adult individuals in the United States, was administered during the summer of 2020. Given our interest in understanding changes in religious practices following the COVID-19 related closures of religious institutions, the panel included an intentional oversampling of religious individuals from diverse religious affiliations. We employed a mixed methods approach (integrated quantitative and qualitative measures). Controlling for a large group of demographic variables (e.g., age, gender, race/ethnicity) and other factors (e.g., religiosity, stage of COVID-19 closures), OLS and logistic regressions found some significant associations between retrospectively reported changes in the frequency of religious practices and emotional closeness and perceived lasting impact of the pandemic on family well-being. Qualitative data from a subsample of survey participants (n = 624) suggested that family prayer, scripture study, shared sacred rituals, and home-based worship helped foster positive family interactions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Describes the Moonsnail Project, which engages middle school students in discovery learning and the process of science by making them collaborators with scientists in the investigation of genuine scientific hypotheses. Reports on the first workshop held in summer 2001 and a scientific conference held in summer 2002 that provided vehicles for the assessment of student learning outcomes. (Author/KHR)

Junior and senior nursing students participated in collaborative learning projects developed using total quality management/continuous quality improvement processes. Seniors mentored and evaluated juniors. Feedback from 37 seniors and 53 juniors was predominantly positive; dissatisfaction centered on time issues and misunderstanding of project goals. (SK)