Does self-control improve with practice? Evidence from a 6-week training program

Can self-control be improved through practice? Several studies have found that repeated practice of tasks involving self-control improves performance on other tasks relevant to self-control. However, in many of these studies, improvements after training could be attributable to methodological factors (e.g., passive control conditions). Moreover, the extent to which the effects of training transfer to real-life settings is not yet clear. In the present research, participants (N = 174) completed a 6-week training program of either cognitive or behavioral self-control tasks. We then tested the effects of practice on a range of measures of self-control, including lab-based and real-world tasks. Training was compared to both active and no-contact control conditions. Despite high levels of adherence to the training tasks, there was no effect of training on any measure of self-control. Trained participants did not, for example, show reduced ego depletion effects, become better at overcoming their habits, or report exerting more self-control in everyday life. Moderation analyses found no evidence that training was effective only among particular groups of participants. Bayesian analyses suggested that the data was more consistent with a null effect of training on self-control than with previous estimates of the effect of practice. The implication is that training self-control through repeated practice does not result in generalized improvements in self-control

The Iowa Homemaker vol.30, no.3

The Case for Chemistry, Dr. Ercel S. Eppright, page 3 Better Breakfast, Lois Longfellow, page 4 Dear Freshman, Jane Steele, page 6 Sweater Studies, Margaret Schaeffer, page 7 What’s New, Nancy Voss, page 8 Services for Iowa Homemakers, Floramae Gates, page 10 Here’s An Idea, Carol Dee Legg, page 12 General Home Economics, Harriet LaRue, page 19 Future School Marms, Alane Baird, page 2

The Iowa Homemaker vol.30, no.6

Your Blind Date, Harriet LaRue, page 3 Chart Your Course in Activities, Alane Baird, page 4 Modern Kitchen Magic, Beverly Gould, page 5 Land of Little Water, Nancy Voss, page 6 Summer Job, Marjorie Miller, page 7 What’s New, Jane Ann Steele, page 8 Brown ‘n Serve, Marjorie Miller, page 10 Here’s An Idea, Carol Dee Legg, page 12 Alums in the News, Jane Novak, page 14 Trends, Nancy Butler, page 1

The Iowa Homemaker vol.31, no.5

It’s Christmas, Nancy Voss, page 5 Christmas Presents for Iowa State, Mary Kay Pitzer and Jane Ann Steele, page 6 Holiday Homework, Jean McGhie, page 8 Avoid Job Rush, Alane Baird, page 9 The Story of the Ghent Altarpiece, Barbara Short, page 10 Toe Stuffers for Mom’s Stocking, Barbara Beck, page 12 What’s New, Constance Cornwell and Harriet LaRue, page 13 Christmas Coconut Snowballs, page 15 She Cooks in a Big Way, Ruth Anderson, page 16 Christmas Dessert, page 19 Trends, Anne Dallager, page 2

The Iowa Homemaker vol.31, no.2

Healthier Children, Marjorie Miller, page 3 Your Phone Is Rining, Alane Baird, page 4 Dinnertime, Joyce Graber, page 5 Keep Cool, Doris Jean Coxon, page 6 Summer Work Calendar, Nancy Voss, page 7 Here’s an Idea, Darleen Bornschein, Jean McGhie, page 8 Scientific Suds, Beverly Gould, page 10 Eggs With a Soapy Taste, Miriam Newhouse, page 12 What’s New, Constance Cornwell, Harriet LaRue, page 14 Trends, Ruth Anderson, page 1

The Iowa Homemaker vol.30, no.8

Seniors Say, Harriet LaRue, page 3 Congratulations from the 1921 Staff, page 4 1921-1951, Mrs. Fred Ferguson, Mrs. Frank Kerekes, Mrs. Eloise Hauser, page 5 College Decision, Anne Ekdahl, page 6 Words From a Waiter, Alane Baird, page 7 9 Previews of Home Economics, Barbara Short, page 8 Godey’s Lady’s Book, Patricia Binder, page 11 Here’s An Idea, Carol Dee Legg, page 14 What’s New, Nancy Voss, page 16 Alums in the News, Jane Novak, page 18 Information, Please, Doris Cook, page 20 Trends, Nancy Butler, page 2

Early life vitamin D depletion alters the postnatal response to skeletal loading in growing and mature bone

There is increasing evidence of persistent effects of early life vitamin D exposure on later skeletal health; linking low levels in early life to smaller bone size in childhood as well as increased fracture risk later in adulthood, independently of later vitamin D status. A major determinant of bone mass acquisition across all ages is mechanical loading. We tested the hypothesis in an animal model system that early life vitamin D depletion results in abrogation of the response to mechanical loading, with consequent reduction in bone size, mass and strength during both childhood and adulthood. A murine model was created in which pregnant dams were either vitamin D deficient or replete, and their offspring moved to a vitamin D replete diet at weaning. Tibias of the offspring were mechanically loaded and bone structure, extrinsic strength and growth measured both during growth and after skeletal maturity. Offspring of vitamin D deplete mice demonstrated lower bone mass in the non loaded limb and reduced bone mass accrual in response to loading in both the growing skeleton and after skeletal maturity. Early life vitamin D depletion led to reduced bone strength and altered bone biomechanical properties. These findings suggest early life vitamin D status may, in part, determine the propensity to osteoporosis and fracture that blights later life in many individuals

International genome-wide meta-analysis identifies new primary biliary cirrhosis risk loci and targetable pathogenic pathways.

Primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC) is a classical autoimmune liver disease for which effective immunomodulatory therapy is lacking. Here we perform meta-analyses of discovery data sets from genome-wide association studies of European subjects (n=2,764 cases and 10,475 controls) followed by validation genotyping in an independent cohort (n=3,716 cases and 4,261 controls). We discover and validate six previously unknown risk loci for PBC (Pcombined<5 × 10(-8)) and used pathway analysis to identify JAK-STAT/IL12/IL27 signalling and cytokine-cytokine pathways, for which relevant therapies exist