A Prospective Investigation of the Role of Mindfulness and Self-Compassion in Weight Loss and Weight Loss Maintenance in Adults with Obesity

Understanding the psychological factors implicated in weight loss and weight loss maintenance is integral to the development of effective weight loss treatment approaches. Emerging evidence suggests that the psychological constructs of mindfulness and self-compassion may play a role in weight loss outcomes, though limitations of previous research prevent definitive conclusions. As such, the current study aimed to investigate the association between both mindfulness and self-compassion, and weight loss. The participants were 201 adults with obesity who participated in a cognitive behavioural weight loss program and were assessed on their levels of, and changes in, mindfulness and self-compassion across the treatment and follow-up phases. Results revealed that neither baseline levels nor changes in self-compassion (measured using the Self-Compassion Scale Short Form) significantly predicted weight loss. There was some, albeit limited, evidence that mindfulness predicted weight change using the Kentucky Inventory of Mindfulness Skills, which measures four components of mindfulness (Acting with Awareness, Accepting without Judgement, Observing, and Describing). Specifically, higher baseline levels of Accepting without Judgement was a significant predictor of weight loss at post-treatment, yet increases on the same scale across the course of treatment predicted weight gain at post-treatment. Moreover, higher levels of Acting with Awareness at post-treatment approached significance in predicting weight loss at follow-up. Overall, the findings provide somewhat limited support for the role of mindfulness in weight loss and weight loss maintenance, and no support for self-compassion. The results have potential implications for the assessment of these constructs in the obesity context and their role in obesity interventions

What Do Veterans with Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Experience in Receiving Care in Appalachia

This qualitative research study explores what veterans living in the Appalachian region experience in receiving care for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder through personal interviews. These interviews will give insight into how veterans in Appalachia perceive their care through specific questions pertaining to healthcare for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder. A convenient sample of veterans attending the specific study site was used for this study. An email, which contained information about the background and nature of the study was used for participant recruitment of veterans. In addition, flyers with the same information were posted throughout the study site. This study will highlight specific details of veterans’ care for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder that will help to accumulate information on the care given to veterans in Appalachia. The Appalachian region is described by the Appalachian Regional Commission as a 205,000 square mile region that follows the spine of the Appalachian Mountains from southern New York to northern Mississippi (The Appalachian region- Appalachian Regional Commission, n.d.)

EXPLORING THE IMPACT OF THE ACHIEVEMENT GAP ON SHAME AND RESILIENCE IN AFRICAN AMERICAN COLLEGE STUDENTS

The achievement gap refers to the stark difference that occurs between racial or gender groups, as one group performs significantly higher than the other. An achievement gap has the propensity to produce psychological distress, as well as buffering techniques that are necessary for survival and success. Growing research shows that African American college students experience unique levels of trauma, shame, hardship, macro, and micro-aggressions, suggesting that these students learn to self-preserve as early as 10 years old. This study used a Pearson correlation, Independent T-Test, and a Moderated Multiple Regression to explore the impact of the achievement gap on shame and resilience in African American college students. There was a total of 274 participants in this study. Results indicated that as students achieve more, they are more likely to experience higher shame levels. Secondly, the results suggested that there was not a significant difference between the amount of shame that African American and White college students experienced. Lastly, the results indicated that resilience does not lessen the amount of shame that an African American college student experienced. However, the researcher discussed the many reasons why the results of this study pointed in this direction

Comment in Response to Proposed Rulemaking: Inadmissibility on Public Charge Grounds

The proposed rule on “Inadmissibility on Public Charge Grounds” would cause irreparable harm to communities across the United States, and immigrants and their families, in particular. The proposed change contravenes globally accepted human rights norms, which aim to ensure an adequate standard of living and prohibit discrimination, including specific human rights obligations and commitments of the United States. As legal organizations devoted to ensuring justice and human rights accountability in the United States, we submit this joint comment in opposition to the proposed rule, which threatens to destabilize communities, and undermine public health and safety by penalizing individuals who seek to enroll in programs that promote adequate health, housing, and food on an equal basis

Balancing Independence and Accountability: Proposals to Reform Special Counsel Investigations

Investigations of the president and other high-ranking officials must be free from political interference yet cannot devolve into “runaway” inquiries. This report recommends reforms to the rules for every stage of special counsel investigations. Among the proposals is a requirement that federal judges oversee the attorney general’s appointment and removal of special counsels. Additionally, a special counsel should be mandatory when the president is suspected of a crime and reports on investigations should go directly to Congress

UNG Tuba-Euphonium Quartet

The UNG Tuba-Euphonium Quartet would like to present a performance at the Georgia Undergraduate Research Conference at the University of North Georgia\u27s Gainesville campus, November 2-3, 2018. The Quartet consists of two tubas and two euphoniums. In addition to tubas and euphoniums, we often incorporate percussion into our performances. The UNG Tuba-Euphonium Quartet consists of the top two euphonium players and the top two tuba players from Dr. Adam Freys studio. The quartet plays a wide variety of music, ranging from classical transcriptions, to original compositions for Tuba-Euphonium quartet, and even jazz. Members of the quartet often create their own arrangements/compositions which we perform as well. The quartet has performed at a numerous event around the University, such as \u27OctubaFest\u27, \u27Spring Euphoria\u27, and the Dahlonega campuses instrumental honors recital. In addition to these performances, the UNG Tuba-Euphonium Quartet regularly performs at local churches and last January, the quartet performed at the Georgia Music Educator in Service Conference in Athens, Georgia. The quartet will be competing in the quartet competition of the International Tuba-Euphonium Conference (ITEC) at the University of Iowa this upcoming May

Senior Recital: Brittany Thayer, violin

This recital is presented in partial fulfillment of requirements for the degree Bachelor of Music in Performance. Ms. Thayer studies violin with Helen Kim.https://digitalcommons.kennesaw.edu/musicprograms/1241/thumbnail.jp

Anthropomorphic Simulations of Falls, Shakes, and Inflicted Impacts in Infants

Object: Rotational loading conditions have been shown to produce subdural hemorrhage and diffuse axonal injury. No experimental data are available with which to compare the rotational response of the head of an infant during accidental and inflicted head injuries. The authors sought to compare rotational deceleration sustained by the head among free falls, from different heights onto different surfaces, with those sustained during shaking and inflicted impact. Methods: An anthropomorphic surrogate of a 1.5-month-old human infant was constructed and used to simulate falls from 0.3 m (1 ft), 0.9 m (3 ft), and 1.5 m (5 ft), as well as vigorous shaking and inflicted head impact. During falls, the surrogate experienced occipital contact against a concrete surface, carpet pad, or foam mattress. For shakes, investigators repeatedly shook the surrogate in an anteroposterior plane; inflicted impact was defined as the terminal portion of a vigorous shake, in which the surrogate’s occiput made contact with a rigid or padded surface. Rotational velocity was recorded directly and the maximum (peak–peak) change in angular velocity ( max) and the peak angular acceleration ( max) were calculated. Analysis of variance revealed significant increases in the max and max associated with falls onto harder surfaces and from higher heights. During inflicted impacts against rigid surfaces, the max and max were significantly greater than those measured under all other conditions. Conclusions: Vigorous shakes of this infant model produced rotational responses similar to those resulting from minor falls, but inflicted impacts produced responses that were significantly higher than even a 1.5-m fall onto concrete. Because larger accelerations are associated with an increasing likelihood of injury, the findings indicate that inflicted impacts against hard surfaces are more likely to be associated with inertial brain injuries than falls from a height less than 1.5 m or from shaking

Evaluations of Structural Interventions for HIV Prevention: A Review of Approaches and Methods

Structural interventions alter the social, economic, legal, political, and built environments that underlie processes affecting population health. We conducted a systematic review of evaluations of structural interventions for HIV prevention in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) to better understand methodological and other challenges and identify effective evaluation strategies. We included 27 peer-reviewed articles on interventions related to economic empowerment, education, and substance abuse in LMICs. Twenty-one evaluations included clearly articulated theories of change (TOCs); 14 of these assessed the TOC by measuring intermediary variables in the causal pathway between the intervention and HIV outcomes. Although structural interventions address complex interactions, no evaluation included methods designed to evaluate complex systems. To strengthen evaluations of structural interventions, we recommend clearly articulating a TOC and measuring intermediate variables between the predictor and outcome. We additionally recommend adapting study designs and analytic methods outside traditional epidemiology to better capture complex results, influences external to the intervention, and unintended consequences