Prayer and subjective well-being : the application of a cognitive-behavioural framework

The aim of the present study was to examine the relationship between a model of prayer and a measure of subjective well-being within the context of a cognitive-behavioural framework. A community sample of 173 (77 males and 96 females) British adults completed measures of prayer activity and the General Health Questionnaire-28. The present findings suggest that meditative prayer, frequency of prayer, and prayer experience account for unique variance (among other measures of prayer) in a general measure of subjective well-being. The results demonstrate the potential usefulness of a cognitive-behavioural framework to help better understand the relationship between prayer and subjective well-being

Foot pressure distributions during walking in African elephants (Loxodonta africana)

Elephants, the largest living land mammals, have evolved a specialized foot morphology to help reduce locomotor pressures while supporting their large body mass. Peak pressures that could cause tissue damage are mitigated passively by the anatomy of elephants' feet, yet this mechanism does not seem to work well for some captive animals. This study tests how foot pressures vary among African and Asian elephants from habitats where natural substrates predominate but where foot care protocols differ. Variations in pressure patterns might be related to differences in husbandry, including but not limited to trimming and the substrates that elephants typically stand and move on. Both species' samples exhibited the highest concentration of peak pressures on the lateral digits of their feet (which tend to develop more disease in elephants) and lower pressures around the heel. The trajectories of the foot's centre of pressure were also similar, confirming that when walking at similar speeds, both species load their feet laterally at impact and then shift their weight medially throughout the step until toe-off. Overall, we found evidence of variations in foot pressure patterns that might be attributable to husbandry and other causes, deserving further examination using broader, more comparable samples

Experimental Evaluation of Several Key Factors Affecting Root Biomass Estimation by 1500 MHz Ground-Penetrating Radar

Accurate quantification of coarse roots without disturbance represents a gap in our understanding of belowground ecology. Ground penetrating radar (GPR) has shown significant promise for coarse root detection and measurement, however root orientation relative to scanning transect direction, the difficulty identifying dead root mass, and the effects of root shadowing are all key factors affecting biomass estimation that require additional research. Specifically, many aspects of GPR applicability for coarse root measurement have not been tested with a full range of antenna frequencies. We tested the effects of multiple scanning directions, root crossover, and root versus soil moisture content in a sand-hill mixed oak community using a 1500 MHz antenna, which provides higher resolution than the oft used 900 MHz antenna. Combining four scanning directions produced a significant relationship between GPR signal reflectance and coarse root biomass (R2 = 0.75) (p \u3c 0.01) and reduced variability encountered when fewer scanning directions were used. Additionally, significantly fewer roots were correctly identified when their moisture content was allowed to equalize with the surrounding soil (p \u3c 0.01), providing evidence to support assertions that GPR cannot reliably identify dead root mass. The 1500 MHz antenna was able to identify roots in close proximity of each other as well as roots shadowed beneath shallower roots, providing higher precision than a 900 MHz antenna. As expected, using a 1500 MHz antenna eliminates some of the deficiency in precision observed in studies that utilized lower frequency antennas

Developing fibre optic Raman probes for applications in clinical spectroscopy

Raman spectroscopy has been shown by various groups over the last two decades to have significant capability in discriminating disease states in bodily fluids, cells and tissues. Recent development in instrumentation, optics and manufacturing approaches has facilitated the design and demonstration of various novel in vivo probes, which have applicability for myriad of applications. This review focusses on key considerations and recommendations for application specific clinical Raman probe design and construction. Raman probes can be utilised as clinical tools able to provide rapid, non-invasive, real-time molecular analysis of disease specific changes in tissues. Clearly the target tissue location, the significance of spectral changes with disease and the possible access routes to the region of interest will vary for each clinical application considered. This review provides insight into design and construction considerations, including suitable probe designs and manufacturing materials compatible with Raman spectroscopy

THE EVOLUTION OF BEETLE BIOLUMINESCENCE

The research presented in this thesis examines the evolution of bioluminescence in beetles. The study utilises two enzymes implicated in the bioluminescent reaction of fireflies and glow-worms; the protein luciferase and the luciferin regenerating enzyme (LRE). A range of parallagous genes for both enzymes were identified in bioluminescent and non-bioluminescent taxa using degenerate primer PCR. Combined with genomic and database sequences phylogenies were reconstructed using Bayesian and Maximum Likelihood approaches. The LRE share identity with a large family of enzymes including the senescence marker 30 (SMP30), gluconolanctonases and LRE (SGL) which included enzymes involved in ascorbic acid biosynthesis. Orthologous primary sequence comparisons revealed key conserved residues that formed a putative active site when mapped onto the tertiary structure of the bacterial SGL orthologue. As a result a putative active site was predicted for the LRE and key residues identified that may be involved in luciferin binding. The phylogeny revealed two main coleopteran SGL clades with species-specific paralogues present in both clades, which suggests early duplication in the Coleoptera and potential functional divergence of SGL enzymes. The highest degree of divergence was found between a subclade of group I (la) containing all the lampyrid LREs and group II suggesting functional divergence between these two classes of enzymes in the Lampyridae. Phylogenetic reconstruction of luciferase and luciferase like paralogues in the Lampyridae identified one principle luciferase clade containing multiple novel genes from single species and three luciferase-like clades. In T. castaneum six ESTassociated sequences were identified none of which were present in the luciferase clade. Multiple luciferase genes were identified from members of the Photurinae and the Luciolinae. The majority of luciferase residues were identified to be under purifying selection as opposed to positive selection. No luciferase paralogues were found in Cantharis species suggesting a loss of this gene paralogue in nonbioluminescent members of the Cantharoidea. Finally, the potential for paralogues to be present in a genomic tandem array was investigated by genome walking upstream of the luciferase gene in the glow-worm Lampyris noctiluca. Although no luciferase paralogues were identified in 7 kb of upstream region the remnants of a retrotransposase was determined. The evolutionary implications of these findings are discussed in light of recent published research

Applicant Reactions to Selection Procedures: An Updated Model and Meta-Analysis

[Excerpt] An updated theoretical model of applicant reactions to selection procedures is proposed and tested using meta-analysis. Results from 86 independent samples (N = 48,750) indicated that applicants who hold positive perceptions about selection are more likely to view the organization favorably and report stronger intentions to accept job offers and recommend the employer to others. Applicant perceptions were positively correlated with actual and perceived performance on selection tools and with self perceptions. The average correlation between applicant perceptions and gender, age, and ethnic background was near zero. Face validity and perceived predictive validity were strong predictors of many applicant perceptions including procedural justice, distributive justice, attitudes towards tests, and attitudes towards selection. Interviews and work samples were perceived more favorably than cognitive ability tests, which were perceived more favorably than personality inventories, honesty tests, biodata, and graphology. The discussion identifies remaining theoretical and methodological issues as well as directions for future research

Sequence and organization of the complete mitochondrial genome of the blackfly Simulium variegatum (Diptera: Simuliidae)

The complete mitochondrial genome of the European blackfly, Simulium variegatum Meigen, 1818 was sequenced using a combined Illumina and Sanger sequencing approach. Using the known sequence of Chironomus tepperi Skuse, 1889 (Chironomidae) homologous NGS reads were identified and assembled. The genome is 15,367 bp in length and includes 13 protein-coding genes, 2 ribosomal RNA genes, 22 transfer RNA genes and a control region. Gene order resembles that of the ancestral dipteran gene arrangement. The base composition of the genome is A (37.6%), T (35.3%), C (15.8%) and G (11.3%). The control region between 12S rRNA and tRNAIle is composed of 362 bp with no obvious repetitive motifs

Deciphering the factors that influence participation in studies requiring serial lumbar punctures

Introduction: Cerebrospinal fluid biomarkers increasingly inform the causes of dementia and may provide objective markers of disease progression. There is a need to decipher participant and procedural factors that promote participation in studies incorporating longitudinal biomarker measures. Methods: Participant and procedural factors associated with participation in longitudinal biomarker studies were determined in individuals enrolled in studies of memory and aging at the Knight Alzheimer Disease Research Center (Saint Louis, MO, USA). Results: Complications were encountered following 331 of 1484 lumbar punctures (22.3%; LPs), affecting 280 of 929 participants (30.1%); in \u3e95% complications were minor. Three hundred fifteen of 679 eligible participants (46.4%) completed multiple LPs. Younger age (odds ratio [OR] 2.08 per decade [95% confidence interval (CI) 1.61-2.94]), normal cognition (OR 21.4 [2.85-160.1]), and the absence of heart disease (OR 2.0 [1.01-3.85]) or seizures at study entry identified participants with increased odds of completing three or more LPs. Discussion: Factors influencing participation may be leveraged to improve recruitment and retention within observational and therapeutic studies requiring serial LPs