A many-analysts approach to the relation between religiosity and well-being

The relation between religiosity and well-being is one of the most researched topics in the psychology of religion, yet the directionality and robustness of the effect remains debated. Here, we adopted a many-analysts approach to assess the robustness of this relation based on a new cross-cultural dataset (N=10,535 participants from 24 countries). We recruited 120 analysis teams to investigate (1) whether religious people self-report higher well-being, and (2) whether the relation between religiosity and self-reported well-being depends on perceived cultural norms of religion (i.e., whether it is considered normal and desirable to be religious in a given country). In a two-stage procedure, the teams first created an analysis plan and then executed their planned analysis on the data. For the first research question, all but 3 teams reported positive effect sizes with credible/confidence intervals excluding zero (median reported β=0.120). For the second research question, this was the case for 65% of the teams (median reported β=0.039). While most teams applied (multilevel) linear regression models, there was considerable variability in the choice of items used to construct the independent variables, the dependent variable, and the included covariates

A Many-analysts Approach to the Relation Between Religiosity and Well-being

The relation between religiosity and well-being is one of the most researched topics in the psychology of religion, yet the directionality and robustness of the effect remains debated. Here, we adopted a many-analysts approach to assess the robustness of this relation based on a new cross-cultural dataset (N = 10, 535 participants from 24 countries). We recruited 120 analysis teams to investigate (1) whether religious people self-report higher well-being, and (2) whether the relation between religiosity and self-reported well-being depends on perceived cultural norms of religion (i.e., whether it is considered normal and desirable to be religious in a given country). In a two-stage procedure, the teams first created an analysis plan and then executed their planned analysis on the data. For the first research question, all but 3 teams reported positive effect sizes with credible/confidence intervals excluding zero (median reported β = 0.120). For the second research question, this was the case for 65% of the teams (median reported β = 0.039). While most teams applied (multilevel) linear regression models, there was considerable variability in the choice of items used to construct the independent variables, the dependent variable, and the included covariates

Advances in tissue engineering through stem cell-based co-culture

Stem cells are the future in tissue engineering and regeneration. In a co-culture, stem cells not only provide a target cell source with multipotent differentiation capacity, but can also act as assisting cells that promote tissue homeostasis, metabolism, growth and repair. Their incorporation into co-culture systems seems to be important in the creation of complex tissues or organs. In this review, critical aspects of stem cell use in co-culture systems are discussed. Direct and indirect co-culture methodologies used in tissue engineering are described, along with various characteristics of cellular interactions in these systems. Direct cell–cell contact, cell–extracellular matrix interaction and signalling via soluble factors are presented. The advantages of stem cell co-culture strategies and their applications in tissue engineering and regenerative medicine are portrayed through specific examples for several tissues, including orthopaedic soft tissues, bone, heart, vasculature, lung, kidney, liver and nerve. A concise review of the progress and the lessons learned are provided, with a focus on recent developments and their implications. It is hoped that knowledge developed from one tissue can be translated to other tissues. Finally, we address challenges in tissue engineering and regenerative medicine that can potentially be overcome via employing strategies for stem cel

Variations in outcomes of hemodialysis vascular access by race/ethnicity in the elderly

OBJECTIVE: Prevalence of end stage renal disease, modality of treatment and type of hemodialysis vascular access utilized varies widely by race/ethnicity in the United States, but outcomes of hemodialysis vascular access by race/ethnicity are poorly described. The objective of this study is to evaluate variations in outcomes of hemodialysis vascular access in the elderly by race/ethnicity. METHODS: Medicare Outpatient, Inpatient and Carrier files were queried from 2006-2011 for beneficiaries that were age ≥66 and dialysis dependent at time of index fistula/graft creation, qualified for Medicare by age only and were continuously enrolled in Medicare twelve months before and after index fistula/graft creation. Primary outcome measures were early vascular access failure and 12-month failure-free survival, specifically, the variation in the difference between fistula and graft in non-White versus White race/ethnicity groups.. RESULTS: Fistulas comprised a smaller proportion of index procedures performed in Blacks (65.9%, P<.001) and Asians (71.4%, P<.001), compared to Whites (78.0%) with no difference in Hispanics (78.7%, P=.59). Incidence of early failure after graft versus fistula was: Whites, 34.9% versus 43.5% (P<.001), Blacks, 32.9% versus 49.1% (P<.001), Asians, 30.8% versus 40.5% (P=.014) and Hispanics 35.2% versus 43.2% (P=.005). The difference in early failure after fistula versus graft in Blacks was significantly larger than the difference in Whites (P<.001). 12-month failure-free survival after index graft versus fistula was: Whites, 41.9% versus 38.9% (P=.008), Blacks 48.5% versus 37.3% (P<.001), Asians 51.6% versus 45.2% (P=.98) and Hispanics 51.9% versus 42.2% (P<.001). The difference in 12-month failure-free survival after graft versus fistula in Blacks and in Hispanics was larger than the difference in Whites (P<.001 and P=.02, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Outcomes of fistulas versus grafts in the elderly vary significantly by race/ethnicity. The decreased risk of early failure after graft versus fistula creation is larger in Blacks compared to Whites. The higher failure-free survival at 12 months after graft versus fistula creation is larger in Blacks compared to Whites and trends toward being larger in Hispanics compared to Whites

Menstrual Cycle, Body Image, and Eating Disturbance

Sixty females (ages 17–25) were blocked into four groups on the basis of contraceptive use (pill, non‐pill) and level of menstrual distress (high, low). All subjects were tested for levels of body image and eating disturbance during three phases of the menstrual cycle: menstrual, intermenstrual, premenstrual. High menstrual distress subjects had greater body image and eating disturbance than low distress subjects. There was marginal evidence that body image disturbance for the high menstrual distress subjects was greater perimenstrually (premenstrual plus menstrual). There was also suggestive evidence that subjects overestimated the size of the waist greater perimenstrually. The findings are discussed with regard to etiological mechanisms, methodological issues, and treatment implications