Development of character prospection in emerging adult search and presence of calling

Emerging adulthood is considered a particularly important period for seeking life roles that provide a sense of purpose or meaningfulness. It has been proposed that character prospection, the ability to predict change to one\u27s character in the near future, is an integral part of personality development in emerging adults. The current research operationalizes character prospection as the relationship between search for calling in students early in their college years and presence of calling in students nearing their graduation. Among a variety of variables being explored, we hypothesize spirituality as a mediator of character prospection, due to the role of transcendent summons in both search and presence of calling. Data were collected on two years (i.e., six consecutive quarters) of SPU students enrolled in PSY 1200 Psychology as Vocation (n= 176) and enrolled in PSY 4899 Senior Seminar in Psychology (n= 124). In addition to demographic questions, measures included` the Calling and Vocation Questionnaire and the VIA Character Strength Survey

Stability of moral traits (justice and humanity) in emerging adults: A longitudinal analysis.

Emerging adulthood is considered a particularly important period for moral maturity in adulthood, and for personality changes that relate closely to character development. Research also suggests that once moral traits develop in emerging adults, they remain relatively stable in both score and rank; and they are among the most stable of character traits examined. Using the VIA Character Strength Survey, the current research is investigating the stability of the moral traits justice and humanity in comparison to a subset of character traits from other domains. These data were collected from SPU students early in their college years and again as they neared their graduation

Predictors of quality and meaning in life in independently living older adults: A quantitative replication of Weinstock and Bond (2018)

In their in depth qualitative study of older adults living in a continuing care facility, Weinstock and Bond (2018) identified three first-order components of quality of life: (1) Sense of community and belonging, (2) resident driven engagement, and (3) individual autonomy, independence, and respect. Our present study attempts to replicate the Weinstock and Bond findings using a quantitative methodology in a sample of independent living residents in Bayview, a retirement community in Seattle. (n = 56, 36 females, 19 males, 1 gender non-conforming, ages 66 — 97 years). Early analyses indicate that only the third component (i.e., autonomy, independence, and respect) is a significant predictor of positive aging outcomes, including meaning in life. Various explanations for this divergence in findings are currently being explored

Images of aging and positive affect in independently living older adults: An update

The World Health Organization (2018) estimates that between 2015 and 2050, the proportion of the world\u27s older adult population will nearly double from 12% to 22%. Despite this increasing prevalence, negative age-related stereotypes persist, cross national and cultural boundaries, and are associated with poor cognitive, mental, and physical health. In contrast, older adults with more positive views of aging experience better mental and physical health, engage in more preventive healthy behaviors, and enjoy greater longevity. These positive aging outcomes are again confirmed in this year\u27s expanded study of independent living residents in Bayview, a retirement community in Seattle. (n = 56, 36 females, 19 males, 1 gender non-conforming, ages 66 — 97 years). In addition, this study explores possible mediation effects of social relationships, perceived health status, and age on the relationship between images of aging and positive affect

Images of aging, well-being, and life satisfaction among independently living older adults

The U.S. is an aging country in an aging world, and yet negative age-related stereotypes abound and continue among the most institutionalized of isms. Such stereotypes in older adults are associated with poor mental and physical health. In contrast, older adults with more positive views of aging experience better mental and physical health, engage in more preventive healthy behaviors, and enjoy greater longevity. These positive aging outcomes are confirmed in the present study of independent living residents in Bayview, a retirement community in Seattle (n=41; 26 females, 14 males; ages 70-94 years). In addition, this study reports findings on such variables as perceptions of well-being, self-efficacy, social engagement, and spiritual expression. (Word count: 112

Get screened: a pragmatic randomized controlled trial to increase mammography and colorectal cancer screening in a large, safety net practice

Abstract Background Most randomized controlled trials of interventions designed to promote cancer screening, particularly those targeting poor and minority patients, enroll selected patients. Relatively little is known about the benefits of these interventions among unselected patients. Methods/Design "Get Screened" is an American Cancer Society-sponsored randomized controlled trial designed to promote mammography and colorectal cancer screening in a primary care practice serving low-income patients. Eligible patients who are past due for mammography or colorectal cancer screening are entered into a tracking registry and randomly assigned to early or delayed intervention. This 6-month intervention is multimodal, involving patient prompts, clinician prompts, and outreach. At the time of the patient visit, eligible patients receive a low-literacy patient education tool. At the same time, clinicians receive a prompt to remind them to order the test and, when appropriate, a tool designed to simplify colorectal cancer screening decision-making. Patient outreach consists of personalized letters, automated telephone reminders, assistance with scheduling, and linkage of uninsured patients to the local National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection program. Interventions are repeated for patients who fail to respond to early interventions. We will compare rates of screening between randomized groups, as well as planned secondary analyses of minority patients and uninsured patients. Data from the pilot phase show that this multimodal intervention triples rates of cancer screening (adjusted odds ratio 3.63; 95% CI 2.35 - 5.61). Discussion This study protocol is designed to assess a multimodal approach to promotion of breast and colorectal cancer screening among underserved patients. We hypothesize that a multimodal approach will significantly improve cancer screening rates. The trial was registered at Clinical Trials.gov NCT00818857http://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/78264/1/1472-6963-10-280.xmlhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/78264/2/1472-6963-10-280.pdfPeer Reviewe

Poetry as a Creative Practice to Enhance Engagement and Learning in Conservation Science

Creativity is crucial to the capacity to do science well, to communicate it in compelling ways, and to enhance learning. Creativity can be both practiced and enhanced to strengthen conservation science professionals’ efforts to address global environmental challenges. We explore how poetry is one creative approach that can further conservation scientists’ engagement and learning. We draw on evidence from peer-reviewed literature to illustrate benefits of integrating science and poetry, and to ground our argument for the growth of a science-poetry community to help conservation scientists develop skills in creative practices as a component of professional development. We present examples from literature as well as two short poetry exercises for scientists to draw on when considering writing poetry, or deciding on forms of poetry to include, in their practice. Opportunity exists to grow science–poetry projects to further our understanding of what such initiatives can offer

Functional expression of Rab escort protein 1 following AAV2-mediated gene delivery in the retina of choroideremia mice and human cells ex vivo

Choroideremia (CHM) is an X-linked retinal degeneration of photoreceptors, the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) and choroid caused by loss of function mutations in the CHM/REP1 gene that encodes Rab escort protein 1. As a slowly progressing monogenic retinal degeneration with a clearly identifiable phenotype and a reliable diagnosis, CHM is an ideal candidate for gene therapy. We developed a serotype 2 adeno-associated viral vector AAV2/2-CBA-REP1, which expresses REP1 under control of CMV-enhanced chicken β-actin promoter (CBA) augmented by a Woodchuck hepatitis virus post-transcriptional regulatory element. We show that the AAV2/2-CBA-REP1 vector provides strong and functional transgene expression in the D17 dog osteosarcoma cell line, CHM patient fibroblasts and CHM mouse RPE cells in vitro and in vivo. The ability to transduce human photoreceptors highly effectively with this expression cassette was confirmed in AAV2/2-CBA-GFP transduced human retinal explants ex vivo. Electroretinogram (ERG) analysis of AAV2/2-CBA-REP1 and AAV2/2-CBA-GFP-injected wild-type mouse eyes did not show toxic effects resulting from REP1 overexpression. Subretinal injections of AAV2/2-CBA-REP1 into CHM mouse retinas led to a significant increase in a- and b-wave of ERG responses in comparison to sham-injected eyes confirming that AAV2/2-CBA-REP1 is a promising vector suitable for choroideremia gene therapy in human clinical trials. © 2013 The Author(s)

Proceedings of the 3rd Biennial Conference of the Society for Implementation Research Collaboration (SIRC) 2015: advancing efficient methodologies through community partnerships and team science

It is well documented that the majority of adults, children and families in need of evidence-based behavioral health interventionsi do not receive them [1, 2] and that few robust empirically supported methods for implementing evidence-based practices (EBPs) exist. The Society for Implementation Research Collaboration (SIRC) represents a burgeoning effort to advance the innovation and rigor of implementation research and is uniquely focused on bringing together researchers and stakeholders committed to evaluating the implementation of complex evidence-based behavioral health interventions. Through its diverse activities and membership, SIRC aims to foster the promise of implementation research to better serve the behavioral health needs of the population by identifying rigorous, relevant, and efficient strategies that successfully transfer scientific evidence to clinical knowledge for use in real world settings [3]. SIRC began as a National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)-funded conference series in 2010 (previously titled the “Seattle Implementation Research Conference”; $150,000 USD for 3 conferences in 2011, 2013, and 2015) with the recognition that there were multiple researchers and stakeholdersi working in parallel on innovative implementation science projects in behavioral health, but that formal channels for communicating and collaborating with one another were relatively unavailable. There was a significant need for a forum within which implementation researchers and stakeholders could learn from one another, refine approaches to science and practice, and develop an implementation research agenda using common measures, methods, and research principles to improve both the frequency and quality with which behavioral health treatment implementation is evaluated. SIRC’s membership growth is a testament to this identified need with more than 1000 members from 2011 to the present.ii SIRC’s primary objectives are to: (1) foster communication and collaboration across diverse groups, including implementation researchers, intermediariesi, as well as community stakeholders (SIRC uses the term “EBP champions” for these groups) – and to do so across multiple career levels (e.g., students, early career faculty, established investigators); and (2) enhance and disseminate rigorous measures and methodologies for implementing EBPs and evaluating EBP implementation efforts. These objectives are well aligned with Glasgow and colleagues’ [4] five core tenets deemed critical for advancing implementation science: collaboration, efficiency and speed, rigor and relevance, improved capacity, and cumulative knowledge. SIRC advances these objectives and tenets through in-person conferences, which bring together multidisciplinary implementation researchers and those implementing evidence-based behavioral health interventions in the community to share their work and create professional connections and collaborations