Distraction, not hunger, is associated with lower mood and lower perceived work performance on fast compared to non-fast days during intermittent fasting.

Using a repeated measures design, 16 females recorded hunger, distraction, mood and perceived work performance on two consecutive fast days, on two earlier and on two subsequent consecutive non-fast days, during intermittent fasting. Using regression analyses, low positive mood was associated with higher distraction (β = -0.38, p < 0.01), and lower perceived work performance was associated with higher distraction (β = -0.50, p < 0.01) and lower positive mood (β = 0.59, p = 0.01). No associations were found with hunger (largest β = -0.11, p = 0.15). Associations between mood, perceived work performance and distraction but not hunger mirror those found in traditional dieting and suggest no benefit for attention from intermittent fasting-type regimes

A Herschel and CARMA view of CO and [C II] in Hickson Compact groups

Understanding the evolution of galaxies from the starforming blue cloud to the quiescent red sequence has been revolutionized by observations taken with Herschel Space Observatory, and the onset of the era of sensitive millimeter interferometers, allowing astronomers to probe both cold dust as well as the cool interstellar medium in a large set of galaxies with unprecedented sensitivity. Recent Herschel observations of of H2-bright Hickson Compact Groups of galaxies (HCGs) has shown that [CII] may be boosted in diffuse shocked gas. CARMA CO(1-0) observations of these [CII]-bright HCGs has shown that these turbulent systems also can show suppression of SF. Here we present preliminary results from observations of HCGs with Herschel and CARMA, and their [CII] and CO(1-0) properties to discuss how shocks influence galaxy transitions and star formation.Comment: 4 pages, 3 figures, Proceedings for IAU Symposium 309, Galaxies in 3D across the Univers

A Role for Identification in the Gradual Decline in the Pleasantness of Flavors With Age.

Objectives. This study investigated a possible role for identification in the decline in flavor pleasantness with age. Methods. Two hundred sixty-four individuals aged from 16 to 85 years tasted 6 flavored drinks of varying identity and ease of identification, and rated each on pleasantness, a range of other characteristics and identified all flavors. Results. Using regression, firstly, pleasantness was inversely associated with age (β = −0.22, p < .01). Secondly, the decline in pleasantness with age was associated with poorer identification (β = 0.30, p < .01), lower perceptions of sweetness (β = 0.01, p < .01), lower strength of flavor (β = 0.00, p = .02), lower familiarity (β = 0.01, p < .01), and a lower frequency of usual drink consumption (β = 0.04, p < .01). Thirdly, improved identification with age was associated with increased drink familiarity (β =< 0.01, p < .01), coloration compared with no color (β = <0.06, p < .01), and correct compared with incorrect coloration (β = <0.27, p < .01). Discussion: These findings demonstrate a clear role for identification in the decline in flavor pleasantness with age. These findings thus provide clear evidence for a cognitive and perceptual element to these hedonic processes. Our findings suggest that likings for flavors in older individuals may be increased/maintained through the use of improved visual cues, easily recognizable foods, and/or identity labels

Visualising future behaviour: Effects for snacking on biscuit bars, but no effects for snacking on fruit.

In this study, participants (N = 223) were randomised to visualise snacking on fruit, visualise snacking on biscuit bars or no visualisation, and intentions and attitudes towards fruit and biscuit bars, immediate selection of fruit or biscuit bars and subsequent consumption were measured. No effects of visualising snacking on fruit were found once background variables were taken into account. Visualising snacking on biscuit bars, however, resulted in greater intentions to consume biscuit bars (smallest β = 0.19, p < 0.01). These findings suggest that specifics of the visualised target behaviour may be important in visualisation. Further investigation is needed before recommending visualisation for increasing fruit consumption

Towards a Food-Based Intervention to Increase Protein Intakes in Older Adults: Challenges to and Facilitators of Egg Consumption

Abstract: Background: Dietary protein intake is important for health. Eggs, as a protein-rich food with characteristics that appeal to older adults, may provide opportunities for increasing protein intake. Interventions that focus on the challenges or facilitators that affect a large proportion of the population will be of increased impact on a population-wide scale. This work aimed to investigate the relative importance of a number of challenges to and facilitators of egg consumption in a UK population-wide sample of older adults. METHODS: A cross-sectional postal questionnaire, measuring habitual egg intake, reasons for eating/not eating eggs and a range of demographic and lifestyle characteristics, was administered by post to 1082 older adults. RESULTS: 230 questionnaires suitable for analysis were returned (110 females, ages 55⁻80+ years). Habitual egg intake ranged from 1⁻89 eggs/month, mean (standard deviation) = 18 (13) eggs/month. Reasons for eating/not eating eggs were reduced using Principal Components Analysis to 23 challenges and facilitators of egg consumption. Regression analyses revealed habitual egg intake to be associated with 10 challenges and facilitators (smallest β = 0.14, p = 0.04), and with protein consumption, age and Body Mass Index (smallest β = 0.14, p = 0.03). DISCUSSION: Many possibilities for future intervention based on existing challenges or facilitators were found. Our results suggest that strategies to increase egg consumption in older adults should focus on: improving liking, tastiness and adding variety; promoting eggs as an everyday type of food; reducing stereotypes about who does and who does not consume eggs; and promoting eggs for people who have noticed the effects of ageing on their food intake. Strategies that highlight value-for-money may be counterproductive. Future work evaluating the value of these strategies for improving protein intake in this age group would be of value

The efficacy of fish oil supplements in the treatment of depression: food for thought.

A recent meta-analysis and meta-regression of 13 randomized clinical trials by Mocking et al.1 concluded that supplementation with omega-3 fatty acids, found naturally in fatty fish, has a beneficial effect in patients with major depressive disorder (MDD), especially for higher doses of the eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and in patients taking antidepressants. Novel treatments for MDD are certainly desired. However, in our view the evidence in this study does not solve the academic debate on the efficacy of omega-3 fatty acids for MDD. Some food for thought

Star Formation Suppression Due to Jet Feedback in Radio Galaxies with Shocked Warm Molecular Gas

We present Herschel observations of 22 radio galaxies, selected for the presence of shocked, warm molecular hydrogen emission. We measured and modeled spectral energy distributions in 33 bands from the ultraviolet to the far-infrared to investigate the impact of jet feedback on star formation activity. These galaxies are massive, early-type galaxies with normal gas-to-dust ratios, covering a range of optical and infrared colors. We find that the star formation rate (SFR) is suppressed by a factor of ~3–6, depending on how molecular gas mass is estimated. We suggest that this suppression is due to the shocks driven by the radio jets injecting turbulence into the interstellar medium (ISM), which also powers the luminous warm H_2 line emission. Approximately 25% of the sample shows suppression by more than a factor of 10. However, the degree of SFR suppression does not correlate with indicators of jet feedback including jet power, diffuse X-ray emission, or intensity of warm molecular H_2 emission, suggesting that while injected turbulence likely impacts star formation, the process is not purely parameterized by the amount of mechanical energy dissipated into the ISM. Radio galaxies with shocked warm molecular gas cover a wide range in SFR–stellar mass space, indicating that these galaxies are in a variety of evolutionary states, from actively star-forming and gas-rich to quiescent and gas-poor. SFR suppression appears to have the largest impact on the evolution of galaxies that are moderately gas-rich

Jet-related Excitation of the [CII] Emission in the Active Galaxy NGC 4258 with SOFIA

We detect widespread [CII]157.7um emission from the inner 5 kpc of the active galaxy NGC 4258 with the SOFIA integral field spectrometer FIFI-LS. The emission is found associated with warm H2, distributed along and beyond the end of southern jet, in a zone known to contain shock-excited optical filaments. It is also associated with soft X-ray hot-spots, which are the counterparts of the `anomalous radio arms' of NGC~4258, and a 1 kpc-long filament on the minor axis of the galaxy which contains young star clusters. Palomar-CWI H-alpha integral field spectroscopy shows that the filament exhibits non-circular motions within NGC 4258. Many of the [CII] profiles are very broad, with the highest line width, 455 km/s, observed at the position of the southern jet bow-shock. Abnormally high ratios of L([CII])/L(FIR) and L([CII])/L(PAH7.7um) are found along and beyond the southern jet and in the X-ray hotspots. These are the same regions that exhibit unusually large intrinsic [CII] line widths. This suggests that the [CII] traces warm molecular gas in shocks and turbulence associated with the jet. We estimate that as much as 40% (3.8 x 10^39 erg/s) of the total [CII] luminosity from the inner 5 kpc of NGC 4258 arises in shocks and turbulence (< 1% bolometric luminosity from the active nucleus), the rest being consistent with [CII] excitation associated with star formation. We propose that the highly-inclined jet is colliding with, and being deflected around, dense irregularities in a thick disk, leading to significant energy dissipation over a wide area of the galaxy.Comment: Accepted for Publication in the Astrophysical Journal Oct 29 201