Happiness as stable extraversion : internal consistency reliability and construct validity of the Oxford Happiness Questionnaire among undergraduate students

The Oxford Happiness Questionnaire (OHQ) was developed by Hills and Argyle (2002) to provide a more accessible equivalent measure of the Oxford Happiness Inventory (OHI). The aim of the present study was to examine the internal consistency reliability, and construct validity of this new instrument alongside the Eysenckian dimensional model of personality. The Oxford Happiness Questionnaire was completed by a sample of 131 undergraduate students together with the abbreviated form of the Revised Eysenck Personality Questionnaire. The data demonstrated good internal consistency reliability (alpha = .92) and good construct validity in terms of positive association with extraversion (r = .38 p < .001) and negative association with neuroticism (r = −.57 p < .001). The kind of happiness measured by the OHQ is clearly associated with stable extraversion

Prayer, personality and happiness: a study among undergraduate students in Wales

In order to examine the association between prayer and happiness, a sample of 131 undergraduate students attending a university in Wales completed three measures: the Oxford Happiness Questionnaire, the abbreviated Eysenck Personality Questionnaire Revised, and prayer frequency assessed on a 5-point scale. The data demonstrated a significant positive correlation between prayer frequency and happiness before controlling for individual differences in personality. After controlling for personality, however, this apparent association vanished

Dose effects of New Zealand blackcurrant on substrate oxidation and physiological responses during prolonged cycling

Purpose It has been previously shown that New Zealand blackcurrant (NZBC) extract increased fat oxidation during short duration cycling. The present study examined the effect of different doses of NZBC extract on substrate oxidation and physiological responses during prolonged cycling. Methods Using a randomized counterbalanced Latin square design, 15 endurance trained male cyclists (age: 38±12 yrs, height: 187±5 cm, body mass: 76±10 kg, V̇O2max: 56±8 mL∙kg-1∙min-1, mean±SD) completed four separate 120 minutes cycling bouts at 65% V̇O2max after ingesting no dose, or one of three doses (300, 600 or 900 mg∙day-1) of NZBC extract (CurraNZTM) for 7-days. Results A dose effect (P<0.05) was observed for average fat oxidation (0, 300, 600 and 900 mg∙day-1 values of 0.63±0.21; 0.70±0.17; 0.73±0.19 and 0.73±0.14 g∙min-1) and carbohydrate oxidation (0, 300, 600, 900 mg∙day-1 values of 1.78±0.51, 1.65±0.48, 1.57±0.44, and 1.56±0.50 g∙min-1). The individual percentage change of mean fat oxidation was 21.5% and 24.1% for 600 and 900 mg∙day-1 NZBC extract, respectively, compared to no dose. Heart rate, V̇O2, V̇CO2, plasma lactate and glucose were not affected. Conclusion Seven-days intake of New Zealand blackcurrant extract demonstrated a dose-dependent effect on increasing fat oxidation during 120 minutes cycling at 65% V̇O2max in endurance-trained male cyclists

The psychological-type profile of clergywomen in ordained local ministry in the Church of England : pioneers or custodians?

This study employs psychological-type theory to compare the psychological profile of 144 clergywomen serving in ordained local ministry in the Church of England alongside the established profile of 237 professional mobile clergywomen serving in the Church of England published by Francis, Craig, Whinney, Tilley, and Slater. The data found no significant differences between these two groups of clergywomen in terms of orientations (introversion and extraversion) or in terms of the judging process (thinking and feeling). In terms of the perceiving process, there was a significantly higher proportion of sensing types among those serving in ordained local ministry (70% compared with 35%). In terms of the attitudes, there was a significantly higher proportion of judging types among those serving in ordained local ministry (83% compared with 65%). The combined sensing judging (SJ) temperament accounted for 65% of the clergywomen serving in ordained local ministry, compared with 29% of the clergywomen serving in professional mobile ministry in the earlier study. It is argued that the SJ temperament characterises a custodian style of ministry

Mobilizing Community based Organizations to Address Obesity: Our Communities, Our Solutions

Purpose: The purpose of the focus groups is to: 1) explore existing thought patterns and lived experiences about eating habits and daily activity of African American (AA) children at risk for childhood obesity, 2) acquire an in-depth explanation of participants’ attitudes towards factors related to childhood obesity encompassing their social norms, dietary habits, and environmental influences, and 3) explore rationales for differences between children and parental perspectives of ideal health. Method: Using a Community Based Participatory Research (CPBR) framework, the HAUL research team, comprised of public health professionals, local policy makers, physicians, and community leaders, will facilitate 20 focus groups (10 among children and 10 among their parents) with community members accessing HAUL services. Focus group results will be used to develop a larger population based survey to further investigate obesity related risk factors. Use of Geographic Information System (GIS) mapping will identify resources (parks, fitness centers, healthy food markets, health clinics, etc.) in the residential communities of the target population. Results: At the time of submission, 6 focus groups have been completed (28 participants, 14 children, 14 adults). The primary themes identifying differences in responses of parents and children address proximity of access to healthy food choices, food type consumed by children regularly, and children’s preference for fast food versus home cooked meals. These themes will guide the development of the “UT-HAUL Healthy Houston Initiative”, a pilot program seeking to increase healthy decision making and access to wellness services among AAs. Conclusions: “UT-HAUL Healthy Houston Initiative” is the initial course of action in addressing societal factors, renowned for breeding social injustice commonplace in AA populations. Our goal is to expand the Urban League movement\u27s efficacy by identifying data that will combat social injustices while strengthening the core of the communities we serve

Leptin interacts with glucagon-like peptide-1 neurons to reduce food intake and body weight in rodents

AbstractThe adipose tissue hormone, leptin, and the neuropeptide glucagon-like peptide-1 (7–36) amide (GLP-1) both reduce food intake and body weight in rodents. Using dual in situ hybridization, long isoform leptin receptor (OB-Rb) was localized to GLP-1 neurons originating in the nucleus of the solitary tract. ICV injection of the specific GLP-1 receptor antagonist, exendin(9–39), at the onset of dark phase, did not affect feeding in saline pre-treated controls, but blocked the reduction in food intake and body weight of leptin pre-treated rats. These findings suggest that GLP-1 neurons are a potential target for leptin in its control of feeding

Older persons’ and their caregivers’ perspectives and experiences of research participation with impaired decision-making capacity: A scoping review

Background and Objectives: Human research ethics statements support equitable inclusion of diverse groups. Yet older people are under-represented in clinical research, especially those with impaired decision-making capacity. The aim of this study was to identify perspectives and experiences of older persons and their caregivers of research participation with impaired decision-making capacity. Research Design and Methods: Scoping review of literature and online sources in January-February 2019 (updated June 2020) according to Joanna Briggs Institute methodology and PRISMA Extension for Scoping Reviews. English-language peer-reviewed research articles and Australian online narratives were included. Data were tabulated and narratively synthesized. Results: From 4171 database records and 93 online resources, 22 articles (2000-2019, 82% United States, 16 first authors) and one YouTube webinar (2018) were initially included; updated searches yielded an additional article (2020) and YouTube webinar (2020). Studies were heterogeneous in terminology, methods and foci, with hypothetical scenarios, quantitative analyses and examination of proxy consent predominating. Participants (n=7331) were older persons (71%), caregivers of older persons with dementia/cognitive impairment (23%) and older persons with dementia/cognitive impairment (6%). Synthesis identified two themes: willingness to participate and decision-making approaches. Discussion and Implications: Research participation by older persons with dementia may be optimized through reducing risks and burdens and increasing benefits for participants, greater consumer input into study development, and shared and supported decision-making. Older persons’ and caregivers’ perspectives and experiences of research participation with impaired decision-making capacity require investigation in a greater range of countries and conditions other than dementia, and dissemination through more varied media

The cellular modifier MOAG-4/SERF drives amyloid formation through charge complementation.

While aggregation-prone proteins are known to accelerate aging and cause age-related diseases, the cellular mechanisms that drive their cytotoxicity remain unresolved. The orthologous proteins MOAG-4, SERF1A, and SERF2 have recently been identified as cellular modifiers of such proteotoxicity. Using a peptide array screening approach on human amyloidogenic proteins, we found that SERF2 interacted with protein segments enriched in negatively charged and hydrophobic, aromatic amino acids. The absence of such segments, or the neutralization of the positive charge in SERF2, prevented these interactions and abolished the amyloid-promoting activity of SERF2. In protein aggregation models in the nematode worm Caenorhabditis elegans, protein aggregation and toxicity were suppressed by mutating the endogenous locus of MOAG-4 to neutralize charge. Our data indicate that MOAG-4 and SERF2 drive protein aggregation and toxicity by interactions with negatively charged segments in aggregation-prone proteins. Such charge interactions might accelerate primary nucleation of amyloid by initiating structural changes and by decreasing colloidal stability. Our study points at charge interactions between cellular modifiers and amyloidogenic proteins as potential targets for interventions to reduce age-related protein toxicity

The Continuing Use of Problematic Sexual Stereotypes in Judicial Decision-Making

This article examines the continuing use of problematic sexual stereotypes at appellate level in the English and Welsh legal system. Using five cases as illustrations, it argues that, notwithstanding professional training and guidance on sexual equality matters, certain senior judges in this jurisdiction still at least sometimes openly employ crude and problematic sexual stereotypes in their judgments or fail to deal appropriately with the use of these stereotypes by trial judges. The central point is that there is still a significant problem with the open use of crude sexual stereotypes in legal reasoning at a senior level in this jurisdiction, despite the pressure on all members of the legal system to appear to be ‘politically correct’