Intentional forgetting in dysphoria:investigating the inhibitory effects of thought substitution using independent cues

Background Individuals with clinical and subclinical depression (dysphoria) exhibit problems intentionally forgetting unwanted memories on the think/no-think (TNT) paradigm (Anderson & Green, 2001). However, providing substitute words to think about instead of the to-be-forgotten targets can improve forgetting in depressed patients. Objectives To determine if thought substitution can enhance forgetting in dysphoric participants and to examine the potential mechanisms (blocking or inhibition) that might underpin successful forgetting. Methods Thirty-six dysphoric and 36 non-dysphoric participants learned neutral word-pairs and then practiced responding with the targets to some cues (think trials) and suppressing responses to others (no think trials). Half the participants were provided with substitute words to recall instead of the original targets (aided suppression) and half were simply told to avoid thinking about the targets (unaided suppression). Finally, participants completed two recall tests for the targets; one cued with the original probes and one with independent probes. Results Regardless of suppression condition (aided or unaided), dysphoric participants exhibited impaired forgetting, relative to their non-dysphoric counterparts, but only when cued with the original probes. Furthermore, higher depression scores were associated with poorer forgetting. In the aided condition, successful forgetting was observed on both the original and independent probe tasks, which supports the inhibitory account of thought substitution. Limitations Non-clinical status of the dysphoric participants was not confirmed using a validated measure. Conclusions Findings do not support the utility of thought substitution as a method of improving the forgetting in depressed participants, but do support the inhibition account of thought substitution

Examining the impact of thought substitution on intentional forgetting in induced and naturally occurring dysphoria

Two experiments were conducted to determine if natural and induced dysphoria is associated with impaired forgetting and, whether a thought-substitution strategy would ameliorate any observed deficits. Study 1: 36 dysphoric & 36 non-dysphoric participants learnt a series of emotional word pairs. Participants were subsequently presented with some of the cues and were asked to recall the targets or prevent the targets from coming to mind. Half of the participants were provided with substitute words to recall instead of the original targets (aided suppression). At final memory testing, participants were asked to recall the targets to all cues. Dysphoric participants exhibited impaired forgetting, even when using a thought substitution strategy. Non-dysphoric participants, however, were able to use substitutes to suppress words. Study 2: 50 healthy participants initially completed the aided condition of the forgetting task. Participants were then given a positive or negative mood-induction, followed by another version of the forgetting task. Although all participants showed a forgetting effect prior to the mood-induction, only the positive group was successful at forgetting after the mood induction. Taken together, these findings do not support the utility of thought-substitution as an aid to forgetting in individuals in a naturally or induced dysphoric mood

Development And Implication Of Gender And Women’s Studies Curriculum At Public Universities Of Punjab

In mid of the twentieth century, feminist movement commenced the discipline of women’s studies to encounter the Ideological critique; a theoretical framework lacking laborious struggle. This study is based on curriculum development and concepts, which were discussed in the process of curriculum making of Gender and Women’s studies in the Punjab. This study aimed to explore the process of curriculum development at graduation and post-graduation level with details of its updating, reading trends in students, teaching methodologies, and inclination of students towards research areas. A qualitative method of Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) was used. The data was collected through in-depth semi-structured interviews from 15 participants. The interviewee included the head of Gender Studies Departments and faculty members of 6 universities and 1 college of the Punjab province of Pakistan. The data analysis indicated that each academic institution has similar process of curriculum development involving faculty, the Board of Studies and Academic Council. Curriculum is being revised on ongoing basis. In most of the departments, participatory and interactive teaching methods are being used. Reading habits are not greatly instilled among students. This research intended to trace out the locale of formative phase of main themes and fibers of courses in relation with indigenous gender tendencies. The study has suggested that acute involvement of development sector should be promised which will stage the local gender issues and will also open up a maiden window to academic side in the formulation of a more congenial and endemic syllabus

Construction and Validation of Academic Stress Scale for University Students

Present study aimed to construct and validate an instrument to measure the academic stress among university students of Pakistan. Item construction of this instrument was based on literature review, interviews from university students and expert’s opinion. After pilot study exploratory factor analysis was performed on a sample of477 student (226men and 251 women), recruited from different departments of University of Sargodha, Pakistan. 26 items were retained after exploratory factor analysis with three well defined factors(1, Personal, Parental and Teachers’ attitude, 2. Perception of workload and examinations, 3. Concerns about education system and management)Range of Alpha coefficients for scale and its subscales was .72 to .87.Results of Confirmatory factor analysis performed on an independent sample revealed excellent model fit to present data. Three factor structure of Academic stress scale was confirmed by CFA. Convergent validity of Academic Stress Scale was proved by finding its positive correlation with UCLA Loneliness scale, Depression scale and Brief Fear of Negative Evaluation Scale. Excellent reliability and validity evidences proved this scale as a promising measure of academic stress

Antioxidant and Antimicrobial Properties of Pumpkin (Cucurbita maxima) Peel, Flesh and Seeds Powders

This research work was designed to investigate and utilize all three parts (peel, flesh and seeds) of pumpkin for their antioxidant and antimicrobial activities. Pumpkin parts were separated, dried, grinded to powder and extracted by using 80% methanol. Percentage yield of pumpkin peel, flesh and seeds extracts, was found 12.37±0.10, 8.84±0.07 and 3.53±0.06% respectively. DPPH free radical scavenging activity (mg AAE/100 g) of pumpkin peel, flesh and seeds extracts was found 13.00±0.08, 10.58:0.06 and 16.53±0.09 respectively. All three types of extracts exhibited prominent antifungal activities against four fungal strains Candida albicans, Fusarium oxysporum, Mucor miehei and Trichoderma spp. Pumpkin seeds extracts exhibited greater zone of inhibition against these fungal strains as compared to pumpkin peel and flesh extracts. For antibacterial study four bacterial strains Salmonella typhi, Escherichia coli, Bacillus subtilis and Streptococcus aureus were used. Pumpkin flesh extracts exhibited greater antibacterial activities as compared to pumpkin peel and seeds extracts. Keywords: Pumpkin, Extracts, Antibacterial, Antifungal, Zone of inhibition, Free radicals DOI: 10.7176/JBAH/11-6-05 Publication date:March 31st 202

Utilization of malted barley flour as replacement of wheat flour to improve technological, rheological, physicochemical, and organoleptic parameters of fortified breads

Introduction: Flours from cereal grains have the potential to be used in the production of bakery products, especially breads, and the addition of other non–wheat plant materials in the form of flours, extracts and malts has always been the area of interest for food producers. Methods: In this research work, barley grains were converted into barley malt flour (BMF), by adopting a series of processes, including steeping, germination, kilning, drying and milling. With the aim of compensating the role of commercial bread improvers, wheat flour was replaced at 0, 2.5, 5, 7.5, and 10% levels with BMF, to study the effect of BMF on physicochemical and sensory characteristics of bread. Results and discussion: Chemical analysis of flours revealed that ash, fat, moisture, protein and fibers were found greater in BMF and BMF–incorporated composite flours, as compared to wheat flour. Significant increases in water absorption and decrease in dough stability, dough development time and falling number were noticed, as a result of an increase in the replacement level of BMF. Water absorption of control dough was 58.03%, which increased to 58.77% in composite flour having 10% BMF, whereas dough development time, dough stability and α–amylase activity of control, were 6.97 min, 12 min, and 736 s, respectively, which were decreased to 3.83 min, 4.73 min, and 360 s, respectively in composite flour having 10% BMF. The internal and external characteristics of breads obtained the best sensorial score at 5% replacement level of BMF, and deterioration in the quality of breads was noticed, as the level of BMF was further increased to 7.5 and 10%. Hence, breads developed with 5% BMF and 95% wheat flour, were not only nutritionally rich, but were also with optimum physical and sensory features. BMF could prove a useful alternate ingredient of wheat flour, and a cost-effective replacement of commercially available bread improvers, in the breads manufacturing process in replacement of synthetic bread improvers.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio