Project description:We examine how prior mental health predicts hopes and how hopes predict subsequent mental health, testing hypotheses in a longitudinal study with an Australian nation-wide adult sample regarding mental health consequences of the COVID-19 outbreak during its initial stage. Quota sampling was used to select a sample representative of the adult Australian population in terms of age groups, gender, and geographical location. Mental health measures were selected to include those with the best psychometric properties. Hypotheses were tested using generalized linear models with random intercepts, with the type of GLM determined by the nature of the dependent variable. Greater anxiety, depression, distress, and loneliness predict less hope, but impaired quality of life and stress positively predict hopes of gaining new skills. Distress and loneliness predict hopes for social connectedness and an improved society, suggesting that predictors of hope depend on what is hoped for. These findings suggest the need for more nuanced theories of hope. Greater hopes for societal improvement predict lower anxiety, depression, distress, and impaired quality of life, but greater hopes for skills and better mental health predict higher levels of these covariates. Moreover, when relevant prior psychological states are more intense, the impact of hope state declines. These findings indicate that the consequences of hope are heterogeneous, and suggest a possible explanation for the seemingly inconsistent therapeutic effectiveness of raising hope.
Project description:Octadecyl (C18) groups are arguably the most popular ligands used for preparation of solid phase microextraction (SPME) devices. However, conventional C18-bonded silica particles are not fully compatible with the nearly 100% aqueous composition of typical biological samples (e.g., plasma, saliva, or urine). This study presents the first evaluation of thin-film SPME devices coated with special water-compatible C18-bonded particles. Device performance was assessed by extracting a mixture of 30 model compounds that exhibited various chemical structures and properties, such as hydrophobicity. Additionally, nine unique compositions of desorption solvents were tested. Thin-film SPME devices coated with C18-bonded silica particles with polar end-capping groups (10 µm) were compared with conventional trimethylsilane end-capped C18-bonded silica particles of various sizes (5, 10, and 45 µm) and characteristics. Polar end-capped particles provided the best extraction efficacy and were characterized by the strongest correlations between the efficacy of the extraction process and the hydrophobicity of the analytes. The results suggest that the original features of octadecyl ligands are best preserved in aqueous conditions by polar end-capped particles, unlike with conventional trimethylsilane end-capped particles that are currently used to prepare SPME devices. The benefits associated with this improved type of coating encourage further implementation of microextractraction as greener alternative to the traditional sample preparation methods.
Project description:COHCAP (City of Hope CpG Island Analysis Pipeline) is an algorithm to analyze single-nucleotide resolution DNA methylation data. It provides QC metrics, differential methylation for CpG Sites, differential methylation for CpG Islands, integration with gene expression data, and visualization of methylation values. COHCAP is currently the only DNA methylation package that can handle integration with gene expression data, and the results of this study show that COHCAP can identify regions of differential methylation with ~50% concordance with gene expression. COHCAP is scalable for analysis of both cell line data and heterogeneous patient data, and it can identify known cancer biomarkers as well as intriguing new roles of epigenetic regulation in cancer (such as methylation of estrogen receptor in breast cancer patients). This study also uses cell line data to show that COHCAP is capable of analyzing Illumina methylation array and targeted bisulfite sequencing data, with either 1-group or 2-group study designs. The accuracy of COHCAP is accessed using qPCR, EpiTect, and comparison of COHCAP regions of differential methylation with MIRA peaks. This software is freely available at https://sourceforge.net/projects/cohcap/. The following third-party datasets were utilized in the paper: BS-Seq data: GSE26826 Additional Microarray Data: GSE29290 This SuperSeries is composed of the SubSeries listed below.
Project description:Researchers are increasingly examining whether hope can motivate action on climate change, or conversely, whether it might demotivate such action. We present a meta-analysis (k = 46) of quantitative studies examining the relationships between measures and manipulations of hope with climate engagement. On average, measured hope was associated with greater climate engagement (r = 0.18); however, this effect differed based on the target of hope. Hope regarding the possibility of respondents taking action was particularly strongly associated with greater engagement (r = 0.40), while in contrast, hope grounded in climate change not being a problem was associated with less engagement (r = −0.40). Hope in response to climate change generally, and domain-general hope, were only weakly associated with greater engagement (rs = 0.13, 0.20). On average, hope manipulations fostered increased engagement, though the increase was small (Cohen’s d = 0.08). Subgroup analyses suggested two promising types of hope manipulations warranting future research: personal efficacy (k = 2, d = 0.18) and in-depth (k = 2, d = 0.49). In contrast, messages suggesting societal efficacy (i.e., providing a sense of possibility that climate change could be addressed) did not significantly or substantially boost (nor discourage) engagement (d = 0.05), and status quo-framed messages (i.e., messages highlighting that environmental conditions could stay the same if climate action is taken) had a marginally significant negative effect on engagement (d = −0.18). After excluding a single outlier, the extent to which manipulations increased hope were not correlated with increases in climate engagement, suggesting the possibility that hope might be incidental to the success of some manipulations rather than a necessary component for promoting engagement. Overall, our meta-analysis does not suggest that increasing hope decreases climate engagement, with the possible exceptions of denial hope and status quo framed messages. Conversely, however, results provide partial yet inconclusive evidence for the hypothesis that increasing hope increases climate engagement. Given the existing published literature, we argue that future researchers should consider study designs that align with theoretical perspectives on how hope promotes climate engagement (e.g., longitudinal designs) and also consider directly assessing populations of interest (e.g., climate activists).
Project description:Psychology has primarily studied hope as a value-neutral trait even though it has a history of being counted among the virtues. The current study seeks to conceptualize hope as a virtue while building on the dominant empirical paradigm (Hope Theory; Snyder, 2002). Ithemba is the isiZulu word for hope, and this qualitative study investigated the lived experiences and meaning construction of ithemba/hope among 13 nominated moral exemplars in a South African township. Participants ranged from 20 to 75+, including farmers, educators, caregivers, entrepreneurs, and construction workers. Independent coders conducted thematic analysis from a theoretical top-down process (within Hope Theory and virtue science frameworks) and an inductive bottom-up approach (open coding). Data reflected much of the existing Hope Theory model; however, many pathways were relational and spiritual, and goals were inherently beneficial to others. A virtue science framework was used to construct the cognitive, motivational, and behavioral dimensions of virtuous hope. This study constructed the operational definition of virtuous hope as the ardent pursuit of realizing a particular vision of the common good with intention and action, often growing out of adversity and shaped in relation to other people and the transcendent.Supplementary informationThe online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s41042-022-00083-1.
Project description:Schistosomiasis is a parasitic disease caused by helminths belonging to the Schistosoma genus. Approximately 700 million people are at risk of infection and 200 million people are currently infected. Schistosomiasis is the most important helminth infection, and treatment relies solely on the drug praziquantel. Worries of praziquantel resistance as well as high disease burden are only some of the justifications which support the development of a vaccine against schistosomiasis. To date, only 2 schistosome vaccines have made it into clinical trials: Sh28GST (Bilhvax) and Sm14. However, there are several vaccine candidates, such as TSP-2, sm-p8, and Sm-Cathepsin B, which are generating promising results in pre-clinical studies. Schistosomiasis vaccine development has been an uphill battle, and there are still several hurdles to overcome in the future. Fortunately, the research groups involved in the research for vaccine development have not abandoned their work. Furthermore, in the last few years, schistosomiasis has garnered some additional attention on a global scale due to its significant impact on public health.
Project description:Probiotic bacteria have been associated with various health benefits and included in overwhelming number of foods. Today, probiotic supplements are consumed with increasing regularity and record a rapidly growing economic value. With billions of heterogeneous populations of probiotics per serving, probiotic supplements contain the largest quantity of probiotics across all functional foods. They often carry antibiotic-resistant determinants that can be transferred to and accumulate in resident bacteria of the gastrointestinal tract and risk their acquisitions by opportunistic pathogens. While the health benefits of probiotics have been widely publicized, this health risk, however, is underrepresented in both scientific studies and public awareness. On the other hand, the human gut presents conditions that are unfavorable for bacteria, including probiotics. It remains uncertain if probiotics from supplements can tolerate acids and bile salts that may undermine their effectiveness in conferring health benefits. Here, we put into perspective the perceived health benefits and the long-term safety of consuming probiotic supplements, specifically bringing intolerance to acids and bile salts, and the long-standing issue of antibiotic-resistant gene transfer into sharp focus. We report that probiotics from supplements examined in this study have poor tolerance to acids and bile salts while also displaying resistance to multiple antibiotics. They could also adapt and gain resistance to streptomycin in vitro. In an environment where consuming supplements is considered a norm, our results and that of others will put in perspective the persisting concerns surrounding probiotic supplements so that the current hype does not overpower the hope.