Trade-off between thermal preference and sperm maturation in a montane lizard.

Temperature is a key abiotic factor that influences performance of several physiological traits in ectotherms. Organisms regulate their body temperature within a range of temperatures to enhance physiological function. The capacity of ectotherms, such as lizards, to maintain their body temperature within their preferred range influences physiological traits such as speed, various reproductive patterns, and critical fitness components, such as growth rates or survival. Here, we evaluate the influence of temperature on locomotor performance, sperm morphology and viability in a high elevation lizard species (Sceloporus aeneus). Whereas maximal values for sprint speed coincides with field active and preferred body temperature, short-term exposure at the same range of temperatures produces abnormalities in sperm morphology, lower sperm concentration and diminishes sperm motility and viability. In conclusion, we confirmed that although locomotor performance is maximized at preferred temperatures, there is a trade-off with male reproductive attributes, which may cause infertility. As a consequence, prolonged exposure to preferred temperatures could threaten the persistence of the species through reduced fertility. Persistence of the species is favored in environments with access to cooler, thermal microhabitats that enhance reproductive parameters.

Interactions between thermoregulatory behavior and physiological acclimatization in a wild lizard population.

Although the importance of thermoregulation and plasticity as compensatory mechanisms for climate change has long been recognized, they have largely been studied independently. Thus, we know comparatively little about how they interact to shape physiological variation in natural populations. Here, we test the hypothesis that behavioral thermoregulation and thermal acclimatization interact to shape physiological phenotypes in a natural population of the diurnal lizard, Sceloporus torquatus. Every month for one year we examined thermoregulatory effectiveness and changes in the population mean in three physiological parameters: cold tolerance (Ctmin), heat tolerance (Ctmax), and the preferred body temperature (Tpref), to indirectly assess thermal acclimatization in population means. We discovered that S. torquatus is an active thermoregulator throughout the year, with body temperature varying little despite strong seasonal temperature shifts. Although we did not observe a strong signal of acclimatization in Ctmax, we did find that Ctmin shifts in parallel with nighttime temperatures throughout the year. This likely occurs, at least in part, because thermoregulation is substantially less effective at buffering organisms from selection on lower physiological limits than upper physiological limits. Active thermoregulation is effective at limiting exposure to extreme temperatures during the day, but is less effective at night, potentially contributing to greater plasticity in Ctmin than Ctmax. Importantly, however, Tpref tracked seasonal changes in temperature, which is one the factors contributing to highly effective thermoregulation throughout the year. Thus, behavior and physiological plasticity do not always operate independently, which could impact how organisms can respond to rising temperatures.

Thermal ecology and activity patterns of six species of tropical night lizards (Squamata: Xantusiidae: Lepidophyma) from Mexico.

Activity patterns in ectotherms rely on the structure of the thermal environment and thermoregulatory opportunities during activity periods. A dichotomy between diurnal and nocturnal ectotherms is not clear in every case, and temperature can directly affect the daily activity period in these organisms during both photophase and scotophase. In the present study we evaluate the thermal ecology of six tropical night lizards (genus Lepidophyma) from Mexico. Our results indicate a thermoconformer strategy in most of the studied species. In these species, thermal tolerances are associated with environmental temperatures to which they are exposed. Furthermore, thermal quality of the environment directly determines the daily activity period. Therefore, we argue that diurnal activity in Lepidophyma species is determined by local thermal conditions.

First use of silicon carbide detectors with graphene-enhanced contacts for medical dosimetry.

Silicon Carbide (SiC) is a radiation hard wide bandgap semiconductor, which makes it an interesting alternative for radiation detector fabrication, with potential applications such as High Energy Physics, synchrotron and radiotherapy instrumentation. In addition, by reducing the amount of metal over the active area of said detectors (typically used for electrical connectivity with the implant of the pn-junction) unwanted effects from secondary interactions which can affect the accuracy of the measurement can be diminished, essential to meet the medical standards of precision. In this article, the use of epitaxially-grown graphene is explored as an alternative to metallic contacts with these prototypes. To this end, the first prototypes of SiC diodes with epitaxial graphene contacts were produced at IMB-CNM for radiation detection,along with reference devices. In order to characterise the feasibility of the technology in the medical application, the dose rate linearity of the SiC device with graphene was measured in a radiotherapy Linac in the dose rate range of 1-6 Gy/min. The response of the device was compared to that observed on devices with similar geometries reported elsewhere. To fully characterise the devices, the same exercise was repeated in a laboratory X-ray tube. Under the later set-up, the prototype is compared against a device with a fully metallised active region.

A web-enabled, school-based intervention for bullying prevention (LINKlusive): a cluster randomised trial.

Background: There is a need for more sustainable interventions and for assessing the effectiveness of school-based universal anti-bullying programmes in vulnerable populations. We assessed the efficacy of a multicomponent, web-enabled, school-based intervention that aims to improve school climate and reduce bullying (LINKlusive) relative to conventional practices (control condition). Methods: We conducted a cluster randomised controlled trial in primary and secondary schools in Madrid, Spain. The primary outcome measure was peer-reported bullying victimisation after the 12-week intervention (study endpoint). We analysed data using longitudinal mixed-effects models. The trial was registered with the ISRCTN registry (15719015). Findings: We included 20 schools (10 in each group); 6542 students participated at baseline; 6403 were assessed at study endpoint. After the intervention, there was a statistically significant reduction in bullying victimisation in both the intervention (OR 0.61, 95% CI [0.41, 0.90]) and control groups (OR 0.69, 95% CI [0.51, 0.92]), with no evidence of differences in the whole sample (OR 0.89, 95% CI [0.58, 1.36]; aOR 0.89, 95% CI [0.58, 1.37]). Subgroup analyses showed a statistically significant effect of LINKlusive on bullying victimisation in primary education (aOR 0.68, 95% CI [0.47, 0.98]). In students with peer-reported bullying victimisation at baseline, LINKlusive showed a statistically significant effect on depression (-1.43, 95% CI [-2.46, -0.40], adjusted standardised mean difference (SMD) -0.41) and quality of life (2.18, 95% CI [0.80, 3.56], adjusted SMD 0.45). Interpretation: LINKlusive could be effective in reducing bullying victimisation in primary school students. Sustainable whole-school interventions to promote mental health and reduce risk factors are warranted to improve outcomes in young people, especially in the early years of education. Funding: Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation.

Efficacy of a Web-Enabled, School-Based, Preventative Intervention to Reduce Bullying and Improve Mental Health in Children and Adolescents: Study Protocol for a Cluster Randomized Controlled Trial.

Introduction: Bullying is a major preventable risk factor for mental disorders. Available evidence suggests school-based interventions reduce bullying prevalence rates. This study aims to test the efficacy of a web-enabled, school-based, multicomponent anti-bullying intervention to prevent school bullying and to assess its effects on mental health and quality of life. Methods and analysis: Cluster randomized controlled trial conducted in 20 publicly funded primary and secondary schools in Madrid, Spain. Schools are randomly allocated to either the intervention arm (n = 10) or conventional practices arm (n = 10). The web-enabled intervention (LINKlusive) lasts ~12 weeks and consists of three main components: (i) an online training program for teachers and parents, (ii) a web-guided educational program for students, focusing on promoting respect for diversity, empathy, and social skill development, and (iii) a web-guided, teacher-delivered, targeted intervention program for bullying situations identified based on peer-support strategies and individual intervention for those involved (i.e., bullying victims and perpetrators). The primary objective is to compare differences between peer-reported bullying victimization in the intervention and control arms at the end of the intervention. Secondary outcome measures are additional measures of bullying victimization and perpetration, mental health symptoms, self-esteem, and quality of life. A follow-up assessment is conducted 1 year after the end of the intervention. Treatment effects will be tested using multilevel mixed models, adjusting for school-, classroom-, and student-related covariates. Considering the increased bullying rates in children with special educational needs, a specific subgroup analysis will test the efficacy of the intervention on bullying prevalence, mental health, and quality of life in this particularly vulnerable population. Ethics and Dissemination: The Deontology Commission of the School of Psychology, Universidad Complutense in Madrid, Spain reviewed the study protocol and granted ethical approval on 21st January 2019. The results of the trial will be disseminated in relevant peer-reviewed journals and at conferences in the field. Trial Registration Number: ISRCTN15719015.

Moderate pressure is essential for massage therapy effects.

Moderate pressure appears to be necessary for massage therapy effects. Studies comparing moderate and light pressure massage are reviewed and they suggest that growth and development are enhanced in infants and stress is reduced in adults, but only by moderate pressure massage. The stimulation of pressure receptors leads to increased vagal activity which, in turn, seems to mediate the diverse benefits noted for massage therapy.

Moderate pressure massage elicits a parasympathetic nervous system response.

Twenty healthy adults were randomly assigned to a moderate pressure or a light pressure massage therapy group, and EKGs were recorded during a 3-min baseline, during the 15-min massage period and during a 3-min postmassage period. EKG data were then used to derive the high frequency (HF), low frequency (LF) components of heart rate variability and the low to high frequency ratio (LF/HF) as noninvasive markers of autonomic nervous system activity. The participants who received the moderate pressure massage exhibited a parasympathetic nervous system response characterized by an increase in HF, suggesting increased vagal efferent activity and a decrease in the LF/HF ratio, suggesting a shift from sympathetic to parasympathetic activity that peaked during the first half of the massage period. On the other hand, those who received the light pressure massage exhibited a sympathetic nervous system response characterized by decreased HF and increased LF/HF.

Breakup distress in university students.

A sample of 192 university students who had experienced a recent breakup of a romantic relationship was divided into high versus low score groups based on the Breakup Distress Scale. Females had higher Breakup Distress Scale scores. The group who had high Breakup Distress Scale scores reported having less time since the breakup occurred, did not initiate the breakup, reported that the breakup was sudden and unexpected, felt rejected and betrayed, and had not yet found a new relationship. They also scored higher on the Intrusive Thoughts Scale, on the Difficulty Controlling Intrusive Thoughts Scale, on The Sleep Disturbance Scale, and on the depression (CES-D) and anxiety scales (STAI). In a regression analysis, the most important predictors of the Breakup Distress scores were the depression score (CES-D), the feeling of being betrayed by the breakup, shorter time since the breakup occurred, and a higher rating of the relationship prior to the breakup. This explained as much as 37% of the variance, suggesting that these factors are important contributors to relationship breakup distress.

Prenatal dysthymia versus major depression effects on maternal cortisol and fetal growth.

To determine differences between pregnant women diagnosed with Dysthymia versus Major Depression, depressed pregnant women (N=102) were divided by their diagnosis into Dysthymic (N=48) and Major Depression (N=54) groups and compared on self-report measures (depression, anxiety, anger, daily hassles and behavioral inhibition), on stress hormone levels (cortisol and norepinephrine), and on fetal measurements. The Major Depression group had more self-reported symptoms. However, the Dysthymic group had higher prenatal cortisol levels and lower fetal growth measurements (estimated weight, femur length, abdominal circumference) as measured at their first ultrasound (M=18 weeks gestation). Thus, depressed pregnant women with Dysthymia and Major Depression appeared to have different prenatal symptoms.

Lavender bath oil reduces stress and crying and enhances sleep in very young infants.

Very young infants were given a bath with or without lavender-scented bath oil. The mothers in the lavender bath oil group were more relaxed, smiled and touched their infants more during the bath. Their infants looked at them a greater percentage of the bath time and cried less and spent more time in deep sleep after bath. The cortisol levels of this group of mothers and infants significantly decreased, confirming the behavioral data showing increased relaxation of the mothers and their infants. These findings support a body of research showing the relaxing and sleep-inducing properties of lavender aroma.

Maternal depression effects on infant frontal EEG asymmetry.

In the space of two decades, research has moved from documenting the associations between frontal EEG asymmetry profiles and positive/negative affect, to later reinterpreting these as approach/withdrawal behavior patterns, to documenting individual differences in relationships between EEG and temperament and inhibition/uninhibition. The research has associated greater relative right frontal EEG activation with depression in adults and in depressed women and their infants. Stability of these EEG profiles has been noted from the neonatal stage to early infancy to the preschool years. More recent research assessed mood induction and physical intervention effects on these EEG activation patterns as well as their associated biochemistry and behavior.

Cortisol: the culprit prenatal stress variable.

Elevated prenatal cortisol has been associated with several negative conditions including aborted fetuses, excessive fetal activity, delayed fetal growth and development, prematurity and low birthweight, attention and temperament problems in infancy, externalizing problems in childhood, and psychopathology and chronic illness in adulthood. Given that maternal prenatal cortisol crosses the placenta and influences other aspects of the prenatal environment, these effects on the fetus and later development are not surprising. Cortisol would appear to be a mediating variable, resulting from prenatal stress in several forms including depression, anxiety, anger, and daily hassles. Cortisol effects are further complicated by its interaction with neurotransmitters such as norepinephrine, which may itself.

Development and clinical characterization of a novel 2041 liquid-filled ionization chambers array for high-resolution verification of radiotherapy treatments.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to present a novel 2041 liquid-filled ionization chamber array for high-resolution verification of radiotherapy treatments. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The prototype has 2041 ionization chambers of 2.5 × 2.5 mm2 area filled with isooctane. The detection elements are arranged in a central square grid of 43 × 43, totally covering an area of 107.5 × 107.5 mm2 . The central inline and cross-line are extended to 227 mm and the diagonals to 321 mm to be able to perform profile measurements of large fields. We have studied stability, pixel response uniformity, dose rate dependence, depth and field size dependence and anisotropy. We present results for output factors, tongue-and-groove, garden fence, small field profiles, irregular fields, and verification of dose planes of patient treatments. RESULTS: Comparison with other detectors used for small field dosimetry (SFD, CC13, microDiamond) has shown good agreement. Output factors measured with the device for square fields ranging from 10 × 10 to 100 × 100 mm2 showed relative differences within 1%. The response of the detector shows a strong dependence on the angle of incident radiation that needs to be corrected for. On the other hand, inter-pixel relative response variations in the 0.95-1.08 range have been found and corrected for. The application of the device for the verification of dose planes of several treatments has shown gamma passing rates above 97% for tolerances of 2% and 2 mm. The verification of other clinical fields, like small fields and irregular fields used in the commissioning of the TPS, also showed large passing rates. The verification of garden fence and tongue-and-groove fields was affected by volume-averaging effects. CONCLUSIONS: The results show that the liquid filled ionization chamber prototype here presented is appropriate for the verification of radiotherapy treatments with high spatial resolution. Recombination effects do not affect very much the verification of relative dose distributions. However, verification of absolute dose distributions may require normalization to a radiation field which is representative of the dose rate of the treatment delivered.

Ansiedad, depresión y soledad en cuidadores de personas con enfermedad crónica / Anxiety, depression and loneliness in caregivers of people with chronic illness

Objetivo principal: Determinar la relación entre ansiedad, depresión y soledad en cuidadores familiares de adultos mayores con enfermedades crónicas. Metodología: Diseño descriptivo correlacional. Se utilizó la Escala hospitalaria de ansiedad y depresión (α=.83) y la escala de Soledad (α=.95). Se hizo un cálculo de tamaño de muestra con programa G-Power 3.1.9.7 y se aplicó un muestreo a conveniencia. Se analizó con estadística descriptiva e inferencial, como Pearson y chi2. Resultados principales: Participaron 178 cuidadores familiares con una m de 45 años. Se encontró relación de la edad con la percepción de soledad (r=-.200) y el tiempo del cuidado con la puntuación de depresión (r=-.199) y ansiedad (r=-.179). Conclusión principal: Se encontró que, a mayor edad del cuidador, mayor es la percepción de soledad, y a mayor tiempo de cuidado, menor es la depresión y ansiedad, permitiendo implementar futuros programas de atención para mejorar la calidad de vida de los cuidadores.(AU)

Objective: To determine the relationship between anxiety, depression and loneliness in family caregivers of older adults with chronic diseases. Methodology: Correlational descriptive design. The Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (α=.83) and the Loneliness Scale (α=.95) were used. A sample size calculation was made with the G-Power 3.1.9.7 program and a convenience sample was applied. It was analyzed with descriptive and inferential statistics, such as Pearson and chi2. Main results: 178 family caregivers with an M of 45 years participated. A relationship was found between age and perception of loneliness (r=-.200) and care time with depression (r=-.199) and anxiety (r=-.179) scores. Main conclusion: It was found that, the older the caregiver, the greater the perception of loneliness and the longer the care time, the lower the depression and anxiety, allowing the implementation of future care programs to improve the quality of life of caregivers.(AU)

Maternal psychological distress, prenatal cortisol, and fetal weight.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to examine the effects of maternal psychological distress on estimated fetal weight during midgestation and explore the maternal hypothalamic-pituitary axis and sympathoadrenal dysregulation as potential risk factors for these effects. METHODS: Fetal ultrasound biometry measurements and maternal sociodemographic characteristics, emotional distress symptoms, and first morning urine samples were collected during a clinical ultrasound examination for a cross-sectional sample of 98 women who were between 16 and 29 weeks pregnant. Fetal weight was estimated from ultrasound biometry measurements; maternal emotional distress was assessed using the daily hassles (stress), Center for Epidemiologic Studies-Depression (depression), and State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (anxiety) scales; and urine samples were assayed for cortisol and norepinephrine levels. RESULTS: Correlation analyses revealed that both maternal psychological (daily hassles, depression, and anxiety) and biochemical (cortisol and norepinephrine) variables were negatively related to fetal biometry measurements and estimated fetal weight. A structural equation model further revealed that when the independent variance of maternal sociodemographic, psychological distress, and biochemistry measures were accounted for, prenatal cortisol was the only significant predictor of fetal weight. CONCLUSIONS: Women exhibiting psychological distress during pregnancy exhibit elevated cortisol levels during midgestation that are in turn related to lower fetal weight.

Mothers massaging their newborns with lotion versus no lotion enhances mothers' and newborns' sleep.

Sleep is frequently interrupted in newborns and their mothers. Massage therapy is noted to facilitate sleep in adults and infants. Infant massage has also been more effective with oil versus no oil. In this study 76 mothers of newborns were randomly assigned to a massage with lotion versus a massage without lotion group and a non-massage control group. The mothers were then taught a simple newborn massage and were asked to massage their newborns daily for 15min at bedtime for one month. The Brief Infant Sleep Questionnaire was adapted for newborns and for mothers, and the mothers completed the questionnaires on their newborns' and their own sleep behaviors (the same behaviors for both mothers and newborns). The 3 groups were compared on the mothers' and their newborns' sleep behavior changes from birth to one month. By the last day of the study, the lotion massage group versus the other two groups showed a shorter latency to sleep and longer sleep for the mothers and fewer nightwakings and longer sleep for their infants. This may relate to the lotion group mothers massaging their infants more frequently as the number of massages was correlated with the total time sleeping and negatively correlated with nightwakings for both the mothers and the infants on the last day of the study. And, the mothers' and the infants' sleep behaviors were significantly correlated.

Knee arthritis pain is reduced and range of motion is increased following moderate pressure massage therapy.

BACKGROUND: The literature on massage therapy effects on knee pain suggests that pain was reduced based on self-report, but little is known about range of motion (ROM) effects. METHODS: Medical School staff and faculty who had knee arthritis pain were randomly assigned to a moderate pressure massage therapy or a waitlist control group (24 per group). Self-reports included the WOMAC (pain, stiffness and function) and the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index. ROM and ROM-related pain were assessed before and after the last sessions. RESULTS: The massage group showed an immediate post-massage increase in ROM and a decrease in ROM-associated pain. On the last versus the first day of the study, the massage group showed greater increases in ROM and decreases in ROM-related pain as well as less self-reported pain and sleep disturbances than the waitlist control group. DISCUSSION: These data highlight the effectiveness of moderate pressure massage therapy for increasing ROM and lessening ROM-related pain and long-term pain and sleep disturbances.

[Glomus tumour of the lung: a case report and literature review]. / Tumor glómico en pulmón: reporte de un caso y revisión bibliográfica.

BACKGROUND: Glomus tumours are neoplasms arising from cells of the neuromyoarterial glomus bodies, which almost always occur in a subungual location. A lung location is extremely rare, with few cases reported in the literature. CLINICAL CASE: The case is presented of a 33 year-old male, with non-productive cough, dyspnoea at rest, intermittent fever, and mild pain in rib cage. A chest radiograph showed a consolidation in the left lung, and computed tomography revealed a lesion in the hilum that extended to the bronchus of the lingula obstructing, and causing post-obstructive pneumonia. A biopsy was obtained by rigid bronchoscopy biopsy, which showed a well circumscribed tumour constituted by intermediate-sized cells, and abundant cytoplasm that are arranged in a pattern surrounding numerous thin-walled blood vessels, with no pleomorphism, significant mitotic activity or necrosis. Immunohistochemistry revealed diffuse positivity with smooth muscle actin, vimentin, caldesmon; focal reactivity with desmin and CD117, CD34 highlights the vascular pattern. Ki67 proliferation rate was 1%. Synaptophysin, EMA and cytokeratin cocktail were negative, making the diagnosis of glomus tumour. CONCLUSIONS: Glomus tumours are rare neoplasms that usually appear in the dermis and subcutaneous tissue, where it is common to find glomus bodies. Occasionally glomus tumours can occur in extra-cutaneous sites such as the gastrointestinal tract, bone and respiratory system, with this case being a new case of rare lung location.

Patterns of brain electrical activity in infants of depressed mothers who breastfeed and bottle feed: the mediating role of infant temperament.

Successful breastfeeding involves a dyadic interaction between a mother and her infant. The present study was designed to examine the association between breastfeeding and temperament in infants of depressed mothers. Seventy-eight mothers, 31 who were depressed, and their infants participated. Depressed mothers who had stable breastfeeding patterns were less likely to have infants with highly reactive temperaments. Multivariate analyses of variances (MANOVAs) showed that infants of depressed mothers who breastfed did not show the frontal asymmetry patterns, i.e., left frontal hypoactivity, previously reported. Moreover, breastfeeding stability, even in depressed mothers, was related to more positive dyadic interactions. Finally, a model was supported, in which the effects of maternal depression on infant feeding are mediated by infant frontal EEG asymmetry and infant temperament. These findings could provide a foundation for developing intervention techniques, employing breastfeeding promotion and support, directed toward attenuating the affective and physiological dysregulation already noted in infants of depressed mothers.