How Perceived Sensory Dimensions of Forest Park Are Associated with Stress Restoration in Beijing?

A growing number of studies suggest that the perceived sensory dimensions (PSDs) of green space are associated with stress restoration offered by restorative environment. However, there is little known about PSDs and stress restoration as well as their relationship to forest park. To fill this gap, an on-site questionnaire survey was conducted in three forest parks in Beijing, as a result of which a total number of 432 completed responses were collected and analyzed. The mean values of PSDs were used to represent PSDs of forest park. Using independent sample t-test and ANOVA, this study analyzed the individual characteristics that affected PSDs and stress restoration. Linear mixed model was used to identify the relationship between PSDs and stress restoration of forest park, which took into account the interactions of stress level and PSDs. The results showed that: (1) the perceived degree of PSDs in forest park from strong to weak was Serene, Space, Nature, Rich in species, Prospect, Refuge, Social and Culture, which varied with visitors’ gender, age, level of stress, visit frequency, activity intensity, visit duration and commuting time; (2) in PSDs, Refuge, Serene, Social and Prospect had significantly positive effects on the stress restoration of forest parks (3) there was no significant difference in the effect of the eight PSDs on the stress restoration between different stress groups; (4) stress restoration was influenced by visitors’ gender, age, visit frequency and visit duration. These findings can offer references for managers to improve the health benefits of forest park for visitors, and can enrich the knowledge about PSDs and stress restoration.

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Analysis of the Psychological States of the Scientific Expeditioners in Extreme Environment

10.21203/rs.3.rs-1023330/v1 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Jiayi Wang ◽

Haibin Li ◽

Lihong Qu ◽

Tao WANG ◽

Di GAN ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Personality Traits ◽

Mixed Model ◽

Linear Mixed Model ◽

Coping Styles ◽

Extreme Environment ◽

Individual Characteristics ◽

Subjective Sleep Quality ◽

Polar Environment ◽

Significant Difference ◽

The Relationship

Abstract Background: To investigate the relationship among individuals’ mood, sleep and personality traits in a long-term polar environment.Methods: A total of 85 Arctic expedition team members were recruited in this study. In addition to personality assessment, they also completed assessments of anxiety, depression, and sleep at baseline, the second and eighth week. The rank sum test was used to compare the differences between mood and sleep at different time periods, and the generalized linear mixed model was used to explore the relations between personality and mood, as well as sleep.Results: The PHQ-9 scores showed a statistically significant difference between baseline and week 8. The PSQI scores showed a significant difference between baseline and week 2. At the same time, there was a significant difference between those who are married and those being single. Single individuals scored significantly lower on GAD-7 than married ones. The relationship between personality traits and PHQ-9 scores was statistically significant and individuals’ coping styles have an impact on their subjective sleep quality, sleep disturbance and daytime dysfunction. Conclusion: In the polar environment, over time, people's mood and sleep will be affected, and that is related to individual characteristics, personality and coping styles.

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The nasopharyngeal, ruminal, and vaginal microbiota and the core taxa shared across these microbiomes in virgin yearling heifers exposed to divergent in utero nutrition during their first trimester of gestation and in pregnant beef heifers in response to mineral supplementation

10.1101/2021.06.03.446997 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Samat Amat ◽

Devin B Holman ◽

Kaycie Schmidt ◽

Ana Clara B Menezes ◽

Friederike Baumgaertner ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Mixed Model ◽

Linear Mixed Model ◽

First Trimester ◽

Nervous System Development ◽

Vaginal Microbiota ◽

Rrna Gene ◽

Beef Heifers ◽

Mineral Supplement ◽

Alpha And Beta Diversity ◽

Significant Difference

Emerging evidence has indicated that microbial transmission from the bovine dam to her fetus may take place before birth, and that the maternal microbiota during pregnancy modulates programming of fetal metabolic and nervous system development, highlighting the potential and extended role of the maternal microbiome in calf health and development. In the present study, we characterized the nasopharyngeal, ruminal and vaginal microbiota from two cohorts of beef heifers managed at the same location: 1) virgin yearling heifers (9 months old) born from dams received gestational diets which resulted in low (LG, n = 22) or medium (MG, n = 23) weight gain during the first 84 days of gestation; and 2) pregnant replacement heifers that received a vitamin and mineral supplement (VTM, n = 17) or not (Control, n = 15) during the first 6 months of gestation. Nasopharyngeal and vaginal swabs as well as ruminal fluid were collected from both cohorts and the microbiota of each sample was assessed using 16S rRNA gene sequencing. In addition to the comparison between treatment groups within each cohort, the similarity of the microbiota of the three sample types were evaluated, and shared taxa amongst these communities were identified. The bacterial genera present in the rumen and vagina that can influence methanogenic archaeal genera were predicted using a stepwise-selected generalized linear mixed model. No significant difference was observed in the alpha and beta diversity in any of the nasopharyngeal, ruminal and vaginal microbiota between LG and MG offspring virgin heifers, or between the control and VTM pregnant heifers (p > 0.05). Subtle compositional changes in the vaginal microbiota in yearling heifers, and in the nasopharyngeal and ruminal microbiota of pregnant heifers were detected in response to treatments. Forty-one archaeal and bacterial OTUs were shared by over 60% of all samples from both virgin and pregnant heifers. Two taxa within the Methanobrevibacter genus were identified as core taxa and this genus was more relatively abundant in pregnant heifers compared to virgin heifers. Among the 25 top genera, Prevotella and Prevotella UCG-003 (negative) and Christensenellaceae R-7 group (positive) were predicted to have a significant effect on ruminal Methanobrevibacter spp. The results of this study indicate that there is little impact of divergent gestational nutrition during the first trimester on the calf microbiome at 9 months postnatal, and that VTM supplementation during pregnancy may not alter the maternal microbiome. This study provides evidence that there are several microbial taxa, including methanogenic archaea, that are shared across the respiratory, gastrointestinal, and reproductive tracts, suggesting the need for a holistic evaluation of the bovine microbiota when considering potential maternal sources for seeding calves with pioneer microbiota.

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Abstract NS10: Patients with Mild and Moderate Stroke Have Frequent, Severe, and Persistent Impairment in Information Processing Speed

Stroke ◽

10.1161/str.48.suppl_1.ns10 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 48 (suppl_1) ◽

Author(s):

Susan Alderman ◽

Terri Armstrong ◽

Geri Wood ◽

Sean Savitz ◽

Joshua Breier

Keyword(s):

Information Processing ◽

Processing Speed ◽

Memory Impairment ◽

Mixed Model ◽

Linear Mixed Model ◽

Stroke Recovery ◽

Stroke Severity ◽

Information Processing Speed ◽

Significant Difference ◽

Mild Stroke

Background: One year after stroke 50-70% of survivors have information processing speed (IPS) impairment. IPS is a complex, elemental cognitive function with close but separate relationships with memory, attention, executive function, reading, and writing. IPS impairment can be devastating, even without physical deficits. Hypothesis: The frequency and severity of IPS impairment in patients with acute stroke is unrelated to stroke severity. Methods: In a longitudinal study, 30 adults with acute mild (NIHSS <5) versus moderate stroke (NIHSS 5-12) were assessed for IPS and memory impairments at three time points (< 72 hours, Week 3, and Week 12). The Symbol Digit Modalities Test (SDMT) was the primary IPS instrument, scores below the norm (51-62 points) indicate impairment. Results: Using linear mixed model regression, no significant difference was noted between patients with mild and moderate stroke in frequency and severity of IPS impairment (p=0.2). All patients had baseline abnormal SDMT scores, improving 21% by Week 12 (p=.005) with one patient scoring as unimpaired (51 points). Patients with mild stroke (n=18) had baseline scores on average 53% lower than SDMT norm (mean score 24 (12), [95% CI] 6 [18, 30], Standard Error (SEM) 3) and 32% lower at Week 12 (mean 34 (11), [95% CI] 5 [29, 40], SEM 3). Patients with moderate stroke (n=12) had baseline SDMT scores 60% lower than norm (mean 21 (11), [95% CI] 6 [15, 27], SEM 3) and 39% lower by Week 12 (mean 31 (12), [95% CI] 7 [25, 38], SEM 3). Memory impairment at enrollment (<72 hours post stroke) was noted in 100% of patients with moderate stroke and 78% of patients with mild stroke; at Week 12 the frequency of memory impairment was equal in both groups (67%). Conclusion: IPS were critically impaired, in both mild and moderate stroke, with minimal spontaneous recovery at Week 12. IPS impairment is clinically significant during stroke recovery. IPS impairment should be considered in the planning of healthcare of stroke victims even with mild stroke.

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The northernmost haulout site of South American sea lions and fur seals in the western South Atlantic

Scientific Reports ◽

10.1038/s41598-020-76755-2 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 10 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Natália Procksch ◽

M. Florencia Grandi ◽

Paulo Henrique Ott ◽

Karina Groch ◽

Paulo A. C. Flores ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Mixed Model ◽

Linear Mixed Model ◽

Elephant Seal ◽

Southern Elephant Seal ◽

South American ◽

Mirounga Leonina ◽

Sea Lions ◽

Significant Difference ◽

Northern Portion ◽

Kernel Density Analysis

AbstractWe present estimates of the seasonal and spatial occupation by pinnipeds of the Wildlife Refuge of Ilha dos Lobos (WRIL), based on aerial photographic censuses. Twenty aerial photographic censuses were analysed between July 2010 and November 2018. To assess monthly differences in the numbers of pinnipeds in the WRIL we used a Generalized Linear Mixed Model. Spatial analysis was carried out using Kernel density analysis of the pinnipeds on a grid plotted along the WRIL. Subadult male South American sea lions (Otaria flavescens) were the most abundant pinniped in the WRIL. Potential females of this species were also recorded during half of the census. The maximum number of pinnipeds observed in the WRIL was 304 in September 2018, including an unexpected individual southern elephant seal (Mirounga leonina), and a high number of South American fur seal yearlings (Arctocephalus australis). However, there was no statistically significant difference in counts between months. In all months analysed, pinnipeds were most often found concentrated in the northern portion of the island, with the highest abundances reported in September. This study confirms the importance of the WRIL as a haulout site for pinnipeds in Brazil, recommends that land research and recreational activities occur in months when no pinnipeds are present, and encourages a regulated marine mammal-based tourism during winter and spring months.

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Appetite-stimulating effect of gabapentin vs mirtazapine in healthy cats post-ovariectomy

Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery ◽

10.1177/1098612x20916391 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 22 (12) ◽

pp. 1176-1183

Author(s):

Marco Fantinati ◽

Julien Trnka ◽

Amélia Signor ◽

Séverine Dumond ◽

Géraldine Jourdan ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Placebo Group ◽

Food Intake ◽

Mixed Model ◽

Linear Mixed Model ◽

Repeated Measure ◽

Mixed Model Analysis ◽

Treatment Groups ◽

Significant Difference ◽

Post Hoc ◽

Difference Test

Objectives The aim of the study was to evaluate the appetite-stimulating effect of gabapentin by comparing it with mirtazapine in healthy cats in the first 8 h after ovariectomy surgery. Methods This double-masked, placebo-controlled, prospective clinical trial included 60 healthy cats presented to the hospital for ovariectomy: 20 received gabapentin, 21 received mirtazapine and 19 received a placebo immediately before and 6 h after surgery. Food was offered at 2, 4, 6 and 8 h post-ovariectomy. After each meal, food intake was measured. Data were analysed using repeated-measure ANOVA and a linear mixed-model analysis. Post-hoc Tukey’s honest significant difference test was performed for multiple comparisons. Results Food intake increased in both treatment groups vs placebo. No statistically significant difference was found between cats treated with gabapentin or mirtazapine. Conclusions and relevance Cats receiving gabapentin ate more than cats in the placebo group. Thirty percent of cats in the gabapentin group covered their resting energy requirements, while none of the cats in the placebo group did. Gabapentin and mirtazapine produced similar effects on food intake.

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Exercise-induced hypoalgesia in women with varying levels of menstrual pain

Scandinavian Journal of Pain ◽

10.1515/sjpain-2018-0020 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 18 (2) ◽

pp. 303-310 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Mervyn Travers ◽

Penny Moss ◽

William Gibson ◽

Dana Hince ◽

Sheree Yorke ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Fixed Effects ◽

Mixed Model ◽

Linear Mixed Model ◽

Random Effect ◽

Activity Levels ◽

Menstrual Pain ◽

Isometric Handgrip ◽

Pressure Pain Thresholds ◽

Significant Difference ◽

Exercise Induced

Abstract Background and aims: Exercise-induced hypoalgesia (EIH) is a well-established phenomenon in pain-free individuals that describes a decrease in pain sensitivity after an acute bout of exercise. The EIH response has been demonstrated to be sub-optimal in the presence of persisting pain. Menstrual pain is a common recurrent painful problem with many women experiencing high levels of pain each cycle. However, the EIH response has not been examined in a cohort of women with high levels of menstrual pain. This research aimed to examine whether EIH manifests differently in women with varying levels of menstrual pain. The primary hypothesis was that women with high levels of menstrual pain would demonstrate compromised EIH. Secondary aims were to explore relationships between EIH and emotional state, sleep quality, body mass index (BMI) or physical activity levels. Methods: Pressure pain thresholds (PPT) were measured in 64 participants using a digital handheld algometer before and after a submaximal isometric-handgrip exercise. EIH index was compared between low (VAS 0–3), moderate (VAS 4–7) and high (VAS 8–10) pain groups, using a linear mixed model analysis with participant as a random effect, and site, menstrual pain category and the interaction between the two, as fixed effects. Results: EIH was consistently induced in all groups. However, there was no statistically significant difference between the pain groups for EIH index (p=0.835) or for any co-variates (p>0.05). Conclusions: EIH was not found to differ between women who report regular low, moderate or high levels of menstrual pain, when measured at a point in their menstrual cycle when they are pain free. Implications: This study provides insight that EIH does not vary in women with differing levels of menstrual pain when they are not currently experiencing pain. The current findings indicate that, although menstrual pain can involve regular episodes of high pain levels, it may not be associated with the same central nervous system dysfunctions as seen in sustained chronic pain conditions.

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Effects of Exercise Restriction on Patients With Anomalous Aortic Origin of a Coronary Artery

World Journal for Pediatric and Congenital Heart Surgery ◽

10.1177/2150135116674444 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 8 (1) ◽

pp. 18-24 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

Matthew D. Elias ◽

James Meza ◽

Brian W. McCrindle ◽

Julie A. Brothers ◽

Stephen Paridon ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Coronary Artery ◽

Exercise Capacity ◽

Repeated Measures ◽

Mixed Model ◽

Linear Mixed Model ◽

Multivariable Analysis ◽

Young Patients ◽

Significant Difference ◽

Exercise Restriction ◽

Over Time

Background: Management of young patients with anomalous aortic origin of a coronary artery (AAOCA) may involve exercise restriction. We sought to identify the association of exercise restriction with changes over time in body mass index (BMI) and exercise capacity in this cohort. Methods: We performed a retrospective review of patients with AAOCA seen at The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia between January 1, 1998, and August 31, 2014. Linear mixed model repeated-measures analysis assessed changes in BMI and exercise capacity. Results: We included 72 patients with a median age at presentation of 12.6 years (interquartile range: 10.1-15.8) and mean follow-up of 3.6 ± 3.0 years. The majority had an anomalous right coronary artery (71%) and interarterial ± intramural coronary course (90%). Surgery was performed in 54%, more often in those with interarterial/intramural course ( P < .001) and symptoms ( P = .003). Most patients (82%) were exercise-restricted on presentation, and restricted patients were older than those who were not restricted ( P = .01). There was no significant difference between restricted and nonrestricted patients in initial BMI z scores, percentage of patients with BMI over 85th percentile (26%) or exercise capacity variables. In univariable analysis, exercise restriction over time was not associated with change in BMI z score ( P = .25) or change in exercise variables. Restriction was not associated with significant change in these variables in multivariable analysis. Conclusions: Although further investigation is warranted to determine the degree of adherence to exercise restriction, the recommendation of restriction alone is not associated with increasing BMI or decreasing exercise performance in the short-term.

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Assessment of Macular Function in Patients With Non-Vascularized Pigment Epithelial Detachment

10.21203/rs.3.rs-127619/v1 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Ryo Asaoka ◽

Tatsuya Inoue ◽

Tatsuaki Amari ◽

Kayoko Komatsu ◽

Motoshi Yamamoto ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Optical Coherence Tomography ◽

Visual Function ◽

Mixed Model ◽

Linear Mixed Model ◽

Retinal Pigment ◽

Age Related Macular Degeneration ◽

Retinal Sensitivity ◽

Optical Coherence ◽

Pigment Epithelial ◽

Significant Difference

Abstract Non-vascularized pigment epithelial detachments (PED) are usually associated with dry age-related macular degeneration (AMD). In this study, we aimed to investigate the correlation between visual function and morphologic parameters. Seventeen eyes of eleven patients with non-vascularized AMD were enrolled. In addition to conventional optical coherence tomography (OCT), polarization-sensitive optical coherence tomography (PS-OCT) measurements were performed by evaluating the regularity of retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) entropy within the PED area. Retinal sensitivity was measured with MP-3 microperimetry, and retinal sensitivities within (RSin) and outside (RSout) the PED area were calculated. The relationship between OCT parameters and visual function was analyzed. As a result, there was a significant difference between the RSin and RSout (p < 0.001, Wilcoxon signed rank test). Moreover, RSin was significantly related to logMAR VA (p = 0.033, linear mixed model). The regularity of RPE entropy was significantly related to visual acuity and RSin (p = 0.00038, p = 0.031, linear mixed model), although neither the height nor area of PED correlated with visual function. Our results suggest that retinal sensitivity is significantly deteriorated within the PED area and RPE entropy measured with PS-OCT was closely related to visual function in eyes with non-vascularized PED.

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Association of county perinatal resources and gestational weight gain in West Virginia, United States

BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth ◽

10.1186/s12884-019-2650-7 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 19 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Wilson A. Koech ◽

Christa L. Lilly

Keyword(s):

Weight Gain ◽

West Virginia ◽

Gestational Weight Gain ◽

Mixed Model ◽

Infant Health ◽

Linear Mixed Model ◽

Smoking During Pregnancy ◽

Gestational Weight ◽

Excessive Gestational Weight Gain ◽

Significant Difference

Abstract Background Inappropriate (inadequate or excessive) gestational weight gain (GWG) is of great concern to maternal, fetal and infant health. Different maternal and fetal risk factors are associated with GWG, but little is known about a more distal risk factor: inadequate county-level perinatal resources. Therefore, the study aim was to investigate GWG in women living in counties with below average perinatal resources in comparison with their counterparts living in counties with above average perinatal resources. Methods Retrospective study of 406,792,010–2011 West Virginia births in 55 counties. The outcome was GWG and the main predictor was county perinatal resources. Hierarchical linear mixed model was used to investigate the association of county perinatal resources and GWG. Results County perinatal resources was associated with GWG (p = 0.009), controlling for important covariates. Below average county perinatal resources was not significantly associated with a decrease in mean GWG (M: − 5.29 lbs., 95% CI: − 13.94, 3.35, p = 0.2086), in comparison with counties with above average county perinatal resources. There was significant difference between average, and above average county perinatal resources (M: − 17.20 lbs., 95% CI: − 22.94, − 11.47, p < 0.0001), controlling for smoking during pregnancy and other covariates. Conclusions Average county perinatal resources was associated with reduced mean GWG relative to above average county perinatal resources, but not below average county perinatal resources. However, this could be due to the small number of counties with above average resources as the effect was in the hypothesized direction. This highlights one of the challenges in county perinatal resource studies.

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Evaluation of the neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) during neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NC) for muscle-invasive bladder cancer (MIBC) and correlation with pathologic response to treatment.

Journal of Clinical Oncology ◽

10.1200/jco.2014.32.4_suppl.351 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 32 (4_suppl) ◽

pp. 351-351

Author(s):

Jo-An Seah ◽

Raya Leibowitz-Amit ◽

Eshetu G. Atenafu ◽

Nimira Alimohamed ◽

Anthony Michael Joshua ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Mixed Model ◽

Linear Mixed Model ◽

Clinical Stage ◽

Continuous Variable ◽

Response To Treatment ◽

Neutrophil Lymphocyte Ratio ◽

Significant Difference ◽

Receiver Operator Curve Analysis ◽

Muscle Invasive ◽

Inflammatory Burden

351 Background: Cancer associated inflammation, as measured by markers such as NLR, appears to impact on outcome. In MIBC, an elevated NLR> 2.5 prior to radical cystectomy (RC) is associated with a poorer prognosis (Gondo, 2011). We evaluated the pattern of change in NLR before (pre-NC), during (mid-NC) and after NC (pre-RC) and correlated this with pathological outcomes, to determine if NLR is of predictive value in this setting. Methods: AllMIBC pts treated with NC and RC between Jan 2005 – April 2013 were evaluated. Standard demographic, disease-related and biochemical parameters (Hb, LDH, albumin) and NLR were analyzed with univariate and multivariable logistic regression. The continuous variable pre-RC NLR was dichotomized using a cut-off of 2.5 based on area under the receiver-operator-curve analysis. Generalized linear mixed model was used to account for the time trend and co-linearity when assessing NLR change between pts who achieved pathological response (pathR) and non-responders. Results: Twenty-three patients were evaluable. Age, gender, ECOG, smoking, clinical stage, and hydronephrosis did not significantly predict for pathR. Pre-NC and mid-NC NLR did not predict for pathR. Pre-RC NLR <2.5 showed a trend towards association with pathR (p=0.05). The pattern of NLR change between responders and non-responders was significantly different (p=0.039). Non-responders exhibited a transient decrease in NLR during NC, followed by an increase in NLR pre-RC above its baseline; responders exhibited a sustained decrease in NLR which remained suppressed until RC (Figure: http://bit.ly/1bYC2wR). Conclusions: While there was no significant difference in pre-NC NLR between responders and non-responders, there was a significant difference in the pattern of NLR change during NC. We speculate that a sustained decrease in inflammatory burden during NC, as manifested by NLR, is associated with pathR. Despite limitations of a small retrospective study, our results may have potential translational and clinical implications.

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