Longitudinal variability in the urinary microbiota of healthy premenopausal women and the relation to neighboring microbial communities: A pilot study

Background The understanding of longitudinal changes in the urinary microbiota of healthy women and its relation to intestinal microbiota is limited. Methods From a cohort of 15 premenopausal women without known urogenital disease or current symptoms, we collected catheter urine (CU), vaginal and periurethral swabs, and fecal samples on four visits over six months. Additionally, ten participants provided CU and midstream urine (MU) to assess comparability. Urine was subjected to expanded culture. 16S rRNA gene sequencing was performed on all urine, fecal, and selected vaginal and periurethral samples. Sequence reads were processed (DADA2 pipeline) and analyzed using QIIME 2 and R. Results Relative abundances of urinary microbiota were variable over 6–18 months. The degree of intraindividual variability of urinary microbiota was higher than that found in fecal samples. Still, nearly half of the observed beta diversity of all urine samples could be attributed to differences between volunteers (R2 = 0.48, p = 0.001). After stratification by volunteer, time since last sexual intercourse was shown to be a factor significantly contributing to beta diversity (R2 = 0.14, p = 0.001). We observed a close relatedness of urogenital microbial habitats and a clear distinction from intestinal microbiota in the overall betadiversity analysis. Microbiota compositions derived from MU differed only slightly from CU compositions. Within this analysis of low-biomass samples, we identified contaminating sequences potentially stemming from sequencing reagents. Conclusions Results from our longitudinal cohort study confirmed the presence of a rather variable individual urinary microbiota in premenopausal women. These findings from catheter urine complement previous observations on temporal dynamics in voided urine. The higher intraindividual variability of urinary microbiota as compared to fecal microbiota will be a challenge for future studies investigating associations with urogenital diseases and aiming at identifying pathogenic microbiota signatures.

Intra-individual changes in 3x2 achievement goals, friendship goals, motivational regulations and consequences in physical education

Introduction: This research examines intraindividual changes in 3x2 achievement goals in physical education classes during one semester, as well as the relationship of these changes with those in other motivational and outcome variables. Method: A total of 334 (178 boys and 156 girls) high school students (M = 13.12, SD = 1.05) completed five questionnaires in two different school years. Results: The results of the true intraindividual change model (TIC) provided unequivocal support for the separation of task-based and self-based goals, as well as the structures based on both valences of approach and avoidance. They also showed different intraindividual change patterns in the 3x2 achievement goals, indicating a progression in the stability of the goals depending on their definition. Intraindividual variability in achievement goals is directly related to intraindividual variability in dependent variables, with the task-approach goals TIC being the most adaptive. Conclusions: These goals should be prioritized.

How much does sleep vary from night-to-night? A quantitative summary of intraindividual variability in sleep by age, gender, and racial/ethnic identity across eight-pooled datasets

Study Objectives: Habitual sleep duration and efficiency vary widely by age, gender, and racial/ethnic identity. Despite growing research on the importance of night-to-night, intraindividual variability (IIV) in sleep, few studies have examined demographic differences in sleep IIV. The present study describes typical sleep IIV overall and by demographics among healthy sleepers. Methods: Eight international data sets of healthy sleepers (N = 2404; 26,121 total days of sleep data) were synthesized to examine age, gender, and racial/ethnic identity differences in sleep IIV measured via diaries, actigraphy, and electroencephalography. Sleep IIV estimates included the intraindividual standard deviation (iSD), root mean square of successive differences (RMSSD), coefficient of variation (CV), and a validated Bayesian Variability Model (BVM). Results: Sleep duration and efficiency varied widely from night-to-night within people (duration iSD: 67.04–85.80 minutes; duration RMSSD: 91.93–118.91 minutes; duration CV: 18.57–19.19%; duration BVM: 48.60–60.60 minutes; efficiency iSD: 5.18–6.46%, efficiency RMSSD: 7.01–8.44%; efficiency CV: 5.80–8.14%; efficiency BVM: 3.40–4.16%). Different metrics of IIV were strongly correlated for sleep duration (rs .58–.97) and sleep efficiency (rs .53–1.00). Younger adults had more IIV in diary and actigraphy sleep duration. Gender differences were inconsistent. White and non-Hispanic/Latinx adults had less IIV in sleep duration and efficiency compared to racial/ethnic minority groups. Conclusions: Even among healthy sleepers, sleep varies widely from night-to-night. Like mean sleep, there also may be disparities in IIV in sleep by demographic characteristics. Study results help characterize normative values of sleep IIV in healthy sleepers.