Evaluation of a method to measure long term cortisol levels

IntroductionElevated levels of cortisol are known to induce various symptoms and diseases, e.g. abdominal obesity, type 2 diabetes, osteoporosis and cardiovascular disease. Measuring serum, saliva and urine cortisol is limited to one time point. Measurement of cortisol in scalp hair is a recently developed method to measure long term cortisol levels. The aim of this study was to investigate whether hair cortisol is a feasible parameter to measure cortisol exposure.ExperimentalWe collected hair samples of 195 healthy individuals, 9 hypercortisolemic and one hypocortisolemic patient and measured hair cortisol levels. Cortisol was extracted from scalp hair using methanol and cortisol levels were measured using a salivary ELISA kit. Measurement of waist and hip circumferences and blood pressure was performed in 46 healthy subjects.ResultsWe found a positive correlation between hair cortisol and both waist circumference (r = 0.392, p = 0.007) and waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) (r = 0.425, p = 0.003). No correlations were found between hair cortisol levels and BMI, blood pressure or age. There was no decline in cortisol levels in six consecutive hair segments. Hair cortisol levels were elevated in patients with known hypercortisolism (p < 0.0001).ConclusionsHair cortisol was positively correlated with WHR, suggesting that hair cortisol reflects cortisol exposure at tissue level, which was also supported by elevated hair cortisol levels in hypercortisolemic patients and concordance between hair cortisol levels and clinical disease course. Cortisol levels in hair are slightly influenced by hair treatment but not by natural hair colour, use of hair products, gender or age.     

The first,second, and third most demanding passages of play in professional soccer: a longitudinal study

The study aimed to compare the physical demands required during the first, second, and third most demanding passages (MDP) of play considering the effect of playing position, type of passage, and passage duration. A longitudinal study for three mesocycles was conducted in a professional soccer team competing in LaLiga123. Tracking systems collected total distance covered (DIS), high-speed running distance (HSRD), sprinting distance (SPD), total of high-intensity accelerations (ACC_HIGH), and total of high-intensity decelerations (DEC_HIGH). The results confirmed that a significant effect of the type of passage (first, second or third MDP of play) on DIS (F_{(1.24, 178.89)} = 115.53; p = 0.01; ηp² = 0.45), HSRD (F_{(1.35, 195.36)} = 422.82; p = 0.01; ηp² = 0.75), SPD (F_{(1.43, 206.59)} = 299.99; p = 0.01; ηp² = 0.68), ACC_HIGH (F_{(1.45, 209.38)} = 268.59; p = 0.01; ηp² = 0.65), and DEC_HIGH (F_{(1.45, 209.38)} = 324.88; p = 0.01; ηp² = 0.69) was found. In addition, a significant interaction between playing position, type and duration of the passage was observed in DIS (F_{(12.60, 453.47)} = 1.98; p = 0.02; ηp² = 0.05) and ACC_HIGH (F_{(13.99, 503.78)} = 1.92; p = 0.03; ηp² = 0.06). In conclusion, significant differences in physical demands between the first, second, and third MDP of play were observed. However, there were some cases (DIS and ACC_HIGH) in which no significant differences were found between these passages. Therefore, coaches should consider not only the magnitude of these peak intensity periods (e.g., distance covered per minute) but also the number of passages that players may experience during match play.     

Worst case scenario match analysis and contextual variables in professional soccer players: a longitudinal study

This study aimed to describe the worst-case scenarios (WCS) of professional soccer players by playing position in different durations and analyse WCS considering different contextual variables (match half, match location and match outcome). A longitudinal study was conducted in a professional soccer team. Data were collected from different WCS durations in the total distance (TD), high-speed running distance (HSRD), and sprinting distance (SPD). A mixed analysis of variance was performed to compare different WCS durations between playing positions and contextual variables, making pairwise comparisons by Bonferroni post hoc test. Positional differences were found for TD (p < 0.01, ω_p² = 0.02), HSRD (p < 0.01, ω_p² = 0.01) and SPD (p < 0.01, ω_p² = 0.02). There was a significant interaction when comparing WCS by match half in TD (F = 6.1, p < 0.01, ω_p² = 0.07) but no significant differences in HSRD (p = 0.403, ω_p² = 0) or SPD (p = 0.376, ω_p² = 0). A significant interaction was identified when comparing WCS by match location in TD (F = 51.5, p < 0.01, ω_p² = 0.14), HSRD (F = 19.15, p < 0.01, ω_p² = 0.05) and SPD (F = 8.95, p < 0.01, ω_p² = 0.01) as well as WCS by match outcome in TD (F = 36.4, p < 0.01, ω_p² = 0.08), HSRD (F = 13.6, p < 0.01, ω_p² = 0.04) and SPD (F = 7.4, p < 0.01, ω_p² = 0.02). Positional differences exist in TD, HSRD, and SPD in match-play WCS, and contextual variables such as match half, match location and match outcome have a significant impact on the WCS of professional soccer players.     

Sex,Diet, and the Social Environment: Factors Influencing Hair Cortisol Concentration in Free-Ranging Black Bears (Ursus americanus)

Increasingly, measures of glucocorticoid levels (e.g., cortisol), key components of the neuroendocrine stress axis, are being used to measure past hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) activity to index psychological and physiological stress exhibited by wildlife for assessing individual and population-level well-being. However, many intrinsic and extrinsic factors affect HPA activity in animals. Using American black bears (Ursus americanus; n = 116) as an ecological model and hair cortisol concentration (HCC) as an integrative measure of past HPA activity, we evaluated the influence of diet, sex and the social environment on black bear HCC in a free-ranging population that spanned adjoining ecoregions with differing densities of potential conspecific and heterospecific competitors. HCC varied by sex, with female HCC ranging from 0.6 to 10.7 pg/mg (median = 4.5 ± 1.2 mean absolute deviation [MAD]) and male HCC ranging from 0.5 to 35.1 pg/mg (median = 6.2 ± 2.6 MAD). We also observed a three-way interaction among sex, δ¹⁴C and ecoregion, which may indicate that some differences in HCC between female and male black bears results from variability in the nutritional needs of larger-bodied males relative to smaller-bodied females, slight differences in food resources use between ecoregions as well as sex-based differences regarding the social environment. Once we understand what drives sex-specific differences in HCC, HCC may aid our understanding of the physiological responses by bears and other wildlife to diverse environmental challenges.     

Physiological and Behavioral Effects of Capture Darting on Red Colobus Monkeys (Procolobus rufomitratus) with a Comparison to Chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes) Predation

Understanding how human activities affect wild primates is critical to the design of effective conservation strategies. Despite this need, few studies have examined the physiological and behavioral effects of field research methods in the wild. Here, we examine how the stress response, i.e., fecal cortisol, and behavior of Ugandan red colobus monkeys (Procolobus rufomitratus) in Kibale National Park are affected by chemical immobilization and collaring, i.e., capture. We compare this anthropogenic stressor to a naturally occurring stressor: a chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes) predation attack. Two adult males had peak cortisol levels of 283 and 284 ng/g 2–3 d after capture, which were 190% and 182% above their baseline levels, i.e., the first sample taken immediately after capture, but these peak levels did not remain elevated. Using long-term data, i.e., 11 mo of data, we found no difference in fecal cortisol levels between 10 darted and collared individuals and 14 individuals living in the same social group that were not darted or collared. For the chimpanzee attack, peak fecal cortisol levels (147–211% above baseline) were recorded 1–4 d after the attack, but these levels also did not remain elevated for long. These data show that darting and collaring and a chimpanzee predation attempt caused an acute stress response, but neither leads to sustained elevated cortisol levels. Thus, in situations in which research contributes significantly to the conservation of primates and cannot be conducted noninvasively, capture darting appears to be a useful technique with minimal long-term effects as long as injury and mortality are avoided. However, we encourage researchers to make similar physiological and behavioral comparisons in other field studies using similar techniques to provide a better understanding of the effects of research practices on the stress physiology and social behavior of wild primates.     

The Effect of Body Region on Hair Cortisol Concentration in Common Marmosets (Callithrix jacchus)

Common marmosets (Callithrix jacchus) are a valuable research model for the study of neuroscience and the biologic impact of aging due to their adaptivity, physiologic characteristics, and ease of handling for experimental manipulations. Quantification of cortisol in hair provides a noninvasive, retrospective biomarker of hypothalamics-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis activity and information on animal wellbeing, including responses to environmental and social stimuli. To obtain valid and reliable measurements of long-term HPA activity, we investigated the variability of cortisol concentration in the hair depending on the body region of marmosets. Hair was collected from the back and tail of 9 adult common marmosets during annual health screenings (male n = 3; female n = 6) and these samples were analyzed for cortisol via methanol extraction and enzyme immunoassay. We found that hair cortisol concentration differed between the tail and back regions, with the tail samples having a significantly higher cortisol concentration. These results indicate intraindividual and interindividual comparisons of hair cortisol concentration should use hair obtained from the same body region in marmosets.

Common marmosets (Callithrix jacchus) are small, New World Primates endemic to Northeast Brazil. Marmosets are similar to humans in their physiology, neuroanatomy, cognition, and sociality.^11,16 They have become an important model in behavioral and biomedical research, including studies of the physiologic effects of aging and neurologic disease. Furthermore, their use in studies of aging or development includes their frequent use in longitudinal studies. Therefore, the ability to frequently and noninvasively measure glucocorticoid hormones as a marker of the response to environmental or social stimuli is an important aspect of longitudinal research in this species.Glucocorticoids are regulated by the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, a complex neural negative-feedback system that perceives environmental stimuli and regulates hormones accordingly. Cortisol is the dominant glucocorticoid hormone found in most mammals²⁵ and is involved in several physiologic processes, such as metabolizing sugar, fat, and protein stores into usable energy and the inhibition of swelling and inflammation.²¹ Quantification of cortisol concentration can therefore provide valuable insight into how an animal is responding to its environment or to an experimental manipulation and can also provide a valid, retrospective biomarker of HPA axis activity and individual health.^4,5,14,26Cortisol can be measured in blood, saliva, urine, feces, and hair. These tissue types differ in terms of the time frame reflected in the sample and the invasiveness of sample collection.²² Different tissues reflect different intervals with regard to when the cortisol was secreted from the adrenal cortex. Blood and saliva are considered to provide point measures because they indicate a time frame of minutes since the cortisol was secreted.²² Urine and feces are considered to be state measures; they reflect a time frame from hours to a day.²² Finally, hair incorporates a chronic time frame of weeks or months.²² Long-term HPA axis activity can be quantified retrospectively from hair, which accumulates its cortisol concentration over weeks or months, depending upon the length of hair analyzed²² and the growth dynamics of the hair.²⁰ Blood-born substances, such as cortisol, diffuse from blood capillaries into hair follicle cells.^7,27 Only cortisol molecules that are not bound to proteins diffuse into blood capillaries; therefore, hair cortisol concentration (HCC) represents unbound cortisol molecules.^7,27 Once cortisol molecules enter the follicle cells, they are deposited into the hair shaft.⁷ The cortisol deposition process only occurs at a specific time during hair growth, and cortisol deposition into the hair shaft over time is directly proportional to blood cortisol concentration.⁷The stage of growth of a hair follicle influences the cortisol deposition process. All hair has 3 stages of growth: the anagen, catagen, and telogen. The anagen is the active stage when growth occurs; in the catagen or intermediate stage, old hair shafts break down and newer shafts are produced in preparation for the next round of growth; lastly, the telogen stage is the resting phase of hair growth. Most cut or plucked hair samples are expected to be in the anagen phase, while shed hair is likely in the telogen phase.¹³ Cortisol deposition occurs during the anagen stage as active hair follicles require nutrients via the bloodstream to grow. This slow rate of deposition provides information on HPA activity over weeks or months.²²While hair cortisol concentration is increasingly used to assess retrospective HPA axis activity in captive and wild animals, a standard body region from which to obtain hair samples has not been determined. Studies report sampling from various regions, including the back of the neck, back, shoulder, chest, the base of tail, thigh, deltoid, and interscapular regions.^1,7-9 In this investigation, we sought to determine if HCC was affected by the body region from which the samples were taken in common marmosets. We compared HCC from 2 common and readily accessible locations of sample collection in common marmosets, the back and the tail.     

Differences in worst-case scenarios calculated by fixed length and rolling average methods in professional soccer match-play

The aims of this study were to describe the worst-case scenarios (WCS) in professional soccer players calculated by fixed length and rolling average methods with regards to each playing position. This was done, firstly, by comparing total distance (TD covered in the WCS; secondly, by comparing high-speed running distance (HSRD); and thirdly, by comparing sprint distance (SPD). The study was conducted over a three-mesocycle competitive period. The WCS of three distance-related variables (TD, HSRD, SPD) in four time windows (1, 3, 5, 10 minutes) were calculated according to playing position (central defender; full-back; midfielder, wide midfielder, and forward) using fixed length and rolling average methods. A significant effect of the type of method used to calculate the WCS in TD (F_{(1, 142)} = 151.49, p < 0.001, ηp² = 0.52), HSRD (F_{(1, 138)} = 336.95, p < 0.001, ηp² = 0.71) and SPD (F_{(1, 138)} = 76.74, p < 0.001, ηp² = 0.36) was observed. In addition, there was a significant interaction between type of method and WCS duration in TD (F_{(1.36, 193.53)} = 41.95, p < 0.001, ηp² = 0.23), HSRD (F_{(2.28, 315.11)} = 21.77, p < 0.001, ηp² = 0.14) and SPD (F_{(2.59, 358.41)} = 6.93, p < 0.001, ηp² = 0.05). In conclusion, the use of fixed length methods of different durations significantly underestimated the WCS of TD, HSRD and SPD across the most common playing positions in professional soccer players. Therefore, the application of rolling averages is recommended for an appropriate WCS analysis in professional soccer match-play.     

Polar bear stress hormone cortisol fluctuates with the North Atlantic Oscillation climate index

Polar bears are heavily dependent on sea ice for hunting sufficient prey to meet their energetic needs. When the bears are left fasting, it may cause a rise in the levels of the stress hormone cortisol. Cortisol is the major corticosteroid hormone in most mammals, including polar bears. Production and regulation of this stress hormone are vital for the body as it is part of a myriad of processes, including in relation to metabolism, growth, development, reproduction, and immune function. In the present study, we examined the correlation between East Greenland polar bear hair cortisol concentration (HCC), a matrix that reflects longer-term hormone levels, and the fluctuations of the North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO) index, a large-scale climate phenomenon applied as a proxy for sea ice extent in the Greenland Sea along the coast of East Greenland. In doing so, a significant positive correlation (r = 0.88; p = 0.0004) was found between polar bear hair cortisol and the NAO, explaining 77 % of the variation in HCC observed between years over the period 1989–2009. This result indicates that interannual fluctuations in climate and ice cover have a substantial influence on longer-term cortisol levels in East Greenland polar bears. Further research into the implications and consequences inherent in this correlation are recommended, preferably across multiple polar bear populations.     

Educational Attainment Influences Levels of Homozygosity through Migration and Assortative Mating

Individuals with a higher education are more likely to migrate, increasing the chance of meeting a spouse with a different ancestral background. In this context, the presence of strong educational assortment can result in greater ancestry differences within more educated spouse pairs, while less educated individuals are more likely to mate with someone with whom they share more ancestry. We examined the association between educational attainment and F _roh (= the proportion of the genome consisting of runs of homozygosity [ROHs]) in ~2,000 subjects of Dutch ancestry. The subjects’ own educational attainment showed a nominally significant negative association with F _roh (p = .045), while the contribution of parental education to offspring F _roh was highly significant (father: p < 10^-5; mother: p = 9×10^-5), with more educated parents having offspring with fewer ROHs. This association was significantly and fully mediated by the physical distance between parental birthplaces (paternal education: p _mediation = 2.4 × 10^-4; maternal education: p _mediation = 2.3 × 10^-4), which itself was also significantly associated with F _roh (p = 9 × 10^-5). Ancestry-informative principal components from the offspring showed a significantly decreasing association with geography as parental education increased, consistent with the significantly higher migration rates among more educated parents. Parental education also showed a high spouse correlation (Spearman’s ρ = .66, p = 3 × 10^-262). We show that less educated parents are less likely to mate with the more mobile parents with a higher education, creating systematic differences in homozygosity due to ancestry differences not directly captured by ancestry-informative principal components (PCs). Understanding how behaviors influence the genomic structure of a population is highly valuable for studies on the genetic etiology of behavioral, cognitive, and social traits.     

Bobcat Hair Cortisol Correlates with Land Use and Climate

Bobcats (Lynx rufus) have been increasing in abundance in the northeast United States despite a corresponding trend of increased anthropogenic land uses. Inhabiting areas of high human land use can affect stress levels, and hence cortisol titers, for wildlife species by increasing frequency of human interaction and altering habitats. In turn, increased cortisol levels can have negative effects at the individual and population level including decreased immune function, slowed growth and tissue repair, reduced reproductive capacity, and nutritional deficiencies. We quantified cortisol in bobcats across New Hampshire and Vermont, USA, using hair samples, then explored associations between hair cortisol and various organismal, land use, land cover, and climatic variables at 2 different spatial scales. Hair cortisol differed by season and bobcat mass. On average, cortisol levels were higher in fall than in spring, and larger bobcats had lower cortisol levels. Anthropogenic land uses—especially residential and agricultural uses—were the most important predictors of hair cortisol at the town scale ( area = 93 km²). At a larger scale (Wildlife Management Units; area = 1,256 km²), temperature and precipitation were better predictors of hair cortisol, suggesting that extreme weather may have significant effects on bobcat population dynamics. Our results highlight the importance of landscape composition and local conditions in the sustainable management of furbearer populations. © 2021 The Wildlife Society.     

The effect of canopy closure on chimpanzee nest abundance in Lagoas de Cufada National Park,Guinea-Bissau

The present study aimed to gather baseline information about chimpanzee nesting and density in Lagoas de Cufada Natural Park (LCNP), in Guinea-Bissau. Old and narrow trails were followed to estimate chimpanzee density through marked-nest counts and to test the effect of canopy closure (woodland savannah, forest with a sparse canopy, and forest with a dense canopy) on nest distribution. Chimpanzee abundance was estimated at 0.79 nest builders/km², the lowest among the areas of Guinea-Bissau with currently studied chimpanzee populations. Our data suggest that sub-humid forest with a dense canopy accounts for significantly higher chimpanzee nest abundance (1.50 nests/km of trail) than sub-humid forest with a sparse canopy (0.49 nests/km of trail) or woodland savannah (0.30 nests/km of trail). Dense-canopy forests play an important role in chimpanzee nesting in the patchy and highly humanized landscape of LCNP. The tree species most frequently used for nesting are Dialium guineense (46 %) and Elaeis guineensis (28 %). E. guineensis contain nests built higher in the canopy, while D. guineense contain nests built at lower heights. Nests observed during baseline sampling and replications suggest seasonal variations in the tree species used for nest building.     

Expectant Mothers Maximizing Opportunities: Maternal Characteristics Moderate Multifactorial Prenatal Stress in the Prediction of Birth Weight in a Sample of Children Adopted at Birth

Background

Mothers’ stress in pregnancy is considered an environmental risk factor in child development. Multiple stressors may combine to increase risk, and maternal personal characteristics may offset the effects of stress. This study aimed to test the effect of 1) multifactorial prenatal stress, integrating objective “stressors” and subjective “distress” and 2) the moderating effects of maternal characteristics (perceived social support, self-esteem and specific personality traits) on infant birthweight.

Method

Hierarchical regression modeling was used to examine cross-sectional data on 403 birth mothers and their newborns from an adoption study.

Results

Distress during pregnancy showed a statistically significant association with birthweight (R² = 0.032, F _{(2, 398)} = 6.782, p = .001). The hierarchical regression model revealed an almost two-fold increase in variance of birthweight predicted by stressors as compared with distress measures (R² Δ = 0.049, F _{(4, 394)} = 5.339, p < .001). Further, maternal characteristics moderated this association (R² Δ = 0.031, F _{(4, 389)} = 3.413, p = .009). Specifically, the expected benefit to birthweight as a function of higher SES was observed only for mothers with lower levels of harm-avoidance and higher levels of perceived social support. Importantly, the results were not better explained by prematurity, pregnancy complications, exposure to drugs, alcohol or environmental toxins.

Conclusions

The findings support multidimensional theoretical models of prenatal stress. Although both objective stressors and subjectively measured distress predict birthweight, they should be considered distinct and cumulative components of stress. This study further highlights that jointly considering risk factors and protective factors in pregnancy improves the ability to predict birthweight.     

Synthesis and crystal structure of bis(tetramethylammonium) aquotetra-fluorodioxouranate(VI) dihydrate, [(CI3)4 N]2[UO2 F4(H2 O)]·2H2O

The title compound has been synthesized and subjected to crystal structure analysis. M_r = 548.50, m.p. 108.1 °C (decom.), orthorhombic, Im2m,a = 7.006(2), b = 8.938(2), c = 13.619(2) Å V = 852.8(3) ų, Z = 2, D_x = 2.136, D_m, (flotation in CCl₄/CH₂I₂) = 2.128 g cm^?3, λ(Mo-Kα) = 0.71069 Å, μ = 90.79 cm^?1, F(000) = 519.89, T = 295 K, final R_F = 0.036 and R_G = 0.044 for 566 observed reflections. The discrete [UO₂F₄(H₂0)]^2? anion has site symmetry m2m, its virtually linear uranyl moiety being surrounded by fluoro and aquo ligands occupying the vertices of a pentagon in the equatorial plane. Watet molecules serve to link the complex anions by hydrogen bonds into layers, between which the organic cations are accommodated.     

The age of hair matters – the incorporation of cortisol by external contamination is enhanced in distal hair segments of pigs and cattle

Hair cortisol concentration (HCC) is used as an indicator of long-term stress or pathologies in humans and increasingly in animals. Although the main mechanism for the incorporation of cortisol into the hair shaft is by diffusion from blood, cortisol may also be incorporated from external sources by contamination of the hair surface. In farm animals under conventional husbandry conditions and trapped animals, contamination of hair with cortisol-containing body fluids, especially with urine, was shown to be a considerable confounding factor when studying HCCs. We recently found that cattle and pigs exhibit elevated HCCs in distal hair segments and assume that the incorporation of external cortisol is facilitated in these older hair segments. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the effects of urine contamination on HCC in different hair segments of pigs and cattle, and to determine whether different cleaning protocols can prevent contamination effects. In an in vivo experiment in pigs (n = 18) and an in vitro experiment in cattle (n = 12), hairs were repeatedly contaminated with urine of the respective species and then shaved or cut in segments. Cortisol concentrations in hair segments were analysed by enzyme immunoassay after washing with isopropanol and extraction with methanol. Results were compared with HCCs in untreated hairs or hairs treated with water. Moreover, additional bovine hair samples contaminated with urine were subjected to two further cleaning procedures. Contamination with urine generally increased HCCs, and it was demonstrated for the first time that this effect is more pronounced in distal compared to proximal hair segments in both species. The immersion of bovine hair in vitro in water caused a washout of cortisol, which was also more pronounced in distal hair segments. In general, the different cleaning protocols for cattle hair did not prevent contamination effects, so we assume that external cortisol not only adheres but is incorporated into the hair shaft. Structural damage of older, distal hair segments may facilitate permeability of the hair matrix and diffusion of cortisol from and into aqueous solutions. Thus, the validity of HCC as a marker of stress is compromised in animals where soiling of hair with body fluids is a risk factor. Therefore, hair samples should be collected from clean body regions and, if possible, using proximal hair segments.     

Savanna chimpanzee (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Pan troglodytes verus</Emphasis>) nesting ecology at Bagnomba (Kedougou,Senegal)

We studied the nesting behavior of the critically endangered West African chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes verus). We assumed that the nesting data stemmed from a single, unhabituated community at the Bagnomba hill site in the savanna-woodlands of southeastern Senegal. The aim of this study was to examine chimpanzees’ nesting habits in terms of the tree species utilized and sleeping nest heights. We recorded a total of 550 chimpanzee nests at Bagnomba between January 2015 and December 2015. The chimpanzees here made nests in particular tree species more often than others. The majority of nests (63%) were in two tree species: Diospyros mespiliformis and Pterocarpus erinaceus. The average height of nesting trees was 10.54 m (SD 3.91, range, 0.0–29.0 m) and average nest height was 7.90 m (SD 3.62, range, 0.0–25.0 m). The result of a linear regression analysis (r = 0.7874; n = 550; p < 0.05) is consistent with a preference for nesting at a particular height. Bagnomba chimpanzees rarely made ground nests (0.36% of nests), but the presence of any ground nesting was unexpected, given that at least one leopard (Panthera pardus) also occupied the hill. This knowledge will enable stakeholders involved in the protection of chimpanzees specifically and of biodiversity in general to better understand chimpanzee ecology and inform a conservation action plan in Senegal where the survival of this species is threatened.     

The Choice to Access Outdoor Areas Affects the Behavior of Great Apes

Outdoor access is often cited as a critical component of appropriate housing for great apes in captivity, and although studies have shown that offering primates choices can improve welfare, choice to access specific areas has been empirically neglected. Behavioral data were collected on chimpanzees and gorillas housed in naturalistic enclosures while (a) restricted to an indoor enclosure and (b) permitted free access to an adjacent outdoor area. To isolate the factor of choice, only the sessions in which apes remained indoors were compared. With choice, chimpanzees showed more frequent social, F(1, 5) = 20.526, p = .006, and self-directed behaviors, F(1, 5) = 13.507, p = .014, and lower inactivity levels, F(1, 5) = 9.239, p = .029. Gorillas were more frequently inactive, F(1, 8) = 22.259, p = .002, and produced lower levels of object manipulation, F(1, 8) = 8.243, p = .021, and feeding, F(1, 8) = 5.407, p = .049. Results are consistent with an association between choice and the expression of species-typical and arousal behaviors in chimpanzees. The effects are less evident in gorillas, but this outcome may be buffered by the species' lower motivation to utilize the outdoor spaces. Findings highlight species-specific reactions to access to choice that may offer insight for enclosure design, management, and nonhuman animal welfare.     

Effect of a 12-week non-contact exercise intervention on body composition and health-related physical fitness in adults: a pilot test

[Purpose] The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of a 12-week non-contact exercise intervention on body composition and health-related physical fitness in adults.[Methods] One hundred adults were initially enrolled; however, ninety-seven participants (men: n = 41, women: n = 56) completed the study. The non-contact exercise was performed for 12 weeks using a smart tracker (Charge 4, Fitbit, USA) and mobile phone applications. The non-contact exercise program included resistance, aerobic, and flexibility exercises.[Results] The results showed that percent body fat (F=4.993, p=.016, η_p²=.049), fat-free mass (F=4.690, p=.024, η_p²=.047), and skeletal muscle mass (F=5.623, p=.004, η_p²=.055) significantly changed during the intervention period. Further, significant increases were seen in hand grip strength (F=12.167, p<.001, η_p²=.112), sit-and-reach (F=20.497, p<.001, η_p²=.176), sit-ups (F=42.107, p<.001, η_p²=.305), and VO_2max (F=4.311, p=.037, η_p²=.043).[Conclusion] Our findings suggest that 12 weeks of non-contact exercise improves body composition and health-related physical fitness. Wearable technologies encourage individuals to modify their lifestyles by increasing physical activity and achieving the goal of maintaining health conditions among adults.     

Background Intestinal 18F-FDG Uptake Is Related to Serum Lipid Profile and Obesity in Breast Cancer Patients

Background

This study investigated the relationships between background intestinal uptake on ¹⁸F–FDG PET and cardio-metabolic risk (CMR) factors.

Methods

A total of 326 female patients that underwent ¹⁸F–FDG PET to determine the initial stage of breast cancer were enrolled. None of the patients had history of diabetes or hypertension. The background intestinal uptake on PET was visually graded (low vs. high uptake group) and quantitatively measured using the maximal standardized uptake value (SUV_max). SUV_max of 7 bowel segments (duodenum, jejunum, ileum, cecum, hepatic flexure, splenic flexure, and descending colon-sigmoid junction) were averaged for the total bowel (TB SUV_max). Age, body mass index (BMI), fasting blood glucose level (BST), triglyceride (TG), cholesterol, high density lipoprotein (HDL), and low density lipoprotein (LDL) were the considered CMR factors. The relationships between background intestinal ¹⁸F–FDG uptake on PET and diverse CMR factors were analyzed.

Results

The visual grades based on background intestinal ¹⁸F–FDG uptake classified 100 (30.7%) patients into the low uptake group, while 226 (69.3%) were classified into the high uptake group. Among CMR factors, age (p = 0.004), BMI (p<0.001), and TG (p<0.001) were significantly different according to visual grade of background intestinal ¹⁸F–FDG uptake. Quantitative TB SUV_max showed significant positive correlation with age (r = 0.203, p<0.001), BMI (r = 0.373, p<0.001), TG (r = 0.338, p<0.001), cholesterol (r = 0.148, p = 0.008), and LDL (r = 0.143, p = 0.024) and significant negative correlation with HDL (r = -0.147, p = 0.022). Multivariate analysis indicated that BMI and TG were independent factors in both visually graded background intestinal ¹⁸F–FDG uptake (p = 0.027 and p = 0.023, respectively) and quantitatively measured TB SUV_max (p = 0.006 and p = 0.004, respectively).

Conclusion

Increased background intestinal ¹⁸F–FDG uptake on PET may suggest alteration of lipid metabolism and risk of cardio-metabolic disease in non-diabetic and non-hypertensive breast cancer patients.     

Intrinsic Birefringence of Multiple-Coiled DNA, Theory and Applications

The intrinsic birefringence of multiple-coiled DNA is computed in terms of an equally dense array of parallel DNA molecules. The birefringence for n times-coiled DNA molecules is given by [Formula: see text] where β_o = 0, β_i = tan^-1 (p_i/2πr_i), p_i = period of the i^th helix coil and r_i = radius of i^th helix coil. The formula is applied to two cases of helically coiled DNA in biological material and found to agree quantitatively with experimental results.     

Outbreak of Cutaneous Leishmaniasis among military personnel in French Guiana, 2020: Clinical,phylogenetic, individual and environmental aspects

BackgroundCutaneous Leishmaniasis (CL) is endemic in French Guiana but cases are usually sporadic. An outbreak signal was issued on May 15^th 2020 with 15 suspected cases after a military training course in the rainforest. An outbreak investigation was carried out.Methodology/Principal findingsThirty cases were confirmed. Leishmania guyanensis was the most frequent species (90%). The most frequent presentation was ulcerative (90%). Lesions on the face and hands were frequent (40% each). Eight cases (26%) presented a poor outcome after treatment with pentamidine and required a second line with amphotericin B. Three of them required further treatments with meglumine antimoniate or miltefosine. Two spots within the training area were deemed as likely sites of contamination, due to illegal logging. The isolated Leishmania strains did not form a separate cluster. Participation in Week 13 of year 2020 was associated with infection (OR = 4.59 [1.10–19.83]; p = 0.016) while undergoing only the “Fighting” exercise was protective (OR = 0.1 [0–0.74]; p = 0.021). There was no association between infection and other risk factors at the individual level. The attack rate of Regiment B (14/105 = 13.3%) was significantly higher (OR = 4.22 [1.84–9.53], p = 0.0001) compared to Regiment A (16/507 = 3.2%). The attack rate during this training course (30/858 = 3.5%) was significantly higher (OR 2.29 [1.28–4.13]; p = 0.002) than for other missions in French Guiana during the same period (22/1427 = 1.5%).ConclusionsThis outbreak could be explained by a combination of factors: climatic conditions around week 13, at-risk activities including night trainings, absence of impregnation, a lesser experience of rainforest duties in Regiment B and illegal logging attracting sandflies on military training grounds.