Nature can get it out of your mind: the rumination reducing effects of contact with nature and the mediating role of awe and mood

Evidence has been found that contact with nature may reduce rumination in healthy individuals living in urban environments. This paper aims at i) testing whether one may replicate previous findings using a shorter duration of nature exposure, and ii) explore the possibility that a shift in attention away from self (notably induced by the emotion of awe), leading to mood restoration, may mediate such nature-rumination relationship. We showed that a walk as short as 30-min in an urban park significantly reduced ruminative thinking in healthy participants, whereas a 30-min walk along a city transect devoid from natural elements did not. Also, we showed that the “walk in nature” significantly reduced negative mood and elicited more awe and more externally oriented thoughts than the “walk in city”. Our mediation analysis did not show any direct effect of contact with nature on rumination levels. Instead, it showed that the more awe participants experienced while walking, the more negative affect was reduced, which then lead to reduced rumination. Also, our mediation analysis showed that nature can affect rumination via mood improvement only and irrespective of awe. This study adds to previous research supporting the so-called “psychological ecosystem services” and calls for additional efforts aimed at exploring the extent to, and mechanism(s), by which contact with nature may affect rumination, notably in clinical populations.publishe

Staphylococcus aureus

The present study evaluated the microbiological and sanitary quality of curd cheese sold on the beaches of the Itaparica Island, Brazil, and verified whether a correlation exists between the commercialization conditions and the microbiological data. The research was performed between December 2015 and March 2017. Sixty samples of rennet-containing cheese were collected to estimate the populations of mesophylls, psychrotrophic microorganisms, mold and yeast, Staphylococcus aureus, total coliforms, and Escherichia coli. An observational analysis was performed during the collection, using a checklist to verify the sellers’ sanitary conditions and cheese marketing. A high nonconformity index was registered regarding aspects in the checklist. In the microbiological analyses, the number of mesophylls in raw and roasted samples ranged from 7,88 to 14,82 log CFU/mL, and those of psychrotrophs ranged from 2,80 to 3,84 log CFU/mL. Meanwhile, mold and yeast levels in the samples ranged from 8,06 to 5,54 log CFU/mL, S. aureus was detected at levels from 3,24 to 4,94 log CFU/mL, and the total coliform counts ranged from 4,48 to 7,18 log CFU/mL. The number of E. coli specimens ranged from 2,96 to 5,75 log CFU/mL. Microbial insecurity was noted for commercialized curd cheese, and the need for intervention was indicated

Evaluation of mediating and moderating effects on the relationship between owners’ and dogs’ anxiety: A tool to understand a complex problem

peer-reviewedAnxiety tends to aggregate in families, and families increasingly include companion animals, such as dogs. Based on previous research pointing to a ‘personality fit’ between humans and their companion dogs, this study explored the potential association between owners’ trait anxiety and dogs’ fear and anxiety-related behavior problems, while also testing for mediating and moderating factors. Two hypotheses previously proposed in the literature were here tested: that dogs may respond to their owners’ anxiety directly through emotional contagion, or that owners’ anxiety may affect dogs’ indirectly via (a) owners’ overprotectiveness - thereby restricting the dog's ability to familiarize itself with novel situations - or (b) their use of coercive dog-training methods. A cross-sectional approach was followed with use of an online questionnaire designed to measure owners’ trait anxiety and dogs’ fear and anxiety-related behavior problems, as well as owners’ protective behavior, and dogs’ emotional reactions to their owners’ emotions (i.e., ‘empathic trait’). Data were obtained from 1,172 self-identified dog owners. Results showed a significant positive correlation between owners’ trait anxiety and the severity of their dogs’ fear and anxiety-related behavior. No evidence was found for mediation of this relationship by owners’ protective behavior or their use of coercive training methods. However, the results showed a marginally significant moderation effect above a particular score in dogs’ ‘empathic trait’. This study suggests that owners’ trait anxiety is associated, to some extent, with the occurrence of dogs’ fear and anxiety related behavior problems. The extent to which dogs exhibit an ‘empathic trait’ may explain the strength of this association

Evaluation of mediating and moderating effects on the relationship between owners’ and dogs’ anxiety: A tool to understand a complex problem

peer-reviewedAnxiety tends to aggregate in families, and families increasingly include companion animals, such as dogs. Based on previous research pointing to a ‘personality fit’ between humans and their companion dogs, this study explored the potential association between owners’ trait anxiety and dogs’ fear and anxiety-related behavior problems, while also testing for mediating and moderating factors. Two hypotheses previously proposed in the literature were here tested: that dogs may respond to their owners’ anxiety directly through emotional contagion, or that owners’ anxiety may affect dogs’ indirectly via (a) owners’ overprotectiveness - thereby restricting the dog's ability to familiarize itself with novel situations - or (b) their use of coercive dog-training methods. A cross-sectional approach was followed with use of an online questionnaire designed to measure owners’ trait anxiety and dogs’ fear and anxiety-related behavior problems, as well as owners’ protective behavior, and dogs’ emotional reactions to their owners’ emotions (i.e., ‘empathic trait’). Data were obtained from 1,172 self-identified dog owners. Results showed a significant positive correlation between owners’ trait anxiety and the severity of their dogs’ fear and anxiety-related behavior. No evidence was found for mediation of this relationship by owners’ protective behavior or their use of coercive training methods. However, the results showed a marginally significant moderation effect above a particular score in dogs’ ‘empathic trait’. This study suggests that owners’ trait anxiety is associated, to some extent, with the occurrence of dogs’ fear and anxiety related behavior problems. The extent to which dogs exhibit an ‘empathic trait’ may explain the strength of this association

Prevalência de hipovitaminose D em obesos graves encaminhados à cirurgia bariátrica

Modelo do estudo: Estudo transversal. Objetivo: estimar a prevalência da hipovitaminose D em um grupo de obesos graves encaminhados à cirurgia bariátrica. Métodos: Foram estudados obesos atendidos por uma equipe especializada em cirurgia bariátrica, com 18 anos ou mais de ambos os sexos. Dados clínicos, antropométricos e laboratoriais foram obtidos dos prontuários dos pacientes. A 25 (OH) D plasmática foi determinada por quimioluminescência e valores ≤20 ng/mL foram considerados como hipovitaminose D. Os dados foram analisados ​​utilizando o Statistical Package for the Social Sciences® (SPSS) 20.0. Estatística descritiva foi utilizada para apresentação das variáveis e para comparação dos três grupos foram utilizados os testes: ANOVA, Kruskal-Wallis e qui-quadrado de Pearson. Foram considerados estatisticamente significantes valores de p<0,05. Resultados: Foram estudados 400 pacientes, 71% do sexo feminino, com média (DP) de idade e IMC 35,6 (9,1) anos e 41,4 (5,1) kg/m², respectivamente. A vitamina D variou de 4,5 a 62,4ng/mL com média (DP) de 24,7 (7,9) ng/mL. Na amostra, 117 (29.3%) dos pacientes apresentaram hipovitaminose D. Houve correlação negativa entre 25 (OH) D e IMC (r = -0,110; p = 0,028) e paratormônio (r = -0,152; p=0,006) e correlação positiva com cálcio sérico (r=0,132; p = 0,013) e fósforo (r=0,116; p=0,027). Conclusão: Os obesos graves apresentaram alta prevalência de hipovitaminose D, mesmo vivendo em um estado ensolarado.Study Design: Cross-sectional. Objective: Estimating the prevalence of hypovitaminosis D in a group of severely obese subjects referred to bariatric surgery. Methods: This study evaluated severely obese patients aged ≥18 years assisted by a specialized team in bariatric surgery. Clinical, anthropometric, and laboratory data were obtained from patient records. Plasma 25 (OH) D was determined by chemiluminescence and levels ≤ 20 ng/mL was considered as Hypovitaminosis D. The data were analyzed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences® (SPSS) 20.0. Variables were described using descriptive statistics. For the comparison of the three groups, ANOVA, Kruskal-Wallis, and Pearson's chi-square tests were used. Spearman correlation test was performed to assess correlations between 25(OH)D and the other variables. P-values <0.05 were considered to be significant. Results: The study included 400 individuals, 71% were female with the mean age (SD) and BMI (SD) of 35.6 (9.1) years and 41.4 (5.1) kg/m², respectively. The vitamin D ranged from 4.5 to 62.4 ng/mL and the mean (SD) was 24.7 (7.9) ng/mL. In this sample, 117 (29.3%) individuals had hypovitaminosis D. There was a negative correlation between 25(OH)D and BMI (r= -0.110; p=0.028) and parathormone (r= -0.152; p=0.006) and positive correlation with serum calcium (r= 0.132; p=0.013) and phosphorus (r= 0.116; p=0.027). Conclusion: Severely obese subjects had a high prevalence of hypovitaminosis D even living in a sunny state

Low bone mineral density in pre-menopausal women one year after gastric bypass

Introduction: nutritional deficiencies, hormonal changes and severe weight loss after Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass (RYGB) can promote changes in bone metabolism which may lead to a reduction in bone mineral density (BMD). Objective: to investigate the prevalence of osteopenia/osteoporosis and factors associated with BMD in pre-menopausal women who underwent RYGB. Methodology: a cross-sectional study conducted with secondary data of patients followed-up in a specialized center for obesity treatment. Variables studied: biochemical and anthropometric data, body composition by multifrequency bioimpedance and BMD of the lumbar spine (LS), total femur (TF) and femur neck (FN) by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. For statistical analysis, the SPSS® software and a 5% significance level were utilized. Results: seventy-two (72) pre-menopausal women were evaluated. Mean age, BMI and mean post-surgery time was 38.7±6.5 years, 25.8±2.5 kg/m² and 13.1±1.7 months, respectively. The prevalence of osteopenia in at least one of the densitometry sites was 13.9%, with LS being the most frequent site. A lower LS BMD was associated with greater weight loss, higher percentage of body fat before surgery and lower post-surgery serum vitamin D levels. There was a positive correlation between skeletal muscle mass index adjusted for height in the pre-surgery period and LS BMD (r=0.361; p=0.010) and TF (r=0.404; p=0.004). Conclusion: a relevant prevalence of osteopenia was detected in pre-menopausal women after RYGB, mainly in the LS

CARACTERIZAÇÃO DA IDENTIDADE NACIONAL NA OBRA “MACUNAÍMA” DE MÁRIO DE ANDRADE

Embora sejamos alvo da massificação, que define a identidade como condição biológica, somos formados por múltiplas identidades, produzidas em processos de transformação. Para consolidar-se como nacional, a literatura modernista subverteu a ideologia romântica sobre a “alma brasileira imutável”. Tematizando essa pluralidade étnica e cultural brasileira, Mário de Andrade em Macunaíma, publicada em 1928, cria um sujeito ambíguo, avesso, acumulado de baixezas e sem idealizações. Simbolicamente, “o herói sem nenhum caráter” sintetiza um “modo de ser brasileiro” – sem caráter definido e em metamorfose, concentrando em si virtudes e defeitos de um indivíduo multifacetado. Durante toda a narrativa, o protagonista percorre várias regiões do Brasil em busca da muiraquitã, pedra preciosa, única lembrança de seu amor Ci. Macunaíma vivencia aventuras na tentativa de recuperar o amuleto, mas o perde definitivamente. Finalmente, o herói se autodenomina uma estrela de brilho inútil. Com base nas leituras de Bernd (2003), Hall (2006), Proença (1987) e Bauman (2005), entre outras, objetivamos analisar a questão da identidade nacional na obra supracitada, sua construção enquanto entidade abstrata e a heterogeneidade cultural para evidenciar o resgate da cultura popular brasileira no que tange à representação das propostas estéticas e temáticas modernistas do século XX