Reduced pressure pain thresholds in response to exercise in chronic fatigue syndrome but not in chronic low back pain: an experimental study

Objective The aims of this study were to examine (i) base line pressure pain thresholds in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome and those with chronic low back pain compared with healthy subjects, (ii) the change in mean pain threshold in response to exercise, and (iii) associations with exercise induced increase in nitric oxide Participants Twenty six patients with chronic fatigue syndrome suffering of chronic pain, 21 patients with chronic low back pain and 31 healthy subjects Methods Participants underwent a submaximal aerobic exercise protocol on a bicycle ergometer, preceded and followed by venous blood sampling (nitric oxide) and algometry (hand arm calf low back) Results Patients with chronic fatigue syndrome presented overall lower pain thresholds compared with healthy sub jects and patients with chronic low back pain (p<0 05) No significant differences were found between healthy subjects and patients with chronic low back pain After submaximal aerobic exercise, mean pain thresholds decreased in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome and increased in the others (p<0 01) At baseline nitric oxide levels were significantly higher in the chronic low back pain group After controlling for body mass index no significant differences were seen be tween the groups at baseline or in response to exercise Nitric oxide was not related to pain thresholds in either group Conclusion The results suggest hyperalgesia and abnormal central pain processing during submaximal aerobic exercise in chronic fatigue syndrome, but not in chronic low back pain Nitric oxide appeared to be unrelated to pain processin

Taxon-independent and taxon-dependent responses to drought in seedlings from Quercus robur L., Q. petraea (Matt.) Liebl. and their morphological intermediates

The increasing severity and frequency of summer droughts at mid-latitudes in Europe may impact forest regeneration. We investigated whether the sympatric species Quercus robur L., Q. petraea (Matt.) Liebl., and their morphological intermediates respond differentially to water deficit. Acorns were sourced from a naturally mixed population. Half of the potted seedlings were subjected to two successive drought periods during the first growing season, each followed by a plentiful re-watering. The surviving drought-exposed seedlings subsisted independent of the taxon of the mother tree. The phenological responses were also taxon-independent. However, drought-exposed plants showed a retarded height growth in the year following the treatment which was taxon-dependent. Offspring from Q. robur and from trees with leaves resembling Q. robur leaves and infructescences resembling Q. petraea infructescences showed a stronger decrease in height growth compared to the offspring from Q. petraea and from trees with leaves resembling Q. petraea leaves and infructescences resembling Q. robur infructescences. Diameter growth in the year following the drought treatment showed a weak taxon-dependent response. Together, our results may suggest that the composition of oak species and their hybrids in natural oak forests could be altered upon prolonged periods of precipitation deficit

The genomes of two key bumblebee species with primitive eusocial organization

Background: The shift from solitary to social behavior is one of the major evolutionary transitions. Primitively eusocial bumblebees are uniquely placed to illuminate the evolution of highly eusocial insect societies. Bumblebees are also invaluable natural and agricultural pollinators, and there is widespread concern over recent population declines in some species. High-quality genomic data will inform key aspects of bumblebee biology, including susceptibility to implicated population viability threats. Results: We report the high quality draft genome sequences of Bombus terrestris and Bombus impatiens, two ecologically dominant bumblebees and widely utilized study species. Comparing these new genomes to those of the highly eusocial honeybee Apis mellifera and other Hymenoptera, we identify deeply conserved similarities, as well as novelties key to the biology of these organisms. Some honeybee genome features thought to underpin advanced eusociality are also present in bumblebees, indicating an earlier evolution in the bee lineage. Xenobiotic detoxification and immune genes are similarly depauperate in bumblebees and honeybees, and multiple categories of genes linked to social organization, including development and behavior, show high conservation. Key differences identified include a bias in bumblebee chemoreception towards gustation from olfaction, and striking differences in microRNAs, potentially responsible for gene regulation underlying social and other traits. Conclusions: These two bumblebee genomes provide a foundation for post-genomic research on these key pollinators and insect societies. Overall, gene repertoires suggest that the route to advanced eusociality in bees was mediated by many small changes in many genes and processes, and not by notable expansion or depauperation

Alternative approaches for describing Semi Urban Areas

Introduction In many densely populated regions, a clear distinction between “urban” and “rural” is not possible anymore: areas containing complex properties of urbanized areas as well as the “open space” land use of land cover categories (agricultural and natural). Determining and monitoring these hybrid and dynamic landscapes forms a major challenge. Next to the classic sprawl and fringe approach, three other concepts are proposed and discussed. Materials and methods This publication is a summary of the state-of-the-art on concepts proposed to describe and study those areas or landscapes not rural nor urban (Meeus & Gulinck, 2008). The concepts were derived from various sources in literature, compared with each other and some were subjected to debate in expert panels. Results and conclusions One concept is that of the semi-urban area (SUA), in which specific forms of land use or land cover, for example hybrid land uses such as garden complexes and hobby- or other small scale agriculture (like horse keeping), in classic land use classification generally the “rest” classes (K. Bomans, Dewaelheyns, & Gulinck, 2011). A second concept is called the “basis open spaces approach” (Kirsten Bomans, Steenberghen, Dewaelheyns, Leinfelder, & Gulinck, 2010). Sealed surfaces (generally road infrastructure mostly surrounded by built-up areas) are seen as “boundaries” that include a basic open space. Landscape ecological properties of these “islands” of not built-up space can measured. A third approach is called the “interphase” approach. It starts from the principle that every form of land use or land cover can be described as a phase between two or more distinct types of land cover, different in space, time or complexity and thus forming an “interphase”. Combinations are possible, and many cover types that are difficult to describe because of their scale or complexity can be defined and may give better insights in the overall characteristics of landscapes “in between” rural and urban.status: publishe

Digital Distraction or Stimulated Self-disclosure: Preadolescents’ Mobile Device Use in the Family Context

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Constantly Connected: The Role of Parental Mediation Styles and Self-Regulation in Pre- and Early Adolescents’ Problematic Mobile Device Use

© The Author(s) 2018. Despite rising adoption rates of mobile devices, few studies have investigated the effectiveness of parental mediation in addressing children’s mobile media use. The current study aimed to fill this gap by examining parental mediation styles in relation to problematic smartphone and tablet use among pre-and early adolescents. Moreover, in line with self-determination theory, we expected autonomy-supportive mediation to increase children’s internalization of parental messages, resulting in elevated self-regulation. Results of two cross-sectional surveys showed that autonomy-supportive, restrictive mediation was directly, negatively related to problematic use. However, this relationship was not mediated through self-regulation. Conversely, controlling and inconsistent mediation styles were generally indirectly associated with more problematic use via emotional and behavioral self-regulation.status: publishe

Like me (please?): Connecting online self-presentation to pre-and early adolescents’ self-esteem

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The dual role of roads in the visual landscape: a case study in the area around Mechelen (Belgium)

Roads dominate our daily surroundings and are essential conditions of the access to the visual landscape. This paper focuses on the dual landscape role of secondary and tertiary roads in a semi-rural setting, to be understood as the access to scenery and as their direct influence to the landscape characteristics. A combination of techniques was used including a radiocentric morphological landscape analysis, a perception study on landscape photographs and a cumulative logit model to assess the factors of landscape appreciation in this kind of environment. The results show that roads do not entirely open up the information content of the visual landscape. Furthermore, roads and built fabric seem to have a negative impact on landscape appreciation. This result does not rely on the structures themselves, but on the artificial materials they are constructed of. The methodology applied proves to be useful and is probably applicable in other geographical contexts. It can be a supporting tool to plan and manage road networks for improvement of landscape quality, especially in parts of the countryside strongly affected by urban sprawl

Wood Pastures to prevent Squirrel damage

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