What are the top 10 physical activity research questions in schizophrenia?

Purpose: Research has only recently started to consider the applicability of physical activity (PA) for people with schizophrenia. Although there is increasing evidence for the benefits of physical activity, this population remains generally physically inactive and sedentary. The aim of the current study is to highlight 10 pertinent physical activity research questions in people with schizophrenia. Method: The International Organisation of Physical Therapy in Mental Health (IOPTMH) executed a consultation of its National Organisations (n=13) to identify the most salient questions relevant to guide clinical practice on physical activity in people with schizophrenia. Results: We identified the following 10 questions: (1) What are the benefits of physical activity for people with schizophrenia? (2) What are the mechanisms of the physical activity effects in people with schizophrenia? (3) What are the most prominent safety issues for physical activity prescription in people with schizophrenia? (4) What is the most optimal physical activity prescription for people with schizophrenia? (5) What are the key barriers for engaging people with schizophrenia in physical activity? (6) What are the most effective motivational interventions for physical activity adoption and maintenance in people with schizophrenia? (7) How do we translate physical activity research into clinical and community practice? (8) How can we ensure integration of physical therapists within the multidisciplinary mental health treatment team? (9) How can we prevent sedentary behaviour in people with schizophrenia? (10) What is the most appropriate physical activity assessment method in clinical practice? Conclusions: Addressing these questions is critical for developing evidence-based approaches for promoting and sustaining an active lifestyle in people with schizophrenia. Ultimately, achieving this will improve the quality of life of this population. Implications for Rehabilitation: · Investigation of behaviour change interventions for people with schizophrenia is critical · A low cost, easy to use, clinical, valid physical activity questionnaire is urgently needed

The specificity of temperate anthozoan-dinoflagellate symbioses.

The aim of this study was to investigate the specificity of temperate dinoflagellate - anthozoan symbioses and the influence of any specificity on the percentage contribution of photosynthetically fixed carbon to the host's daily respiratory carbon budget (CZAR). The British symbiotic Anthozoa Cereus pedunculatus (Pennant) I Anthopleura ballii (Cocks), Anemonia viridis (Forskal) and Isozoanthus sulcatus (Gos3e) and the sub-tropical anthozoan Aiptasia pallida (Verrill) and their algal symbionts were investigated. The characteristics of freshly isolated and cultured symbionts were studied to determine whether the algal cells residing in each host species appeared different and how symbiont characteristics may be determined by the host environment. Horphology, division behaviour and photosynthetic pigment composition were examined using SEMO TEMO LMO TLC and HPLC respectively. The symbionts of each host species were identified as dinoflagellates of the genus Symbiodinium, even though there was an absence of a motile phase in the cell cycle of the British hosts. Differences between symbionts of different host species and conspecific hosts were evident with respect to thylakoid arrangement, cell size and cell division rate, and possibly pigment concentrations. Host determined phenotypic plasticity was observed with respect to the absence of a "pellicle". Host-symbiont recognition and specificity were investigated - by reinfecting aposymbiotic C. _pedunculatus with symbionts from different host species and measuring the density and biomass of symbionts at different time intervals. The presence of different strains or species of Symbiodinium was evident, with recognition of these different symbionts being predominantly post-endocytotic. 'Homologous' symbionts were the most 'successful' at repopulating C. pedunculatus. After 9 months, the population densities and biomasses, and division rates of the different 'strains' Of 3ymbionts were the same, suggesting a greater symbiotic integration with 'heterologous, 'strains' with time. The reflection of specificity by the photosynthetic fixation of carbon in vivo was measured using an 02 electrode. 1110mologous, symbiontW photosynthesized at a greater rate than 'heterologous' symbionts in vivo, despite the higher photosynthetic rates of some of these 'heterologous' symbionts in their original hosts. Photosynthate translocation by symbionts in response to different host environments was investigated using in vivo and in vitro 14C labelling and the 'growth rate method'. The percentage translocation was host-symbiont specific and appeared to be controlled by different mechanisms in different host species and conspecific hosts from different locations. The CZAR in 'natural' and reestablished symbioses was calculated. Values ranged from 25.7 to 112.2 % in the 'natural' symbi T9 es and 58.1 to 76.7 % in the reestablished symbioses when measured using C. When measured using the 'growth rate method' values were 73.2 to 188.4 % and 88.3 to 146.5 % respectively. The CZAR in the reestablished symbioses and consequently their ability to survive autotrophically reflected the specific host-symbiont relationship. Symbiosis specificity and the reduced availability of carbon to host growth and reproduction in 'heterologous' symbioses may limit 'novel' symbioses in the field.

Are people with schizophrenia adherent to diabetes medication? A comparative meta-analysis

Individuals living with schizophrenia are 2–3 times more likely to experience type 2 diabetes mellitus. Diabetes medication adherence is essential to reduce morbidity and mortality in this population. We conducted a meta-analysis of diabetes medication adherence among people with schizophrenia, and compared this to those without schizophrenia. A systematic search strategy was used to identify all articles reporting adherence to diabetes medications among patients with schizophrenia. In total, 10 unique studies reporting data from 33,910 people with schizophrenia were included. Random effects meta-analysis showed people with schizophrenia adhered to medication on 77.3% of days prescribed (n=32080, 95%CI=73.6–81%, I2=99.2%,), and adhered on 4.6% more days per year than those without schizophrenia (p<0.01, 95%CI=2.4–6.7%, I2=92.5%, schizophrenia n=19367, controls=170,853). Furthermore, 56% of individuals with schizophrenia (n=33680) were considered “adherent” (i.e. >80% adherence over 12–24 month) to diabetes medication, which was significantly more than those without schizophrenia (OR=1.34, 95%CI: 1.18–1.52, p<0.01). Factors which were positively associated with diabetes medication adherence were age, number of outpatient visits, along with multiple medication administration variables. Future prospective research should examine diabetes monitoring, medication prescription, and subsequent adherence in fully representative samples. Novel interventions for maximizing compliance to diabetes medication in this vulnerable population should also be explored

Mucus Sugar Content Shapes the Bacterial Community Structure in Thermally Stressed Acropora muricata

It has been proposed that the chemical composition of a coral’s mucus can influence the associated bacterial community. However, information on this topic is rare, and non-existent for corals that are under thermal stress. This study therefore compared the carbohydrate composition of mucus in the coral Acropora muricata when subjected to increasing thermal stress from 26°C to 31°C, and determined whether this composition correlated with any changes in the bacterial community. Results showed that, at lower temperatures, the main components of mucus were N-acetyl glucosamine and C6 sugars, but these constituted a significantly lower proportion of the mucus in thermally-stressed corals. The change in the mucus composition coincided with a shift from a γ-Proteobacteria- to a Verrucomicrobiae- and α-Proteobacteria-dominated community in the coral mucus. Bacteria in the class Cyanobacteria also started to become prominent in the mucus when the coral was thermally stressed. The increase in the relative abundance of the Verrucomicrobiae at higher temperature was strongly associated with a change in the proportion of fucose, glucose and mannose in the mucus. Increase in the relative abundance of α-Proteobacteria were associated with GalNAc and glucose, while the drop in relative abundance of γ-Proteobacteria at high temperature coincided with changes in fucose and mannose. Cyanobacteria were highly associated with arabinose and xylose. Changes in mucus composition and the bacterial community in the mucus layer occurred at 29°C, which were prior to visual signs of coral bleaching at 31°C. A compositional change in the coral mucus, induced by thermal stress could therefore be a key factor leading to a shift in the associated bacterial community. This, in turn, has the potential to impact the physiological function of the coral holobiont

Negative symptoms are associated with lower autonomous motivation towards physical activity in people with schizophrenia

Objective: This cross-sectional study examined the association between psychiatric symptoms and motivation for physical activity within the self-determination theory (SDT) framework in people with schizophrenia. Method: Over a 4-month period, 55 (17♀) inpatients with a DSM-V diagnosis of schizophrenia were assessed with the Psychosis Evaluation tool for Common use by Caregivers (PECC) and the Behavioural Regulation in Exercise Questionnaire (BREQ-2), that provided separate scores for amotivation, external, introjected and autonomous regulation. Spearman correlations coefficients were examined between these motivation scores and symptom ratings. Results: The BREQ-2 score for autonomous regulations (2.6 ± 1.1) was significantly correlated with the PECC negative symptoms score (10.3 ± 4.1) (r = -0.34, p = 0.011). No other significant correlations between BREQ-2 and PECC scores were found. The BREQ-2 score for external regulations (0.7 ± 0.9) was associated with older age (35.2 ± 11.3 years) (r = -0.30, p = 0.024). Conclusions: These findings provide evidence that negative symptoms are associated with lower autonomous motivation towards physical activity in inpatients with schizophrenia. Future longitudinal research should confirm the current findings. Such research will guide physical activity approaches aimed at facilitating enhanced physical and mental health outcomes in individuals with schizophrenia

Avion 1978-04-12

https://commons.erau.edu/avion/1681/thumbnail.jp

Photonic Band Tuning in 2D Photonic Crystals by Atomic Layer Deposition

Atomic layer deposition (ALD) has become a powerful tool for the fabrication of high quality 3-dimentional photonic crystals (PCs) from both inorganic (opal) and organic (holographically patterned polymer) templates [1,2]. With ALD, highly conformal films can be grown with a precision of 0.05 nm, which, when combined with the availability of a wide range of low temperature film growth protocols, enables a high degree of control over material and structural properties to precisely tune optical properties [3]. Two-dimensional photonic crystals have been developed extensively for applications in optical interconnects, beam steering, and sensor devices; and are predominantly fabricated by electron-beam lithography. The optical properties of 2D photonic crystal slab waveguides are determined by the precision of the lithography process, with limited post fabrication tunability