Population Numbers and Reproductive Health

Endocrinology ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 162 (11) ◽  
Author(s):  
Alexander Suvorov
Keyword(s):  
Reproductive Behavior ◽  
Alternative Hypothesis ◽  
Experimental Studies ◽  
Causal Chain ◽  
Reproductive Physiology ◽  
Global Changes ◽  
Population Densities ◽  
Related Factors ◽  
And Behavior ◽  
Population Numbers

Abstract A recent study published in The Lancet predicts a remarkable drop in population numbers following a peak that will be reached by 2064. A unique feature of the upcoming population drop is that it will be almost exclusively caused by decreased reproduction, rather than factors that increase rates of mortality. The reasons for decreased reproduction are also unique, as, unlike previous centuries, limited reproduction today is hardly due to a shortage in resources. In other words, the predicted population drop is almost exclusively due to changes in reproductive behavior and reproductive physiology. Today, global changes in reproductive behavior are mostly explained by social sciences in a framework of demographic transition hypotheses, while changes in reproductive physiology are usually attributed to effects of endocrine-disrupting pollutants. This review outlines a complementary/alternative hypothesis, which connects reproductive trends with population densities. Numerous wildlife and experimental studies of a broad range of animal species have demonstrated that reproductive behavior and reproductive physiology are negatively controlled via endocrine and neural signaling in response to increasing population densities. The causal chain of this control system, although not fully understood, includes suppression of every level of hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal cascade by hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, activated in response to increasing stress of social interactions. This paper discusses evidence in support of a hypothesis that current trends in reproductive physiology and behavior may be partly explained by increasing population densities. Better understanding of the causal chain involved in reproduction suppression by population density–related factors may help in developing interventions to treat infertility and other reproductive conditions.

scholarly journals Do Animals Play a Role in the Transmission of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2)? A Commentary

Animals ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 16
Author(s):  
Anna Costagliola ◽  
Giovanna Liguori ◽  
Danila d’Angelo ◽  
Caterina Costa ◽  
Francesca Ciani ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome ◽  
Neutralizing Antibodies ◽  
Experimental Studies ◽  
Infectious Agent ◽  
Human Infection ◽  
Farm Animals ◽  
Partial Protection ◽  
Management Measures ◽  
First Case ◽  
And Behavior

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) belongs to the Beta-coronavirus genus. It is 96.2% homologous to bat CoV RaTG13 and 88% homologous to two bat SARS-like coronaviruses. SARS-CoV-2 is the infectious agent responsible for the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), which was first reported in the Hubei province of Wuhan, China, at the beginning of December 2019. Human transmission from COVID-19 patients or incubation carriers occurs via coughing, sneezing, speaking, discharge from the nose, or fecal contamination. Various strains of the virus have been reported around the world, with different virulence and behavior. In addition, SARS-CoV-2 shares certain epitopes with some taxonomically related viruses, with tropism for the most common synanthropic animals. By elucidating the immunological properties of the circulating SARS-CoV-2, a partial protection due to human–animal interactions could be supposed in some situations. In addition, differential epitopes could be used for the differential diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2 infection. There have been cases of transmission from people with COVID-19 to pets such as cats and dogs. In addition, wild felines were infected. All These animals were either asymptomatic or mildly symptomatic and recovered spontaneously. Experimental studies showed cats and ferrets to be more susceptible to COVID-19. COVID-19 positive dogs and felines do not transmit the infection to humans. In contrast, minks at farms were severely infected from people with COVID-19. A SARS-Cov-2 variant in the Danish farmed mink that had been previously infected by COVID-19 positive workers, spread to mink workers causing the first case of animal-to-human infection transmission that causes a moderate decreased sensitivity to neutralizing antibodies. Thus, more investigations are necessary. It remains important to understand the risk that people with COVID-19 pose to their pets, as well as wild or farm animals so effective recommendations and risk management measures against COVID-19 can be made. A One Health unit that facilitates collaboration between public health and veterinary services is recommended.

scholarly journals Positive Aspects of Caregiving Among Family Caregivers of Individuals With Dementia

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 358-359
Author(s):  
Mary Grace Asirot ◽  
Anna Papazyan ◽  
Yeonsu Song
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Sleep Quality ◽  
Family Caregivers ◽  
Care Recipient ◽  
Related Factors ◽  
Negative Experience ◽  
Care Recipients ◽  
Positive Aspects Of Caregiving ◽  
Positive Caregiving ◽  
And Behavior

Abstract Traditionally, caregiving for individuals with dementia has been viewed as a negative experience. Understanding positive aspect of caregiving and related factors is important to improve health among family caregivers. We analyzed baseline data from an ongoing dyadic sleep education trial for individuals with dementia and their caregivers (N=21 dyads; mean age 70.8± 11.1 for caregivers, 80.5± 8.3 for care-recipients). The Positive Aspects of Caregiving (PAC 9-item) was used to assess subjective satisfaction with caregiving. Other measures included Zarit Burden Interview (ZBI), SF-12 Health Survey (SF-12v2), Revised Memory and Behavior Problems Checklist (RMBPC), and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). Pearson correlations and t-tests were calculated for analyses. Caregivers most frequently endorsed that caregiving enabled them to appreciate life more (n=16 agreed a lot). Caregivers who began providing care within the first few months of the care-recipient needing care (n=16) had greater positive aspects of caregiving than those who started providing care sometime later (n=5) (36.37±7.33 versus 25.8±8.29, p=0.01). Caregivers with higher PAC scores had lower ZBI score (r=-0.49, p=0.02), better mental health on the SF-12v2 (r=0.53, p=0.01), less distress related to care-recipient behaviors on the RMBPC (r=-0.50, p=0.02), and lower PSQI subscale (perceived sleep quality) score (r= -0.46, p=0.04). Findings suggest that higher positive caregiving experience was associated with better mental health and sleep quality, and less burden and distress from the care-recipients behaviors. More research is needed to better understand this relationship and to determine possible interventions to increase positive aspects of caregiving.

scholarly journals Watching television in a home environment: effect on children’s attention, comprehension and behavior

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sarah E Rose ◽  
Alexandra Lamont ◽  
Nicholas Reyland
Keyword(s):  
Problem Solving ◽  
Ecological Validity ◽  
Experimental Studies ◽  
Tv Viewing ◽  
Facilitation Effect ◽  
Environment Effect ◽  
And Performance ◽  
And Behavior ◽  
Harmful Effects ◽  
Problem Solving Task

Correlational studies have suggested some harmful effects of television (TV) viewing in early childhood, especially for the viewing of fast-paced entertainment programs. However, this has not been consistently supported by experimental studies, many of which have lacked ecological validity. The current study explores the effects of pace of program on the attention, problem solving and comprehension of 41 3- and 4-year-olds using an ecologically valid experimental design. Children were visited twice at home; on each visit they were shown an episode of a popular animated entertainment program which differed in pace: one faster paced, one slower paced. Children’s behavior was coded for attention and arousal during viewing, attention, effort and performance after viewing during a problem-solving task, and comprehension of the program. The faster paced program was attended to more, but this had no impact on comprehension. Although 3-year-olds showed more attention and effort on the problem-solving task after watching the slower program, both 3- and 4-year-olds completed more problems successfully after watching the faster program. The results provide evidence to counter the ‘harm’ perceived in young children watching fast-paced entertainment programs as where differences were found it was the fast-paced program which appeared to have a cognitive facilitation effect.

scholarly journals Top-down coordination of local cortical state during selective attention

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jochem van Kempen ◽  
Marc A. Gieselmann ◽  
Michael Boyd ◽  
Nicholas A. Steinmetz ◽  
Tirin Moore ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Selective Attention ◽  
Cortical Excitability ◽  
Brain Regions ◽  
Global Changes ◽  
Top Down ◽  
Visual Hierarchy ◽  
Tightly Coupled ◽  
State Coordination ◽  
And Behavior ◽  
Spontaneous Fluctuations

AbstractSpontaneous fluctuations in cortical excitability influence sensory processing and behavior. These fluctuations, long known to reflect global changes in cortical state, were recently found to be modulated locally within a retinotopic map during spatially selective attention. We found that periods of vigorous (On) and faint (Off) spiking activity, the signature of cortical state fluctuations, were coordinated across brain areas along the visual hierarchy and tightly coupled to their retinotopic alignment. During top-down attention, this interareal coordination was enhanced and progressed along the reverse cortical hierarchy. The extent of local state coordination between areas was predictive of behavioral performance. Our results show that cortical state dynamics are shared across brain regions, modulated by cognitive demands and relevant for behavior.One Sentence SummaryInterareal coordination of local cortical state is retinotopically precise and progresses in a reverse hierarchical manner during selective attention.

scholarly journals Gambaran Status Endemisitas Filariasis dan Faktor yang Terkait dengan Transmisi Sesaat Pasca Survei Transmission Assessment Survey (TAS-) 1 di Kabupaten Pidie, Aceh

2020 ◽  
Vol 29 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Nur Ramadhan ◽  
Yulidar Yulidar ◽  
Abidah Nur ◽  
Zain Hadifah ◽  
Yasir Yasir
Keyword(s):  
Public Health Problem ◽  
Evaluation Study ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Global Public Health ◽  
Sectional Study ◽  
Selective Treatment ◽  
Related Factors ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Assessment Survey ◽  
And Behavior

Abstract Filariasis is still a global public health problem both in the world and in Indonesia. Aceh is include in one of the provinces with the most clinical cases in Indonesia. The aimed of this study was to determine the description of endemicity status and Related Factors to Instantaneous Transmissions period after Transmission Assessment Survey (TAS) 1 in Pidie district. This research is part of the filariasis elimination evaluation study in Indonesia (Multicenter Filariasis Study) Litbangkes Office Center, Ministry of Health in 2017. The research design was cross sectional study. The study was conducted from February to November 2017. The selected research sites were Buloh and Kambuk Payapi Village in Pidie district. Data was collected by interviewin respondent to obtained information about people's knowledge, attitudes and behavior related to filariasis. In addition, finger blood tests were also conducted on respondents who had been interviewed. The number of respondents by finger blood was 627 and 714 were interviewed. The risk of filariasis transmission still occurred with the finding of 10 positive cases of microfilaria as many as 10 people in Kambuk Payapi village  with B.malayi species. The average filarial density was 86.84 / μl blood.  Respondent’s knowledge about filariasis is still low, community attitudes towads the prevention and treatment of filariasis was positive. Only a portion of respondents were involved in mass treatment. Selective treatment and strengthening synergy across sectors and programs must be increased so that elimination of  filariasis can be achieved. In addition, it is necessary to increase public knowledge through various health promotion media to improve community behaviour to achieve  elimination of filariasis. Abstrak Filariasis masih menjadi masalah kesehatan baik di dunia maupun di Indonesia. Aceh termasuk dalam salah satu provinsi dengan kasus klinis kronis terbanyak di Indonesia. Tujuan penelitian ini adalah mengetahui gambaran status endemisitas filariasis dan faktor yang berpengaruh dengan transmisi setelah Transmission Assessment Survey (TAS) 1 di Kabupaten Pidie. Penelitian ini merupakan bagian dari studi evaluasi eliminasi filariasis di Indonesia (studi Multicenter Filariasis) Badan Litbangkes Kementerian Kesehatan tahun 2017. Desain penelitian adalah cross sectional study. Penelitian dilakukan dari Februari-November 2017. Tempat penelitian adalah di desa Buloh dan desa Kambuk Payapi di Kabupaten Pidie. Pengumpulan data dilakukan wawancara responden untuk mendapatkan informasi tentang pengetahuan, sikap, dan perilaku masyarakat terkait filariasis. Selain itu juga dilakukan pemeriksaan darah jari malam hari pada responden yang sudah diwawancarai.  Jumlah responden yang diperiksa darah jari 627 responden dan yang diwawancarai 714.  Resiko penularan filariasis masih terjadi dengan masih ditemukannya kasus positif mikrofilaria sebanyak 10 orang di desa Kambuk Payapi dengan spesies B.malayi. Rata-rata kepadatan filaria adalah 86,84/µl darah. Pengetahuan responden tentang penyebab filariasis masih rendah, sikap masyarakat terhadap upaya pencegahan dan pengobatan filariasis sudah positif. Namun demikian hanya sebagian responden yang ikut terlibat dalam pengobatan masal. Pengobatan selektif dan memperkuat sinergi lintas sektos dan lintas program harus ditingkatkan agar eliminasi filariasis dapat dicapai. Selain itu diperlukan peningkatan pengetahuan masyarakat melalui berbagai media promosi kesehatan untuk meningkatkan prilaku masyarakat untuk mencapai eliminasi filariasis.  

Gender and Political Cognition: Integrating Evolutionary Biology and Political Science

1989 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 3-26 ◽  
Author(s):  
Roger D. Masters
Keyword(s):  
Political Science ◽  
Evolutionary Biology ◽  
Scientific Explanation ◽  
Cultural Anthropology ◽  
Experimental Studies ◽  
Political Leaders ◽  
Cognitive Reactions ◽  
And Behavior ◽  
Attitudes And Behavior ◽  
Political Cognition

Although men and women often differ in political attitudes and behavior, there is no widely accepted scientific explanation of such phenomena. After surveying evidence concerning gender differences in the fields of social psychology, ethology, neurology, cultural anthropology, and political science, five hypotheses concerning the way males and females respond to social cues are derived from the neo-Darwinian theory of natural selection. The predicted differences in the mode of political cognition are then shown to be consistent with findings from experimental studies of emotional and cognitive reactions to televised facial displays of political leaders.

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