Biology subjects

Myowa, M.

Publications and source records attributed to Myowa, M..

3 recordsLinked to original sources

bioRxiv2023

Temperament in early childhood is associated with gut microbiota composition and diversity

Temperament is a key predictor of human mental health, and cognitive and emotional development. While human fear behavior is reportedly associated with gut microbiome in infancy, infant gut microbiota changes dramatically during the first five years, when the diversity and composition of gut microbiome are established. This period is crucial for developing human executive functioning, including emotion regulation. Therefore, this study investigated the relationship between temperament and gut microbiota in 284 preschool children aged 3-4 years. Child temperament was assessed by maternal reports of the Childrens Behavior Questionnaire. Gut microbiota (alpha/beta diversity and genera abundance) was evaluated using 16S rRNA sequencing of stool samples. A high abundance of anti-inflammatory bacteria (e.g., Faecalibacterium) and low abundance of inflammatory bacteria (e.g., Eggerthella, Flavonifractor) were associated with higher positive emotionality and reward-seeking (i.e., Surgency/Extraversion, {beta} =0.15, p = 0.013), and lower negative emotionality and behavioral inhibition (i.e., Negative Affectivity, {beta} = -0.17, p = 0.004). Additionally, gut microbiota diversity was associated with a more active approach and exploration (i.e., Impulsivity, a specific aspect of Surgency/Extraversion, {beta} = 0.16, p = 0.008). This study provides insight into the biological mechanisms of temperament and takes important steps toward identifying predictive markers of psychological/emotional risk.

microbiology↗

bioRxiv2023

Non-contact respiratory measurements of outdoor-housed rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta) using millimeter-wave radars

Respiration is an invaluable signal that facilitates the real-time observation of physiological dynamics. In recent years, the advancement of non-contact measurement technology has gained momentum in capturing physiological dynamics in natural settings. This technology is anticipated to find utility in healthcare, not only in humans but also in captive animals, to enhance animal welfare. Currently, the predominant non-contact approach for captive animals involves measuring vital signs through subtle variations in skin color. However, this approach is limited when dealing with body regions covered with hair or outdoor environments under fluctuating sunlight. In contrast, millimeter-wave radar systems, which employ millimeter waves that can penetrate animal fur, exhibit minimal susceptibility to sunlight interference. Thus, this method holds promise for non-contact vital measurements in natural and outdoor settings. In this study, we validated a millimeter-wave radar methodology for capturing respiration in outdoor-housed rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta). The radar was positioned beyond the captive enclosure and maintained at a distance of > 5 m from the target. Millimeter waves were transmitted to the target, and the reflected waves were used to estimate skin surface displacement associated with respiration. The results revealed periodic skin surface displacement, and the estimated respiratory rate was within the reported range of respiratory rates for rhesus macaques. This result suggests the potential applicability of millimeter-wave radar for non-contact respiration monitoring in outdoor-housed macaques. The continued advancement of non-contact vital measurement technology will contribute to the mental and physical monitoring of captive animals to establish comfortable captive environments. Research HighlightsMillimeter-wave radar systems succeeded in the non-contact measurement of respiration in outdoor-housed rhesus macaques from > 5 m. Our results demonstrate the feasibility of radar-based remote monitoring to assess the welfare of zoo-housed animals.

zoology↗

bioRxiv2022

The Intestinal Microbiome, Dietary Habits, and Physical and Psychological Resilience in Postpartum Women

The population of postpartum women suffering from mental illness is increasing steadily, particularly under conditions of the COVID-19 pandemic. Identifying factors that contribute to resilience in postpartum women is urgently needed to decrease risks of poor physical and psychological functioning. Studies have linked variations in the intestinal microbiota to depression in clinical samples, but the impacts in postpartum women in a Japanese population are unknown. We conducted two studies to examine the links between intestinal microbiota, physical condition, and psychological state in nonclinical, postpartum Japanese women. Our results show that decreasing Lachnospira and alpha diversity of microbiome is related to high mental health risk (i.e., parenting stress and/or depression). Psychological resilience and physical conditions were associated with relative abundances of genera Blautia, Clostridium, Eggerthella. This study contributes to further understanding of the gut-brain axis mechanisms and supports proposals for interventions to enhance resilience in postpartum women.

microbiology↗