Monitor Stress Levels Research Articles

Wireless, continuous monitoring of daily stress and management practice via soft bioelectronics

Stress has become a significant factor, directly affecting human health. Due to the numerous sources of stress that are inevitable in daily life, effective management of stress is essential to maintain a healthy life. Recent advancements in wearable devices allow monitoring stress levels via the detection of galvanic skin response on the skin. Some of these devices show the capability of assessing stress relief methods. However, prior works have been limited in a controlled laboratory setting with a short period assessment (<1 h) of stress intervention. The existing systems' main issues include motion artifacts and discomfort caused by rigid and bulky electronics and mandatory device connection on active fingers. Here, we introduce soft, wireless, skin-like electronics (SKINTRONICS) that offers continuous, portable daily stress and management practice monitoring. The ultrathin, lightweight, all-in-one device captures the change of a subject's stress over six continuous hours during everyday activities, including desk work, cleaning, and resting. At the same time, the SKINTRONICS proves that typical stress alleviation methods (mindfulness and meditation) can reduce stress levels, even in the middle of the day, which is supported by statistical analysis. The low-profile, wireless, gel-free device shows enhanced breathability and minimized motion artifacts compared to a commercial stress monitor. Collectively, this study shows the first demonstration of soft, nanomembrane bioelectronics for long-term, continuous assessment of stress and intervention effectiveness throughout daily life.

Detecting stress from imaging photoplethysmography using high frame rate video and a yellow-green filter: A pilot study

We investigate the use of a yellow-green filter to increase the signal-to-noise ratio (snr) in imaging photoplethysmography (iPPG) and test if high frame rate (HFR) video improves the accuracy of the derived heart rate variability (HRV). This pilot study is associated with a broader program to use iPPG to detect and monitor stress levels using HRV. To improve the snr of the iPPG signal, we employ two HFR colour video cameras of which one was fitted with a yellow-green filter (corresponding to the haemoglobin absorption peak within the visible spectrum). To our knowledge, the benefit of a yellow-green filter has never been explored. The predominant influence on HRV comes from the autonomic nervous system (ANS), which connects directly to the heart and cues the human body to relax or to stress. The linkage of HRV to the ANS makes HRV a proxy for stress levels. The HRV is derived from the iPPG signal by first using a cubic spline interpolation for more precise peak detection, and then calculating the inter-beat intervals from the peak-to-peak time differences. Instead of interpolating the signal, we hypothesise that a more accurate HRV measurement can be obtained using a HFR video camera, in our case at 200 frames per second.

Development an app for monitoring stress level and early detection of mental disorders in Indonesia

Abstract Background Stress may contribute to physical and mental health problems. The number of people with mental-emotional disorders has reached up to be 19 million people in Indonesia in 2018. Monitoring stress levels and early detection are important to prevent serious mental health problems. Therefore, we are developing De-stres©, a mobile app for monitoring the stress level and early detection of mental health disorders in Bahasa Indonesia. Methods De-stres© was developed for android OS and web-based app by using the web2py framework and PostgreSQL database. The app used the PSS-10 and Beck Depression-II questionnaires that were available in Bahasa Indonesia. It had six main functions: creating an account, approving the informed consent, filling the questionnaire, generating test results automatically, advice from psychologists based on the test result and saving test history. Results A month since its launch, the six functions test ran well on the Android OS and the website. A preliminary result showed that the app was downloaded more than 100 times from Google Playstore. Among the 420 data records, 71.6% (301) app users were students, with 60.7% (255) using the app to measure only stress level, 25.5% (107) resulting in severe stress and 4% (17) severe depression. Conclusions De-stres© is successfully developed and a promising instrument that can be implemented for Indonesia, by providing preliminary self-administered questionnaire. Key messages De-stres© is an app for monitoring stress levels and early detection of mental health problems and successfully developed with preliminary self-administered questionnaires in Bahasa Indonesia. De-stres© is a promising app that can be implemented for preventing serious mental health disorders in Indonesia.

Fully Integrated, Stretchable, Wireless Skin-Conformal Bioelectronics for Continuous Stress Monitoring in Daily Life.

Stress is one of the main causes that increase the risk of serious health problems. Recent wearable devices have been used to monitor stress levels via electrodermal activities on the skin. Although many biosensors provide adequate sensing performance, they still rely on uncomfortable, partially flexible systems with rigid electronics. These devices are mounted on either fingers or palms, which hinders a continuous signal monitoring. A fully‐integrated, stretchable, wireless skin‐conformal bioelectronic (referred to as “SKINTRONICS”) is introduced here that integrates soft, multi‐layered, nanomembrane sensors and electronics for continuous and portable stress monitoring in daily life. The all‐in‐one SKINTRONICS is ultrathin, highly soft, and lightweight, which overall offers an ergonomic and conformal lamination on the skin. Stretchable nanomembrane electrodes and a digital temperature sensor enable highly sensitive monitoring of galvanic skin response (GSR) and temperature. A set of comprehensive signal processing, computational modeling, and experimental study provides key aspects of device design, fabrication, and optimal placing location. Simultaneous comparison with two commercial stress monitors captures the enhanced performance of SKINTRONICS in long‐term wearability, minimal noise, and skin compatibility. In vivo demonstration of continuous stress monitoring in daily life reveals the unique capability of the soft device as a real‐world applicable stress monitor.

Employees With Autism Spectrum Disorders in the Digitized Work Environment: Perspectives for the Future

The aim of this article is to examine the opportunities for employees with autism spectrum disorders (ASDs), arising from digital technology (DT) development. The author discusses assistive technology (AT) as a mean of creating a better work environment, making the digitized workplace more friendly for people with ASD. A possible solution of communication problems is replacing the interpersonal communication between employees with electronic (non-direct) forms of communication, such as online communicators or chatbots. Another solution is the implementation of wearable electronic systems, monitoring stress levels and facilitating effective stress control. In the future, the whole digitized workplace could be designed according to a “smart workplace” concept. Sensors recording various human body parameters could be connected to a network with sensors recording physical parameters of the work environment (temperature, humidity, noise, smell, sunlight exposure) and also with controllers of its values, adjusting it dynamically to reduce distracting factors. As a result, communication, stress management, and sensory sensitiveness problems could be limited, improving the work comfort of people with ASD, and their colleagues. The pertinence of solutions proposed was also confirmed by the experts interviewed in the field who were asked to assess it in the context of future implementation.

Use of Ethograms to analyse Shoaling Behaviour of Mackerel (Scomber scombrus) in an Aquarium

&#x0D; The aim of this study was to design an ethogram to investigate mackerel (Scomber scomburs) shoaling behaviour in an aquarium. We divided shoaling behaviour into four categories: area of the tank where the shoal was present (position); the morphological shape of the shoal (formation); shoaling movements (movement) and the average distance between the individuals in the shoal (density). The shoal was observed in a non-feeding trial and a feeding trial where the shoal was fed with food pellets additional to the normal feeding schedule. The study was conducted in an aquarium with 4.5 million liters of water at the North Sea Oceanarium, Hirtshals, Denmark. Our results indicate that different patterns in the shoaling behaviour could be identified using an ethogram. The plate, which is a closed epileptically shape, was the most observed formation, while the forward unit, which is the average forward motion of the shoal moving horizontally, was the most observed movement. Light intensity, pH, oxygen level, and temperature showed no variation between the trials and thus does not explain any behavioural differences. The shoal showed no clear long-term reaction to feeding, though the shoal showed a preference for the top area when fed more regularly. Further investigations in shoal behaviour could determine whether these categories in behaviour could monitor stress level in confined shoals.&#x0D;

IOT Based Stress Detection and Health Monitoring System

The effects of stress are causing rigorous damage to the mental as well as physical state of humans. It is very difficult to identify whether a person is in stress. The person may look healthier physically but may not be in a state of good health due to the stress within the body. Their mental stability also gets affected and may further lead to chronic ailments due to persistent stress. However, it is very essential to monitor stress levels regularly which help in diagnosis of any abnormalities in the body that may lead to chronic illness in future. The Wireless networks based on IOT (Internet of Things) provides wide range of opportunities to monitor stress levels regularly and transmit the information to the concerned for immediate action. A model is designed and developed to detect the stress levels using various sensors such as heartbeat rate, blood pressure (BP), body temperature and concentration of CO2 gas. Further based on the values of these sensors, the levels of stress is calculated and the information is transmitted using IOT.

Structured Review: Psychosocial Stress During Long-Term Stays in Space

Over the past few years, the number of Japanese astronauts recruited for a long-term stay in the International Space Station (ISS) has increased. Being on a prolonged mission with the same people, in the same room, should impose psychosocial stress on the astronauts, possibly causing feelings of “psychological suffocation”. Several confinement studies have been conducted to simulate the conditions of the ISS, the Mir space station, and potential habitats on Mars, and to survey psychological interpersonal communication between the crew in a confined environment, including the Isolation Study for European Manned Space Infrastructure, Experimental Campaign for the European Manned Space Infrastructure, Simulation of Flight of International Crew on Space Station, Human Behavior in Extended Spaceflight, Mars-500, and Hawaii Space Exploration Analog and Simulation. Here, the findings from these studies were integrated into a structured review according to an evidence-based set of items for reporting in systematic reviews and meta-analyses. The results indicated that metaanalyses would not always be appropriate because it is difficult to design a research protocol with a high level of evidence in this field. Therefore, future research in this field should be focused on the following three points: 1) developing more accurate parameters for monitoring stress levels in long-term confinement environments; 2) analyzing stress levels in such situations with higher precision; and 3) accumulating and assembling existing and future data from long-term confinement environments.

HARNESSING TECHNOLOGY TO SUPPORT PERSONS WITH DEMENTIA AND THEIR CAREGIVERS

One in eight older adults in the US has Alzheimer’s disease or a related dementia, which are characterized by progressive cognitive and physical declines. The impact of dementia also goes beyond the individual since 92% of persons with dementia receive functional and emotional support from family members and other informal caregivers. The time demands, financial strain, and emotional toll of caregiving are known to cause increased stress and health problems. Therefore, there is a wealth of opportunities to develop new ways to intervene in the progressive loss of function among persons with dementia and ways to support them and their caregivers. Co-sponsored by the Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementias and Technology and Aging Interest Groups, this symposium addresses innovations in the implementation of new and existing technologies in the dementia care continuum. We will discuss the development and testing of a new mobile application designed to integrate both physical activity and cognitive training. Then we will discuss results from a virtual support group intervention to provide disease education, care planning, and emotional and social support among persons newly diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease and living alone. Next we will share results from a study using customized voice-assisted technologies to enable individuals with memory impairment to maintain independence and quality of life and reduce caregiver burden. Finally, we will present findings regarding the validity and accuracy of a wearable sensor-based device that measures skin conductivity and heart rate variability to monitor stress level among caregivers of persons with dementia.

Online Stress Monitoring Technique Based on Lamb-wave Measurements and a Convolutional Neural Network Under Static and Dynamic Loadings

This paper presents the development of an online stress monitoring technique based on Lamb-wave measurements and a convolutional neural network (CNN) for metallic plate-like structures under static and dynamic loadings. Monitoring stress levels in structural components is crucial because stress concentrations and stress redistribution can be precursors of structural damage and failure. Moreover, the stress variations owing to dynamic loadings are directly related to the fatigue life of a structure. First, an aluminum plate specimen is fabricated, and piezoelectric transducers are installed on the specimen. Different levels of static loading are applied to the specimen with a hydraulic loading machine, and the ultrasonic responses are obtained at each loading level. The applied loads (ground truths) are measured by a load cell built into the loading machine. Then, a CNN is designed and trained by defining the Lamb-wave time responses as the input and the measured stress levels as the output. The performance of the trained CNN is evaluated using the blind test data obtained from various static and constant-amplitude cyclic loading conditions. The uniqueness of this study lies in (1) the automated stress estimation without feature extraction and (2) the stress monitoring capability under constant-amplitude cyclic loadings up to a frequency of 5 Hz.

Understanding and Measuring Psychological Stress Using Social Media

A body of literature has demonstrated that users’ mental health conditions, such as depression and anxiety, can be predicted from their social media language. There is still a gap in the scientific understanding of how psychological stress is expressed on social media. Stress is one of the primary underlying causes and correlates of chronic physical illnesses and mental health conditions. In this paper, we explore the language of psychological stress with a dataset of 601 social media users, who answered the Perceived Stress Scale questionnaire and also consented to share their Facebook and Twitter data. Firstly, we find that stressed users post about exhaustion, losing control, increased self-focus and physical pain as compared to posts about breakfast, family-time, and travel by users who are not stressed. Secondly, we find that Facebook language is more predictive of stress than Twitter language. Thirdly, we demonstrate how the language based models thus developed can be adapted and be scaled to measure county-level trends. Since county-level language is easily available on Twitter using the Streaming API, we explore multiple domain adaptation algorithms to adapt user-level Facebook models to Twitter language. We find that domain-adapted and scaled social mediabased measurements of stress outperform sociodemographic variables (age, gender, race, education, and income), against ground-truth survey-based stress measurements, both at the user- and the county-level in the U.S. Twitter language that scores higher in stress is also predictive of poorer health, less access to facilities and lower socioeconomic status in counties. We conclude with a discussion of the implications of using social media as a new tool for monitoring stress levels of both individuals and counties.

Non-invasive monitoring of physiological stress in an afrotropical arid-zone passerine bird, the southern pied babbler

Using faecal matter to monitor stress levels in animals non-invasively is a powerful technique for elucidating the effects of biotic and abiotic stressors on free-living animals. To validate the use of droppings for measuring stress in southern pied babblers (Turdoides bicolor) we performed an ACTH challenge on captive individuals and determined the effect of temporary separation from their social group on their faecal glucocorticoid metabolite (fGCM) concentration. Additionally, we compared fGCM concentrations of captive babblers to those of wild conspecifics and examined the effects of dominance rank on fGCM concentration. We found droppings to be a suitable matrix for measuring physiological stress in babblers and that individual separation from the group caused an increase in fGCM levels. In addition, babblers temporarily held in captivity had substantially higher fGCM concentrations than wild individuals, indicating that babblers kept in captivity experience high levels of stress. In wild, free-living individuals, dominant males showed the highest levels of stress, suggesting that being the dominant male of a highly territorial social group is stressful. Non-invasive sampling allows field-based researchers to reduce disturbance related to monitoring adrenocortical function, thereby avoiding artificially increasing circulating corticosterone concentration as it is not necessary to physically restrain study animals.

An investigation into the effectiveness of compressed straw blocks in reducing abnormal behaviour in growing pigs

The provision of manipulable material to pigs is a legal requirement to ensure their good welfare. Loose straw is edible, chewable, investigable and manipulable, and has been proven to be effective in reducing abnormal behaviour. However, it is incompatible with slatted systems and therefore not a viable option for many intensive units. Thus, there is a need to identify enrichment materials that are as effective as loose straw and compatible with slatted floors. This study investigated the viability of using compressed straw blocks on a commercial farm in terms of cost and effectiveness in reducing biting relative to plastic hanging toys. A total of 880 slaughter pigs were used, among which half (n = 440, 8 groups) were provided with commercial pig toys (TOY) and the other half (n = 440, 8 groups) were provided compressed straw blocks (STRAW BLOCK). Animals were separated according to sex to investigate whether there was a higher propensity to tail and ear bite depending on sex. Pigs were monitored from weaning to slaughter, with tails being examined post scalding and any condemnations recorded at the abattoir. Throughout their life, the tails and ears of all pigs were examined individually, and behavioural observations of each pig group were conducted fortnightly. Salivary cortisol was also obtained from a subsample of pigs from each group every fortnight to monitor stress levels. The highest straw usage was recorded in the second weaner stage (39 to 67 days after weaning). Enrichment type or sex had no effect on tail lesion scores or cold carcass weight recorded at the abattoir. There was also no effect of enrichment type or sex on body, tail, or ear lesion scores during either the weaner (0 to 39 days after weaning) or finisher stage (67 to145 days after weaning). Female pigs showed more biting behaviour than males, and female pigs that were provided STRAW BLOCK performed better than those provided TOY. In both the weaner and finisher accommodation, more instances of interaction were recorded with TOY pens as enrichment than with STRAW BLOCK, but the interaction duration was not recorded. There was no effect of sex on either stage. More instances of aggression were observed with the TOY than with STRAW BLOCK in the weaner stage (P < 0.05). Enrichment type or sex had no effect on cortisol levels. Thus, relative to plastic hanging toys, compressed straw blocks provided in this manner did not benefit pig welfare.

Self-assessment of surgical ward crisis management using video replay augmented with stress biofeedback

BackgroundWe aimed to explore the feasibility and attitudes towards using video replay augmented with real time stress quantification for the self-assessment of clinical skills during simulated surgical ward crisis management.MethodsTwenty two clinicians participated in 3 different simulated ward based scenarios of deteriorating post-operative patients. Continuous ECG recordings were made for all participants to monitor stress levels using heart rate variability (HRV) indices. Video recordings of simulated scenarios augmented with real time stress biofeedback were replayed to participants. They were then asked to self-assess their performance using an objective assessment tool. Participants attitudes were explored using a post study questionnaire.ResultsUsing HRV stress indices, we demonstrated higher stress levels in novice participants. Self-assessment scores were significantly higher in more experienced participants. Overall, participants felt that video replay and augmented stress biofeedback were useful in self-assessment.ConclusionSelf-assessment using an objective self-assessment tool alongside video replay augmented with stress biofeedback is feasible in a simulated setting and well liked by participants.

Heart rate variability metrics for fine-grained stress level assessment

Background and Objectives: In spite of the existence of a multitude of techniques that allow the estimation of stress from physiological indexes, its fine-grained assessment is still a challenge for biomedical engineering. The short-term assessment of stress condition overcomes the limits to stress characterization with long blocks of time and allows to evaluate the behaviour change in real-world settings and also the stress level dynamics. The aim of the present study was to evaluate time and frequency domain and nonlinear heart rate variability (HRV) metrics for stress level assessment using a short-time window. Methods: The electrocardiogram (ECG) signal from 14 volunteers was monitored using the Vital JacketTM while they performed the Trier Social Stress Test (TSST) which is a standardized stress-inducing protocol. Window lengths from 220 s to 50 s for HRV analysis were tested in order to evaluate which metrics could be used to monitor stress levels in an almost continuous way. Results: A sub-set of HRV metrics (AVNN, rMSSD, SDNN and pNN20) showed consistent differences between stress and non-stress phases, and showed to be reliable parameters for the assessment of stress levels in short-term analysis. Conclusions: The AVNN metric, using 50 s of window length analysis, showed that it is the most reliable metric to recognize stress level across the four phases of TSST and allows a fine-grained analysis of stress effect as an index of psychological stress and provides an insight into the reaction of the autonomic nervous system to stress.

Fabric Based Wearable Biosensor for Continuous Monitoring of Steroids

Technologies and devices for continuous monitoring of cortisol (or hydrocortisone) levels are increasingly important for use in a wide range of applications starting from endocrinology to military to sports, as it regulates many important pathophysiological functions [1,2]. Cortisol is a steroid hormone produced in adrenal glands, released in bio-fluids, in response to events and circumstances such as fear, stress, and exercising. Thus, the measurement of cortisol in the bio-fluids is an important tool for use in clinical diagnostics and in monitoring stress levels during stress-intensive activities. Conventional devices, such as cortisol flow immunoassays (FIA)[3], salivary cortisol assay kits[4], are available in the market and are capable of measuring cortisol levels in collected saliva/serum samples. However, such assay kits still suffer from tedious lab processing and the time associated therewith. Currently, affinity based biosensor prototypes involving antibodies and aptamers as recognition element to capture cortisol have been widely reported by researchers. However, there are many challenges associated with the affinity based assays that restricts commercialization. So there is a real need for developing catalytic sensor that would provide continuous monitoring of cortisol levels at clinical setting. Porphyrins and their derivatives are highly conjugated heterocyclic macrocycle organic compounds. The macrocyclic structure of porphyrin can conjugate with many metal elements to form stable metalloporphyrins which has remarkable electrocatalytic, photocatalytic, and biochemical properties. Metallophorphyrins are known as bioinspired catalyst since they are the actual catalytic active site (prosthetic group) of important class of proteins and enzymes. Metalloporphyrins based catalytic sensors have been reported for the detection of sulphur ions[5], nitric oxide[6], nitrite[7] and have not been used for detecting cortisol. Cortisol ((11β)-11,17,21-Trihydroxypregn-4-ene-3,20-dione) is an unsaturated ketosteroid and containing keto group at 3rd and 20thposition. The reduction reaction of keto groups of the cortisol to hydroxyl group catalyzed by metalloporphyrins is utilized here for the direct detection of cortisol. The proposed technology involves the cladding of the catalytic biosensor with conductive textile/fabric to wick and transfer the sweat to the sensing surface to enable continuous monitoring of cortisol. The current response of the sensor was found to a strong linear function of cortisol concentrations in the range 50 pM-100 nM. Detection limit is found to be as low as 10 pM. The schematic representation of working principle of catalytic cortisol sensor is represented in scheme 1. Scheme 1. Electrochemical pathway of reduction of cortisol at electrode for continuous monitoring.

Using Real-Time Social Media Technologies to Monitor Levels of Perceived Stress and Emotional State in College Students: A Web-Based Questionnaire Study.

BackgroundCollege can be stressful for many freshmen as they cope with a variety of stressors. Excess stress can negatively affect both psychological and physical health. Thus, there is a need to find innovative and cost-effective strategies to help identify students experiencing high levels of stress to receive appropriate treatment. Social media use has been rapidly growing, and recent studies have reported that data from these technologies can be used for public health surveillance. Currently, no studies have examined whether Twitter data can be used to monitor stress level and emotional state among college students.ObjectiveThe primary objective of our study was to investigate whether students’ perceived levels of stress were associated with the sentiment and emotions of their tweets. The secondary objective was to explore whether students’ emotional state was associated with the sentiment and emotions of their tweets.MethodsWe recruited 181 first-year freshman students aged 18-20 years at University of California, Los Angeles. All participants were asked to complete a questionnaire that assessed their demographic characteristics, levels of stress, and emotional state for the last 7 days. All questionnaires were completed within a 48-hour period. All tweets posted by the participants from that week (November 2 to 8, 2015) were mined and manually categorized based on their sentiment (positive, negative, neutral) and emotion (anger, fear, love, happiness) expressed. Ordinal regressions were used to assess whether weekly levels of stress and emotional states were associated with the percentage of positive, neutral, negative, anger, fear, love, or happiness tweets.ResultsA total of 121 participants completed the survey and were included in our analysis. A total of 1879 tweets were analyzed. A higher level of weekly stress was significantly associated with a greater percentage of negative sentiment tweets (beta=1.7, SE 0.7; P=.02) and tweets containing emotions of fear (beta=2.4, SE 0.9; P=.01) and love (beta=3.6, SE 1.4; P=.01). A greater level of anger was negatively associated with the percentage of positive sentiment (beta=–1.6, SE 0.8; P=.05) and tweets related to the emotions of happiness (beta=–2.2, SE 0.9; P=.02). A greater level of fear was positively associated with the percentage of negative sentiment (beta=1.67, SE 0.7; P=.01), particularly a greater proportion of tweets related to the emotion of fear (beta=2.4, SE 0.8; P=.01). Participants who reported a greater level of love showed a smaller percentage of negative sentiment tweets (beta=–1.3, SE 0.7; P=0.05). Emotions of happiness were positively associated with the percentage of tweets related to the emotion of happiness (beta=–1.8, SE 0.8; P=.02) and negatively associated with percentage of negative sentiment tweets (beta=–1.7, SE 0.7; P=.02) and tweets related to the emotion of fear (beta=–2.8, SE 0.8; P=.01).ConclusionsSentiment and emotions expressed in the tweets have the potential to provide real-time monitoring of stress level and emotional well-being in college students.

Chronic stress exposure following photothrombotic stroke is associated with increased levels of Amyloid beta accumulation and altered oligomerisation at sites of thalamic secondary neurodegeneration in mice

Exposure to severe stress following stroke is recognised to complicate the recovery process. We have identified that stress can exacerbate the severity of post-stroke secondary neurodegeneration in the thalamus. In this study, we investigated whether exposure to stress could influence the accumulation of the neurotoxic protein Amyloid-β. Using an experimental model of focal cortical ischemia in adult mice combined with exposure to chronic restraint stress, we examined changes within the contra- and ipsilateral thalamus at six weeks post-stroke using Western blotting and immunohistochemical approaches. Western blotting analysis indicated that stroke was associated with a significant enhancement of the 25 and 50 kDa oligomers within the ipsilateral hemisphere and the 20 kDa oligomer within the contralateral hemisphere. Stroked animals exposed to stress exhibited an additional increase in multiple forms of Amyloid-beta oligomers. Immunohistochemistry analysis confirmed that stroke was associated with a significant accumulation of Amyloid-beta within the thalami of both hemispheres, an effect that was exacerbated in stroke animals exposed to stress. Given that Amyloid-beta oligomers, most notably the 30–40 and 50 kDa oligomers, are recognised to correlate with accelerated cognitive decline, our results suggest that monitoring stress levels in patients recovering from stroke may merit consideration in the future.

Occupational stress, coping and mental health in Jamaican police officers.

BackgroundPolice are exposed to a wide range of stressors and this is especially true in developing countries such as Jamaica. Exposure to psychosocial stressors and use of maladaptive coping styles can result in mental ill-health.AimsTo examine the relationship between work characteristics, coping and mental health in Jamaican police officers and to test whether work characteristics are indirectly associated with mental health outcomes through perceived job stress and job satisfaction.MethodsPolice officers from the Jamaican police force completed a questionnaire using a cross-sectional design. We analysed the data using hierarchical regression.ResultsThe study group consisted of 134 police officers; the response rate was 94%. Negative work characteristics, lower levels of positive work factors and work support and emotion-focused coping styles were associated with increased levels of depression (F(8, 125) = 7.465, P < 0.001). Subjective feelings of anxiety were positively associated with negative work characteristics and emotion-focused coping (F(8, 125) = 7.586, P < 0.001). The relationship between work characteristics and mental health outcomes was mediated by perceived stress. Job satisfaction mediated the relationship between positive work characteristics and depression.ConclusionsStress management and intervention programmes should address modifiable work conditions, monitor stress levels and reduce maladaptive coping.

A Non-Invasive Water-Borne Assay of Stress Hormones in Aquatic Salamanders

Declines in amphibian populations are due to an array of anthropogenic and natural factors requiring a need to detect and monitor populations that are either in decline or at risk of decline. Physiological biomarkers, such as glucocorticoid stress hormones, present a viable option to monitor stress levels and, thus, the physiological health of vertebrate populations. We performed preliminary experiments necessary for the use of water-borne hormone assays to measure corticosterone (CORT) as an assessment of aspects of chronic stress for the management and conservation of three species of aquatic salamanders in central Texas (Eurycea, Plethodontidae). We examined the time for CORT levels to peak in response to capture and handling in populations of E. nana, E. sosorum, and E. tonkawae. Peak CORT release rates differed among species, with peak releases generally occurring in under 3 h. This highlights the need to obtain a timeline for CORT to mount so that peak rates are captured during the leaching phase. We also examined the responsiveness of the hypothalamic-pituitary-interrenal (HPI) axis using an adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) challenge or exposure to an external stressor (agitation). Eurycea sosorum (one population) and E. tonkawae showed HPI responsiveness. To examine the relationship between field and laboratory CORT release rates, we compared baseline CORT release rates between captive and wild-caught populations of all three species. Once the preliminary studies have been performed, water-borne CORT release rates can be an effective biomarker to monitor whether a population is experiencing chronic stress. Water-borne hormone collection also allows for repeated sampling of individuals over time. Our experiments provide a foundation for future studies relating stress to HPI responsiveness in aquatic Eurycea, which, in turn, will help inform management of both wild and captive populations.