Zebrafish gender-specific anxiety-like behavioral and physiological reactions elicited by caffeine.

Caffeine exerts a biphasic effect on zebrafish behavior. High doses of caffeine have been associated with increased stress and anxiety, whereas low doses have been found to enhance performance on tasks requiring focus and attention. However, the sex-specific nature of these biphasic effects on behavior and physiology remains unclear. This study assessed the behavioral responses and hormone levels in male and female zebrafish after acute exposure to caffeine ranging from 0.3 to 600mg/L. The results showed no significant difference in caffeine intake between males and females after acute exposure at each concentration. Caffeine-induced behavioral and physiological responses indicated a threshold dosage existed between 30 and 300mg/L. Female fish displayed increased anxiety-like behavioral phenotypes, i.e., latency to upper and freezing, whereas males exhibited more erratic movement following acute exposure to a high-dose treatment. In addition, females exhibited a significant increase in whole-body cortisol levels, while males experienced a testosterone elevation at 300mg/L of caffeine acute exposure. There was a significant decrease in the duration of erratic movements in males treated with the androgen receptor antagonist flutamide compared to the control group. The transcriptome analysis uncovered 511 and 592 up-regulated and 761 and 922 down-regulated differential expression genes in males and females, respectively, compared to the control. The Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) and Gene Ontology (GO) pathway analysis revealed that caffeine has the potential to impact various pathways in zebrafish, including phototransduction and steroid hormone biosynthesis. Our findings demonstrate that testosterone and cortisol play a combined role in regulating stress responses in both behavior and physiology. Furthermore, our study highlights the significance of encompassing both male and female zebrafish as a model system.

Predictors of the efficacy of His bundle pacing in patients with a prolonged PR interval: A stratified analysis of the HOPE-HF randomized controlled trial.

AIMS: The randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled HOPE-HF trial assessed the benefit of atrio-ventricular (AV) delay optimization delivered using His bundle pacing. It recruited patients with left ventricular ejection fraction ≤40%, PR interval ≥200 ms, and baseline QRS ≤140 ms or right bundle branch block. Overall, there was no significant increase in peak oxygen uptake (VO2max) but there was significant improvement in heart failure specific quality of life. In this pre-specified secondary analysis, we evaluated the impact of baseline PR interval, echocardiographic E-A fusion, and the magnitude of acute high-precision haemodynamic response to pacing, on outcomes. METHODS AND RESULTS: All 167 randomized participants underwent measurement of PR interval, acute haemodynamic response at optimized AV delay, and assessment of presence of E-A fusion. We tested the impact of these baseline parameters using a Bayesian ordinal model on VO2max, quality of life and activity measures. There was strong evidence of a beneficial interaction between the baseline acute haemodynamic response and the blinded benefit of pacing for VO2 (Pr 99.9%), Minnesota Living With Heart Failure (MLWHF) (Pr 99.8%), MLWHF physical limitation score (Pr 98.9%), EQ-5D visual analogue scale (Pr 99.6%), and exercise time (Pr 99.4%). The baseline PR interval and the presence of baseline E-A fusion did not have this reliable ability to predict the clinical benefit of pacing over placebo across multiple endpoints. CONCLUSIONS: In the HOPE-HF trial, the acute haemodynamic response to pacing reliably identified patients who obtained clinical benefit. Patients with a long PR interval (≥200 ms) and left ventricular impairment who obtained acute haemodynamic improvement with AV-optimized His bundle pacing were likely to obtain clinical benefit, consistent across multiple endpoints. Importantly, this gradation can be reliably tested for before randomization, but does require high-precision AV-optimized haemodynamic assessment to be performed.

Electrophysiological detection of exam stress in health schools' students.

Anxiety is a common issue among university students, many of them experience anxiety, depression, and stress during their school life. This study aimed to compare the acute physiological stress responses of students divided into two groups according to their perceived anxiety levels (positive test anxiety, PTA+, and negative test anxiety, PTA-). Heart rate variability (HRV) and electrodermal activity (EDA) were used to assess stress.Thirty-one healthy volunteers participated in the study. Participants completed anxiety assessments, including the Westside Test Anxiety Scale (WTAS), the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI), and the Test State Anxiety Inventory (TSAI). Based on their scores, participants were categorized into PTA+ and PTA- groups. All participants underwent 24-h continuous recordings of pulse and electrodermal activity (EDA) on two separate occasions: one day prior to a written exam and during a designated exam-free day serving as a baseline control.We compared the HRV and EDA data obtained on a regular day and on an exam day between the two groups. Results showed that the PTA+ group had significantly higher heart rate, stress index, low frequency, and short-term detrended fluctuation analysis (DFAα1) on the exam day. The tonic EDA component was also higher in the PTA+ group. Stress-related HRV and EDA parameters were negatively correlated with exam scores.In conclusion, the study found that physiological stress indicators obtained from HRV and EDA are associated with perceived exam anxiety in students.

Seed dormancy types and germination response of 15 plant species in temperate montane peatlands.

Despite their crucial role in determining the fate of seeds, the type and breaking mode of seed dormancy in peatland plants in temperate Asia with a continental monsoon climate are rarely known. Fifteen common peatland plant species were used to test their seed germination response to various dormancy-breaking treatments, including dry storage (D), gibberellin acid soaking (GA), cold stratification (CS), warm followed cold stratification (WCS), GA soaking + cold stratification (GA + CS) and GA soaking + warm followed cold stratification (GA + WCS). Germination experiment, viability and imbibition test, and morphological observation of embryos were conducted. Of the 15 species, nine showed physiological dormancy (PD), with non-deep PD being the dominant type. Four species, Angelica pubescens, Cicuta virosa, Iris laevigata, and Iris setosa exhibited morphophysiological dormancy. Two species, Lycopus uniflorus and Spiraea salicifolia, demonstrated nondormancy. Overall, the effect hierarchy of dormancy-breaking is: CS > GA > WCS > GA + CS > D > GA + WCS. Principal component analysis demonstrated that seed traits, including embryo length: seed length ratio, seed size, and monocot/eudicot divergence, are more likely to influence seed dormancy than environmental factors. Our study suggests that nearly 90% of the tested peatland plant species in the Changbai Mountains demonstrated seed dormancy, and seed traits (e.g. embryo-to-seed ratio and seed size) and abiotic environmental factors (e.g. pH and temperature seasonality) are related to germination behavior, suggesting seed dormancy being a common adaptation strategy for the peatland plants in the temperate montane environment.

Drought-induced cell wall degradation in the base of pedicel is associated with accelerated cotton square shedding.

Drought significantly impacts cotton square (flower buds with bracts) shedding, directly affecting yield. To address the internal physiological mechanisms of drought affecting cotton square shedding, a polyethylene glycol-simulated drought study was conducted with Dexiamian 1 and Yuzaomian 9110 to investigate cell wall degradation changes in the base of pedicel where the detachment of cotton square takes place, and its relationship with cotton square shedding. Results revealed significant decreases in cellulose, hemicellulose, and pectin contents in the base of square pedicel, leading to cell wall degradation and consequent square shedding. Furthermore, drought stress exacerbated the hydrolysis of cellulose and pectin in the base of pedicel, although not hemicellulose, resulting in more noticeable alterations in the morphology and structure of the base of pedicel, such as more significant degradation in the epidermis, cortex, and phloem. Regarding the cellulose hydrolysis, drought mainly increased the expression of genes ß-glucosidase (GhBG1) and endoglucanase (GhEG1), and the activity of ß-glucosidase and endoglucanase in the base of pedicel, promoting the conversion of cellulose to cellobiose, and eventually glucose. Regarding the pectin hydrolysis, drought significantly enhanced the expression of the gene pectin methylase (GhPE1), thereby accelerating pectin hydrolysis to generate polygalacturonic acid. Additionally, drought increased the expression of genes pectin lyase (GhPL1) and polygalacturonase (GhPG1), as well as the activity of pectin lyase, which further accelerated the hydrolysis of polygalacturonic acid into galacturonic acid. These findings suggest that drought mainly promotes cellulose and pectin hydrolysis in the base of pedicel, hastening cell wall degradation and final cotton square shedding.

Challenges and opportunities in neurometabolic disease treatment with enzyme delivery.

INTRODUCTION: Neurometabolic disorders remain challenging to treat, largely due to the limited availability of drugs that can cross the blood-brain barrier (BBB) and effectively target brain impairment. Key reasons for inadequate treatment include a lack of coordinated knowledge, few studies on BBB status in these diseases, and poorly designed therapies. AREAS COVERED: This paper provides an overview of current research on neurometabolic disorders and therapeutic options, focusing on the treatment of neurological involvement. It highlights the limitations of existing therapies, describes innovative protocols recently developed, and explores new opportunities for therapy design and testing, some of which are already under investigation. The goal is to guide researchers toward innovative and potentially more effective treatments. EXPERT OPINION: Advancing research on neurometabolic diseases is crucial for designing effective treatment strategies. The field suffers from a lack of collaboration, and a strong collective effort is needed to enhance synergy, increase knowledge, and develop a new therapeutic paradigm for neurometabolic disorders.

Mid- to long-term periprosthetic bone density changes after cementless short stem hip arthroplasty in elderly: A clinical and radiological analysis.

Introduction: Short stem prostheses were originally designed for younger and more active patients. In recent years, they have been increasingly offered to older patients. This study evaluates the mid-to long-term survival of a short stem prosthesis and the changes in periprosthetic bone density following implantation of a cementless short hip stem in patients over 60 years of age. Methods: 118 patients aged over 60 received short stem prostheses. Clinical examination included Harris Hip Score (HHS) and Hip Disability and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (HOOS). 93 patients were followed clinically for at least five years. 53 patients underwent dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA) and radiographic evaluation. Follow-up intervals were preoperative and postoperative (t0), at approximately six months (t1), at approximately two years (t2), and at approximately five years or later (t3). Results: Over a mean 6.7-year observation period for all 118 patients, one stem revision occurred due to a traumatic periprosthetic stem fracture. The five-year survival rate for the endpoint survival of the Metha® stem in 95 at-risk patients is 99.2%. HHS improved significantly from t0 55.3 ± 11.5 (range 30-79) to t3 95.3 ± 8.6 (range 57-100) at a mean of 8.0 years (p < 0.001). HOOS improved significantly in each subscale (p < 0.001). Bone mineral density (BMD) was available for review in 53 patients after a mean of 7.1 years. BMD increased from t0 to t3 in region of interest (ROI) 3 (+0.4%) and ROI 6 (+2.9%) and decreased in ROI 1 (-10.3%), ROI 2 (-9.8%), ROI 4 (-5.3%), ROI 5 (-3.4%) and ROI 7 (-23.1%). Conclusions: The evaluated short stem prosthesis shows a remarkably high survival rate in elderly patients, accompanied by excellent clinical results. Load transfer measurements show a metaphyseal-diaphyseal pattern with a trend towards increased diaphyseal transfer over the period observed.

All-in-One, Wireless, Multi-Sensor Integrated Athlete Health Monitor for Real-Time Continuous Detection of Dehydration and Physiological Stress.

Athletes are at high risk of dehydration, fatigue, and cardiac disorders due to extreme performance in often harsh environments. Despite advancements in sports training protocols, there is an urgent need for a non-invasive system capable of comprehensive health monitoring. Although a few existing wearables measure athlete's performance, they are limited by a single function, rigidity, bulkiness, and required straps and adhesives. Here, an all-in-one, multi-sensor integrated wearable system utilizing a set of nanomembrane soft sensors and electronics, enabling wireless, real-time, continuous monitoring of saliva osmolality, skin temperature, and heart functions is introduced. This system, using a soft patch and a sensor-integrated mouthguard, provides comprehensive monitoring of an athlete's hydration and physiological stress levels. A validation study in detecting real-time physiological levels shows the device's performance in capturing moments (400-500 s) of synchronized acute elevation in dehydration (350%) and physiological strain (175%) during field training sessions. Demonstration with a few human subjects highlights the system's capability to detect early signs of health abnormality, thus improving the healthcare of sports athletes.

Mental health surveillance in elite Para athletes: early identification and follow-up of athletes at risk of mental health problems.

OBJECTIVE: There is a lack of prospective data on mental health of elite Para athletes. The objective was to identify and follow elite Para athletes at risk of mental health problems. METHODS: In a 124-week prospective cohort study, mental health of German elite Para athletes was monitored using the Patient Health Questionnaire-4 (PHQ-4). In case of positive screening (PHQ-4≥5) over 2 weeks, a follow-up contact was conducted by a sports psychiatrist, who asked the athletes about their mental condition and sources for their mental distress and offered support. RESULTS: 7543 PHQ-4 scores were obtained from 122 Para athletes with a mean weekly response rate of 84%. The PHQ-4 screening was considered positive for symptoms of depression or anxiety with a prevalence of 6.7%, affecting 48.4% (n=59) of all participants at some point during the study period. In 76.6% (n=49) of all follow-up contacts, athletes (n=34) reported at least one mental health problem, most frequently mental distress (n=31), followed by symptoms of depression (n=19) including acute suicidality (n=1). The most common mental stressors cited were related to education and problems with the team, coaches or federation. At follow-up, almost two-thirds of the athletes were either already in professional psychiatric or psychological care (25%) or were recommended to seek such care (32.8%). CONCLUSION: Our screening and follow-up system revealed high rates of mental health problems in elite Para athletes. Programmes for early identification with mental health monitoring under the supervision of mental health professionals should be considered by sports federations for Para athletes.

Unraveling the impact of water deficit stress on nutritional quality and defense response of tomato genotypes.

Water deficit stress triggers various physiological and biochemical changes in plants, substantially affecting both overall plant defense response and thus nutritional quality of tomatoes. The aim of this study was to assess the antioxidant defense response and nutritional quality of different tomato genotypes under water deficit stress. In this study, six tomato genotypes were used and subjected to water deficit stress by withholding water for eight days under glass house conditions. Various physiological parameters from leaves and biochemical parameters from tomato fruits were measured to check the effect of antioxidant defense response and nutritional value. Multi-trait genotype-ideotype distance index (MGIDI) was used for the selection of genotypes with improved defense response and nutritional value under water deficit stress condition. Results indicated that all physiological parameters declined under stress conditions compared to the control. Notably, NBH-362 demonstrated resilience to water deficit stress, improving both defense response and nutritional quality which is evident by an increase in proline (16.91%), reducing sugars (20.15%), total flavonoids (10.43%), superoxide dismutase (24.65%), peroxidase (14.7%), and total antioxidant capacity (29.9%), along with a decrease in total oxidant status (4.38%) under stress condition. Overall, the findings suggest that exposure to water deficit stress has the potential to enhance the nutritional quality of tomatoes. However, the degree of this enhancement is contingent upon the distinct genetic characteristics of various tomato genotypes. Furthermore, the promising genotype (NBH-362) identified in this study holds potential for future utilization in breeding programs.

The effect of exogenous melatonin on waterlogging stress in Clematis.

Clematis is the queen of the vines, being an ornamental plant with high economic value. Waterlogging stress reduces the ornamental value of the plant and limits its application. Melatonin plays an important role in plant resistance to abiotic stresses. In this study, the physiological responses and gene expression levels of two wild species, namely, Clematis tientaiensis and Clematis lanuginosa, and two horticultural varieties, namely, 'Sen-No-Kaze' and 'Viva Polonia,' under waterlogging stress were analyzed to determine the effect of melatonin on waterlogging tolerance. The results showed that the waterlogging tolerances of C. lanuginosa and 'Sen-No-Kaze' were relatively poor, but were significantly improved by concentrations of 100 µmol·L-1 and 50 µmol·L-1 melatonin. C. tientaiensis and 'Viva Polonia' had relatively strong tolerance to waterlogging, and this was significantly improved by 200 µmol·L-1 melatonin. Under waterlogging stress, the relative conductivity and H2O2 content of Clematis increased significantly; the photosynthetic parameters and chlorophyll contents were significantly decreased; photosynthesis was inhibited; the contents of soluble protein and soluble sugars were decreased. Effective improvement of waterlogging tolerance after exogenous melatonin spraying, the relative conductivity was decreased by 4.05%-27.44%; the H2O2 content was decreased by 3.84%-23.28%; the chlorophyll content was increased by 35.59%-103.36%; the photosynthetic efficiency was increased by 25.42%-45.86%; the antioxidant enzyme activities of APX, POD, SOD, and CAT were increased by 28.03%-158.61%; the contents of proline, soluble protein, and soluble sugars were enhanced, and cell homeostasis was improved. Transcription sequencing was performed on wild Clematis with differences in waterlogging tolerance, and nine transcription factors were selected that were highly correlated with melatonin and that had the potential to improve waterlogging tolerance, among which LBD4, and MYB4 were significantly positively correlated with the antioxidant enzyme system, and bHLH36, DOF36, and WRKY4 were significantly negatively correlated. Photosynthetic capacity was positively correlated with DOF36 and WRKY4 while being significantly negatively correlated with MYB4, MOF1, DOF47, REV1 and ABR1. Melatonin could enhance the flooding tolerance of Clematis by improving photosynthetic efficiency and antioxidant enzyme activity. This study provides an important basis and reference for the application of melatonin in waterlogging-resistant breeding of Clematis.

Forest fragmentation and edge effects impact body condition, fur condition and ectoparasite prevalence in a nocturnal lemur community.

Forest fragmentation and edge effects are two major threats to primate populations. Primates inhabiting fragmented landscapes must survive in a more degraded environment, often with lower food availability compared to continuous forests. Such conditions can have deleterious effects on animal physiological health, yet some primates thrive in these habitats. Here, we assessed how forest fragmentation and associated edge effects impact three different components of physiological health in a nocturnal primate community in the Sahamalaza-Iles Radama National Park, northwest Madagascar. Over two periods, 6 March 2019-30 October 2019 and 10 January 2022-17 May 2022, we collected data on body condition, fur condition scores and ectoparasite prevalence for 125 Mirza zaza, 51 Lepilemur sahamalaza, 27 Cheirogaleus medius and 22 Microcebus sambiranensis individuals, and we compared these metrics between core and edge areas of continuous forest and fragmented forest. Body condition scores for all species varied between areas, with a positive response to fragmentation and edge effects observed for M. zaza and L. sahamalaza and a negative response for C. medius and M. sambiranensis. Fur condition scores and ectoparasite prevalence were less variable, although M. zaza and L. sahamalaza had a significantly negative response to fragmentation and edge effects for these two variables. Interestingly, the impacts of fragmentation and edge effects on physiological health were variable-specific. Our results suggest that lemur physiological responses to fragmentation and edge effects are species-specific, and body condition, fur condition and ectoparasite prevalence are impacted in different ways between species. As other ecological factors, including food availability and inter/intraspecific competition, likely also influence physiological health, additional work is required to determine why certain aspects of lemur physiology are affected by environmental stressors while others remain unaffected. Although many nocturnal lemurs demonstrate resilience to fragmented and degraded habitats, urgent conservation action is needed to safeguard the survival of their forest habitats.

4-week stretching program after submaximal strength exercise affects performance but not heart rate variability and lactate clearance. An exploratory study.

Previous research has demonstrated that stretching can enhance athletic performance and induce cardiovascular adaptations. This study aims to assess whether a 4-week preventative stretching routine can enhance heart rate variability and heart rate recovery, faster blood lactate clearance, and improve performance following submaximal strength exercises. Twenty-four healthy adults were recruited and randomly allocated to either the experimental group or the control group. Both groups engaged in submaximal strength exercises (5 sets to voluntary failure at 60% of 1RM) comprising bench press and back squat exercises under baseline conditions and after stretching protocol. The experimental group followed the Stretching Protocol, while the control group adhered to their regular training routine. ANOVA analysis revealed a significant pre-post interaction effect between groups in the variable of squat repetitions, although no notable pre- or post-differences were observed in heart rate variability, heart rate recovery, blood lactate concentration, or bench repetitions in either group. A 4-week preventative stretching program does not appear adequate to enhance lactate clearance and cardiovascular adaptation after submaximal strength exercises in resistance-trained individuals compared to the control group. However, it is plausible that such a stretching routine may mitigate muscle fatigue, though further investigation is warranted to substantiate this hypothesis.

Flexible Thermoelectric Wearable Architecture for Wireless Continuous Physiological Monitoring.

Continuous monitoring of physiological signals from the human body is critical in health monitoring, disease diagnosis, and therapeutics. Despite the needs, the existing wearable medical devices rely on either bulky wired systems or battery-powered devices needing frequent recharging. Here, we introduce a wearable, self-powered, thermoelectric flexible system architecture for wireless portable monitoring of physiological signals without recharging batteries. This system harvests an exceptionally high open circuit voltage of 175-180 mV from the human body, powering the wireless wearable bioelectronics to detect electrophysiological signals on the skin continuously. The thermoelectric system shows long-term stability in performance for 7 days with stable power management. Integrating screen printing, laser micromachining, and soft packaging technologies enables a multilayered, soft, wearable device to be mounted on any body part. The demonstration of the self-sustainable wearable system for detecting electromyograms and electrocardiograms captures the potential of the platform technology to offer various opportunities for continuous monitoring of biosignals, remote health monitoring, and automated disease diagnosis.

Nano titanium dioxide alleviates the toxic effects of tris (2-chloropropyl) phosphate on the digestive gland and hemolymph of thick-shell mussel Mytilus coruscus.

In the marine environment, nanoparticles play a role in adsorbing and catalytically degrading organic pollutants, thereby mitigating their toxic effects on aquatic organisms. This study aimed to investigate the impact of nano titanium dioxide (nTiO2) and tris (2-chloropropyl) phosphate (TCPP) on the hemolymph and digestive function of the thick-shell mussel Mytilus coruscus. Mussels were divided into a control group, a group exposed to TCPP alone, a group exposed to a combination of TCPP and 0.5 mg/L nTiO2, and a group exposed to a combination of TCPP and 1 mg/L nTiO2. After 14 days of exposure, oxidative stress responses, including superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity and malondialdehyde (MDA) content, immune defense responses, including acid phosphatase (ACP) and alkaline phosphatase (AKP) activities, and gene expression, including HSP70 expression, were measured in the hemolymph and digestive glands of the mussels. Compared to the control group, mussels solely exposed to 100 µg/L TCPP exhibited a significant reduction in SOD activity in the hemolymph. When TCPP was co-exposed with 0.5 mg/L nTiO2, there were significant increases in MDA content and AKP activity in both the digestive gland and hemolymph compared to the control group. Upon co-exposure of TCPP with 1 mg/L nTiO2, MDA content and AKP activity in the digestive gland significantly decreased, while SOD, ACP, and AKP activity in the hemolymph significantly increased and MDA content significantly decreased, returning to the control group levels. Furthermore, in the combined exposure, HSP70 gene expression significantly decreased as the nTiO2 concentration increased from 0.5 mg/L to 1 mg/L. In summary, TCPP impacted the hemolymph and digestive function of mussels, whereas a concentration of 1 mg/L nTiO2 effectively alleviated the toxic effects of TCPP. This study is crucial for assessing the ecological risks of nanoparticles and emerging organic pollutants in marine environments, and provides new insights into the interaction between nTiO2 and TCPP, as well as the influence of nTiO2 concentration on mitigating TCPP toxicity.

Exogenous proline suppresses endogenous proline and proline-production genes but improves the salinity tolerance capacity of salt-sensitive rice by stimulating antioxidant mechanisms and photosynthesis.

Salinity is a critical environmental stress factor that significantly reduces crop productivity and yield. A mutant B-type response regulator gene (hst1) has been shown to promote salinity tolerance in the YNU genotype. Previous studies on the hst1 gene showed a higher proline production capacity under salt stress. Using almost identical genetic backgrounded salt-tolerant (YNU) and salt-sensitive (Sister line) rice genotypes, we tested the function of proline in the hst1 gene salinity-tolerance mechanism by applying exogenous proline under control and salt-stress conditions. Morpho-physiological, biochemical, and molecular analysis of ST and SS plants was performed to clarify the salinity tolerance mechanism mediated by the exogenous proline. The ST and SS genotypes accumulated exogenous proline, and the ST genotype has higher proline levels than the SS genotype. However, exogenous proline improved salt tolerance only in the SS genotype. Exogenous proline promotes plant and root growth by stimulating photosynthetic pigments and photosynthesis. The exogenous proline has a reductive effect on MDA, and H2O2 protects plants against ROS. Interestingly, exogenous proline lowers Na+ and raises K+ accumulations under salt stress. In the SS genotype, exogenous proline increases the activity of antioxidant enzymes (SOD, CAT, and APX) to protect against salinity-induced damage. The exogenous proline application down-regulates proline-synthesis genes (OsP5CS1 and OsP5CR) and up-regulates proline-degradation genes. Also, exogenous proline increases the expression of the OsSalT and OsGRAS29 genes, improving salinity tolerance in the SS genotype. Our study has demonstrated that proline plays a significant role in conferring salt tolerance with the salinity-tolerance-related hst1 mechanisms.

Trade-off in a reef-building coral after six years of thermal acclimation.

There is growing evidence that reef-building corals can acclimate to novel and challenging thermal conditions. However, potential trade-offs that accompany acclimation remain largely unexplored. We investigated physiological trade-offs in colonies of a globally abundant coral species (Pocillopora acuta) that were acclimated ex situ to an elevated temperature of 31 °C (i.e., 1 °C above their bleaching threshold) for six years. By comparing them to conspecifics maintained at a cooler temperature, we found that the energy storage of corals was prioritized over skeletal growth at the elevated temperature. This was associated with the formation of higher density skeletons, lower calcification rates and consequently lower skeletal extension rates, which entails ramifications for future reef-building processes, structural complexity and reef community composition. Furthermore, symbionts were physiologically compromised at 31 °C and had overall lower energy reserves, likely due to greater exploitation by their host, resulting in an overall lower stress resilience of the holobiont. Our study shows how biological trade-offs of thermal acclimation unfold, helping to refine our picture of future coral reef trajectories. Importantly, our observations in this six-year study do not align with observations of short-term studies, where elevated temperatures were often associated with the depletion of energy reserves, highlighting the importance of studying acclimation of organisms at relevant biological scales.

Drought stimulus enhanced stress tolerance in winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) by improving physiological characteristics, growth, and water productivity.

The impact of drought events on the growth and yield of wheat plants has been extensively reported; however, limited information is available on the changes in physiological characteristics and their effects on the growth and water productivity of wheat after repeated drought stimuli. Moreover, whether appropriate drought stimulus can improve stress resistance in plants by improving physiological traits remains to be explored. Thus, in this study, a pot experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of intermittent and persistent mild [65%-75% soil water-holding capacity (SWHC)], moderate (55%-65% SWHC), and severe drought (45%-55% SWHC) stress on the growth, physiological characteristics, yield, and water-use efficiency (WUE) of winter wheat. After the second stress stimulus, persistent severe drought stress resulted in 30.98%, 234.62%, 53.80%, and 31.00% reduction in leaf relative water content, leaf water potential, photosynthetic rate (Pn), and indole-3-acetic acid content (IAA), respectively, compared to the control plants. However, abscisic acid content, antioxidant enzyme activities, and osmoregulatory substance contents increased significantly under drought stress, especially under persistent drought stress. After the second rehydration stimulus (ASRR), the actual and maximum efficiency of PSII and leaf water status in the plants exposed to intermittent moderate drought (IS2) stress were restored to the control levels, resulting in Pn being 102.56% of the control values; instantaneous WUE of the plants exposed to persistent severe drought stress was 1.79 times that of the control plants. In addition, the activities of superoxide dismutase, peroxidase, catalase, and glutathione reductase, as well as the content of proline, under persistent mild drought stress increased by 52.98%, 33.47%, 51.95%, 52.35%, and 17.07% at ASRR, respectively, compared to the control plants, which provided continuous antioxidant protection to wheat plants. This was also demonstrated by the lower H2O2 and MDA contents after rehydration. At ASRR, the IAA content in the IS2 and persistent moderate drought treatments increased by 36.23% and 19.61%, respectively, compared to the control plants, which favored increased aboveground dry mass and plant height. Compared to the control plants, IS2 significantly increased wheat yield, WUE for grain yield, and WUE for biomass, by 10.15%, 32.94%, and 33.16%, respectively. Collectively, IS2 increased grain growth, yield, and WUE, which could be mainly attributed to improved physiological characteristics after drought-stimulated rehydration.

Adult attachment assessed via the ASA and AAI: Empirical convergence and links with autonomic physiological responding during attachment assessments.

This study examined the empirical convergence of Attachment Script Assessment (ASA) deactivation, hyperactivation, and anomalous scripts with conceptually corresponding attachment patterns assessed via the Adult Attachment Interview (AAI), and the significance of ASA dimensions for autonomic physiological reactivity during adult attachment assessments. Young adults' (50% male; Mage = 19 years; 80% White/European American) ASA deactivation, hyperactivation, and anomalous content were significantly associated with AAI dismissing (r = .26-.38), preoccupied (r = .31-.35), and unresolved (r = .37) states of mind, respectively. ASA hyperactivation and anomalous content were associated with heightened RSA reactivity to the AAI and ASA, aligning with expectations that these attachment patterns capture the tendency to heighten expressions of negative, traumatic experiences. ASA deactivation was associated with smaller increases in electrodermal activity to the ASA-indicative of less sympathetic arousal-converging with the tendency of individuals higher in deactivation to avoid discussing attachment themes in the ASA.

The Effects of a Complex Interactive Multimodal Intervention on Personalized Stress Management Among Health Care Workers in China: Nonrandomized Controlled Study.

BACKGROUND: Health care workers (HCWs) frequently face multiple stressors at work, particularly those working night shifts. HCWs who have experienced distress may find it difficult to adopt stress management approaches, even if they are aware of the effects of stress and coping processes. Therefore, an individualized intervention may be required to assist distressed HCWs in bridging the "knowledge-practice" gap in stress management and effectively alleviating stress symptoms. OBJECTIVE: The main objective of this research was to compare the effects of a complex interactive multimodal intervention (CIMI) to self-guided stress management interventions on stress symptoms of distressed HCWs, as measured by physiological (heart rate variability), psychological (perceived stress, mental distress, and subjective happiness), and sleep disorder (fatigue and sleepiness) indicators. METHODS: We conducted a nonrandomized, controlled study in 2 Chinese general hospitals. The participants in this study were 245 HCWs who fulfilled at least 1 of the 3 dimensions on the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale. All eligible individuals were required to complete a questionnaire and wear a 24-hour Holter device to determine the physiological signs of stress as indexed by heart rate variability at both baseline and after the intervention. The CIMI group received a 12-week online intervention with 4 components-mobile stress management instruction, a web-based WeChat social network, personalized feedback, and a nurse coach, whereas the control group simply received a self-guided intervention. RESULTS: After a 12-week intervention, the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS) scores reduced significantly in the CIMI group (mean difference [MD] -5.31, 95% CI -6.26 to -4.37; P<.001) compared to the baseline levels. The changes in PSS scores before and after the intervention exhibited a significant difference between the CIMI and control groups (d=-0.64; MD -4.03, 95% CI -5.91 to -2.14; P<.001), and the effect was medium. In terms of physiological measures, both the control group (MD -9.56, 95% CI -16.9 to -2.2; P=.01) and the CIMI group (MD -8.45, 95% CI -12.68 to -4.22; P<.001) demonstrated a significant decrease in the standard deviation of normal-to-normal intervals (SDNN) within the normal clinical range; however, there were no significant differences between the 2 groups (d=0.03; MD 1.11, 95% CI -7.38 to 9.59; P=.80). CONCLUSIONS: The CIMI was an effective intervention for improving sleep disorders, as well as parts of the psychological stress measures in distressed HCWs. The findings provide objective evidence for developing a mobile stress management intervention that is adaptable and accessible to distressed HCWs, but its long-term effects should be investigated in future research. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT05239065; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT05239065.