Life Activities Research Articles

Urban form and the activities of daily life: implications for sustainability. Towards an ISUF agenda for the study of suburbs

Urban form and the activities of daily life: implications for sustainability. Towards an ISUF agenda for the study of suburbs

Investigation of 3rd Grade Life Science Textbook Texts and Activities According to Lipman's Critical Thinking Theory

Aim: Individuals need to have a philosophical critical thinking skill in order to have a reasonable approach to the situations and events they will encounter throughout their lives and to benefit themselves and the society Philosophical critical thinking is a process that enhances individuals' capacity to interrogate, analyse, and assess. In this regard, an inquisitive critical approach acquired at an early age makes important contributions to personality development. The current study aims to examine the text and activity contents in the 3rd grade Life Science textbook according to Matthew Lipman's critical thinking theory. Methodology: Methodologically, document analysis was used in the study. In the 3rd grade Life Science textbook, the main approach in the data on text contents, activity questions and statements are that the statements have both a philosophical and critical meaning. The relevant data were analyzed according to the categories in Lipman's critical thinking approach and presented in tables. Findings: The findings revealed that the questions and statements that meet Lipman's critical thinking categories were insufficient. While the expressions among the categories were predominantly judgment formation and being criterion/measure based, the least common categories were context sensitivity and self-correction. Highlights: In this context, it is essential to consider the developmental stages of primary education students and contemporary educational requirements, while integrating a philosophical critical thinking approach more thoroughly into the curriculum and practices to foster an active and inquisitive student personality.

The standard assessment of global everyday activities is a valid and reliable scale to assess both physical and cognitive functionality in Turkish older adults

Aim This study aims to evaluate the reliability and validity of the Turkish version of the Standard Assessment of Global Everyday Activities (SAGEA) scale in older adults. Methods The study employed a cross-sectional, methodological design. The SAGEA scale was administered twice, with a two-week interval for test-retest reliability. The study examined correlations between the SAGEA and other functional measures including the Activities of Daily Living (BADL), Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADL), the Timed Up and Go Test (TUGT), and the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE). Results The participants were 307 community-dwelling older adults who underwent a comprehensive geriatric assessment at a university hospital. The average age of the participants was 74.93 years. SAGEA scores showed strong correlations with BADL (−.620), IADL (−.802), TUGT (.613), and MMSE (−.784). The Cronbach alpha for internal consistency was .79, and the test-retest reliability was high (r=.99, p<.001). Conclusion The Turkish version of SAGEA (TSAGEA) is a quick, reliable, and validated scale that can be easily used in clinical practice without additional training. It effectively assesses both physical and cognitive functionality in older adults, aiding in early intervention and disability prevention.

Recent Advances in Artificial Anion Channels and Their Selectivity.

Nature performs critical physiological functions using a series of structurally and functionally diverse membrane proteins embedded in cell membranes, in which native ion protein channels modify the electrical potential inside and outside the cell membrane through charged ion movements. Consequently, the cell responds to external stimuli, playing an essential role in various life activities, such as nerve excitation conduction, neurotransmitter release, muscle movement, and control of cell differentiation. Supramolecular artificial channels, which mimic native protein channels in structure and function, adopt unimolecular or self-assembled structures, such as crown ethers, cyclodextrins, cucurbiturils, column arenes, cyclic peptide nanotubes, and metal-organic artificial channels, in channel construction strategies. Owing to the various driving forces involved, artificial synthetic ion channels can be divided into artificial cation and anion channels in terms of ion selectivity. Cation selectivity usually originates from ion coordination, whereas anion selectivity is related to hydrogen bonding, ion pairing, and anion-dipole interactions. Several studies have been conducted on artificial cation channels, and several reviews have summarized them in detail; however, the research on anions is still in the initial stages, and related reviews have rarely been reported. Hence, this article primarily focuses on the recent research on anion channels.

Tremor after solid organ transplantation: Results from the TransplantLines Biobank and Cohort Study.

Tremor is a frequent complaint of solid organ transplant recipients. We report on the largest population investigated with clinical neurophysiological methods. Our aim is to objectively establish the tremor prevalence and syndrome in the largest population of solid organ transplant recipients. Tremor was measured in heart, kidney, liver, and lung recipients, using accelerometers during rest, postural, and weight-loaded conditions. The 95th percentile of healthy kidney donors' tremor amplitude was used as the cutoff to determine the presence of tremor in transplant recipients. Tremor frequency, frequency variability, and effect of loading were used to investigate enhanced physiological tremor as the likely tremor syndrome. Impact on activities of daily life was assessed, and correlations with tacrolimus blood levels were investigated. Tremor was present in 52% of 246 transplant recipients, typically in postural positions. Mean tremor frequency was 6.1 (±2.0) Hz; mean tremor variability was 2.6 (±1.8) Hz. A frequency decrease upon loading was found in 83% of patients with tremor. Sixty-five percent of patients met formal clinical neurophysiological criteria for enhanced physiological tremor. Tremor-related impairment was present in 55% and correlated with tremor amplitude (ρ = 0.23, p ≤ 0.001). In a binominal regression analysis, tacrolimus blood levels were independently associated with tremor prevalence (p = 0.009). More than half of solid organ transplant recipients experience a tremor that best fits the syndrome of enhanced physiological tremor. This is the first objective study on tremor that has established a better understanding of the neurophysiological mechanisms of tremor in a large population of solid organ transplant recipients.

Kontrowersje wokół instynktu macierzyńskiego wobec spadającej dzietności i aktywności seksualnej

The decline in fertility and sexual activity in many modern countries and societies creates a new perspective for considering the controversy over the concept of maternal instinct. Extensive data shows that many young people prefer other forms of life activity than sexual and parenting. This does not mean that the maternal instinct does not exist and is merely a social construct, but it does indicate that its influence on women’s behavior is not as significant as is claimed by the proponents of the naturalized approach, who treat sexual needs and reproductive goals as the main human motivations. This means that the socio-cultural evolution produces and offers many different forms of human actualization, in the face of which the natural forms of humanity, including sexual and parental, lose their importance. Culture turns out to be stronger than nature in this respect, but in a different way than critics of paternalism, masculinism, and misogyny claim.

Relationship of chronic low back pain intensity with functional activity, stress and quality of life in working-age adults

Background. Low back pain (LBP) is a global problem in the modern world. A detailed study of the relationship between pain intensity and the indicators with which it may be associated will allow optimising approaches to the treatment and rehabilitation of patients with chronic LBP. The purpose was to eva­luate the relationship between the intensity of chronic LBP and indicators of functional activity, stress and quality of life in subjects of working age. Materials and methods. A survey was conducted among 159 persons aged 18-65 years with LBP lasting more than 3 months. Using a Google-form, the participants were given a questionnaire that included socio-demographic, anthropometric characteristics, lifestyle data, bad habits, physical activity (PhA) and stress levels, quality of life, and impairment. The intensity of pain was measured at the first visit to a PhRM doctor using a visual analogue scale (VAS). Results. The study involved 159 patients, 65.7 % women and 34.3 % men, with a mean VAS pain intensity of 46.5 ± 18.6 mm. A weak positive correlation was found between pain intensity and age (r = 0.30, p &lt; 0.001), but no significant relationship was found between pain intensity and anthropometric parameters. Subjects who smoke, have insufficient PhA and sleep disturbance had higher pain intensity scores (57.6 ± 15.2 mm (p = 0.04), 49.0 ± 18.8 mm (p = 0.12), 49.7 ± 19.9 mm (p = 0.002), respectively). Sitting time more than 6 hours had significant associations with pain intensity (p &lt; 0.001). A weak positive correlation was found between pain intensity on the VAS scale and stress le­vel (r = 0.24, p = 0.002), a moderate positive correlation between pain intensity and impairment (r = 0.36, p &lt; 0.001) and a mo­derate negative correlation between quality of life and pain intensity. ­Conclusions. There was a significant association between pain intensity and age, smoking, sleep disturbance, sedentary work for more than 6 hours, higher stress levels, impaired functioning and lower quality of life.

Impact of low back pain and care-seeking behavior in an Indigenous community in Suriname: a qualitative approach.

Low back pain is a significant global public health issue affecting over half a billion people and contributing to disability worldwide. The impact of disability related to low back pain is growing, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. In contrast with previous research, current evidence shows Indigenous Peoples also experience low back pain's disabling effects. A clinical ethnographic can contribute by attempting to understand the data through the perspective of Indigenous Peoples. A clinical ethnographic study was conducted in Galibi, a Kalinya rural Indigenous village in Suriname, with support of the local traditional authority. The main objective was to explore the impact of low back pain and care-seeking behavior from the perspective of Indigenous Peoples with low back pain. The findings were that low back pain had a significant physical and emotional impact. Despite aggravating their low back pain, participants continued many of their activities of daily life since these were essential for their (economic) survival. Furthermore, participants expressed anxiousness, financial worries, and concerns about the cause and future of their low back pain. To address their low back pain, the Kalinya Indigenous Peoples used both western and traditional care. Visits to western healthcare practitioners were limited due to logistical challenges and travel costs, and the experience was often negative. The study highlights the experiences of Kalinya Indigenous Peoples dealing with low back pain. Low back pain is a burden within Indigenous Peoples of Galibi but accepted as an integral part of their life. When in pain, Indigenous Peoples face many barriers to access western health care and visits to healthcare practitioners were often unhelpful. This contributed to a long-lasting negative impact on the Indigenous people with low back pain. Further research is needed to develop strategies that improve health outcomes related to low back pain while reducing its associated disability in Indigenous Peoples.

Assessing the utility of a telehealth autism spectrum disorder assessment battery including the TELE-ASD-PEDS and the BASC-3

Objectives The goal of this research was to examine aspects of utility of an autism diagnostic tool created for telehealth use: the TELE-ASD-PEDS. This research also assessed associated clinical characteristics related to other behavior scales commonly used to assess children. Three hypotheses were examined: (1) Children with different diagnoses will have different scores on the TELE-ASD-PEDS; (2) There will be a positive correlation between the TELE-ASD-PEDS total score and the clinical subscales of the Behavior Assessment System for Children, 3rd edition (BASC-3); and (3) There will be a negative correlation between the TELE-ASD-PEDS and other selected subscales of the BASC-3. Methods Participants included children referred to a rural, Appalachian, state-funded, autism diagnostic clinic. A one-way ANOVA was conducted to compare TELE-ASD-PEDS scores with diagnoses received. TELE-ASD-PEDS scores and BASC-3 subscale scores were compared through bivariate correlation. Results When compared to the Autism group, both the Rule Out and the No Autism groups had lower scores on the TELE-ASD-PEDS. The BASC-3 subscale Withdrawal had a positive correlation with the TELE-ASD-PEDS. Finally, the adaptive subscales in the BASC-3 Social Skills, Functional Communication, and Activities of Daily Living had negative correlations with the TELE-ASD-PEDS. Conclusions Current data provided partial support for all hypotheses.

Associations between symptom-based long COVID clusters and long-term quality of life, work and daily activities among individuals testing positive for SARS-CoV-2 at a national retail pharmacy

BackgroundEvidence on long COVID symptom clustering patterns among patients with COVID-19 is limited. We summarized long COVID symptoms in clusters defined by number of symptoms co-occurring together, and we assessed Health-Related Quality of Life (HQRoL), Work Productivity and Activity Impairment (WPAI) outcomes across these clusters over time. We assessed associations between the clusters and BNT162b2 vaccination status.MethodsA prospective longitudinal patient-reported outcomes (PRO) study recruited laboratory-confirmed symptomatic COVID-19 patients seeking testing from a national retail pharmacy. Long COVID-19 symptoms were self-reported by participants at 4-week, 3-month and 6-month surveys. Patient classes identified via latent class analysis (LCA) with long COVID-19 symptoms were simplified into clusters based on number of symptoms. HRQoL and WPAI outcomes were collected using EQ-ED-5L and WPAI: GH questionnaires. Mixed models for repeated measures analyses were conducted to examine associations between exposure groups and outcomes.ResultsThe study included 328 participants that were segmented into three groups of long COVID-19 symptoms based on LCA and then simplified by the number of symptoms (Cluster 1 low, <2; Cluster 2 moderate, 2–6; and Cluster 3 high, >6 symptoms). The number of long COVID-19 symptoms was negatively associated with HRQoL and WPAI, whereby participants with high symptom burden (>6 symptoms) had the lowest HRQoL and WPAI scores assessed by absenteeism, presenteeism, work productivity loss, activity impairment, and hours worked metrics. Compared with those unvaccinated and not up-to-date with COVID-19 vaccination, subjects boosted with BNT162b2 consistently reported less symptom burden during the follow-up, regardless of their symptom-based cluster.ConclusionThree distinct patient clusters based on frequency of long COVID symptoms experienced different HRQoL and WPAI outcomes over 6 months. The cluster with more concomitant symptoms experienced greater burden than the others. Participants up-to-date with BNT162b2 reported lower symptom burden across all clusters and timeframes.Clinical trial registrationClinicaltrials.gov NCT05160636.

Efficacy of Yoga in Reducing Depressive Symptoms: A Systematic Review

Introduction: The fast pace of changes in contemporary life increases the need to adapt, which leads to depressive pathologies due to psychological suffering. Yoga has therefore emerged as a complementary approach to the treatment of depression. Objective: To analyze the efficacy of yoga in reducing depressive symptoms. Materials and methods: This is a systematic literature review, which followed the Joanna Briggs Institute methodology for systematic reviews of efficacy, with the review protocol registered on Prospero under the code CRD42023448158. To devise the research question, the Pico strategy was adopted, in which “P” stands for people with depression, “I” for yoga; “C” for people who have not been submitted to yoga, and “O” for improvement/reduction of depressive symptoms. The requirements of the Prisma flowchart were followed and the search was conducted in the Medline/PubMed, Web of Science, Lilacs, BDEnf, Ibecs, PsycINFO, and Cinahl databases. The Jadad scale was used to assess methodological quality and the Cochrane Risk of Bias 2 to assess the risk of bias. Results: A total of 1138 studies were found, of which 10 were selected for data extraction, detailed reading, and qualitative synthesis. Yoga, especially mindfulness yoga, has been shown to be an effective intervention for various conditions, including depression. Its benefits include significant improvements in depression severity, health-related quality of life, motor dysfunction, mobility, spiritual well-being, and parasympathetic nervous system activity. Conclusion: The studies highlight the efficacy of yoga in reducing depressive symptoms in various populations and contexts, highlighting its effectiveness as a complementary therapeutic approach in the management of depression.

Executive functioning in adults with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder: A systematic review

Introduction: Executive function deficits are associated with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in both children and adults. The inattentive subtype is primary related to “cold” executive functions, while the hyperactive subtype is related to “warm” executive functions. Objective: To systematically review studies on executive functioning in adults with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder published during the last decade. Methodology: A documentary research was conducted, encompassing 33 articles retrieved from PubMed, Web of Science and EBSCO platforms. The analysis considered years and countries of publication, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder diagnostic criteria, participants, comorbidities, subtypes, medication use, assessment tools, and processes of executive functions evaluated. Results: It was evidenced that there is a high percentage of adults with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder who present a deficit or lower performance in executive function tests. However, the results varied depending on specific characteristics of the study and/or participants, which confirms the heterogeneity of the disorder. In addition, the main instruments for measuring executive functions and diagnostic criteria for adult attention deficit hyperactivity disorder were identified. Discussion: These results support the established links between attention deficit hyperactivity disorder , impaired executive functions, and major life activities found in the adult attention deficit hyperactivity disorder literature. However, some of the limitations were the poorly controlled variables such as comorbidities, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder subtypes that were not assessed, and usage of instruments that measure executive functions that can lead to reduced credibility of the results presented here. Conclusions: According to the results presented, there is a high percentage of adults with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder who present a deficit or lower performance in executive function tests, compared to both neurotypical adults and those with other psychiatric disorders. Further research is recommended to continue studies on the topic and to include other variables.

Impact of Climate Change on Peach Fruit Moth Phenology: A Regional Perspective from China.

It is widely recognized that the phenology of insects, of which the life activities are closely tied to temperature, is shifting in response to global climate warming. This study aimed to investigate the impacts of climate change on the phenology of Carposina sasakii Matsumura, 1900 (Lepidoptera: Carposinidae) across large temporal and spatial scales, through collecting and systematically analyzing historical data on the pest's occurrence and population dynamics in China. The results showed that for overwintering adults, the first occurrence date in eastern, northwestern, and northern China has significantly advanced, along with the population peak in eastern and northwestern China. At the provincial level, the population peak date in Shandong province has also moved significantly earlier, as well as the population peak date in Shandong and Shaanxi and the end occurrence date in Ningxia. However, the population peak date in Jilin has experienced a delayed trend. For first-generation adults, the first occurrence date in northeastern, eastern, and central China has notably advanced, while the first appearance date in northwestern and northern China has significantly delayed. Additionally, the population peak in northwestern China has experienced significant delays, along with the final occurrence in northeastern and northwestern China. At the provincial level, the first occurrence date in Liaoning, Shandong, and Shanxi has significantly advanced, while Hebei has demonstrated a significant delay. The population peak time in Gansu and Shaanxi has displayed significant delays, and the end occurrence date in Liaoning, Shanxi, and Shaanxi has also shown significant delays. Furthermore, these findings integrated with the Pearson correlation results reveal spatial heterogeneity in C. sasakii's phenological responses to climate warming at both regional and provincial scales. The phenology of C. sasakii and their changing patterns with climate warming vary by geographical location. This study provides valuable information for the future monitoring, prediction, and prevention of peach fruit moths in the context of climate warming.

Head and Neck Cancer Survivors' Assessment of Mealtimes: Translation and Validation : Assessment and Rehabilitation of Dysphagia in Head and Neck Cancer Patients.

Dysphagia is a prevalent complication before, during and after treatment for head and neck cancer (HNC). Besides the medical and societal consequences, dysphagia has a negative impact on functioning, activity, participation and quality of life. These aspects are all affected by the environmental factors (EF). However, patient-reported outcome measures (PROMS) such as the Head-and-Neck Cancer Survivors' Assessment of Mealtimes (HNSAM), which thoroughly assess participation and EF in addition to function and activity, are rare. Therefore, this study aimed to translate and validate the HNSAM into Dutch (D-HNSAM). The HNSAM was translated according to the standardized procedure of translation & back-translation and according to the international cross-cultural adaptation process. A pilot study was then conducted with 10 HNC patients to assess the linguistic features and comprehensibility of the test items. Finally, the D-HNSAM was completed by 50 participants who were at least 6months post-treatment for HNC. The Performance Status Scale for Head and Neck cancer patients (PSS-HN)- subscales normalcy of diet and eating in public, the Dysphagia Handicap Index (DHI), the Functional Oral Intake scale (FOIS) and the Utrecht Scale for Evaluation of Rehabilitation-Participation (USER-P) were used to examine the psychometric properties of the D-HNSAM. High correlations with related assessment tools and low correlations with unrelated assessment tools were expected. Internal consistency was found to be weak to good. Test-retest reliability, convergent validity and divergent validity were demonstrated except for the EF subscale. The D-HNSAM can detect differences in impact of dysphagia on daily functioning and quality of life. The D-HNSAM is a reliable and clinically valuable PROM for assessing the impact of dysphagia on daily functioning and quality of life in patients with HNC. The unique aspect of this PROM, the subscale EF, has unfortunately weak psychometric properties and requires further refinement.

Effects of motor and cognitive dual tasks on walking and balance in children with diparetic cerebral palsy

This study investigates the effects of motor and cognitive dual tasks on walking and balance in Children with diparetic cerebral palsy. The subjects of this study were 12 children (experimental group n = 6, control group n = 6) who were medical diagnosed with diparetic cerebral palsy. They aged 8–12 years. Experimental group was administered treatment for 30 min, 2 times a week for 8 weeks, with the experimental group performing motor and cognitive dual task, while the control group did not have such a training. Wilcoxon signed-rank test was performed to analyze changes in balance, gross motor function in the group, and the Mann–Whitney test was conducted to compare the differences between the two groups before and after intervention. In This study, the mean time for completing the Timed Up and Go Test in single and dual tasks and mean cognitive responses, there was a significant difference between the two groups (P < 0.05). Conclusion: Considering that many activities in daily life are dual tasks, these difficulties they experience in performing dual tasks show that children’s daily lives are also affected. Therefore, dual task evaluations are very important for individuals to be independent in daily life.

Effect of lower-limb isokinetic muscle strengthening on knee function and joint contact force in knee osteoarthritis patients awaiting total knee arthroplasty: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial.

Knee osteoarthritis (OA) is a common and serious joint disease and patients mainly suffer from knee pain and dysfunction, significantly impacting their quality of life and daily activities. Non-pharmacological treatments and total knee arthroplasty (TKA) are the two major treatments for knee OA. TKA is the primary treatment for severe knee OA patients, however, the postoperative rehabilitation results are not entirely satisfactory. To enhance postoperative rehabilitation outcomes, preoperative lower-limb muscle strengthening has aroused attention and demonstrated significant results on functional recovery after TKA. Specifically, isokinetic muscle strengthening (IMS) has been highly anticipated as an efficient training method. Nevertheless, its effects in perioperative and long-term periods of TKA require further investigation. This study aims to evaluate the impact of preoperative lower-limb IMS during the 4weeks before TKA on the perioperative and postoperative outcomes, with particular attention on knee function, pain, and inflammatory response. In this study, 104 patients awaiting TKA will be randomized to 2 groups: the IMS and health education groups. All patients will be evaluated at baseline, post-intervention, discharge day, and postoperative day 14, with follow-up assessments at 6weeks, 3, 6, and 12months after discharge. The primary outcome will be the Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score 3months after TKA and the medial-to-lateral knee contact force ratio. The secondary outcomes will be changes in lower-limb muscle strength, knee pain, inflammation response, active range of motion, performance-based function (5-times Sit-to-Stand Test, Time Up-and-Go Test, 3m walking speed), Berg Balance Scale, and surgical need. Lower-limb IMS can improve muscle strength, pain, and function for early knee OA patients. However, the effects of different doses of IMS on perioperative and postoperative knee pain, inflammation response, and function after TKA are inconclusive. This study will provide high-quality evidence to assess the efficacy of IMS in end-stage patients who will undergo TKA. Understanding IMS in end-stage knee OA patients will help guide future surgical management for this population. Trial Registration Chinese Clinical Trial Registry ChiCTR2400088136.

Combined Exercise and Nutritional Therapy Improves Physical Functions and Activities of Daily Living in Patients With Multimorbidity Undergoing Convalescent Rehabilitation: A Case Report

Combined Exercise and Nutritional Therapy Improves Physical Functions and Activities of Daily Living in Patients With Multimorbidity Undergoing Convalescent Rehabilitation: A Case Report

A personalized approach to the treatment of chronic tension-type headache: quality of life of patients

Objective: to evaluate the quality of life in a personalized approach to the treatment of chronic tension-type headache (CTTH) in comparison with a standard treatment protocol.Material and methods. The study involved 61 patients with CTTH. Patients were randomly divided into two groups. The first (main) group consisted of patients (n=30) who received a personalized approach with a psychotherapist contributing to the treatment. The comparison group consisted of patients (n=31) who were treated according to a standard protocol with counselling and observation by a neurologist. Pain intensity was assessed using the visual analogue pain scale (VAS). The SF-36 questionnaire was used to assess quality of life. Differences between the groups were analyzed by assessing individual changes in eight different domains of the SF-36 questionnaire for each patient.Results. In the main group, parameters characterizing the physical (pain intensity) and emotional experience of the pain (mental health, social functioning, life activity; p&lt;0.05) decreased after 6 months of treatment when a personalized approach to the treatment of CTTH was applied, compared to the control group (with a standard patient management protocol).Conclusion. The personalized approach showed an improvement of the quality of life of patients with CTTH compared with the standard protocol, allowing us to recommend it for a wider application in clinical practice.

TsRNA-00764 Regulates Estrogen and Progesterone Synthesis and Lipid Deposition by Targeting PPAR-γ in Duck Granulosa Cells.

Transfer RNA-derived small RNAs (tsRNAs) are novel regulatory small non-coding RNAs that have been found to modulate many life activities in recent years. However, the exact functions of tsRNAs in follicle development remain unclear. Follicle development is a remarkably complex process that follows a strict hierarchy and is strongly associated with reproductive performance in ducks. The process of converting small yellow follicles into hierarchal follicles is known as follicle selection, which directly determines the number of mature follicles. We performed small RNA sequencing during follicle selection in ducks and identified tsRNA-00764 as the target of interest based on tsRNA expression profiles in this study. Bioinformatics analyses and luciferase reporter assays further revealed that peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ (PPAR-γ) was the target gene of tsRNA-00764. Moreover, tsRNA-00764 knockdown promoted estrogen and progesterone synthesis and lipid deposition in duck granulosa cells, while a PPAR-γ inhibitor reversed the above phenomenon. Taken together, these results demonstrate that tsRNA-00764, differentially expressed in pre-hierarchal and hierarchy follicles, modulates estrogen and progesterone synthesis and lipid deposition by targeting PPAR-γ in duck granulosa cells, serving as a potential novel mechanism of follicle selection. Overall, our findings provide a theoretical foundation for further exploration of the molecular mechanisms underlying follicle development and production performance in ducks.

Physiological and Genetic Basis of High-Altitude Indigenous Animals' Adaptation to Hypoxic Environments.

Adaptation is one of the fundamental characteristics of life activities; humans and animals inhabiting high altitudes are well adapted to hypobaric hypoxic environments, and studies on the mechanisms of this adaptation emerged a hundred years ago. Based on these studies, this paper reviews the adaptive changes in hypoxia-sensitive tissues and organs, as well as at the molecular genetic level, such as pulmonary, cardiovascular, O2-consuming tissues, and the hemoglobin and HIF pathway, that occur in animals in response to the challenge of hypobaric hypoxia. High-altitude hypoxia adaptation may be due to the coordinated action of genetic variants in multiple genes and, as a result, adaptive changes in multiple tissues and organs at the physiological and biochemical levels. Unraveling their mechanisms of action can provide a reference for the prevention and treatment of multiple diseases caused by chronic hypoxia.