Adverse Stress Research Articles

The plasma membrane-associated transcription factor NAC091 regulates unfolded protein response in Arabidopsis thaliana

Adverse environmental stresses may cause the accumulation of unfolded or misfolded proteins in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER), and the unfolded protein response (UPR) pathway is initiated to mitigate the ER stress. Previous studies demonstrate that NAC062, a plasma membrane-associated transcription factor, plays important roles in promoting cell survival under ER stress conditions in Arabidopsis thaliana. In this study, we identified another plasma membrane-associated transcription factor, NAC091 (also known as ANAC091/TIP), as an important UPR mediator. ER stress induces the expression of NAC091, which is mainly dependent on the ER stress regulators bZIP60 and bZIP28. In addition, NAC091 has transcriptional activation activity, and the truncated form of NAC091 devoid of the C-terminal transmembrane domain (TMD) forms a homodimer in the nucleus. Under ER stress conditions, NAC091 relocates from the plasma membrane to the nucleus and regulates the expression of canonical UPR genes involved in cell survival. Further, the loss-of-function mutant of NAC091 confers impaired ER stress tolerance. Together, these results reveal the important role of NAC091 in ER stress response in Arabidopsis, and demonstrate that NAC091 relays the ER stress signal from the plasma membrane to the nucleus to alleviate ER stress and promote cell survival in plants.

Deciphering the Atlas of Post-Translational Modification in Sugarcane.

In plants, lysine acetylation (Kac), 2-hydroxyisobutyrylation (Khib), and lysine lactylation (Kla), the three new types of post-translational modification (PTM), play very important roles in growth, development, and resistance to adverse environmental stresses. Herein, we report the first global acetylome, 2-hydroxyisobutyrylome, and lactylome in sugarcane. A total of 8573 Kac, 4637 Khib, and 215 Kla sites across 3903, 1507, and 139 modified proteins were identified. Besides, homology analyses revealed the Kac, Khib, and Kla sites on histones were conserved between sugarcane and rice or poplar. Functional annotations demonstrated that the Kac, Khib, and Kla proteins were mainly involved in energy metabolism. In addition, a number of modified transcription factors and stress-related proteins, which were constitutively expressed in different tissues of sugarcane and induced by drought, cold or Sporisorium scitamineum stress, were identified. Finally, a proposed working mode on how PTM functions in sugarcane was depicted. We thus concluded that PTM should play a role in sugarcane growth, development, and response to biotic and abiotic stresses, but the mechanisms require further investigation. The present study provided the all-new comprehensive profile of proteins Kac, Khib, and Kla and a new perspective to understand the molecular mechanisms of protein PTMs in sugarcane.

Genome-Wide Identification of GATA Family Genes in Phoebe bournei and Their Transcriptional Analysis under Abiotic Stresses.

GATA transcription factors are crucial proteins in regulating transcription and are characterized by a type-IV zinc finger DNA-binding domain. They play a significant role in the growth and development of plants. While the GATA family gene has been identified in several plant species, it has not yet been reported in Phoebe bournei. In this study, 22 GATA family genes were identified from the P. bournei genome, and their physicochemical properties, chromosomal distribution, subcellular localization, phylogenetic tree, conserved motif, gene structure, cis-regulatory elements in promoters, and expression in plant tissues were analyzed. Phylogenetic analysis showed that the PbGATAs were clearly divided into four subfamilies. They are unequally distributed across 11 out of 12 chromosomes, except chromosome 9. Promoter cis-elements are mostly involved in environmental stress and hormonal regulation. Further studies showed that PbGATA11 was localized to chloroplasts and expressed in five tissues, including the root bark, root xylem, stem bark, stem xylem, and leaf, which means that PbGATA11 may have a potential role in the regulation of chlorophyll synthesis. Finally, the expression profiles of four representative genes, PbGATA5, PbGATA12, PbGATA16, and PbGATA22, under drought, salinity, and temperature stress, were detected by qRT-PCR. The results showed that PbGATA5, PbGATA22, and PbGATA16 were significantly expressed under drought stress. PbGATA12 and PbGATA22 were significantly expressed after 8 h of low-temperature stress at 10 °C. This study concludes that the growth and development of the PbGATA family gene in P. bournei in coping with adversity stress are crucial. This study provides new ideas for studying the evolution of GATAs, provides useful information for future functional analysis of PbGATA genes, and helps better understand the abiotic stress response of P. bournei.

Genome-Wide Analysis of Strictosidine Synthase-like Gene Family Revealed Their Response to Biotic/Abiotic Stress in Poplar.

The strictosidine synthase-like (SSL) gene family is a small plant immune-regulated gene family that plays a critical role in plant resistance to biotic/abiotic stresses. To date, very little has been reported on the SSL gene in plants. In this study, a total of thirteen SSLs genes were identified from poplar, and these were classified into four subgroups based on multiple sequence alignment and phylogenetic tree analysis, and members of the same subgroup were found to have similar gene structures and motifs. The results of the collinearity analysis showed that poplar SSLs had more collinear genes in the woody plants Salix purpurea and Eucalyptus grandis. The promoter analysis revealed that the promoter region of PtrSSLs contains a large number of biotic/abiotic stress response elements. Subsequently, we examined the expression patterns of PtrSSLs following drought, salt, and leaf blight stress, using RT-qPCR to validate the response of PtrSSLs to biotic/abiotic stresses. In addition, the prediction of transcription factor (TF) regulatory networks identified several TFs, such as ATMYB46, ATMYB15, AGL20, STOP1, ATWRKY65, and so on, that may be induced in the expression of PtrSSLs in response to adversity stress. In conclusion, this study provides a solid basis for a functional analysis of the SSL gene family in response to biotic/abiotic stresses in poplar.

Effects of Fogging System and Nitric Oxide on Growth and Yield of 'Naomi' Mango Trees Exposed to Frost Stress.

In years with unfavorable weather, winter frost during the blossoming season can play a significant role in reducing fruit yield and impacting the profitability of cultivation. The mango Naomi cultivar Mangifera indica L. has a low canopy that is severely affected by the effects of frost stress. As a result of the canopy being exposed to physiological problems, vegetative development is significantly inhibited. The current investigation aimed to study the influence of spraying nitric oxide and fogging spray systems on Naomi mango trees grafted on 'Succary' rootstock under frost stress conditions. The treatments were as follows: nitric oxide (NO) 50 and 100 μM, fogging spray system, and control. In comparison to the control, the use of nitric oxide and a fogging system significantly improved the leaf area, photosynthesis pigments of the leaf, the membrane stability index, yield, and physical and chemical characteristics of the Naomi mango cultivar. For instance, the application of 50 μM NO, 100 μM NO, and the fogging spray system resulted in an increase in yield by 41.32, 106.12, and 121.43% during the 2020 season, and by 39.37, 101.30, and 124.68% during the 2021 season compared to the control, respectively. The fogging spray system and highest level of NO decreased electrolyte leakage, proline content, total phenolic content, catalase (CAT), peroxidases (POX), and polyphenol oxidase (PPO) enzyme activities in leaves. Furthermore, the number of damaged leaves per shoot was significantly reduced after the application of fogging spray systems and nitric oxide in comparison to the control. Regarding vegetative growth, our results indicated that the fogging spray system and spraying nitric oxide at 100 μM enhanced the leaf surface area compared to the control and other treatments. A similar trend was noticed regarding yield and fruit quality, whereas the best values were obtained when the fogging spray system using nitric oxide was sprayed at a concentration of 100 μM. The application of fogging spray systems and nitric oxide can improve the production and fruit quality of Naomi mango trees by reducing the effects of adverse frost stress conditions.

Childhood adversity during the post-apartheid transition and COVID-19 stress independently predict adult PTSD risk in urban South Africa: A biocultural analysis of the stress sensitization hypothesis.

The COVID-19 pandemic in South Africa introduced new societal adversities and mental health threats in a country where one in three individuals are expected to develop a psychiatric condition sometime in their life. Scientists have suggested that psychosocial stress and trauma during childhood may increase one's vulnerability to the mental health consequences of future stressors-a process known as stress sensitization. This prospective analysis assessed whether childhood adversity experienced among South African children across the first 18 years of life, coinciding with the post-apartheid transition, exacerbates the mental health impacts of psychosocial stress experienced during the 2019 coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic (ca. 2020-2021). Data came from 88 adults who participated in a follow-up study of a longitudinal birth cohort study in Soweto, South Africa. Childhood adversity and COVID-19 psychosocial stress were assessed as primary predictors of adult PTSD risk, and an interaction term between childhood adversity and COVID-19 stress was calculated to evaluate the potential effect of stress sensitization. Fifty-six percent of adults exhibited moderate-to-severe PTSD symptoms. Greater childhood adversity and higher COVID-19 psychosocial stress independently predicted worse post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms in adults. Adults who reported greater childhood adversity exhibited non-significantly worse PTSD symptoms from COVID-19 psychosocial stress. These results highlight the deleterious mental health effects of both childhood trauma and COVID-19 psychosocial stress in our sample and emphasize the need for greater and more accessible mental health support as the pandemic progresses in South Africa.

Effect of DNA damage mediating psychosocial stress on aging

Adversity and psychosocial stress are involved in aging through the following pathways. psychological stress enhances the nerve system to secrete endocrine mediators (hormones). Mitochondrial respiration mediates energy production stimulated by binding to these hormones to their receptors. Energy produced by mitochondria accelerates metabolism and, in its turn, leads to increases in reactive oxygen species (ROS) of free radicals. Cellular stress and accumulation of damage can result from an excess of ROS. Accumulation of damage comprises damages in telomeric and nontelomeric DNA, in addition to mitochondrial DNA. Mitochondrial DNA damage plays an important role in increasing the pathway of p53/p21. The expression of the PGC-1α gene is inhibited by activation of the previous pathway that generates a decrease in mitochondrial biogenesis. The low level of mitochondrial biogenesis generates mitophagy defects and increases the level of dysfunctional mitochondria that lead to a high level of ROS production. Nuclear DNA damage and mitochondrial dysfunction stimulate necrosis or cell senescence. Necrotic cells enhance the inflammatory activity by which damage-associated molecular patterns (DAMPs) are continuously secreted. Senescent cells secrete high levels of the senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP) that includes tumor necrosis factor TNF-α and interleukin-6 (IL-6) as inflammatory cytokines, and MCP-2 and interleukin-8 (IL-8) as chemokines. All these processes work together to accelerate the biological aging process by causing defects related to aging such as diabetes and cardiovascular disease.

Effects of dexmedetomidine on inflammation and pulmonary function after thoracoscopic surgery for lung cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Surgical resection is the most effective treatment for lung cancer, but it can also lead to adverse stress reactions in the body. The minimization of lung function damage caused by one-lung ventilation and inflammatory reactions caused by surgery are new challenges faced by the field of anesthesiology. Dexmedetomidine (Dex) has been found to be effective in improving perioperative lung function. In this study, we aimed to conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis to examine the effect of Dex on inflammation and pulmonary function after thoracoscopic surgery for lung cancer. A computer-based search was performed to retrieve controlled trials (CTs) about the effects of Dex on inflammation and lung function after thoracoscopic surgery for lung cancer from the databases of PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, and Web of Science. The time period for retrieval was set from inception to 1 August 2022. The articles were strictly screened according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria, and data analysis was conducted using the software Stata 15.0. A total of 11 CTs were included, involving 1,026 patients overall, with 512 assigned to the Dex group and 514 to the control group. The meta-analysis showed that after Dex treatment, the inflammatory factors of patients with lung cancer who underwent radical resection were all decreased: interleukin-6 (IL-6) [standardized mean difference (SMD) =-2.09; 95% confidence interval (CI): -3.03, -1.14; P=0.003], interleukin-8 (IL-8) (SMD =-1.12; 95% CI: -1.54, -0.71; P=0.001), and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) (SMD =-2.04; 95% CI: -3.24, 0.84; P=0.001). The pulmonary function of the patients was also improved: forced expiratory volume in the first second (FEV1) (SMD =0.50; 95% CI: 0.24, 0.76; P=0.003), and partial pressure of oxygen (PaO2) (SMD =1.00; 95% CI: 0.40, 1.59; P=0.001). However, there was no significant difference between the two groups regarding adverse reactions [relative risk (RR) =0.68; 95% CI: 0.41, 1.14; P=0.27]. In summary, the use of Dex in lung cancer patients after radical surgery can reduce serum inflammatory factors, and this may play an important role in postoperative inflammatory reaction and improving lung function.

A Stress Protein-Based Suicide Prediction Score and Relationship to Reported Early-Life Adversity and Recent Life Stress.

The hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis is a major stress response system, and excessive HPA responses can impact major depressive disorder and suicide. We examined relationships between reported early-life adversity (ELA), recent-life stress (RLS), suicide, and corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH), CRH binding protein, FK506-binding protein (FKBP5), glucocorticoid receptor (GR), and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in postmortem human prefrontal cortex (BA9), and anterior cingulate cortex (BA24). Thirteen quadruplets, matched for sex, age, and postmortem interval and consisting of suicide decedents and healthy controls, were divided equally into those with and without ELA. ELA, RLS, and psychiatric diagnoses were determined by psychological autopsy. Protein levels were determined by western blots. There were no suicide- or ELA-related differences in CRH, CRH binding protein, GR, or FKBP5 in BA9 or BA24 and no interaction between suicide and ELA (P > .05). For BDNF, there was an interaction between suicide and ELA in BA24; suicides without ELA had less BDNF than controls without ELA, and controls with ELA had less BDNF than controls without ELA. CRH in BA9 and FKBP5 in anterior cingulate cortex correlated negatively with RLS. Least Absolute Shrinkage and Selection Operator logistic regression with cross-validation found combining BDNF, GR, and FKBP5 BA24 levels predicted suicide, but ELA did not contribute. A calculated "suicide risk score" using these measures had 71% sensitivity and 71% specificity. A dysregulated HPA axis is related to suicide but not with ELA. RLS was related to select HPA axis proteins in specific brain regions. BDNF appears to be dysregulated in a region-specific way with ELA and suicide.

Shaking table test on the seismic response and reinforcement measures of double-arch tunnels in mountainous areas

Double-arch tunnels are commonly used in mountainous areas but are more vulnerable to earthquake damage than single-hole tunnels due to their large span and weak joints between the main tunnel and the centre wall. This study aims to understand the seismic response and damage characteristics of double-arch tunnels and provide design advice. A large-scale shaking table test was conducted in a high-intensity seismic zone, using strip reinforcement as seismic measures. Results show that peak accelerations of the inverted arch of tunnels increase as peak accelerations of seismic waves increase. Peak accelerations of the centre wall increase until peak loading accelerations achieve at 0.4 g. Large peak internal forces are mainly concentrated at the bottom of tunnels and near the centre wall. For the centre wall, bending moments are significantly influenced by structural abruptness at the junctions between the centre wall and the main tunnel, whereas axial forces are more evenly distributed in the centre wall. Seismic waves with high energy at low frequencies excite peak responses of strains and bending moments for the centre wall, especially at the wall top. Parts of the main tunnel connecting to the centre wall are in an adverse stress state, with the bottom and vault of tunnels being susceptible to cracking. Penetration cracks are likely to occur in the inverted arch and vault of tunnels as peak accelerations of seismic waves gradually increase. However, after penetration cracks appear in each of these two parts, further cracking is more likely to occur in the inverted arch, especially during strong seismic shaking. The overall forces in double-arch tunnels with strip reinforcement are significantly reduced, but there is little reduction in force for the bottom and outside of the lining.

Developing an environmental friendly approach for enhancing water retention with the amendment of water-absorbing polymer and fertilizers

The effect of climate/environmental change has resulted in adverse water stress conditions which necessitates the sustainable approaches for improving the water use efficiency to boost agricultural production in Central Asia. Water-absorbing polymer (WAP) has emerged as one of the amendments for soil water stress management. WAP are chemically cross-linked structure capable of absorbing and storing a large amount of water. The agricultural land has different levels of fertilizers which can influence the performance of WAP because of its sensitivity due to external ionic medium. Therefore, the combined or hybrid use of WAP and organic/ inorganic fertilizers may inhibit the functionality of WAP, which needs to be thoroughly investigated. This study demonstrates the performance of two different WAPs (a commercially WAP (crosslinked potassium polyacrylate) and a laboratory synthesized WAP (crosslinked fly ash-polyacrylate superabsorbent composite)) with varying combinations of fertilizers in silt loam (agrarian soil). The combined use of fertilizers and WAP have improved the water retention properties of soils due to modification in the soil pore volume for both the WAPs. Quantification from water retention properties revealed a significant increase in plant wilting time (PWT) and plant available water content (PAWC) under the combined influence of fertilizers and WAP amended soils, indicating the possibility of high-water availability to plant roots. The study suggests the potential of WAPs as an efficient soil conditioner even in the presence of fertilizer for countering the negative impacts of water stress conditions. WAPs might minimize the requirement for chemical fertilizers, which helps to enhance the climate/environmental change and agriculture sector in the Central Asian region.

Genome-wide analysis and identification of light-harvesting chlorophyll a/b binding (LHC) gene family and BSMV-VIGS silencing TaLHC86 reduced salt tolerance in wheat

The discovery and identification of gene families by using wide-genome and public databases is an effective way to gain initial insight into gene function, which also is one of the current hot spots of research. Chlorophyll ab-binding proteins (LHC) are important for photosynthesis and widely involved in plant adversity stress. However, the study in wheat has not been reported. In this study, we identified 127 TaLHC members from common wheat which were unevenly distributed on all chromosomes except 3B and 3D. All members divided into three subfamilies, LHC a, LHC b and the LHC t which was only discovered in wheat. All of them had maximum expression in leaves and contained multiple light-responsive cis-acting element, which were evidence of the extensive involvement of LHC families in photosynthesis. In addition, we also analyzed their collinear relationship, targeting relationship with miRNA and their responses under different stresses. Based on these analyses, it was found that TaLHC86 was an excellent candidate gene for stress resistance. The full-length ORF of TaLHC86 was 792 bp and was localized on the chloroplasts. The salt tolerance of wheat was reduced when BSMV-VIGS silenced TaLHC86, and the photosynthetic rate and electron transport were also seriously affected. This study made a comprehensive analysis of the TaLHC family and found that TaLHC86 was a good gene for salt tolerance.

Reliability and Validity of the Korean Version of the Brief Resilience Scale.

: To translate the Brief Resilience Scale into Korean and evaluate its reliability and validity. : To investigate the factor structure of the Brief Resilience Scale, we examined a two-factor model comprising positively and negatively worded items. Congruent and divergent validity of the Brief Resilience Scale were investigated using correlation analysis between the Brief Resilience Scale and resilience, depression, and perceived stress. By conducting an analysis of variance among groups classified by suicidality (no suicidality, only suicidal ideation, and suicidal ideation or suicidal plan groups), we evaluated how well the Brief Resilience Scale could detect people with a high risk of suicide. : Confirmatory factor analysis results supported the construct validity of the Brief Resilience Scale using a two-factor model. Cronbach's alpha (0.91) and McDonald's omega (0.91) scores indicated high internal consistency. Correlation analysis showed that the Brief Resilience Scale scores were strongly associated with a questionnaire evaluating resilience, depression, and perceived stress. Analysis of variance and post-hoc tests showed that he Brief Resilience Scale scores were highest in the no suicidality group (p ＜ 0.001). : The Korean version of the Brief Resilience Scale is a valid and reliable instrument for evaluating resilience as the capacity to recover from adversity and endure obstacles or stress. This study also provides important evidence regarding the sensitivity of the Brief Resilience Scale to suicidal risk.

The biochemical characteristics of viable but nonculturable state Yersinia enterocolitica induced by lactic acid stress and its presence in food systems

The viable but nonculturable (VBNC) state is adopted by many foodborne pathogenic bacteria to survive in adverse conditions. This study found that lactic acid, a widely used food preservative, can induce Yersinia enterocolitica to enter a VBNC state. Y. enterocolitica treated with 2 mg/mL lactic acid completely lost culturability within 20 min, and 10.137 ± 1.693 % of the cells entered a VBNC state. VBNC state cells could be recovered (resuscitated) in tryptic soy broth (TSB), 5 % (v/v) Tween80−TSB, and 2 mg/mL sodium pyruvate-TSB. In the VBNC state of Y. enterocolitica induced by lactic acid, the intracellular adenosine triphosphate (ATP) concentration and various enzyme activities were decreased, and the reactive oxygen species (ROS) level was elevated, compared with uninduced cells. The VBNC state cells were significantly more resistant to heat and simulated gastric fluid than uninduced cells, but their ability to survive in a high−osmotic−pressure environment was significantly less than that of uninduced cells. The VBNC state cells induced by lactic acid changed from long rod-like to short rod-like, with small vacuoles at the cell edges; the genetic material was loosened and the density of cytoplasm was increased. The VBNC state cells had decreased ability to adhere to and invade Caco−2 (human colorectal adenocarcinoma) cells. The transcription levels of genes related to adhesion, invasion, motility, and resistance to adverse environmental stress were downregulated in VBNC state cells relative to uninduced cells. In meat-based broth, all nine tested strains of Y. enterocolitica entered the VBNC state after lactic acid treatment; among these strains, only VBNC state cells of Y. enterocolitica CMCC 52207 and Isolate 36 could not be recovered. Therefore, this study is a wake−up call for food safety problems caused by VBNC state pathogens induced by lactic acid.

Intrinsic morphology and spatial distribution of non-structural carbohydrates contribute to drought resistance of two mulberry cultivars.

Drought is one of the most adverse environmental stresses limiting plant growth and productivity. However, the underlying mechanisms regarding non-structural carbohydrates (NSCs) metabolism in source and sink organs are still not fully elucidated in woody trees. Saplings of mulberry cultivars Zhongshen1 and Wubu were subjected to a 15-day progressive drought stress. NSCs levels and gene expressions involved in NSCs metabolism were investigated in roots and leaves. The growth performance and photosynthesis, leaf stomatal morphology, and other physiological parameters were also analyzed. Under well-watered conditions, Wubu had higher root-to-shoot ratio (R/S) with higher NSCs in leaves than roots, while Zhongshen1 exhibited lower R/S with higher NSCs in roots than leaves. Under drought stress, Zhongshen1 showed decreased productivity and increased concentrations of proline, abscisic acid, reactive oxygen species and activities of antioxidant enzymes, while Wubu sustained comparable productivity and photosynthesis. Interestingly, drought resulted in decreased levels of starch and slightly increased soluble sugars in leaves of Wubu, accompanied by notable downregulation of starch-synthesizing genes and upregulation of starch-degrading genes. The similar patterns in NSCs levels and relevant gene expressions were also observed in roots of Zhongshen1. Concurrently decreased soluble sugars and unchanged starch in roots of Wubu and leaves of Zhongshen1 were found. However, the gene expressions of starch metabolism in roots of Wubu were unaltered, but in leaves of Zhongshen1 the starch metabolism was largely activated. These findings revealed that intrinsic R/S and the spatial distribution of NSCs in roots and leaves concomitantly contributed to drought resistance in mulberry.

Rhizosphere Microbiota Promotes the Growth of Soybeans in a Saline-Alkali Environment under Plastic Film Mulching.

The rhizosphere microbiota plays a critical and crucial role in plant health and growth, assisting plants in resisting adverse stresses, including soil salinity. Plastic film mulching is an important method to adjust soil properties and improve crop yield, especially in saline-alkali soil. However, it remains unclear whether and to what extent the association between these improvements and rhizosphere microbiota exists. Here, from a field survey and a greenhouse mesocosm experiment, we found that mulching plastic films on saline-alkali soil can promote the growth of soybeans in the field. Results of the greenhouse experiment showed that soybeans grew better in unsterilized saline-alkali soil than in sterilized saline-alkali soil under plastic film mulching. By detecting the variations in soil properties and analyzing the high-throughput sequencing data, we found that with the effect of film mulching, soil moisture content was effectively maintained, soil salinity was obviously reduced, and rhizosphere bacterial and fungal communities were significantly changed. Ulteriorly, correlation analysis methods were applied. The optimization of soil properties ameliorated the survival conditions of soil microbes and promoted the increase in relative abundance of potential beneficial microorganisms, contributing to the growth of soybeans. Furthermore, the classification of potential key rhizosphere microbial OTUs were identified. In summary, our study suggests the important influence of soil properties as drivers on the alteration of rhizosphere microbial communities and indicates the important role of rhizosphere microbiota in promoting plant performance in saline-alkali soil under plastic film mulching.

Climate-change scenarios require volatility effects to imply substantial credit losses: shocks drive credit risk not changes in economic trends

IntroductionLong-run Macro-Prudential stability objectives for the banking system have recently motivated a detailed focus on potential future credit risks stemming from climate change. Led by regulators and the NGFS, early approaches apply smooth, top-down scenarios that utilize carbon emissions data combined with physical risk metrics. This general climate stress test approach assesses future credit losses for individual firms and the banking system. While the NGFS approach is in its infancy, a number of discussion points have been raised related to how the approach assesses future credit risks. In contrast to the NGFS approach that focuses on changes to long-run economic growth trends, higher credit risks generally arise from unexpected economic shocks to cashflows and asset values. Systematic shocks that impact many firms like those observed during the last three economic recessions clearly produce higher volatility and systematic deviations from average economic trends.MethodsIn this paper we briefly review aspects of current climate stress test approaches to set the context for our primary focus on assessing future climate induced credit risk and credit risk volatility using a multi credit-factor portfolio framework applied to a benchmark US C&I credit portfolio. First we compare various NGFS climate scenarios using NGFS GDP measures to a CCAR severely adverse stress scenario. We then undertake two additional assessments of future climate driven credit risk by applying an assumed relationship between NGFS global mean temperatures (GMTs) and credit-factor volatilities. All three prospective climate credit risk assessments utilize an empirically-based, credit-factor model estimated from market-based measures of credit risk to highlight the potential role for climate induced increases in volatility. The potential future drivers of volatility could stem from narrower physical risks or broader macro-economic, social or other systematic shocks driven by climate change. All three predicted credit loss assessments suggest that volatility not changes to economic trends ultimately drives higher potential credit risks relating to climate change.ContributionsThe key contributions of this paper are the application of empirically based credit factor models combined with higher climate-driven volatility assumptions that support statistical assessment of how climate change could impact credit risk losses.

391. Early Life Adversity and Recent Life Stress Are Associated With Cell-Specific Cox-2 Increased Expression in the Human Dorsolateral Prefrontal Cortex in Depressed Suicide Decedents

391. Early Life Adversity and Recent Life Stress Are Associated With Cell-Specific Cox-2 Increased Expression in the Human Dorsolateral Prefrontal Cortex in Depressed Suicide Decedents

Which Types of Stress Are Associated With Accelerated Biological Aging? Comparing Perceived Stress, Stressful Life Events, Childhood Adversity, and Posttraumatic Stress Disorder.

Stress and stressful events are associated with poorer health; however, there are multiple ways to conceptualize and measure stress and stress responses. One physiological mechanism through which stress could result in poorer health is accelerated biological aging. This study tested which types of stress were associated with accelerated biological aging in adulthood. Studying 955 participants from the Dunedin Longitudinal Study, we tested whether four types of stress assessed from ages 32 to 45 years-perceived stress, number of stressful life events, adverse childhood experiences, and posttraumatic stress disorder-were associated with accelerated biological aging. Higher levels of all four measures of stress were significantly associated with accelerated aging in separate models. In a combined model, more perceived stress and more stressful life events remained associated with faster aging, and the stress measures explained 6.9% of the variance in aging. The magnitudes of the associations between the four measures of stress and biological aging were comparable to associations for smoking and low education, two established risk factors for accelerated aging. People with high levels of perceived stress, numerous adverse childhood experiences (4+), high stressful life event counts, or posttraumatic stress disorder were aging an additional estimated 2.4 months, 1.1 additional months, 1.4 months, and 1.4 months per year, respectively. Assessing stress, particularly perceived stress, could help identify people at risk of accelerated aging. Intervening to treat stress or the health-relevant sequelae of stress could potentially slow the rate at which people are aging, improving their health as they age.

Genome-wide identification and analyses of cotton high-affinity nitrate transporter 2 family genes and their responses to stress.

Nitrate transporters (NRTs) are crucial for the uptake, use, and storage of nitrogen by plants. In this study, 42 members of the GhNRT2 (Nitrate Transporter 2 family) were found in the four different cotton species. The conserved domains, phylogenetic relationships, physicochemical properties, subcellular localization, conserved motifs, gene structure, cis-acting elements, and promoter region expression patterns of these 42 members were analyzed. The findings confirmed that members of the NRT2 family behaved typically, and subcellular localization tests confirmed that they were hydrophobic proteins that were mostly located on the cytoplasmic membrane. The NRT2 family of genes with A.thaliana and rice underwent phylogenetic analysis, and the results revealed that GhNRT2 could be divided into three groups. The same taxa also shared similar gene structure and motif distribution. The composition of cis-acting elements suggests that most of the expression of GhNRT2 may be related to plant hormones, abiotic stress, and photoreactions. The GhNRT2 gene was highly expressed, mainly in roots. Drought, salt, and extreme temperature stress showed that GhNRT2 gene expression was significantly up-regulated or down-regulated, indicating that it may be involved in the stress response of cotton. In general, the genes of the NRT2 family of cotton were comprehensively analyzed, and their potential nitrogen uptake and utilization functions in cotton were preliminarily predicted. Additionally, we provide an experimental basis for the adverse stress conditions in which they may function.