Extreme Stress Research Articles

Traits Related to Heat Stress in Phaseolus Species

Traits related to heat stress in bean species (Phaseolus spp.) have been insufficiently explored to date, yet studies of these traits are needed given that heat stress is predicted to become more frequent and severe in many parts of the world because of climate change. In order to detect agro-morphological and physiological traits related to heat stress and selection for resistance to heat stress, a total of 196 bean genotypes including eight genotypes of tepary bean (P. acutifolius L.), five genotypes of scarlet runner bean (P. coccineus A. Gray), two genotypes of year bean (P. dumosus Macfady), five genotypes of lima bean (P. lunatus L.), and 176 genotypes of common bean (P. vulgaris L.) were evaluated in 2019 and 2020 under moderate (field) and extreme heat stress (greenhouse) conditions. Although most genotypes of P. acutifolius, P. lunatus, and P. coccineus were found to be more resistant to heat stress than most genotypes of common bean, some genotypes of common bean were shown to perform as well as P. acutifolius, P. lunatus, and P. coccineus. Biomass among agronomical traits had the highest significant direct effects on the resistance to heat stress score. The maximum quantum efficiency of PSII and SPAD values among physiological traits showed significant direct effects on the resistance to heat stress score. Biomass, leaflet size, the SPAD value and maximum quantum efficiency of PSII can be considered as heat stress-related traits, and, P. acutifolius, P. lunatus, P. coccineus, and some genotypes of P. vulgaris can be considered for exploitation in a heat stress tolerance breeding program.

Impacts of Irrigation Technology, Irrigation Rate, and Drought-Tolerant Genetics on Silage Corn Production

Many studies have examined individual water-saving management practices for corn (Zea mays L.), but few studies have looked at how combinations of practices might further enhance water optimization. The research objectives of this paper were to evaluate the impact of irrigation technology, irrigation rate, and crop genetics, as well as their interactions, on silage corn yield and forage quality. Trials were conducted in three Utah locations from 2019 through 2021. The results from five site-years indicated that the best water optimization practices varied by site-year. Low-elevation sprinklers commonly applied water more efficiently, with four of the five site-years having improved or equivalent yield compared to mid-elevation sprinklers. Irrigation rate reductions and yield losses were not proportional, as a 25% irrigation reduction resulted in better silage quality and a 7% average yield loss across site-years. Further, targeted deficit irrigation (less water during vegetation and more during maturation) was inferior to a uniform deficit during all growth stages. Drought-tolerant genetics often maintained but did not improve yield in extreme water stress environments compared to non-DT genetics. No cumulative benefits were observed when combining irrigation technology, rate, and DT genetics. Irrigation technology had the greatest potential of the three factors to optimize water use in silage corn production in the Western U.S. region.

Attitude, Time Management, and Technostress of Students Under Online Learning; Its Relationship to the Performance of Elementary Students

COVID-19 has brought challenges to education globally, resulting in a drastic shift from in-person classes to online learning, affecting students, teachers, and parents. The descriptive-correlational research aimed to describe, explore, and interpret students’ attitudes, time management, and technostress under online learning and its relationships to the performance of elementary students. The research was conducted in one of the Elementary Schools in Camiguin Province. The research utilized one survey questionnaire with four sections: profile, attitude, time management, and technostress. The data were gathered through google forms, and the link was provided through Facebook messenger. Descriptive statistics (frequency counts, percentages, and means) were used to present the respondents’ profile, attitude, time management, technostress, and academic performance. On the other hand, the inferential questions on difference were answered using T-test and Analysis of Variance (ANOVA), while Pearson- R correlation was used to test relationships. The outcome emerged that technostress, attitude, and time management of elementary students affect their academic performance during online learning. Therefore, it is concluded that students with good/favorable attitudes and time management have lesser technostress and high academic performance. However, the use of technology has caused extreme stress to elementary students considering that online learning modality is a new concept for them. It was recommended that the administrator and teachers incorporate/include technology learning activities in the curriculum by providing computers or laptops and online lessons to elementary students to learn the basic computer/technology skills to keep them abreast of the demands of space and time.

Establishing a baseline for thermal stress conditions – A high-resolution radiative perspective

As Earth's climate warms, outdoor thermal conditions that threaten human life are becoming more frequent and severe. To prepare and adapt effectively to this challenge, an understanding of both current baseline thermal conditions and how thermal conditions will change throughout the 21st century is vital. However, current efforts to measure and model baseline thermal conditions have generally ignored the contributions of radiation, and have been performed at coarse temporal and spatial resolutions. In this study, we present the first hourly multidecadal bioclimatology of mean radiant temperature and the Universal Thermal Climate Index, driven by meteorological reanalysis data and processed using the Solar and LongWave Environmental Irradiance Geometry model. This process allows for the calculation of the influence of urban geometry on radiation fluxes at 1 m spatial scale. The results demonstrated that this technique provides significant insight into thermal stress conditions, while also presenting some inherent challenges. The presence of bimodal thermal stress conditions driven by shade, significant variability of heat stress conditions on multiple time scales, and differences in the factors that drive extreme heat and cold stress were revealed. Our study showed that such high-resolution modelling of thermal stress is a feasible technique with the potential to provide significant value in understanding outdoor thermal stress in complex urban environments.

Cyanidiales-Based Bioremediation of Heavy Metals.

With growing urbanization and ongoing development activities, the consumption of heavy metals has been increasing globally. Although heavy metals are vital for the survival of living beings, they can become hazardous when they surpass the permissible limit. The effect of heavy metals varies from normal to acute depending on the individual, so it is necessary to treat the heavy metals before releasing them into the environment. Various conventional treatment technologies have been used based on physical, chemical, and biological methods. However, due to technical and economic constraints and poor sustainability towards the environment, the use of these technologies has been limited. Microalgal-based heavy metal removal has been explored for the past few decades and has been seen as an effective, environment-friendly, and inexpensive method compared to conventional treatment technology. Cyanidiales that belong to red algae have the potential for remediation of heavy metals as they can withstand and tolerate extreme stresses of heat, acid salts, and heavy metals. Cyanidiales are the only photosynthetic organisms that can survive and thrive in acidic mine drainage, where heavy metal contamination is often prevalent. This review focuses on the algal species belonging to three genera of Cyanidiales: Cyanidioschyzon, Cyanidium, and Galdieria. Papers published after 2015 were considered in order to examine these species' efficiency in heavy metal removal. The result is summarized as maximum removal efficiency at the optimum experimental conditions and based on the parameters affecting the metal ion removal efficiency. This study finds that pH, initial metal concentration, initial algal biomass concentration, algal strains, and growth temperature are the major parameters that affect the heavy metal removal efficiency of Cyanidiales.

A comprehensive genomic analysis provides insights on the high environmental adaptability of Acinetobacter strains.

Acinetobacter is ubiquitous, and it has a high species diversity and a complex evolutionary pattern. To elucidate the mechanism of its high ability to adapt to various environment, 312 genomes of Acinetobacter strains were analyzed using the phylogenomic and comparative genomics methods. It was revealed that the Acinetobacter genus has an open pan-genome and strong genome plasticity. The pan-genome consists of 47,500 genes, with 818 shared by all the genomes of Acinetobacter, while 22,291 are unique genes. Although Acinetobacter strains do not have a complete glycolytic pathway to directly utilize glucose as carbon source, most of them harbored the n-alkane-degrading genes alkB/alkM (97.1% of tested strains) and almA (96.7% of tested strains), which were responsible for medium-and long-chain n-alkane terminal oxidation reaction, respectively. Most Acinetobacter strains also have catA (93.3% of tested strains) and benAB (92.0% of tested strains) genes that can degrade the aromatic compounds catechol and benzoic acid, respectively. These abilities enable the Acinetobacter strains to easily obtain carbon and energy sources from their environment for survival. The Acinetobacter strains can manage osmotic pressure by accumulating potassium and compatible solutes, including betaine, mannitol, trehalose, glutamic acid, and proline. They respond to oxidative stress by synthesizing superoxide dismutase, catalase, disulfide isomerase, and methionine sulfoxide reductase that repair the damage caused by reactive oxygen species. In addition, most Acinetobacter strains contain many efflux pump genes and resistance genes to manage antibiotic stress and can synthesize a variety of secondary metabolites, including arylpolyene, β-lactone and siderophores among others, to adapt to their environment. These genes enable Acinetobacter strains to survive extreme stresses. The genome of each Acinetobacter strain contained different numbers of prophages (0-12) and genomic islands (GIs) (6-70), and genes related to antibiotic resistance were found in the GIs. The phylogenetic analysis revealed that the alkM and almA genes have a similar evolutionary position with the core genome, indicating that they may have been acquired by vertical gene transfer from their ancestor, while catA, benA, benB and the antibiotic resistance genes could have been acquired by horizontal gene transfer from the other organisms.

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.

Effect of regional baric systems on the occurrence of bi- oclimatic conditions in Poland

The present study concerns the determination of the characteristics of bioclimatic conditions, as well as the synoptic situations related to the occurrence of thermal stress conditions, in Poland. The study was based on daily data obtained from the Institute of Meteorology and Water Management – National Research Institute from the period 1966–2020 for 37 synoptic stations in Poland. Based on the obtained data, values of the Universal Thermal Climate Index (UTCI) were calculated. The occurrence of heat stress increases from the north to the south, corresponding with the variability of influx of solar radiation, and is modified by factors at a smaller spatial scale. The results of this paper evidently point to the cooling effect of the waters of the Baltic Sea. In circulation conditions favouring strong and very strong heat stress, e.g. in two of the designated circulation types (T1 and T2), the occurrence of an expansive high-pressure ridge in the Atlantic-European area is typical, stretching from the region of the Azores High towards the north- east, with a secondary high developed within its boundaries. In the third of the designated circulation types (T3), the high-pressure area extends from the Azores eastwards, reaching the Black Sea. Each of the three circulation patterns associated with the unfavourable biometeorological conditions of very strong and extreme cold stress in Poland is characterised by strong pressure centres formed in the Euroatlantic region, triggering the airflow from the northern (T4) or eastern (T5, T6) sector.

Comparison of the efficacy of Dexmedetomidine, Clonidine and control in attenuating Intubation response

Endotracheal intubation includes laryngoscopy & intubation. The process of laryngoscopy & intubation are noxious stimuli & therefore constitute a period of extreme hemodynamic stress and is associated with intense sympathetic activity marked by tachycardia & hypertension 1. Hence the search for an ideal agent to attenuate the hemodynamic responses is still continuing. Alpha-2 agonists have been used for attenuating the sympathetic response21 and among α-2 agonists both Clonidine and Dexmedetomidine appear to fulfil all the criteria of ideal agent. The study was undertaken to compare the effects of Dexmedetomidine and Clonidine in attenuating hemodynamic response to laryngoscopy and intubation. This study was done in 90 patients divided into 3 groups, in operation theatre in the department of anesthesiology, NRIAS. This study showed that IV bolus dose of Dexmedetomidine 1 mcg/kg administered 10 minutes before laryngoscopy and intubation can be recommended to attenuate the sympathetic response to laryngoscopy and intubation without any side effects than clonidine.

The inhibition and recovery mechanisms of the diatom Phaeodactylum tricornutum in response to high light stress - A study combining physiological and transcriptional analysis.

By combining physiological/biochemical and transcriptional analysis, the inhibition and recovery mechanisms of Phaeodactylum tricornutum in response to extreme high light stress (1300 μmol photons · m-2 · s-1 ) were elucidated. The population growth was inhibited in the first 24 h and started to recover from 48 h. At 24 h, photoinhibition was exhibited as the changes of PSII photosynthetic parameters and decrease in cellular pigments, corresponding to the downregulation of genes encoding light-harvesting complex and pigments synthesis. Changes in those photosynthetic parameters and genes were kept until 96 h, indicating that the decrease of light absorption abilities might be one strategy for photoacclimation. In the meanwhile, we observed elevated cellular ROS levels, dead cells proportions, and upregulation of genes encoding antioxidant materials and proteasome pathway at 24 h. Those stress-related parameters and genes recovered to the controls at 96 h, indicating a stable intracellular environment after photoacclimation. Finally, genes involving carbon metabolisms were upregulated from 24 to 96 h, which ensured the energy supply for keeping high base and nucleotide excision repair abilities, leading to the recovery of cell cycle progression. We concluded that P. tricornutum could overcome photoinhibition by decreasing light-harvesting abilities, enhancing carbon metabolisms, activating anti-oxidative functions, and elevating repair abilities. The parameters of light harvesting, carbon metabolisms, and repair processes were responsible for the recovery phase, which could be considered long-term adaptive strategies for diatoms under high light stress.

The use of relaxation techniques to reduce nurses’ anxiety levels during COVID-19 Pandemic

Background: As a result of the increased number of Corona Virus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) cases in Indonesia in 2021, nurses as one of the front-liners have experienced extreme workload and stress. This has caused increased numbers of mental health problems in nurses. One of the most common problems is anxiety. Objective: This study aimed to measure the effectiveness of relaxation techniques to reduce nurses’ anxiety levels during COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: This is a quantitative study, using pre- and post- test design. Nurses’ anxiety levels were measured before and after the application of relaxation techniques, namely breathing, progressive muscle relaxation and guided imagery. A training was provided for the participants, along with module and a music video to guide their practices. Results: The application of relaxation technique for approximately two weeks after an online training significantly reduced nurses’ anxiety levels. The score of anxiety levels has significantly decreased from pre- (M= 56.51, SD= 15.80) to (M= 48.30, SD= 13.70) post- training and application, t(201) = 5.82, p < .001 (two-tailed). Conclusion: It is important to provide nurses with support that they need during pandemic or any other catastrophic events, in order to maintain their safety and well-being.

Психічне здоров’я українських військових під час війни

On February 24th lives of more than seven hundred thousand Ukrainians have changed, they joined the ranks of the Armed Forces of Ukraine to protect the Motherland. Managers, programmers, farmers became servicemembers (riflemen, mortarmen, unit commanders), and only a quarter had combat or service experience. The soldiers went through all the stages of psychological response to extreme stress: the rise of the first days, a decline on the 40-45th day, stabilization and then decline around the 4-5 month. Adjustment disorder following acute concussion due to mine-explosive injuries are quite common mental health issue among military in Ukraine. The System of mental health care and rehabilitation in the Armed Forces of Ukraine is under construction and at the initial stage. However, we cannot just mimic a mental health support system of NATO countries. The number and funding for psychiatrists and psychologists in the Ukraine Armed Forces is insufficient. Uniqueness of current situation is that we are fighting on our territory, where military personnel also assisted by civilian doctors within the framework of a single medical space. Mental health support in Ukraine undergoes important reforms as well and it is being rebuilt according to the principles of the WHO Optimum Composition of Service with the focus on the provision of mental health service on the primary care level (Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine, 2017). According to the intervention pyramid (IASC, 2007), the provision of mental health support and additional training level by level should be: • Psychoeducation, a digital self-help tools, chatbot for wide service population; • mhGAP training for general practitioners at the primary care level (including modules on acute concussion management), and psychological recovery skills training at the level of medical centers of units; • First Psychological Aid training, psychological self-help training with a focus on resilience at the level of the Moral and Psychological Support Service; • Specialized mental health aid, training of psychological recovery skills for military hospital staff; • Rehabilitation programs in rehabilitation center; Reconstruction of the field of mental health in the army requires effort and financial support, but it creates additional opportunities.

Roles of viable but non-culturable state in the survival of Campylobacter jejuni.

Despite being considered fragile and fastidious, Campylobacter jejuni is the most prevalent cause of foodborne bacterial gastroenteritis, and chicken meat is considered the main vehicle of transmission to humans. This agent can survive adverse conditions in the form of biofilms, but extreme stress (nutritional, oxidative and thermal) promotes the acquisition of a state called viable but not culturable (VBNC). The emergence of this pathogen worldwide and the recent international requirements in its control instigated us to qualitatively and quantitatively estimate the time required for the acquisition of the VBNC form in 27 strains of C. jejuni, characterize morphological aspects, determine its adaptive and invasive potential and perform comparative metabolomic evaluation. Extreme stress promoted the complete acquisition of the VBNC form in a mean time of 26 days. Starting from an average initial count of 7.8 log CFU/mL, the first four days determined the greatest average reduction of the culturable form of 3.2 log CFU/mL. The scanning and transmission image analyses showed a transition from the typical viable form (VT) to the VBNC form, with initial acquisition of the straight rod shape, followed by loss of the flagella and subdivision into two to 11 imperfect cocci arranged in a chain and rich in cellular content, until their individual release. RT-PCR identified the presence of ciaB and p19 transcripts in the 27 cultivable C. jejuni strains, a character maintained in the VBNC form only for p19 and in 59.3% (16/27) of the VBNC strains for the ciaB gene. The average inoculation of 1.8 log CFU/mL of C. jejuni VBNC into primary chicken embryo hepatocyte cells promoted the occurrence of apoptosis processes significantly after 24 hours of contact by one of the strains tested. In C. jejuni VBNC, we detected higher expression of metabolites linked to protective and adaptation mechanisms and of volatile organic precursor compounds indicative of metabolism interruption. The oscillations in the time of acquisition of the VBNC form together with the presence of transcripts for ciaB and p19, the identification of cell lysis and metabolites that ensure the maintenance of the pathogen alert to the fact that C. jejuni VBNC remains virulent and adapted to stress, which makes evident the potential danger of this latent form, which is not detectable by official methodologies.

Browning, nutrient inputs, and fast vertical mixing from simulated extreme rainfall and wind stress alter estuarine phytoplankton productivity.

Browning and nutrient inputs from extreme rainfall, together with increased vertical mixing due to strong winds, are more frequent in coastal ecosystems; however, their interactive effects on phytoplankton are poorly understood. We conducted experiments to quantify how browning, together with different mixing speeds (fluctuating radiation), and a nutrient pulse alter primary productivity and photosynthetic efficiency in estuarine phytoplankton communities. Phytoplankton communities (grazers excluded) were exposed simultaneously to these drivers, and key photosynthetic targets were quantified: oxygen production, electron transport rates (ETRs), and carbon fixation immediately following collection and after a 2-d acclimation/adaptation period. Increasing mixing speeds in a turbid water column (e.g. browning) significantly decreased ETRs and carbon fixation in the short term. Acclimation/adaptation to this condition for 2 d resulted in an increase in nanoplanktonic diatoms and a community that was photosynthetically more efficient; however, this did not revert the decreasing trend in carbon fixation with increased mixing speed. The observed interactive effects (resulting from extreme rainfall and strong winds) may have profound implications in the trophodynamics of highly productive system such as the Southwest Atlantic Ocean due to changes in the size structure of the community and reduced productivity.

Edthnopharmacological Review of Medicinal Plants for the Treatment of Alopecia

Alopecia is the medical term for hair loss or baldness. I’m in good health Hair loss on some or all parts of the body, usually scalp. There are various causes of hair loss, including genetics. Addiction, environmental factors, chemical exposure, medication, Due to malnutrition, extreme stress, long-term illness, etc. due to hair Loss patterns and causes, alopecia are divided into several categories. Two main form, d. H. Mainly alopecia areata and male pattern baldness problem. There are now many synthetic therapies such as corticosteroids. Dithranol, tretinoin, minoxidil, zinc, systemic cortisone, stimulants, immunosuppressants, finasteride, azelaic acid available for treatment Alopecia (both male and circular) but without single or multiple drugs Treatment provides satisfactory and lasting results for patients with alopecia. Also, there are many side effects associated with its use synthetic compounds, including erythema, scaling, itching, dermatitis; So, check here for hair loss problems Explored nature’s treasures and discovered many proven herbs For the treatment of alopecia. Nutritional support, DHT blockers, improving scalp circulation Proposed mechanism of action of these herbal remedies. Be natural Medicines Using them has many advantages, low cost, and multiple mechanisms of action Treatment of alopecia.

Peribolosporomycetes class. nov.: description of a new heat resistant and osmotolerant basidiomycete lineage, represented by Peribolospora gen. nov., P. kevripleyi sp. nov., and P. baueri sp. nov.

Heat resistance is the ability to survive short, extreme temperature stresses, exceeding the own growth temperature by far. Despite their occurrence in natural substrates and their relevance for the food and healthcare industry, the diversity of fungi with heat resistance abilities is poorly studied. Sampling of boreal forest soils in Canada in combination with a heat-shock treatment (75 °C, 30 min) yielded, among others, four heat resistant, mesophilic fungal isolates. Based on rDNA barcode sequences, the novel isolates were assigned to Basidiomycota. In this study, we use macromorphological and micromorphological observations, cultivation assays and comparative genomics for physiological characterization, interspecific differentiation, and phylogenetic placement of these isolates. A phylogeny of 38 single-copy orthologous genes, an orthology analysis, and septal pore type analysis revealed the isolates as representatives of two new basidiomycetous species of the novel class Peribolosporomycetes, a sister lineage to all other members of Ustilaginomycotina. Further genomic and phenotypic data support two different species (Peribolospora kevripleyi, Peribolospora baueri), which are heat resistant and osmotolerant.

Nitrogen application rates influence on yield and water productivity of quinoa under saline irrigation water regimes and saline water table

There are areas with high saline water and saline irrigation water in Iran that may be used for quinoa cultivation. In these conditions, proper saline irrigation water regimes and nitrogen application should be determined and used. Therefore, the aim of this experiment is to investigate the effect of different saline irrigation water regimes (100, 75 and 50% of full irrigation, FI) and nitrogen application rates (0, 100, 200 and 300 kg ha−1) on growth and yield of quinoa with water table depth of 0.8 m, salinity of irrigation water and water table of 20 dS m−1. The irrigation of 75% FI and 50% FI decreased the applied water by 19 and 38%, respectively. Further, there was no reducing effect of irrigation water regimes in seed and shoot dry matter yield. Furthermore, groundwater contribution (GWC) increased significantly by 8 and 18% in 75%FI and 50%FI compared with that obtained in full irrigation, and resulted in no extreme water stress under high water table depth (0.8 m). Increasing application of nitrogen fertilizer significantly increased the yield components, ETc and GWC. In addition, reducing irrigation water did not show a significant decrease in water use efficiency (WUE) in high water table depth. However, water productivity increased significantly by decreasing irrigation water. It is concluded that under deficit irrigation, high water table depth could be a valuable source of water supply to meet quinoa water requirements. Moreover, application of nitrogen fertilizer at all levels significantly increased water use efficiency and water productivity.

Evaluation of outdoor thermal comfort conditions: evidence from the Serbian major ski resort over the last 30years.

The study aims to present reliable information about thermal conditions and their impacts on visitors to ski travel destinations. Mountain tourism areas are specific since high altitudes affect the ambient weather conditions which can affect different types of human activities. In this paper, the thermal comfort and its changes in Kopaonik Mountain, the most popular ski resort in Serbia over the last 30years, have been evaluated. Information about thermal comfort is presented by using the Universal Thermal Climate Index (UTCI), physiologically equivalent temperature (PET), and modified physiologically equivalent temperature (mPET) in 3-h resolution for the period 1991-2020. The results indicate prevailing cold stress all year round. Days with moderate, strong, and very strong heat stress were not recorded. Strong and extreme cold stress prevailed during winter, while slight and moderate cold stress prevailed during summer. Transitional seasons were very cold, but autumn was more comfortable than spring. The occurrence of days with neutral and slightly warm/cool conditions is concentrated in the summer months. However, summer is not used enough for tourism because the choice of tourists to stay at Kopaonik is not primarily based on favorable bioclimatic conditions, but on resources for winter tourism. With global warming, the annual number of thermally favorable days has been increasing, while the number of days with extreme and strong cold stress is decreasing. Continuing this trend can significantly influence tourism in the future, and therefore, new strategies in ski resorts will be required to adapt to the changing climate.

Novel Self-Expanding Interwoven Nitinol Stent for Treating Femoropopliteal Artery Disease: 12-Month Results of Single-Center First-in-Man Study

Purpose: To evaluate the safety and efficacy of Innospring® stent, a novel self-expanding interwoven nitinol stent, in treating femoropopliteal atherosclerotic lesions. Methods: A prospective, single-center, single-arm, first-in-human study enrolled 15 patients (mean age 73.1 years; 13 men) to evaluate the safety and efficacy of the Innospring® stent monitored by core laboratories. The inclusion criteria were claudication or ischemic rest pain, de novo lesions or nonstented restenosis, >70% stenosis, lesion length <20 cm, and a reference vessel diameter of 4–7 mm. The primary safety endpoint was 30-day major adverse events. The primary efficacy end point was stent patency at 12 months. Follow-up evaluations were conducted at 30 days, 6 months, and 12 months. Results: The lesion length was 6.1 ± 3.5 mm. Fourteen (93.3%) patients had lesions of the superficial femoral artery and 3 (20.0%) patients had lesions of the popliteal artery. Nine (60.0%) patients had moderate-to-severe calcified lesion. Technical and procedural success was 100%. No patients experienced major adverse events in the first 30 days. The Rutherford category showed significant and sustained improvement at 6 and 12 months. The 12-month follow-up radiographs obtained in 13 patients confirmed the absence of stent fractures in 100% of examinations. The cumulative primary stent patency rate at 6 and 12 months were 93.3% and 84.6%, respectively. Conclusion: Stenting of the superficial femoral and popliteal arteries using the Innospring® stent is safe and effective. This competing interwoven nitinol stent may provide superior stent integrity and fracture-resistance as well as serve areas under extreme mechanical stress. Clinical Impact Endovascular recanalization is a widely accepted and recommended treatment for symptomatic peripheral artery diseases. The Innospring® stent is a novel self-expanding interwoven stent containing eight nitinol wires with additional radial force, fracture-resistance, and visibility under fluoroscopy. This first-in-human study using the Innospring® stent in patients with femoropopliteal occlusive disease reported that stenting of the superficial femoral and popliteal arteries using the Innospring® stent is safe and effective. This competing interwoven nitinol stent may provide an impressive stent integrity and fracture-resistance as well as serve areas under extreme mechanical stress.

Impact of Cold Stress on Physiological, Endocrinological, Immunological, Metabolic, and Behavioral Changes of Beef Cattle at Different Stages of Growth.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of cold stress (CS) on the physiological, blood, and behavioral parameters of beef cattle according to their growth stage. Twelve calves in the growing stages (220.4 ± 12.33 kg, male and non-castrated) and twelve steers in the early fattening stages (314.2 ± 18.44 kg) were used in this experiment. The animals were randomly distributed into three homogenized groups (four animals each) for 14 days, namely threshold, mild-moderate cold stress (MCS), and extreme cold stress (ECS), according to the outside ambient temperature. The feed and water intakes were recorded daily. The physiological parameters, blood parameters, and behavioral patterns were measured weekly. All data were analyzed using repeated-measures analysis. The calves exposed to the ECS decreased (p < 0.064, tendency) their dry matter intake compared to the threshold and MCS groups. The HR and RT increased (p < 0.001) in the ECS compared to the threshold in calves and steers. Moreover, increased (p < 0.05) blood cortisol, non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA), and time spent standing were observed after exposure to ECS in calves and steers. However, the calves exposed to the ECS had decreased (p = 0.018) blood glucose levels compared to the threshold. In conclusion, ECS affects the dry matter intake, HR, RT, blood cortisol, NEFA, and behavioral patterns in beef calves and steers. This phenomenon indicated that beef cattle exposed to CS modulated their behavior and blood parameters as well as their physiological response to maintain homeostasis regardless of the growth stage.