Major Stressors Research Articles

Nucleotide metabolism, leukodystrophies, and CNS pathology.

The balance between a protective and a destructive immune response can be precarious, as exemplified by inborn errors in nucleotide metabolism. This class of inherited disorders, which mimics infection, can result in systemic injury and severe neurologic outcomes. The most common of these disorders is Aicardi Goutières syndrome (AGS). AGS results in a phenotype similar to "TORCH" infections (Toxoplasma gondii, Other [Zika virus (ZIKV), human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)], Rubella virus, human Cytomegalovirus [HCMV], and Herpesviruses), but with sustained inflammation and ongoing potential for complications. AGS was first described in the early 1980s as familial clusters of "TORCH" infections, with severe neurology impairment, microcephaly, and basal ganglia calcifications (Aicardi & Goutières, Ann Neurol, 1984;15:49-54) and was associated with chronic cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) lymphocytosis and elevated type I interferon levels (Goutières et al., Ann Neurol, 1998;44:900-907). Since its first description, the clinical spectrum of AGS has dramatically expanded from the initial cohorts of children with severe impairment to including individuals with average intelligence and mild spastic paraparesis. This broad spectrum of potential clinical manifestations can result in a delayed diagnosis, which families cite as a major stressor. Additionally, a timely diagnosis is increasingly critical with emerging therapies targeting the interferon signaling pathway. Despite the many gains in understanding about AGS, there are still many gaps in our understanding of the cell-type drivers of pathology and characterization of modifying variables that influence clinical outcomes and achievement of timely diagnosis.

Personality Trait Change Across a Major Global Stressor.

The current research examined three related questions in a 21-month longitudinal study of a diverse sample of U.S. participants (N = 504): (a) How did Big Five traits change during the COVID-19 pandemic? (b) What factors were associated with individual differences in trait change? and (c) How was Big Five trait change associated with downstream well-being, mental health, and physical health? On average, across the 21-month study period, conscientiousness increased slightly, and extraversion decreased slightly. Individual trajectories varied around these average trajectories, and although few factors predicted these individual differences, greater increases in conscientiousness, extraversion, and agreeableness, and greater decreases in neuroticism were associated better well-being and fewer mental and physical health symptoms. The present research provides evidence that traits can change in the context of a major global stressor and that socially desirable patterns of trait change are associated with better health.

Spatio-temporal evaluation of the impact of anthropogenic stressors on physico-chemical characteristics and water quality of the River Ganga using GIS-based approach in the middle Gangetic Plains at Patna, Bihar, India.

The present study aimed to assess the impact of anthropogenic stressors on the physico-chemical characteristics and water quality of the River Ganga employing a GIS-based approach in the middle Gangetic Plain at Patna, India. After the survey, sand mining, bridge construction, and disposal of untreated domestic and sewage wastes were selected as major anthropogenic stressors. A total of 48 samples were collected in pre-monsoon and post-monsoon seasons of 2022 and were analyzed for 16 physico-chemical parameters, namely water temperature (WT), pH, electrical conductivity (EC), total dissolved solids (TDS), turbidity, dissolved oxygen (DO), biological oxygen demand (BOD), total hardness (TH), Ca2+, Mg2+, Na+, K+, Cl- and SO42- ions, following standard protocols. The WQI was calculated using the Weighted Arithmetic Water Quality Index (WAQWI) method and spatial maps were created using ArcGIS software. The result revealed significant seasonal variation in several physico- chemical parameters except for Ca2+, K+ and TA (p > 0.05). ANOVA revealed significant variation for BOD and COD at Ghagha and Triveni, whereas for nitrate at Gai Ghat reference and impact sites, respectively. The Water Quality Index (WQI) revealed a deterioration in water quality by 60% in post-monsoon season. HCA revealed that the WQI was mostly governed by TDS, TH, TA, and EC.

Identification of Single Nucleotide Polymorphic Loci and Candidate Genes for Seed Germination Percentage in Okra under Salt and No-Salt Stresses by Genome-Wide Association Study.

Excessive soil salinity is a major stressor inhibiting crops' growth, development, and yield. Seed germination is a critical stage of crop growth and development, as well as one of the most salt-sensitive stages. Salt stress has a significant inhibitory effect on seed germination. Okra is a nutritious vegetable, but its seed germination percentage (GP) is low, whether under salt stress conditions or suitable conditions. In this study, we used 180 okra accessions and conducted a genome-wide association study (GWAS) on the germination percentage using 20,133,859 single nucleotide polymorphic (SNP) markers under 0 (CK, diluted water), 70 (treatment 1, T1), and 140 mmol/L (treatment 2, T2) NaCl conditions. Using the mixed linear model (MLM) in Efficient Mixed-model Association eXpedated (EMMAX) and Genome-wide Efficient Mixed Model Association (GEMMA) software, 511 SNP loci were significantly associated during germination, of which 167 SNP loci were detected simultaneously by both programs. Among the 167 SNPs, SNP2619493 on chromosome 59 and SNP2692266 on chromosome 44 were detected simultaneously under the CK, T1, and T2 conditions, and were key SNP loci regulating the GP of okra seeds. Linkage disequilibrium block analysis revealed that nsSNP2626294 (C/T) in Ae59G004900 was near SNP2619493, and the amino acid changes caused by nsSNP2626294 led to an increase in the phenotypic values in some okra accessions. There was an nsSNP2688406 (A/G) in Ae44G005470 near SNP2692266, and the amino acid change caused by nsSNP2688406 led to a decrease in phenotypic values in some okra accessions. These results indicate that Ae59G004900 and Ae44G005470 regulate the GP of okra seeds under salt and no-salt stresses. The gene expression analysis further demonstrated these results. The SNP markers and genes that were identified in this study will provide reference for further research on the GP of okra, as well as new genetic markers and candidate genes for cultivating new okra varieties with high GPs under salt and no-salt stress conditions.

Distribution of infectious and parasitic agents among three sentinel bee species across European agricultural landscapes

Infectious and parasitic agents (IPAs) and their associated diseases are major environmental stressors that jeopardize bee health, both alone and in interaction with other stressors. Their impact on pollinator communities can be assessed by studying multiple sentinel bee species. Here, we analysed the field exposure of three sentinel managed bee species (Apis mellifera, Bombus terrestris and Osmia bicornis) to 11 IPAs (six RNA viruses, two bacteria, three microsporidia). The sentinel bees were deployed at 128 sites in eight European countries adjacent to either oilseed rape fields or apple orchards during crop bloom. Adult bees of each species were sampled before their placement and after crop bloom. The IPAs were detected and quantified using a harmonised, high-throughput and semi-automatized qPCR workflow. We describe differences among bee species in IPA profiles (richness, diversity, detection frequencies, loads and their change upon field exposure, and exposure risk), with no clear patterns related to the country or focal crop. Our results suggest that the most frequent IPAs in adult bees are more appropriate for assessing the bees’ IPA exposure risk. We also report positive correlations of IPA loads supporting the potential IPA transmission among sentinels, suggesting careful consideration should be taken when introducing managed pollinators in ecologically sensitive environments.

Perceived Experiences of racism in Relation to Genome-Wide DNA Methylation and Epigenetic Aging in the Black Women's Health Study.

African American women have a disproportionate burden of disease compared to US non-Hispanic white women. Exposure to psychosocial stressors may contribute to these health disparities. Racial discrimination, a major stressor for African American women, could affect health through epigenetic mechanisms. We conducted an epigenome-wide association study (EWAS) to examine the association of interpersonal racism (in daily life and in institutional settings) with DNA methylation in blood in 384 participants of the Black Women's Health Study (BWHS). We also evaluated whether a greater number of perceived experiences of racism was associated with epigenetic aging as measured using different methylation clocks. Models were adjusted for chronological age, body mass index, years of education, neighborhood SES, geographic region of residence, alcohol drinking, smoking, and technical covariates. Higher scores of racism in daily life were associated with higher methylation levels at the cg04494873 site in chromosome 5 (β = 0.64%; 95% CI = 0.41%, 0.87%; P = 6.35E-08). We also replicated one CpG site, cg03317714, which was inversely associated with racial discrimination in a previous EWAS among African American women. In the BWHS, higher scores of racism in daily life were associated with lower methylation levels at that CpG site (β = -0.94%; 95% CI = -1.37%, -0.51%; P =2.2E-05). Higher racism scores were associated with accelerated epigenetic aging in more than one methylation clock. Exposure to discriminatory events may affect the epigenome and accelerate biological aging, which may explain in part the earlier onset of disease in African American women.

Resilience of racial and ethnic minority older adults during the COVID-19 pandemic: The role of a prior disability prevention intervention.

Older adults from racially and ethnically diverse backgrounds and with preexisting mental illness have been disproportionately vulnerable to severe illness, disability, and death due to the adverse impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. This study used a sample of older adults (60 +; N = 307) from a randomized clinical trial (Positive Minds-Strong Bodies [PMSB]) conducted between May 25, 2015, and March 5, 2019. Participants were recontacted to assess symptoms of anxiety, depression, general distress, and physical functioning during the COVID-19 pandemic between March 2, 2021, and July 18, 2022 (62.7% recontacting rate excluding ineligible participants; N = 165). We estimated an analysis of covariance model to evaluate whether or not prior differences between the PMSB intervention and enhanced usual care (EUC) groups continued to be observed at the COVID-19 follow-up. Results showed that, compared to EUC, participants who received the PMSB intervention reported fewer depression symptoms (Geriatric Depression Scale-15 scores) and greater physical functioning (Late-Life Functioning and Disability Instrument scores) at the COVID-19 follow-up. No significant differences were observed between the PMSB intervention and EUC groups on anxiety symptoms (Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 scores) during the pandemic. Last, findings suggested that the lower depression symptoms and greater physical functioning observed after treatment completion were sustained, though not further improved, over time. These findings provide evidence that the PMSB intervention is a powerful intervention to promote resilience and prevent disability associated with major life stressors, such as the COVID-19 pandemic. Future research is needed to examine the underlying mechanisms of psychosocial and exercise training interventions that lead to lasting resilience. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

Mental Health Outcomes of Endometriosis Patients during the COVID-19 Pandemic: Impact of Pre-pandemic Central Nervous System Sensitization

To correlate pain-related phenotyping for central nervous system sensitization in endometriosis-associated pain with mental health outcomes during the COVID-19 pandemic, the prospective Endometriosis and Pelvic Pain Interdisciplinary Cohort (ClinicalTrials.gov #NCT02911090) was linked to the COVID-19 Rapid Evidence Study of a Provincial Population-Based Cohort for Gender and Sex (RESPPONSE) dataset. The primary outcomes were depression (PHQ-9) and anxiety (GAD-7) scores during the pandemic. The explanatory variables of interest were the Central Sensitization Inventory (CSI) score (0–100) and endometriosis-associated chronic pain comorbidities/psychological variables before the pandemic. The explanatory and response variables were assessed for correlation, followed by multivariable regression analyses adjusting for PHQ-9 and GAD-7 scores pre-pandemic as well as age, body mass index, and parity. A higher CSI score and a greater number of chronic pain comorbidities before the pandemic were both positively correlated with PHQ-9 and GAD-7 scores during the pandemic. These associations remained significant in adjusted analyses. Increasing the CSI score by 10 was associated with an increase in pandemic PHQ-9 by .74 points (P < .0001) and GAD-7 by .73 points (P < .0001) on average. Each additional chronic pain comorbidity/psychological variable was associated with an increase in pandemic PHQ-9 by an average of .63 points (P = .0004) and GAD-7 by .53 points (P = .0002). Endometriosis patients with a history of central sensitization before the pandemic had worse mental health outcomes during the COVID-19 pandemic. As a risk factor for mental health symptoms in the face of major stressors, clinical proxies for central sensitization can be used to identify endometriosis patients who may need additional support. PerspectiveThis article adds to the growing literature of the clinical importance of central sensitization in endometriosis patients, who had more symptoms of depression and anxiety during the COVID-19 pandemic. Clinical features of central sensitization may help clinicians identify endometriosis patients needing additional support when facing major stressors.

Major stress in early childhood strengthens the association between peripheral inflammatory activity and corticostriatal responsivity to reward

BackgroundSevere, chronic stress during childhood accentuates vulnerability to mental and physical health problems across the lifespan. To explain this phenomenon, the neuroimmune network hypothesis proposes that childhood stressors amplify signaling between peripheral inflammatory cells and developing brain circuits that support processing of rewards and threats. Here, we conducted a preliminary test of the basic premises of this hypothesis. Methods180 adolescents (mean age = 19.1 years; 68.9 % female) with diverse racial and ethnic identities (56.1 % White; 28.3 % Hispanic; 26.1 % Asian) participated. The Childhood Trauma Interview was administered to quantify early adversity. Five inflammatory biomarkers were assayed in antecubital blood — C-reactive protein, tumor necrosis factor-a, and interleukins-6, −8, and −10 — and were averaged to form a composite score. Participants also completed a functional MRI task to measure corticostriatal responsivity to the anticipation and acquisition of monetary rewards. ResultsStress exposure and corticostriatal responsivity interacted statistically to predict the inflammation composite. Among participants who experienced major stressors in the first decade of life, higher inflammatory activity covaried with lower corticostriatal responsivity during acquisition of monetary rewards. This relationship was specific to participants who experienced major stress in early childhood, implying a sensitive period for exposure, and were evident in both the orbitofrontal cortex and the ventral striatum, suggesting the broad involvement of corticostriatal regions. The findings were independent of participants’ age, sex, racial and ethnic identity, family income, and depressive symptoms. ConclusionsCollectively, the results are consistent with hypotheses suggesting that major stress in childhood alters brain-immune signaling.

Gender and Class-wise Comparison of Stressors and Perceived Levels of Depression, Anxiety and Stress among the 2nd Versus 5th Year Medical Students

Background: Medical profession is being dominated by female students, but little attention is being paid on making them emotionally and physically competent to match their corresponding gender with whom they have to work in parallel in the near future. Research is crucial in this area to identify their needs and provide solutions.&#x0D; Objectives: To identify female and male gender-related depression, anxiety and stress (DAS) among the undergraduate medical students enrolled in the second versus final year of University College of Medicine and Dentistry (UCMD), The University of Lahore (UOL) and highlight the intricate web of stressors that these medical students encounter.&#x0D; Method: A concurrent mixed method study was conducted on a random sample of 200 medical students of 2nd and 5th year with equal gender distribution. DASS21 scale was used to assess Depression, Anxiety and Stress. Qualitative and quantitative data were collected on Google forms. Quantitative data were analyzed descriptively and the qualitative data by manual thematic analysis&#x0D; Results: The 2nd year female students had significantly higher stress than their male counterparts. No statistically significant difference was appreciated within the 5th year gender wise though the females had relatively higher DASS levels. No significant difference on DASS21 was observed within the same gender between the two academic years. The female and male students reported fear of failure and less preparation time versus syllabus load as their major stressors respectively. &#x0D; Conclusion: The study has identified the stressors that influence the wellbeing of medical students and presented their depression, anxiety and stress comparison with respect to their gender and seniority. It has indicated the need to empower females emotionally at the level of their upbringing to formative medical years. Furthermore, male students must learn to manage time and be responsible doctors.&#x0D;

Prevalence, Risk Factors and Perceived Effects of Workplace Violence on Nurses.

Background: Workplace violence (WPV) in healthcare settings is a significant global occupational and mental health concern, which is a major stressor for nurses, particularly in middle-income and low-income countries. It has serious negative consequences for the physical and mental well-being of healthcare workers and threatens the workplace environment for providing healthcare services.Objective: To determine the prevalence, risk factors, and perceived effects of workplace violence on nurses in a purposively selected medical college hospital situated in Dhaka, Bangladesh.Materials and Methods: A hospital-based cross-sectional study was initiated to determine the prevalence, risk factors, and perceived effects of workplace violence among the 220 nurses working in the Shaheed Suhrawardy Medical College Hospital.Results: Most of the nurses (50.5%) faced violence in their workplace, or outside of the workplace or both. Among them 45.9% faced violence in their workplace alone, 38.8% faced violence in both places and 15.3% faced violence on the way to their workplace in terms of violence outside the workplace alone. Regarding the type of WPV and violence outside the workplace (VOW), the majority of the nurses experienced psychological violence (93.6% and 81.7%, respectively). Nurses' age, marital status, work experiences, and workplace distance from residence all had a statistically significant (p&lt;0.05) relationship with their experience of violence. The sex of the nurses and the distance of their workplace from their residence were similarly statistically significant (p&lt;0.05) about the place of occurrence of the incident. In addition, Nurses' age and marital status were statistically related (p&lt;0.05) to different types of workplace violence.Conclusion: Workplace violence has a negative impact on both the health and productivity of nurses. Workplace regulations and protocols focusing on safety in the workplace, reporting and surveillance, and education for all employees and management on how to avoid and handle violence are required. The hospital administration has also prioritized initiatives to minimize violence. KYAMC Journal Volume: 14, No: 03, October 2023: 120-129.

Transcriptomics, proteomics, and physiological assays reveal immunosuppression in the eastern oyster Crassostrea virginica exposed to acidification stress

Ocean acidification (OA) is recognized as a major stressor for a broad range of marine organisms, particularly shell-building invertebrates. OA can cause alterations in various physiological processes such as growth and metabolism, although its effect on host-pathogen interactions remains largely unexplored. In this study, we used transcriptomics, proteomics, and physiological assays to evaluate changes in immunity of the eastern oyster Crassostrea virginica exposed to OA conditions (pH = 7.5 vs pH = 7.9) at various life stages. The susceptibility of oyster larvae to Vibrio infection increased significantly (131 % increase in mortality) under OA conditions, and was associated with significant changes in their transcriptomes. The significantly higher mortality of larvae exposed to pathogens and acidification stress could be the outcome of an increased metabolic demand to cope with acidification stress (as seen by upregulation of metabolic genes) at the cost of immune function (downregulation of immune genes). While larvae were particularly vulnerable, juveniles appeared more robust to the stressors and there were no differences in mortality after pathogen (Aliiroseovarius crassostrea and Vibrio spp.) exposure. Proteomic investigations in adult oysters revealed that acidification stress resulted in a significant downregulation of mucosal immune proteins including those involved in pathogen recognition and microbe neutralization, suggesting weakened mucosal immunity. Hemocyte function in adults was also impaired by high pCO2, with a marked reduction in phagocytosis (67 % decrease in phagocytosis) in OA conditions. Together, results suggest that OA impairs immune function in the eastern oyster making them more susceptible to pathogen-induced mortality outbreaks. Understanding the effect of multiple stressors such as OA and disease is important for accurate predictions of how oysters will respond to future climate regimes.

The implications of sarcopenia in the treatment and prognosis of pancreatic cancer

Sarcopenia is the subclinical loss of skeletal muscle and strength and has been extensively studied in both cancer and surgical patients. Patients with sarcopenia are particularly vulnerable to major physiological stressors including surgery and surgical complications. Sarcopenia has thus gained significant recognition as an important prognostic factor for both complications and survival in cancer patients. The aim of this review was to evaluate the current literature on the effect of sarcopenia on the treatment and prognosis of pancreatic cancer. The prevalence of sarcopenia in pancreatic cancer patients range between 20 and 65% due to the heterogeneous groups of patients, difference in disease stage, and the different methods of measuring sarcopenia. Sarcopenia would be more accurately assessed by utilizing both imaging and clinical data, such as frailty. Although malnutrition could be responsible for the attenuated healing process of pancreatic anastomosis the relationship between sarcopenia and outcome following pancreaticoduodenectomy is debated. Most studies showed a higher risk of postoperative pancreatic fistula formation in patients with concurrent sarcopenia and high fat mass (sarcopenic obesity). Sarcopenia seems generally to be associated with lower survival. The assessment of sarcopenia can therefore lead to changes in management strategy, patient selection, and improved informed consent prior to surgical resection of pancreatic cancer. An improved prediction of clinically relevant pancreatic fistula formation after pancreatic surgery using preoperative computed tomography scan, including a fistula risk score using sarcopenic obesity and subcutaneous fat area will be useful. Although treatment for sarcopenia still remains an area of research a protocol to improve nutrition and fitness preoperatively may improve sarcopenia and surgical outcome.

Perceived stress, sources of stress and coping strategies among undergraduate medical students of Nepal: a cross-sectional study.

Background: Medical students are subjected to various stressors throughout their training, which has a considerable impact on their physical and mental health. Some students have positive ways of coping, while others take to maladaptive coping measures. This study aims to assess severity, sources of stress, and coping strategies among medical students of a non-Western low-income country from South Asia. Methods: A self-administered questionnaire-based cross-sectional study was carried out. Demographic variables were collected and stress level was assessed using PSS 14 (Perceived Stress Scale 14). The sources of stress were assessed using MSSQ (Medical Student Stressor Questionnaire) and coping strategies were evaluated using the Brief-Coping Orientation to Problems Experienced 28. Results: The response rate was 95%. The mean PSS score was 27.85. Overall, 55% of students were stressed (male 52%, female 60%), the difference among gender was not significant. Basic science students perceived higher levels of stress than clinical clerkship students. Academic related stressors caused higher stress, whereas other variables caused moderate stress. The major stressors were examinations, inadequate time to study, poor marks, extensive amount of learning content, and the need to performing well in the exam. The five most common coping strategies used were active coping, acceptance, planning, self-distraction, and instrumental support. The least common coping mechanism was substance use. All MSSQ domains positively correlated with the total PSS score. Students with higher PSS scores were likely to use behavioral disengagement, venting, and self-blame as the primary coping strategies. Conclusions: Stress level among the medical students is high and mainly in relation to academia. Inadequate guidance from teachers contributed significantly. Stressed students were likely to use maladaptive coping strategies. Strategies to enhance teacher-student communication and adaptive coping measures should be implemented. Further studies should be done to evaluate the effects of stress on the academic outcomes of students.

When and why job-insecure flight attendants are reluctant to behave pro-environmentally

ABSTRACT As firms consider environmental, social, and governance (ESG) factors in establishing a corporate strategy and allocating capital investment, environmental sustainability is deemed increasingly important in the travel and tourism sector. In line with this trend, we aim to identify the work stressors that affect employees’ pro-environmental behavior (PEB). Drawing on conservation of resources (COR) theory, we propose that employees’ perception of job insecurity serves as a major job stressor hindering task-related and proactive PEB. We further predict that interpersonal stressors exacerbate the negative effect of job insecurity on PEB through decreased work engagement. To test these propositions, we administer two-wave surveys three months apart to 222 South Korean flight attendants. While we observed no direct relationship between job insecurity and task-related and proactive PEB, job insecurity had a significant indirect effect on these two forms of PEB through work engagement. The deleterious effects of job insecurity on work engagement and the two forms of PEB were aggravated when flight attendants reported high levels of supervisor incivility.

Challenging anticoagulation decisions in atrial fibrillation: a narrative review.

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is common and warrants consideration of oral anticoagulant (OAC) medication. Usually, the decision is straightforward, following the pathway outlined in the European Society of Cardiology's guideline; however, certain situations fall outside of this evidence base - such as a diagnosis of subclinical AF made via implanted devices or wearable electrocardiogram monitors, or alternatively diagnosis of 'secondary AF' following a major stressor. Subclinical AF is associated with stroke, though not to the extent of clinical AF, and the benefits of anticoagulation appear to be lower. Longer episodes are more clinically meaningful, and recent randomised controlled trials have demonstrated that some patients derive benefit from OAC. Similarly, when AF is triggered by sepsis or non-cardiac surgery, specific evidence supporting OAC initiation is lacking and clinician behaviour is variable. Observational data demonstrate poorer outcomes in these patients, implying that the perception of a transient, reversible phenomenon may not be correct. Contrastingly, cardiac surgery very frequently induces AF, and the benefits of anticoagulation rarely outweigh the risks of bleeding. Following ischaemic stroke, recent evidence suggests that early (re-)initiation of OAC should be considered as this does not increase the risk of haemorrhagic transformation as previously hypothesised. This narrative review summarises the available literature and outlines, where possible, practical advice for clinicians facing these common clinical dilemmas.

Students’ Adjustment to University Life: Evidence from Lived Experiences

The study explored the challenges students face when adjusting to university life at a public university in Zambia, based on their lived experiences. The transition to university presents numerous difficulties, including adapting to new environments, managing financial and academic pressures, and navigating social dynamics. Rooted in the constructivism paradigm, this exploratory qualitative study employed a hermeneutic phenomenological design to collect data through in-depth interviews with fifteen students who requested for counselling. The study identified key challenges impacting student adjustment, such as unpreparedness for university life, economic hardships, inadequate accommodation, and bullying. Financial instability was highlighted as a major stressor, affecting students’ ability to meet basic needs and maintain academic performance. Social factors, including peer relationships and a sense of belonging, were also crucial in influencing adjustment. Negative experiences, such as bullying and isolation, further compounded students’ challenges. The study also examined potential interventions, with students suggesting the need for improved orientation programs, accessible counselling services, financial aid, and better accommodation. The findings highlight the importance of institutional support in helping students cope with the multifaceted challenges of university life. By addressing the raised issues, universities can improve student retention, well-being, and academic success. The study contributes to a deeper understanding of student adjustment at public universities and offers practical recommendations for enhancing student welfare services.

Exploring OsHAK Transporters for the Salt Responsiveness in Rice

Environmental stresses are the major constraint in crop growth and productivity, particularly in rice. Improving rice against major abiotic stressors such as salinity is one of the major thrust areas. In this direction, the trait of sodium exclusion was the primary focus among the rice breeders to enhance salt tolerance. Along similar lines, increased uptake of potassium, the counter ion of Na+, through high-affinity potassium transporters (HAK) assumes significance in the context of maintaining a favorable Na/K ratio, a low Na/K is an indicator of salt tolerance. The OsHAK family in rice includes 27 members and an insight into the evolution, structure, and expression through in silico approaches was attempted. Phylogenetic analysis exhibited four distinct groupings of the OsHAK family, and functional motif analysis revealed a characteristic consensus sequence among the OsHAK transporters. Relative gene expression analysis based on published microarray data put forth the differential regulation of OsHAK3 X2, OsHAK8, OsHAK14(X2), OsHAK15 and OsHAK26 between salt-tolerant landrace Pokkali and susceptible cultivar IR29 and their tissue-specific expression profiles predicted. This study narrowed down a set of putative OsHAKs from the larger family for their role in enhancing cellular potassium under salt stress thus paving the way for crop improvement.

Seasonal dynamics and environmental drivers of tissue and mucus microbiomes in the staghorn coral Acropora pulchra.

Rainfall-induced coastal runoff represents an important environmental impact in near-shore coral reefs that may affect coral-associated bacterial microbiomes. Shifts in microbiome community composition and function can stress corals and ultimately cause mortality and reef declines. Impacts of environmental stress may be site specific and differ between coral microbiome compartments (e.g., tissue versus mucus). Coastal runoff and associated water pollution represent a major stressor for near-shore reef-ecosystems in Guam, Micronesia. Acropora pulchra colonies growing on the West Hagåtña reef flat in Guam were sampled over a period of 8 months spanning the 2021 wet and dry seasons. To examine bacterial microbiome diversity and composition, samples of A. pulchra tissue and mucus were collected during late April, early July, late September, and at the end of December. Samples were collected from populations in two different habitat zones, near the reef crest (farshore) and close to shore (nearshore). Seawater samples were collected during the same time period to evaluate microbiome dynamics of the waters surrounding coral colonies. Tissue, mucus, and seawater microbiomes were characterized using 16S DNA metabarcoding in conjunction with Illumina sequencing. In addition, water samples were collected to determine fecal indicator bacteria (FIB) concentrations as an indicator of water pollution. Water temperatures were recorded using data loggers and precipitation data obtained from a nearby rain gauge. The correlation structure of environmental parameters (temperature and rainfall), FIB concentrations, and A. pulchra microbiome diversity was evaluated using a structural equation model. Beta diversity analyses were used to investigate spatio-temporal trends of microbiome composition. Acropora pulchra microbiome diversity differed between tissues and mucus, with mucus microbiome diversity being similar to the surrounding seawater. Rainfall and associated fluctuations of FIB concentrations were correlated with changes in tissue and mucus microbiomes, indicating their role as drivers of A. pulchra microbiome diversity. A. pulchra tissue microbiome composition remained relatively stable throughout dry and wet seasons; tissues were dominated by Endozoicomonadaceae, coral endosymbionts and putative indicators of coral health. In nearshore A. pulchra tissue microbiomes, Simkaniaceae, putative obligate coral endosymbionts, were more abundant than in A. pulchra colonies growing near the reef crest (farshore). A. pulchra mucus microbiomes were more diverse during the wet season than the dry season, a distinction that was also associated with drastic shifts in microbiome composition. This study highlights the seasonal dynamics of coral microbiomes and demonstrates that microbiome diversity and composition may differ between coral tissues and the surface mucus layer.

All that glitters is not gold! Job insecurity and well-being in STEM research fellows: a latent profile analysis.

Job insecurity is now one of the major stressors affecting well-being at work. In academia, researchers appear to be in the most precarious position. To explore the relationship between job insecurity and well-being at work, we analyzed a sample of research fellows belonging to STEM disciplines in Italy. Using a latent profile approach, we identified three "hidden" subgroups: "Safe & Sound"; "Safe not so Sound" and "Neither Safe or Sound." Compared to previous studies, our results show that even within a population of STEM researchers that tends to have good levels of employability and mobility, there are subgroups of people characterized by greater job insecurity and low work commitment, who suffer from emotional exhaustion and cynicism at work level, i.e., more exposed to the risk of burnout.