Physical Stress Research Articles

INFLUENCE OF SOCIAL STRESS IN EARLY ONTOGENESIS ON THE MANIFESTATION OF BINDGE EATING AND GHRELIN CONTENT IN THE HYPOTHALAMUS OF RATS

Relevance. Factors that can trigger binge eating episodes include mental and physical stress. Our studies show that maternal deprivation in early ontogenesis causes an increase in elements of gambling addiction in the Iowa Gambling Task test. The question arises about the significance of maternal deprivation in the formation of other types of non-chemical addictions, in particular food addiction. Target. The role of ghrelin in the manifestation of elements of bindge eating in rats exposed to maternal weaning in early ontogenesis was studied. Material and method. Animals were separated from their mother for 180 minutes from days 2 to 12 after birth; males aged 90-100 days were used in the experiments. When developingbindge eating, the animals received a diet high in carbohydrates (chocolate mixture based on Nutella spread) for 1 hour every third day for 1.5 months. 15 min before feeding, chocolate paste was placed within 5 cm of reach with visual contact.After developingbindge eating, we studied the number and area of ​​ghrelin-producing neuroendocrine cells of the hypothalamus in intact rats and animals after maternal deprivation stressusing immunohistochemistry method. Results. Intermittent consumption of a chocolate mixture has been shown to predict binge eating in rats independent of weight gain or obesity, which is a manifestation of binge eating disorder. When studying the effect of maternal deprivation on chocolate consumption, it was shown that the average daily consumption in the maternal deprivation group increased (p0.001) relative to the control group. When studying the effect of maternal deprivation on the consumption of standard food, it was shown that consumption in the maternal deprivation group did not change relative to the control group. The number and area of ghrelin-producing neuroendocrine cells in the lateral portion of the medial arcuate nucleus of the hypothalamus decreased in rats after maternal deprivation. Conclusion. It was concluded that early psychogenic stress of maternal deprivation causes an imbalance of the ghrelin regulatory system with elements of food addiction in rats.

Experiences of Family Members With Visitation Prohibition for Critically Ill Patients.

Visitation plays a number of positive roles for critically ill patients and their families. It reduces the physical and mental stress of intensive care unit (ICU) patients and their families and allows family members to participate in patient care. Visit prohibition during the COVID-19 pandemic has raised unprecedented challenges to patients, family members, and health care providers. This qualitative study aimed to explore the experiences of families of patients in the ICU with no-visitor policies due to COVID-19. Data collection was conducted through 8 individual in-depth semi-structured interviews conducted between October 2021 and March 2022. Data analysis was performed following the qualitative method proposed by Colaizzi. The researchers independently analyzed the data, checked the findings, derived subthemes, and categorized them into overarching themes. Four themes emerged from the data analysis: (a) experiencing emotional distress, (b) being fearful of in-person patient contact, (c) being dissatisfied with the access control policy in the ICU, and (d) making efforts to reach the patient. It is critical to provide support and develop interventions for families denied visitation with loved ones in ICUs. Since in-person visits are crucial for families, hospitals should establish clear and reasonable visitation guidelines, communicate effectively with families, and offer alternative methods for them to connect with loved ones in the ICU.

Police arrest-related death: about four cases and review of the literature.

Unexpected deaths may occur in individuals during a police arrest. These individuals usually have had both physical and emotional exertion, associated or not with agitation and restraint by police. Further investigations in these cases often show an impregnation with drugs. Autopsy findings may raise medico-legal problems in these cases.We report four cases of deaths during police arrest in which multiple factors contributed to the death. In the first two cases, there was a combination of emotional and physical stress due to police pursuit and, the presence of mechanical asphyxia. We noticed the presence of cannabis and amphetamine; however, we couldn't relate the death to a drug intoxication. In the third case, the deceased lost consciousness when he was arrested by the police with no link to the intervention of law enforcement authorities. Death in this case was due to sepsis complicating endocarditis. The fourth case reports a rare cause of asphyxia that can occur in a police arrest related to a drug package. Death was due to upper airway obstruction in this case.The forensic pathologist should take into consideration every factor when explaining these deaths. Thorough autopsy and investigations are critical to understand the cause and circumstances of death.

DR.BEAT: Rule-Based Algorithm for SCG Analysis Without ECG Reference.

The DR.BEAT project aims to develop an accelerometer-based, wearable sensor system for measuring ballistocardiographic (BCG) signals, coupled with signal processing and visualization, to support cardiac health monitoring. A rule-based heartbeat detection was developed to enable the derivation of health parameters independent of an existing reference. This paper outlines the algorithm's methodology and provides an initial evaluation of its performance based on seismocardiographic (SCG) measurements obtained from an initial study involving twelve heart-healthy adults. On average, 87.6% of the heartbeats over all measurements, 97.6% of the heartbeats at rest and 71.9% of the heartbeats during physical stress could be detected.

Investigating the potential of street trees in mitigating pedestrian thermal stress during heatwaves conditions: An empirical study in Guangzhou

Given the escalating urban heat island phenomenon and increasing frequency of heatwaves across the globe, many recent studies have focused on protecting human health from outdoor heat stress. Public commuting was the primary transportation way. However, there has been a significant oversight regarding the specific issue of heat stress encountered by commuters, particularly pedestrians on sidewalks lacking sufficient shade. This research gap leaves certain urban residents highly vulnerable to the negative effects of heatwaves. To address this issue, the thermal walking method was employed in this study to evaluate the physical thermal stress and thermal perceptions of Guangzhou residents during their commutes. Additionally, this study developed a regression model to evaluate the heat tolerance of street trees and their impact on pedestrians' experiences. The findings indicate that street trees substantially influence key thermal environment indicators, particularly solar radiation and surface temperature. These trees also play a pivotal role in shaping pedestrians' perceptions of thermal sensations by affecting the intensity, sequence, and duration of their exposure to heat. Significant variations were found in pedestrians' experiences under different street trees, mainly due to the trees’ rebound effects. Pedestrians exhibit a higher heat tolerance when the ΔUTCI of this rebound effect surpasses 6 °C (TCV >1 and TAV ≥ −0.01), indicating a generally favourable response to the prevailing outdoor thermal conditions. This research offers valuable insights into the cooling effects of street trees, which may help city planners improve urban living standards through feasible, nature-oriented strategies.

Self-Compassion in Adolescents and Young Adults With Inflammatory Bowel Disease: Relationship of Self-Compassion to Psychosocial and Physical Outcomes.

Adolescents and young adults (AYAs) diagnosed with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) are at an increased risk for poor physical and mental health due to the complexity of pediatric onset IBD and the unique developmental challenges of this period of life. Self-compassion is increasingly recognized as having an important role in explaining health outcomes and well-being across a range of populations. This study examines the relationship between self-compassion and psychosocial and physical health outcomes in AYAs with IBD. In this cross-sectional study, AYAs with IBD aged 15 to 25 years completed an online survey between February 2020 and October 2021. Questionnaires included the Self-Compassion Scale-Short Form, Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) measures for psychosocial, physical and global health outcomes, and IBD disease activity indices. AYAs with higher levels of self-compassion were found to have better psychosocial (ie, anxiety, depressive symptoms, psychological stress, physical stress, peer relationships), physical (ie, fatigue), and global health outcomes. Self-compassion was a significant independent predictor of anxiety (β = -5.80, P = < .001), depressive symptoms (β = -7.09, P = < .001), psychological stress (β = -4.66, P = < .001), physical stress (β = -3.19, P = < .001), peer relationships (β = 3.39, P = .003), fatigue (β = -2.05, P = .019), and improved global health (β = 5.15, P = < .001). This study offers preliminary support for the importance of self-compassion in AYAs with IBD and demonstrates the need for further research in this area.

The Effect of Watching Cartoon on Pain and Anxiety of Venipuncture in 3-6 Year-Old Children: A Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial

Background: Injection-induced anxiety in children is a significant issue, as the pain from injections creates both physical and psychological stress, reducing the child's tolerance and cooperation. Objectives: To determine the effect of watching a cartoon on venipuncture-induced pain and anxiety among 3 - 6-year-old hospitalized children. Methods: In this randomized controlled clinical trial, children admitted to the pediatric ward of Bu-Alisina Hospital in Sari were randomly allocated to intervention and control groups. For the intervention group, the distraction technique of watching a cartoon was used during venipuncture. The demographic and medical information was collected using a questionnaire, and pain and anxiety were assessed using the Spence Children’s Anxiety Scale (SCAS)-Parents version, the face, legs, activity, cry, and consolability (FLACC) Behavioral Pain Scale, and the Facial Image Scale (FIS) before and during venipuncture. Data analysis was performed using non-parametric tests, with a significance level set at less than 0.05. Results: A total of 140 children were studied in two groups, with 78 (55.71%) being boys. The mean age of children in the intervention group was 52.44 ± 14.37 months, and in the control group, it was 50.91 ± 15.66 months. In the intervention group, the mean pain ranks before and after venipuncture were 4.17 ± 2.36 and 6.0 ± 2.42, respectively, while in the control group, they were 4.40 ± 1.96 and 6.93 ± 2.21, respectively. The mean anxiety ranks before and after venipuncture were 2.61 ± 1.32 and 3.26 ± 1.35 in the intervention group, and 2.80 ± 1.016 and 3.80 ± 0.99 in the control group. The mean pain and anxiety ranks after venipuncture were significantly different between the groups (P &lt; 0.05). Additionally, the mean ranks of pain and anxiety before and after venipuncture were significantly different within both groups (P &lt; 0.001). Conclusions: Based on the results of this study, the cartoon distraction technique effectively reduced pain and anxiety caused by venipuncture in children.

Characterization of anisotropic pore structure and dense selective layer of capillary membranes for long-term ECMO by cross-sectional ion-milling method.

Since the COVID-19 pandemic of 2020-2023, extracorporeal membrane oxygenator (ECMO) has attracted considerable attention worldwide. It is expected that ECMO with long-term durability is put into practical use in order to prepare for next emerging infectious diseases and to facilitate manufacturing for novel medical devices. Polypropylene (PP) and polymethylpentene (PMP) capillary membranes are currently the mainstream for gas exchange membrane for ECMO. ECMO support days for COVID-19-related acute hypoxemic respiratory failure have been reported to be on average for 14 or 24days. It is necessary to improve opposing functions such that promoting the permeation of oxygen and carbon dioxide and inhibiting the permeation of water vapor or plasma to develop sufficient durability for long-term use. For this purpose, accurately controlling the anisotropy of the pore structure of the entire cross section and functions of capillary membrane is significant. In this study, we focused on the cross-sectional ion-milling (CSIM) method, to precisely clarify the pore structure of the entire cross section of capillary membrane for ECMO, because there is less physical stress on the porous structure applied during the preparation of cross-sectional samples of porous capillary membranes. We attempted to observe the cross sections of commercially available PMP membranes using the CSIM method. As a result, we succeeded in fabricating fine-scale flat cross-sectional samples of PMP capillary membranes. The pore structures and the degree of anisotropy of the cross sections are quantitatively clarified. The achievements and the approaches of this study are being applied to the development of next-generation gas exchange membranes.

“Fun, faster than walking, and more convenient than a bike”: Skateboarding in a college town

BackgroundVulnerable road users (those walking, or using bikes, scooters, or skateboards, for example) are common on college campuses and in college towns. As a mode of transportation, skateboards have not received much recognition, even as their popularity has increased. This study aimed to examine the perceptions and experiences of those who engage in skateboarding in and around a college town and its campus via qualitative interviews. MethodsAn interview script was developed to investigate the experiences of those who used a skateboard for transportation. Queries included reasons for using a skateboard, local perceptions, existing barriers and enablers, and past experiences. Responses were gathered via both one-on-one interview and hardcopy interview and were transcribed and analyzed for common themes. ResultsForty-two interviews were conducted an analyzed. Participants shed light on several themes included reasons for using a skateboard for transportation; physical health and emotional well-being; feelings of accomplishment; and community connectedness (or exclusivity). DiscussionThe results of this study offer a unique perspective, as those who used a skateboard exhibited a heightened sense of place, community connectiveness, and accessibility, coupled with physical activity and stress relief. However, they found the mixed messaging present in the transportation landscape to be alienating, effectively discouraging skateboarding as a transportation option by making those using skateboards feel unwelcome no matter where they ride. ConclusionSkateboarding is not as visually or publicly supported by infrastructure and culture as are cycling and walking, unintentionally hindering the benefits of skateboard use. All vulnerable road users need to be considered in transportation planning. Where completely separated travel lanes are not feasible, shared travel spaces, or the redesignation of existing bike lanes and sidewalks for multiple use, might help overcome many issues that are rooted in exclusion.

Community Nursing Care: Unhealthy Lifestyle as A Risk Factor of Hypertension in Older Adults in Rural Areas

Introduction: Adults-elderly habits of unhealthy lifestyles increase the risk of hypertension. The high incidence of hypertension causes indications for the diagnosis of community health deficit. Hypertension can be associated with heredity, an unhealthy lifestyle such as smoking, less consumption of vegetables and fruits, lack of physical activity, alcohol consumption and stress. Objective: to determinan the picture of community nursing care, unhealthy lifestyles health deficit problems in older adults with behavioral promotion interventions for health efforts in RW 02 Baratan Village. Method: The method use in this study was quantitative descriptive and quota sampling technique to determine the sample. Results: The research results show that implementig promotion interventions for health efforts are able to increase knowledge, atttudes, and behavior towards healthy lifestyles through education programs, exercise, and demonstrations. The Sig(2-tailed) value obtained in the knowledge category was P=0.025; attitude category P=0.000; behavior category P=0.000 where a&lt;0.05 means there is a difference between before and after implementation. Conclusion: There has been increase in health program participation, health standars compliance, and monitoring of communty health standards.

Inflammatory and Oxidant Responses to Arduous Military Training: Associations with Stress, Sleep, and Performance.

Arduous military training frequently consists of prolonged physical activity, sleep disturbance, and stress that increases musculoskeletal injury risk and performance decrements. Inflammatory and oxidative stress responses have been reported in response to arduous training, but with inconsistencies across markers and with under-representation of women. The purpose of the current report was to measure circulating inflammation and oxidative stress responses to military training and to correlate biomarkers with subjective measures of stress and sleep quality as well as military fitness test performance. Candidates undergoing the 10-week Marine Corps Officer Candidate School (OCS; 101 men; 62 women) were monitored, with demographic and questionnaire data collected, and blood drawn before and after OCS. Blood was analyzed for six markers of inflammation and three markers of oxidative stress. Associations between biomarkers and questionnaire and fitness test performance were tested. All measured inflammatory markers as well as plasma antioxidant capacity were elevated following OCS. The inflammatory increase was higher in women for several markers. Sleep disturbance and stress perception were associated with IL-6, IL-10 and CRP concentrations, suggesting that low sleep disturbance and stress perception were associated with low inflammatory load. Additionally, those with the highest inflammation at each time point performed worse on fitness tests than those with low inflammation. Following arduous military training, the circulating environment in a significant portion of officer candidates resembled chronic low-grade inflammation. This circulating inflammatory environment appeared worse with poor sleep, high stress perception, and poor fitness test performance, with utility observed for CRP, IL-6, and IL-10 as biomarkers of these responses. Since inflammation may contribute to musculoskeletal injury and performance decrements, minimizing chronic inflammation during military training should be explored.

A PREDICTION MODEL FOR STROKE BASED ON MACHINE LEARNING ALGORITHMS

In this modern era, people are working hard to meet their physical needs and non-effective their ability to spend time for themselves which leads to physical stress and mental disorder. Many reports state that stroke is caused when blood flow to a part of the brain is stopped abruptly. Without the blood supply, the brain cells gradually die, and disability occurs depending on the area of the brain affected. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), stroke is the greatest cause of death and disability globally. Early recognition of the various warning signs of a stroke can help reduce the severity of the stroke. In this research work, with the aid of machine learning (ML), several algorithms has been used and evaluated for the long term risk prediction of stroke occurrence. We have collected datasets to analyze data and mining using 8 algorithms of machine learning to predict whether the patient suffers from stroke or not. This paper used a dataset retrieved from kaggle repository, which consists of 12 attributes (Features). This work is implemented using K-Nearest Neighbors (KNN), Naïve Bayes (NB), Logistic Regression (LR), Support Vector Machine (SVM), Random Forest (RF), Decision Tree (TD), Neural Network (NN) and eXtreme Gradient Boosting (XGB) algorithms. Results showed eXtreme Gradient Boosting (XGB) gave the best result with an accuracy of up to 95.14%.

Review of Baduanjin and resistance exercise for the mental health of patients with hematologic malignancies.

Patients with hematological tumors experience physical and psychological stress, and negative psychological states. Baduanjin, an emerging psychological rehabilitation method combined with resistance exercise, has received widespread attention. This study reviews the current status of the application of Baduanjin combined with resistance exercise in improving the negative psychological state of patients with hematological tumors and discusses its problems and prospects. Through a literature review and comprehensive analysis, the application of Baduanjin and resistance exercise in the psychological rehabilitation of patients with hematological tumors was identified and evaluated. The results showed that Baduanjin with resistance exercise had a positive effect on improving negative psychological states of patients with hematological tumors, which can alleviate anxiety, depression, and other adverse emotions, and improve quality of life. However, there is a lack of unified and standardized exercise intervention programs for practical application, and patient participation and compliance must be improved. Baduanjin combined with resistance exercise can potentially improve the negative psychological status of patients with hematological tumors; however, it is still necessary to further standardize and improve the exercise program improving patient participation and compliance. Future studies should strengthen theoretical exploration and empirical research, providing more effective psychological rehabilitation strategies for patients with hematological tumors.

Pediatric trauma during the COVID-19 lockdown: caregiver abuse and self-harm in a vulnerable population.

This retrospective cohort study explores the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on pediatric trauma cases in Singapore's National University Hospital from January 2015 to July 2021. The pandemic prompted unprecedented measures, altering societal dynamics. The study hypothesizes a reduction in major trauma incidents during the pandemic period. This is a single-center retrospective study including all pediatric patients presenting with trauma-related ICD-9 codes, and an Injury Severity Score (ISS) greater than 8. Patients were stratified into two time periods: pre-pandemic (January 2015 to March 2020) and pandemic (April 2020 to July 2021) periods. Out of 254 pediatric trauma cases, 201 occurred pre-pandemic, and 53 during the pandemic. While overall trauma incidence remained similar, the pandemic period saw a shift in injury patterns. Home-based falls increased, vehicular accidents decreased, while deliberate self-harm and caregiver abuse rose significantly. The incidence of serious trauma attributed to non-accidental injury increased during the pandemic. The study reveals changing trauma patterns, emphasizing the importance of understanding societal impacts during pandemics. Notably cases of deliberate self-harm and caregiver abuse surged, echoing global concerns highlighted in other studies during the pandemic. The study underscores the need to preempt physical and psychological stressors in vulnerable populations during future pandemics.

Effects of different audiovisual landscapes in bamboo forest space on physical and mental restorative potential of university students: based on eye-tracking experiments

With its unique audiovisual environment, bamboo forest spaces serve as natural sanctuaries for urban residents, offering significant restorative effects by reducing physical and mental stress and alleviating fatigue. This promotes the vigorous development of outdoor recreation activities. To further explore the restorative effects of bamboo forest space on people's audiovisual perceptual aspects. In this study, we conducted field research in the Southern Sichuan Bamboo Sea, collecting audiovisual materials from four types of bamboo forest spaces: pathway type, cultural type, ornamental type, and recreational. These spatial photographs were combined with three types of soundscapes (silent, background, and background + wind-blown bamboo sound). Eye tracking experiments were utilized to investigate the physical and mental restorative effects of these different audiovisual features on college students. The results showed that in the visual aspect, the visual restorative properties of recreational-type and ornamental-type bamboo spaces were better than those of pathway type and cultural-type spaces; in the auditory aspect, the sounds of wind-blown bamboo, flowing water, and chirping birds in the bamboo forest significantly enhanced the subjective restorative properties of the bamboo forest space, reducing the number of fixations and the average pupil diameter. In addition, this paper found that the soundscape guided people's visual attention, with the wind-blown bamboo sound increasing focus on natural elements, and the extensibility of the bamboo forest space was positively correlated with the number of fixations, while fascination was negatively correlated with the average saccade amplitude. These findings provide insights for the optimized design of audiovisual restorative environments in bamboo forest space in the future.

Takotsubo Syndrome: Differences between Peripartum Period and General Population.

Takotsubo syndrome (TTS) was first described in postmenopausal women with transient regional wall motion abnormalities. The trigger is usually an emotional or physical stress. The catecholamine hypothesis seems to be the most prevailing. The main difference between TTS and acute coronary syndromes is that there is no obstructive coronary disease to explain the regional abnormalities. In this form, the left ventricle resembles the fishing jar which is used to trap octopus in Japan. However, to date more atypical forms are recognized. Also, the syndrome is not limited to older women. Nowadays, TTS is presented even in pregnancy and postpartum females. Our experience revealed cases of patients during these periods and some of them suffered from reverse Takotsubo. Additionally, the initial diagnosis in some patients was other than TTS. Due to these findings, we suggest that this type of TTS is not very rare but underestimated. For this reason, further studies are needed to support and explain this condition.

Charting Health Challenges for Digital Preventive Interventions Among Adult Survivors of Childhood Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia: National Long-Term Follow-Up Survey of Self-Rated Health Outcomes.

Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is the most common malignancy in childhood, but the prognosis has remarkably improved over the last 50 years in high-income countries, and thus, there is a focus on long-term health outcomes following survival and how to best provide health care support to adult long-term survivors of childhood ALL to prevent and handle potential health problems. Digital health interventions are promising to deliver feasible health promotion and prevention programs. This is particularly relevant for ensuring long-term follow-up in cases where continuous contact with oncology care may be disrupted. Moreover, these interventions are beneficial in reaching geographically dispersed target groups and overcoming the time constraints of everyday life that often hinder participation in such programs. This study aimed to fill the gaps in existing research on adult long-term survivors of childhood ALL and provide formative data that can inform the development of formalized follow-up services designed to meet the needs of these survivors in ways that align with their preferences for digital health interventions. In this cross-sectional national study, adult survivors (aged ≥18 years) of childhood ALL for over 10 years after diagnosis were compared to their siblings in terms of mental and physical health-related factors, including sleep, stress, anxiety, and depression (Depression Anxiety and Stress Scale 21 [DASS-21]); several dimensions of fatigue (Multidimensional Fatigue Inventory 20 [MFI-20]); work ability (Work Ability Index); chronic pain; and prevalences of diabetes, cardiovascular disease, headache or migraine, and rheumatic disease. Overall, 426 of 855 eligible ALL survivors responded (mean age 30.9, SD 7.7 years), and they participated at an average of 24 (SD 6.9) years after ALL diagnosis. Siblings (n=135; mean age 31.5, SD 7.7 years) acted as controls. Sleep quality, sleep quantity, and mean work ability scores were significantly lower, and physical fatigue, reduced motivation, and reduced activity scores were higher in ALL survivors than in siblings. There were no significant differences between the groups in terms of BMI and prevalence of chronic pain, depression, anxiety, or stress. Physical and psychological complications were more frequent among adult ALL survivors who had received hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) than among those who had not received HSCT. Our nationwide cross-sectional study addressed the scarcity of knowledge regarding the self-reported health outcomes of adult long-term survivors of childhood ALL. We highlighted significant disparities within this population and emphasized the potential of comprehensive digital interventions that target vitality, sleep quality, fatigue, and psychosocial well-being to enhance well-being and bolster the capacity for managing chronic health conditions in this target group. Such an intervention would align with the needs of this target group, which is a prerequisite for successfully incorporating technology into the daily lives of survivors of childhood ALL.

How to give a spider a heart attack: Evaluating cardiac stress reactions of Trichonephila and Argiope spiders

AbstractAll animal species, from arthropods to vertebrates, must deal with occasional stressors in their lives, though most research on this has been focused on vertebrates. Meanwhile, our understanding of stress reactions in arthropod species like spiders is nascent. In the United States, a non‐native orb‐weaving spider, Trichonephila clavata (‘jorō’ spider), is spreading as is its already‐established cousin in the United States, T. clavipes (golden silk spider). Prior study has revealed how these two species have a unique behavioural reaction to physical stressors, whereby they remain in a thanatosis state for a prolonged period compared with other species. Here, we investigate the physiological stress reactions of these Trichonephila spiders by evaluating how each species' dorsal vessel contractions (heart rates) become elevated after being subjected to a non‐lethal stressor. For comparison, we also evaluate two similarly‐sized orb weavers, Argiope aurantia (garden spider) and A. trifasciata (banded garden spider). We record baseline heart rates of inactive, resting, spiders in our lab, then restrain them under an electronic, ‘optocardiographic’, sensor for 10 min, to record their ‘stressed’ heart rates. Argiope aurantia has a pronounced heart rate elevation, for reasons unknown. We observe that all spider heart rates increase during restraint, though each has a species‐specific pattern of elevation over time under restraint. Notably, heart rates of both Trichonephila spiders are less variable under stress, since they tend not to struggle during restraint. Meanwhile, both Argiope spiders frequently struggle, leading to marked fluctuations in cardiac output. The stress reactions of Trichonephila spiders could be characterized as ‘even‐tempered’, which may factor into their ability to live in habitats with frequent disturbances.

Hair cortisol is a physiological indicator of training stress for female footballers.

Chronic physical stress in female athletes can reduce mental health and athletic performance. Therefore, a chronic physical stress assessment method is required. This study examined whether hair cortisol concentration (HCC) predicted chronic physical stress changes in female university football players. We took measurements in August and December, just before the Japan college national tournament. Self-reported training load was significantly positively correlated with HCC. Self-reported training load had no significant relationship with fatigue as measured by the Profile of Mood States 2nd Edition or with the stressors from the Stressor Scale for College Students. HCC was negatively correlated with reaction time in the spatial Stroop task, although the repeated correlation analysis showed no significant relationship. These results suggest that the chronic physical stress experienced by female footballers cannot be predicted by psychological indicators; however, they can be predicted by HCC, which could be used to prevent overtraining in these athletes.

Personalizing Human–Robot Workplace Parameters in Human-Centered Manufacturing

This study investigates the relationship between collaborative robot (CR) parameters and worker utilization and system performance in human–robot collaboration (HRC) environments. We investigated whether optimized parameters increase workplace efficiency and whether adapting these parameters to the individual worker improves workplace outcomes. Three experimental scenarios with different CR parameters were analyzed in terms of the setup time, assembly time, finished products, work in process, and worker utilization. The main results show that personalized CR parameters significantly improve efficiency and productivity. The scenario in which CR parameters were tailored to individual workers, balanced the workload, and minimized worker stress, resulting in higher productivity compared to non-people-centric settings. The study shows that personalization reduces cognitive and physical stress, promotes worker well-being, and is consistent with the principles of human-centered manufacturing. Overall, our research supports the adoption of personalized, collaborative workplace parameters, supported by the mathematical model, to optimize employee efficiency and health, contributing to human-centered and efficient HRC environments.