Physiological Stress Indicators Research Articles

Effect of an adjustable ceiling to prevent premature rising attempts after general anesthesia in healthy ponies and horses: A pilot study.

This study aimed to assess and compare the recovery of ponies and horses following general anesthesia in two different settings: a recovery box with an inflexible, adjustable ceiling, and free recovery without restraints. Our primary objective was to evaluate the effect of adjustable ceilings on the prevention of premature attempts to rise during recovery. The secondary aim was to compare the physiological stress indicators during recovery. Prospective, randomized, experimental study. Six healthy ponies and 10 healthy horses. This study used a crossover design with two settings: an inflexible, adjustable ceiling and free recovery. Recovery was scored using a quality scoring system. Heart rate, and lactate, glucose, and cortisol levels were analyzed and compared between the animals and recoveries. All animals had a higher recovery quality (p = .026) with an adjustable ceiling than with free recovery. No differences were observed in glucose level or heart rate between the two settings. However, horses had higher blood lactate, 2.9 ± 1.2 mmol/L versus 1.6 ± 0.7 mmol/L (p = .025), and serum cortisol, 184 ± 81 nmol/L versus 93 ± 20 nmol/L (p = .031) in restricted recovery than free recovery, respectively. An inflexible, adjustable ceiling improved the quality of recovery and prevented premature rising attempts; however, it was associated with increased lactate and cortisol levels, indicating an increased level of stress. Limiting premature rising attempts with an adjustable ceiling during recovery phase has the potential to improve the quality of recovery in horses. Further research is needed to draw conclusions for clinical use.

Behavioural and physiological indicators of hoof trimming stress in restrained juvenile stable- and forest-born Konik Polski horses: a cross-sectional and longitudinal field study

Behavioural and physiological responses are suggested indicators of horse stress. The responses can vary according to changing intrinsic factors, for example, age or habituation to human handling and restraint.In this study, the same 53 Konik Polski horses that were born in either a forest-born (FB) sanctuary or a stable-born (SB) sanctuary were assessed for consistency in their behavioural and physiological responses over months, and the relationship between avoidance behaviour (withdrawals, head shakings, jerks, rearings, stepping and their total: AB), leaning behaviour and cardiac responses (heart rate: HR and heart rate variability HRV: SDRR and RMSSD during routine hoof trimming at 6, 12 and 18 months of age was examined. Additionally, the effect of age and birthplace on avoidance behaviour and cardiac parameters and their correlations was investigated.The avoidance behaviour, leaning behaviour and HR and HRV parameters differed between SB and FB horses (P < 0.01). A significant effect of increasing age/habituation was found in each birth-place group at each age (both effects P < 0.01). Additionally, the correlations of and between behaviour and cardiac parameters were fairly consistent both over age and within groups. The findings indicate that physiological and behavioural markers that are frequently used may not adequately represent the stress status of restrained horses; rather, they may only represent the animals' short-term, current state. Age and prior experience are significant factors to consider when evaluating stress related to husbandry management procedures. Providing that the differences between forest and stable horses remain until 18 months old, the rearing conditions up to weaning would seem sufficient to develop a specific human reception in young horses.

Blood cortisol and faecal cortisol metabolite concentrations following an ACTH challenge in unanaesthetized brown bears (Ursus arctos).

Faecal cortisol metabolites (FCMs) are increasingly used to index physiological stress in wildlife. Cortisol and other stress hormones act to mobilize glucose, providing energy for the organism to respond to environmental perturbations. Cortisol, the predominant glucocorticoid (GC) in most mammals, is metabolized by the liver and excreted as FCMs. For FCMs to serve as a meaningful physiological index of stress in brown bears (Ursus arctos), we sought to quantify the relationship between blood cortisol and FCM concentrations. Consequently, we conducted an adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) challenge on nine unanaesthetized captive brown bears at the Washington State University Bear Research, Education, and Conservation Center. We collected 10ml of blood at 0, 3, 6, 24, 48 and 72h post-injection to measure changes in blood cortisol concentrations. Faecal samples were collected between 7:00am and 8:00pm from 24h prior to injection through 72h post ACTH challenge. We found that FCM concentration was positively correlated with blood cortisol concentrations and that peak blood cortisol concentrations occurred between 3 and 6h following an ACTH challenge, whereas FCMs peaked between 10 and 27h after injection.

From Surviving to Thriving: A Trauma-Informed Yoga Intervention for Adolescents and Educators in Rural Montana.

(1)Due to the mental health crisis that has spiraled since the onset of COVID-19, particularly among the nation's youth, the purpose of this study was to examine the efficacy of a novel, school-based mental health intervention for high school students (ages 15-17 years). This project's main aim was to determine which intervention modality was more effective with students across two school districts with varying degrees of rurality (in-person delivery vs. remote delivery). A secondary aim of this study was to determine the efficacy of a remotely delivered, concurrent intervention for educators across both school districts. This study took place in rural southwestern Montana. (2)Utilizing a 6-week, trauma-informed yoga intervention, comparisons of mental and physical health outcomes were performed using cohort data drawn from participants' physiological data and validated mental health survey measures. (3)While physiological results were mixed across experimental groups, mental health outcomes were overwhelmingly positive for all groups. Additionally, educators reported improvements in career satisfaction and burnout levels. (4)Findings indicate a great deal of promise with this intervention in improving mental health outcomes for both students and educators. Moreover, a face-to-face intervention for students showed dramatic improvement in physiological stress indicators.

The Effect of Heart Rate Variability Biofeedback on Recovery After Aerobic Exercise.

Recovery is a critical factor in athletic performance, and accelerating this process is essential to enable athletes to perform more effectively in both training load and competitive performance. After exercise, immediate recovery is potentially helpful for investigating autonomic activity levels, as they are definable with heart rate variability (HRV). The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of ten sessions of HRV-Biofeedback (HRV-BF) training on recovery process parameters after the aerobic performance. In this study, twenty-four soccer players aged 18-24 volunteered to participate. The athletes who met the research criteria were divided into an experimental group (n = 12) and a control group (n = 12). Each participant's height, weight, BMI, body fat percentage, and aerobic capacity were measured before and after the 10-session intervention. The experimental group participated in a 10-session HRV-BF training and soccer training program, while the control group only participated in a 10-session soccer training program. Aerobic capacity tests were then applied again to experimental and control group participants. The effect of biofeedback on the three HRV parameters during the 5-minute acute recovery period after the test was investigated. The results showed that regularly applied HRV-BF training can significantly shorten the HRV recovery parameter after exercise. Specifically, the athletes who performed HRV-BF training demonstrated faster cardiovascular recovery after aerobic exercise. This suggests that implementing HRV-BF training for athletes can significantly accelerate their recovery processes during and after competitions. Given recent technological advancements, it is promising to consider adding HRV-BF training to stress management interventions, particularly in relation to physiological stress indicators.

Enhancing farmed fish welfare: Evaluating the effectiveness of plant-based stress mitigating agents as sedatives in sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax) following intraperitoneal vaccination

The effectiveness of vaccines may be compromised by the stress response induced by intraperitoneal/intramuscular (IP/IM) vaccination due to an intimate interaction between the neuroendocrine and immune systems. Essential oils (EOs), known for their antibacterial, antioxidant, and sedative properties, are potential candidates to mitigate this stress response. This study investigates the short-term sedative effect of two essential oil-based products, FishEase-C (FEC) and FishEase-L (FEL) in sea bass prior to intraperitoneal vaccination (IP). Physiological stress indicators (plasma cortisol, glucose, lactate) increased 1-h post-vaccination (hpv) as expected. Cortisol remained elevated up to 24 hpv in the N.P. vaccine and FEC + vaccine groups but decreased with FEL treatment (FEL + vaccine group). However, FEC at the tested concentration appeared to induce stress. The transcription of stress (gr, hsp70, cox2), immune (il1β, il6, tnfα), and antioxidant (gpx, sod, catalase) genes confirmed the vaccination-induced stress response, with mc2r transcription indicating increased cortisol production in vaccinated groups (N.P. vaccine and FEC + vaccine). FEL reduced stress at both physiological (e.g., cortisol) and transcriptional levels (e.g., hsp70, cox2 and il6) at either 1 or 24 hpv. It is worth noting that, from an inflammatory perspective, there was a big difference between tissues in terms of magnitude and pattern (treatment and time effects). The brain was more resistant to inflammation, while the head kidney and spleen showed heightened il1β expression (860-2100-fold). These findings support the use of FEL as a sedative before IP/IM vaccination in sea bass.

An evidence-based nursing practice affects stress state, coagulation, complications and quality of life in patients with upper gastrointestinal bleeding in the emergency department: a retrospective observational study

BackgroundAcute gastrointestinal bleeding (GIB) is a common surgical emergency digestive system disorder with high morbidity and mortality.AimThis study sought to explore effects of evidence-based nursing practice (ENP) procedures on stress state, coagulation function, complications in patients with upper GIB (UGIB) and quantify of life in emergency department.MethodsThis study was a retrospective analysis and a total of 120 patients with UGIB were enrolled and divided into an experimental group with ENP interventions and a reference group with traditional nursing according to different nursing programs. The physiological stress indicators (epinephrine, norepinephrine, plasma cortisol), psychological stress indicators [anxiety self-assessment scale (SAS), depression self-assessment scale (SDS)], coagulation function indicators [prothrombin time (PT), prothrombin time (TT), D-dimer (D-D), fibrinogen (FIB)], complication rate and quality of life were analyzed.ResultsAfter nursing intervention, epinephrine, norepinephrine and plasma cortisol, SDS and SAS scores were decreased in the experimental group relative to the reference group (all P < 0.001). After nursing intervention, the levels of PT, TT and D-D in both groups were lower and the FIB was higher than before intervention (all P < 0.001), and the improvement of coagulation function indexes in experimental group after nursing was better than that in reference group (P < 0.001). The incidence of complications in the experimental group was lower than that in the reference group (P = 0.04). The higher quality of life scores after nursing intervention was validated in the experimental group relative to the reference group (P < 0.001).ConclusionENP improved stress response, coagulation function, quality of life, and reduced incidence of complications in UGIB patients, indicating potential for clinical application.

An Attempt to Use Virtual Reality as a Tool to Reduce Patient Anxiety During Dental Treatment.

Background/Objectives: Dental fear and anxiety are prevalent issues in both children and adult patients, often leading to avoidance of dental care and deterioration in overall health. While virtual reality (VR) has been increasingly studied as a distraction tool in pediatric dentistry, its effectiveness among adults remains under-researched. This study aims to evaluate the impact of VR distraction on reducing anxiety and physiological stress indicators in adult dental patients. Methods: The study was conducted in a private dental office in Dobrodzień, Poland, involving 90 adult dental patients divided into three groups: two experimental (VR1 and VR2) and one control (C), with 30 patients each. Patients in the VR1 group experienced VR distraction during the first visit, and the second visit was conventional; the VR2 group experienced this in reverse; and the control group underwent traditional treatment in both visits. Physiological parameters (heart rate, saturation, and stress) and psychological anxiety levels (MDAS and STAI-X1) were measured at three time points during each visit. Results: Significant reductions in heart rate and stress levels were observed after VR exposure compared to the control group. VR also demonstrated a significant effect in decreasing anxiety levels (based on STAI-X1) during the visit with VR distraction. No significant changes were found in the saturation levels across the groups. Conclusions: The use of VR as a distraction tool during dental procedures effectively reduces physiological stress and anxiety in adult patients, suggesting its potential as a valuable tool in managing dental anxiety. Further research is recommended to explore the long-term benefits and patient satisfaction with VR-based interventions in dental care.

Multimodal examination of daily stress rhythms in chronic Cannabis users.

Chronic cannabis users frequently report stress relief as their primary reason for use. The endocannabinoid system is involved in the neuroendocrine stress response, and diurnal cortisol rhythms may be disrupted in chronic cannabis users. The objectives were to determine whether cannabis users demonstrate disruptions in diurnal stress rhythms and examine the acute effects of cannabis on stress-related outcomes in cannabis users' natural environments. Eighty-two participants (39 cannabis users, 43 non-users) collected saliva samples to quantify cortisol concentrations and provided subjective stress ratings at 8 time points throughout the day. They wore a medical-grade wearable device for 24h that recorded physiological indicators of stress (heart rate variability, electrodermal activity). Cannabis users collected additional saliva samples before and after cannabis use to examine acute effects of cannabis use. Cannabis users exhibited significant dysregulations in diurnal cortisol rhythms, including a blunted cortisol awakening response, flattened diurnal cortisol slope, and elevated afternoon cortisol concentrations. There were no differences in diurnal heart rate variability or electrodermal activity except for elevated evening heart rate in cannabis users. Finally, there were significant decreases in cortisol, subjective stress, and electrodermal activity following acute cannabis use in cannabis users' natural environment. These results provide evidence of dysregulated diurnal cortisol rhythms in cannabis users that were related to later waking times and acute stress-relieving properties of cannabis use in naturalistic environments. Future research should examine the direction of the relationship between cannabis use and diurnal cortisol rhythms and potential implications for other psychological disorders.

Investigating the effect a single dose of cannabidiol has on measures of stress in cats when being transported in a carrier and meeting a novel person in an unfamiliar environment.

Domestic cats (Felis Catus) are often exposed to stimuli that have the potential to negatively impact their welfare. These can include situations such as veterinary visits, travel, changes to their home environment, and interactions with unfamiliar people or pets. Cannabidiol (CBD)-infused pet products have grown in popularity in recent years, as pet owners search for ways to calm and relax their pets. However, research into the pharmacokinetic properties of CBD in cats is limited and investigations into its efficacy are in their infancy. The present study aimed to explore the effect of a single 4 mg/kg bodyweight dose of a THC-free CBD distillate on measures of stress in cats when experiencing a composite stress-paradigm, consisting of cat carrier travel and exposure to a novel person within an unfamiliar environment. Physiological and behavioural indicators of stress were collected pre-, during, and post-testing. No significant effect of CBD was observed on serum cortisol, IgA, or glucose, either before or immediately after the stress-paradigm (all p > 0.05). This was true despite cortisol being shown to significantly increase post-test for both treatments (both p < 0.001), suggesting that travel and meeting a novel person successfully induced a stress response within this population of cats. No significant differences in any measures of cat behaviour, including latency to approach the novel person, were observed between treatments (all p > 0.05). Overall, no influence of CBD was observed in cats, suggesting further research into appropriate dosage, delivery matrices, and other conditional factors, such as individual coping styles, should be considered.

Self-reported and physiological stress indicators and the moderating role of the Dark Tetrad in violent and non-violent gaming

Playing non-violent video games has been shown to reduce perceived levels of stress (Pallavicini et al., 2021). Does this effect also apply to violent game content? As findings suggest a particular preference for such games among people with certain personality traits, such as the Dark Tetrad (i.e., Machiavellianism, everyday sadism, subclinical psychopathy, and narcissism; e.g., Bonfá-Araujo et al., 2022; Greitemeyer, 2015; Greitemeyer & Sagioglou, 2017) do these traits influence the stress they feel? In the present lab experiment, potential stress-reducing effects of violent and non-violent video games were compared to a control condition (solving a jigsaw puzzle). Cortisol levels, heart rate variability (HRV), and self-reported stress levels were assessed before, during, and after gameplay. Irrespective of game condition, playing video game passages decreased cortisol levels, a typical indicator of stress. In addition, playing violent games led to a significant decrease in certain HRV indicators (i.e., ratio of low frequency power to high-frequency power), thus providing additional support for stress relief. In contrast, trying to solve a jigsaw puzzle did not result in stress reduction. Most results involving the Dark Tetrad traits showed null findings. However, participants with greater Dark Tetrad expressions experienced more relaxation after violent gameplay while showing greater stress reaction after trying to solve a jigsaw puzzle. The present results indicate that playing violent or non-violent video games can lead to physiological relaxation—an important finding for future research on the potential of video games for stress relief interventions.

Comparison of Physiological Stress Indices in Anesthetized and Manually Restrained Leopard Sharks, Triakis semifasciata.

Leopard sharks (Triakis semifasciata) are abundant, coastal, eastern Pacific, mesopredatory sharks and are frequently managed in aquariums and zoos. Medical examinations are a routine part of good husbandry practices, but the handling protocols vary greatly between facilities. In this study, we compared the physiological stress responses of T. semifasciata associated with manual restraint and sedated handling under parallel holding and handling procedures in a 10 min interval. Blood was collected and analyzed for the hematocrit (Hct), lactate, glucose, beta-hydroxybutyrate (β-HB), pH, blood gasses, 1α-hydroxycorticosterone (1α-OHB), and corticosterone (B). Overall, a minimal physiological stress response was observed in both groups. However, statistically significant increases in the PCO2, β-HB and lactate occurred, while the pHTC, SO2, and BE decreased over time in the manual-restraint group. In the sedated group, the B, PCO2, and lactate increased while the pHTC, SO2, and base excess (BE) decreased over time. When comparing treatments, the sedated group had a higher B and PCO2 TC and a lower pHTC, BE, and SO2 than the manual-restraint group at the second time point. This study indicates that manual restraint is comparable to the described sedation in T. semifasciata for minimally invasive procedures. The overall results show that this species had low physiological stress responses to both methods.

Time and environmental conditions for heat stress recovery based on human physiological responses: Developing a predictive model

Breaks can protect workers exposed to high temperatures from heat stress and other health risks. However, the most suitable recovery conditions and how the body physiologically responds to them remain uncertain. The aim of this study was to provide scientific evidence of the human physiological response to step changes in environmental parameters of recovery stage through climate chamber experiments and to develop a predictive model. Volunteer subjects experienced 60 min of walking exercise in air temperatures of 32 and 36 °C, RH 60%, and an air velocity of 0.2 m/s to form two heat stress levels, and then moved into a resting space under designated environmental conditions, such as a standard effective temperature (SET) range of 15.6–26.0 °C. The results showed that the recovery time for physiological parameters decreased with decreasing SET, accompanied by a simultaneous increase in thermal discomfort rate. Correlation analysis suggested that recovery time was related to the physiological stress index at the beginning of the recovery phase (PSI0; r = 0.86) and the SET (r = 0.75) of the recovery environment. A predictive model of heat stress recovery time was developed based on PSI0 and SET, with a determination coefficient of 0.9. According to the model, a SET of 18.8–24.9 °C was suitable for people with high heat stress requiring full recovery in 15–30 min. The research findings contribute to the regulation of health and safety in high-temperature working environments and the operation of restroom environmental conditions.

Oregano essential oil and Bacillus subtilis role in enhancing broiler’s growth, stress indicators, intestinal integrity, and gene expression under high stocking density

This study investigates the role of dietary Bacillus subtilis and oregano essential oil in mitigating the effects of high stocking density on growth performance, carcass traits, physiological stress indicators, gene expression, and intestinal integrity in broiler chickens. A total of, 1250 one-day-old Ross 308 male broiler chicks were randomly allocated to five experimental groups, where each group had five replicates of 50 chicks. Group 1 (control, LSD): 15 chicks/m2 fed a basal diet without feed additive, group 2 (HSD): 20 chicks/m2 fed a basal diet without feed additive, group 3 (BHSD): 20 chicks/m2 fed a basal diet supplemented with B. subtilis (500 mg/kg diet), group 4 (OHSD): 20 chicks/m2 fed a basal diet supplemented with oregano essential oil (300 mg/kg diet), group 5 (CHSD): 20 chicks/m2 fed a basal diet supplemented with oregano essential oil and B. subtilis. At 35 days of age, there was a noticeable improvement in the growth performance of broilers fed CHSD under high stocking density through the increase in body weight gain, dressing percentage, and crude protein digestibility with a decrease in feed conversion rate compared to other groups. Adding CHSD enhanced the state of oxidation and immunity through increasing superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase, and the relative weight of bursa of Fabricius, while decreasing malondialdehyde, in addition to increasing plasma triiodothyronine levels. The microbial structure and morphometric parameters improved in the group that received the CHSD compared to the other groups, where villus height and Lactobacillus population increased, whereas Escherichia coli and Clostridium perfringens population decreased. Glucose transporter 2 (GLUT2), fatty acid transporter 1 (FABP1), and amino acid transferase 1 (CAT1) gene expression levels significantly increased when feeding on oregano essential oil with B. subtilis. In conclusion, combining oregano essential oil and B. subtilis supplements mitigated the effects of high stocking density by enhancing growth performance, antioxidative status, and intestinal integrity, in addition to modifying the genetic expression of genes related to nutrient absorption.

A broad appraisal of decompression-induced physiological stress in different simulated dive profiles

Background: The present study was designed to observe if different decompression profiles, calculated as a function of tissue supersaturation during ascent, would result in significantly different outcomes, measured through different physiological stress indicators, even in the absence of symptoms of decompression sickness. Aim: The aim of this study was to evaluate if simulated decompression profiles would affect the immune system, oxidative stress indicators, and heart rate variability. Methods: A total of 23 volunteers participated in two different experimental protocols in a dry hyperbaric chamber. These simulated dives comprised two different compression–decompression arrangements with the same maximum pressure and duration but different decompression profiles. Results: The shallow decompression profile with shorter deeper stops and longer shallow stops presented an increase in the standard deviation of the normal-to-normal R-R interval (a wide indicator of overall variability); the deep decompression profile with longer deeper stops and shorter shallow stops did not exhibit such increase. The shallow decompression profile resulted in an increase in neutrophil count and its microparticles (MPs), but no changes were observed for platelet count and its MPs, as well as for endothelial-derived MPs. In contrast, the deep decompression profile resulted in no changes in neutrophil count and its MPs, but a decrease in platelet count along with an increase in MPs from both platelets and endothelial cells. The observed difference might be related to different levels of decompression-related activation of immune system responses and oxidative processes triggered by different levels of inert gas supersaturation upon surfacing. Conclusion: From previous results and literature data, we present a tentative schematic of how the velocity of ascent would trigger (or not) pro-inflammatory and immune system responses that could ultimately lead to the development of decompression sickness. Relevance for patients: Increasing safety in exposure to hyperbaric environments and subsequent decompression by evaluating individual physiological responses to the process.

Response of cool‐season turfgrass monocultures and two‐way mixtures to sequential acute drought periods

AbstractTurfgrass seeds are often sold as mixtures of several species to increase the probability of positive responses toward abiotic and biotic stresses, a response to drought being one of these. Several species of turfgrass are already thought to be better suited for drought, such as hard fescue (Festuca brevipila Tracey) and tall fescue [Schedonorus arundinaceus (Schreb.) Dumort]. However, little is known about the benefit of these species in mixtures with drought‐intolerant and/or drought‐avoiding species during drought. Understanding species mixture composition during establishment, before and after drought stress periods, could help develop more resilient mixtures for this stress condition. We compared monocultures and mixtures of hard fescue, Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis L.), and perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) during sequential short drought and recovery periods in controlled conditions. We observed that the composition of most mixtures remained similar during drought and recovery periods; however, perennial ryegrass was often less prevalent after drought stress. We found that hard fescue monocultures had better green leaf coverage than Kentucky bluegrass and perennial ryegrass during drought stress. However, the presence of hard fescue in mixtures was not an indicator of greater drought tolerance, and variable fluorescence to maximal fluorescence data indicated that hard fescue was just as physiologically stressed as perennial ryegrass and Kentucky bluegrass during the drought periods. These results indicate that while hard fescue seems visually drought tolerant, it is still physiologically stressed and improved drought tolerance could be achieved through focusing on physiological indicators of stress in this species rather than visual indicators.

Employing Titanium Dioxide Nanoparticles as Biostimulant against Salinity: Improving Antioxidative Defense and Reactive Oxygen Species Balancing in Eggplant Seedlings.

Salinity is a major abiotic stress that affects the agricultural sector and poses a significant threat to sustainable crop production. Nanoparticles (NPs) act as biostimulants and significantly mitigate abiotic stress. In this context, this experiment was designed to assess the effects of foliar application of titanium dioxide (TiO2) nanoparticles at 200 and 400 ppm on the growth of eggplant (Solanum melongena) seedlings under moderate (75 mM) and high (150 mM) salinity stress. The TiO2-NPs employed were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis. The seedlings were assessed physiologically, growth-wise, and biochemically. The seedlings were significantly affected by their physiological attributes (Fv'/Fm', Fv/Fm, NPQ), growth (root length, shoot length, number of leaves, fresh biomass, dry biomass, leaf greenness), antioxidative enzymes (SOD, POD, CAT, APx, GR), stress indicators (H2O2, MDA), and toxic ion (Na+) concentrations. The maximum decrease in physiological and growth attributes in eggplant seedling leaves was observed with no TiO2-NP application at 150 mM NaCl. Applying TiO2-NPs at 200 ppm showed significantly less decrease in Fv'/Fm', root length, shoot length, number of leaves, fresh biomass, dry biomass, and leaf greenness. In contrast, there were larger increases in SOD, POD, CAT, APx, GR, and TSP. This led to less accumulation of H2O2, MDA, and Na+. No significant difference was observed in higher concentrations of TiO2-NPs compared to the control. Therefore, TiO2-NPs at 200 ppm might be used to grow eggplant seedlings at moderate and high salinity.

Inflammation and cognitive performance in elite athletes: A cross-sectional study

Functional cognition is relevant for athletic success and interdependent with physical exercise, yet despite repeatedly demonstrated inflammatory responses to physical training, there are no studies addressing the relationship between cognition and inflammation in athletes. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between cognitive performance and selected inflammatory, and further physiological biomarkers in elite athletes. Data from 350 elite athletes regarding cognitive performance (processing speed, selective attention, working memory, cognitive flexibility), systemic inflammatory markers, metabolic hormones, growth factors, tissue damage markers, and micronutrients (e.g., ferritin, 25-OH-vitamin D), as well as physiological, subjective ratings of recovery and stress were analysed by correlative and multiple regression analyses. Results show that across all athletes variance in processing speed, selective attention, and working memory, could be best explained through a combination of metabolic hormones with physiological and psychological indicators of stress, and in cognitive flexibility through vitamin D levels. Only for the subgroup of athletes from closed-skill sports, the ratio TNF-α:IL-10 significantly contributed to explanation of variance in working memory and cognitive flexibility. In general, found correlations point to the importance of inflammatory balance and sufficient long-term nutrient supply for unaffected cognitive performance.

Assessment of fish health status for waterless transportation based on image features and deep learning models

In the current aquaculture industry, the detection of physiological stress indicators in fish during waterless transportation is considered to be an effective method to monitor their health status. However, commonly used detection methods are invasive and interfere with the accuracy of detection results. In order to solve this problem, this study takes grouper as an example, combines multi-sensor physiological stress indicators monitoring, and designs a health status assessment and classification model based on image features and deep learning models, which inputs real-time fish image feature information data acquired during low-temperature waterless transportation into the optimised CNN-BiGRU classification model based on whale optimisation algorithm (WOA) proposed in this study, so as to achieve an accurate assessment of the health status of the fish. By inputting the image feature datasets based on time series and classified into the WOA-CNN-BiGRU, BiGRU, and GRU classification models for training, validation, and testing, respectively, the effectiveness of the classification performance of the models was verified by using accuracy, precision, recall and F1-value composite scores as the metrics. It was found that the WOA-CNN-BiGRU model had excellent classification performance, followed by the BiGRU and GRU models, especially in classifying the health status assessment of small size grouper. This study proposes an efficient and inexpensive method for real-time monitoring and accurate assessment of the health status of fish during waterless transportation, and also provides a reference for vigour monitoring and health assessment of other similar aquatic products.

Electrophysiological detection of exam stress inhealth schools' students.

Anxiety is a common issue among university students, many of them experience anxiety, depression, and stress during their school life. This study aimed to compare the acute physiological stress responses of students divided into two groups according to their perceived anxiety levels (positive test anxiety, PTA+, and negative test anxiety, PTA-). Heart rate variability (HRV) and electrodermal activity (EDA) were used to assess stress.Thirty-one healthy volunteers participated in the study. Participants completed anxiety assessments, including the Westside Test Anxiety Scale (WTAS), the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI), and the Test State Anxiety Inventory (TSAI). Based on their scores, participants were categorized into PTA+ and PTA- groups. All participants underwent 24-h continuous recordings of pulse and electrodermal activity (EDA) on two separate occasions: one day prior to a written exam and during a designated exam-free day serving as a baseline control.We compared the HRV and EDA data obtained on a regular day and on an exam day between the two groups. Results showed that the PTA+ group had significantly higher heart rate, stress index, low frequency, and short-term detrended fluctuation analysis (DFAα1) on the exam day. The tonic EDA component was also higher in the PTA+ group. Stress-related HRV and EDA parameters were negatively correlated with exam scores.In conclusion, the study found that physiological stress indicators obtained from HRV and EDA are associated with perceived exam anxiety in students.