Positive Adaptive Response Research Articles

The influence of resilience on stress reaction of college students during COVID-19: the mediating role of coping style and positive adaptive response.

The COVID-19 pandemic was a stressful event for all. It threatened people's physical and mental health. Previous studies have found that resilience can help people deal with stress and difficulties more effectively and prevent them from mental health problems. Coping style mediates the relationship between resilience and psychological well-being. Given the novelty and recency of the COVID-19, it is unknown whether resilience can also protect individuals in new difficulties, and whether the previous effective coping styles can be applied to new situations. The current study aimed to explore the influence mechanism of college students' resilience on negative stress response during the pandemic, and the chain mediation of coping style and positive adaptive response. A questionnaire survey was conducted among 910 college students (Mage= 20.58years; 41.1% men, 58.9% women) studying in Shanghai by stratified random cluster sampling. At that time, they were in 27 different provinces and cities because of the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown. The research tools included Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale (CD-RISC), Simplified Coping Style Questionnaire (SCSQ), Positive Adaptive Response Questionnaire (PARQ), and Negative Stress Reaction Questionnaire (NSRQ). The results showed that: (1) College students' resilience, coping style, positive adaptive response and negative stress reaction were significantly correlated with each other; (2) Resilience could not directly affect negative stress reaction, but it could affect negative stress reaction through the chain mediation of coping style and positive adaptive response. These findings suggest that resilience enhancement intervention programs need to focus on the cultivation of individual positive coping style; In response to major emergencies such as the COVID-19 pandemic, officials can help people reduce negative stress reaction by disseminating positive coping strategies through the media.

Correlation between the accuracy and speed of hand control in primary schoolchildren and the amount of screen time

Introduction. The means and methods of computerized learning introduced into the education system in recent years are changing the attitude towards writing with a pen. Children are increasingly typing on a keyboard. This brings into focus research investigations aimed at identifying the possible influence of the above-mentioned type of educational activity on the indicators of psychomotor skills. The purpose of this research is to study accuracy and speed indicators of psychomotor coordination when working with hands in primary school students, depending on the amount of computer load (screen time). Materials and Methods. The study involved 4205 primary schoolchildren in grades 1-4 from 66 educational settings in Moscow (5 academic years, testing took place in October and March-April; all samples were independent). Indicators of psychomotor coordination (speed, accuracy, and smoothness of movements) when performing a motor test using "computer movement meter" (CMM) device were evaluated. The amount of lesson and out-of-school screen time was evaluated by teachers, relying on the hygiene standards: 0 points – no load, 1 point – compliance with hygiene standards, 2 points – twice exceeding the standards, 3 points – exceeding the standards by 3 or more times. Statistical data processing was performed using nonparametric criteria. Results. The research revealed the correlation between the total (lesson and out-of-school) screen time and indicators of psychomotor coordination in primary schoolchildren. The most obvious differences in psychomotor indices were found at the very beginning of school education – in October, in the 1st grade: in children with a minimum amount of computer load, the indicators of speed and accuracy were the worst. Speed indicators of psychomotor skills in groups of children (especially boys) with a high computer load have seasonal variability in the form of improvement by the end of the school year. Accurate indicators of psychomotor skills, on the contrary, with an increase in the amount of general computer load, lose variability and decrease. The smoothness of movements did not depend on the screen time. Conclusions. The identified changes in the psychomotor skills of primary school students who are active computer-users can be considered as a positive adaptive response in the form of developing new motor skills.

Cold Atmospheric Pressure Plasma Can Induce Adaptive Response in Pea Seeds

This study investigated the effect of cold atmospheric pressure air plasma pre-treatment on pea (Pisum sativum L.) seeds. The aim of our study was to verify the plasma impact on DNA damage and the induction of positive adaptive response in pea seedlings. The pea seeds were treated by plasma at the exposure times ranging from 60 to 300 s. Plasma was generated using the coplanar type of dielectric surface barrier discharge. The main plasma properties were estimated by electrical and by optical emission spectroscopy measurements. The DNA damage was evaluated by the alkaline comet assay. The adaptive response on seedlings was tested using the toxic concentration of zeocin. The positive effect of plasma pre-treatment and the reduction of DNA damage of pea seedlings in comparison to control samples without plasma was observed at all exposure times used. The strongest repairing effect was observed at the plasma treatment time in the range from 120 to 240 s. These results verify the safety of plasma application in agriculture at germination and growth enhancement and the existence of a plasma induced adaptive response.

Body shape and robustness response to water flow during development of brown trout Salmo trutta parr.

Domesticated brown trout Salmo trutta parr were subjected to increased, variable flow under controlled experimental conditions. Using geometric morphometric analyses, K¯(a mass–length index) and caudal fin area–body length ratio, this study assessed morphological responses in lateral body depth, growth and robustness and propulsive potential, respectively, of parr over the course of 32 weeks. Geometric morphometric analyses did not reveal an effect of exercise on either lateral body depth or caudal fin area. However, improved overall robustness and growth trajectories in exercised parr showed a positive adaptive response to the enriched habitat. Exercise and habitat heterogeneity thus have the potential to improve survivability of domesticated salmonids in the wild.

Modulation of Stretch-Shortening-Cycle Behavior With Eccentric Loading of Triceps Surae: A Possible Therapeutic Mechanism.

Eccentric exercises are increasingly being used to treat lower-limb musculoskeletal conditions such as Achilles tendinopathy. Despite widespread clinical application and documented efficacy, mechanisms underpinning clinical benefit remain unclear. Positive adaptations in motor performance are a potential mechanism. To investigate how an eccentric loading intervention influences measures of stretch-shortening-cycle (SSC) behavior during a hopping task. Within-subjects repeated-measures observational study. University motion-analysis laboratory. Healthy adults. A single intervention of 5 sets of 10 eccentric plantar-flexion contractions at 6 repetitions maximum using a commercial seated calf-raise machine. Lower-limb stiffness, sagittal-plane ankle kinematics, and temporal muscle activity of the agonist (soleus) and antagonist (tibialis anterior) muscles, measured during submaximal hopping on a custom-built sledge-jump system. Eccentric loading altered ankle kinematics during submaximal hopping; peak angle shifted to a less dorsiflexed position by 2.9° and ankle angle precontact shifted by 4.4° (P < .001). Lower-limb stiffness increased from 5.9 to 6.8 N/m (P < .001), while surface EMG measures of soleus occurred 14-44% earlier (P < .001) after the loading intervention. These findings suggest that eccentric loading alters SSC behavior in a manner reflective of improved motor performance. Decreased ankle excursion, increased lower-limb stiffness, and alterations in motor control may represent a positive adaptive response to eccentric loading. These findings support the theory that mechanisms underpinning eccentric loading for tendinopathy may in part be due to improved "buffering" of the tendon by the neuromuscular system.

Climate change and migration: the case of the Pacific Islands and Australia

There is growing consensus that voluntary labour migration can promote economic development in migrant sending and receiving countries and can be a positive adaptive response to the effects of climate change. However, for voluntary migration to be a positive form of adaptation, policy commitment and collaboration between migrant sending and receiving countries will be required. In the Pacific, Australia has capacity to collaborate with Pacific Island governments to facilitate voluntary migration; however, Australia has been reluctant to expand migration access to the Pacific. This article makes the case for promoting migration opportunities between Australia and the Pacific as part of the adaptive strategy efforts.

There Are No Nonresponders to Resistance-Type Exercise Training in Older Men and Women

ObjectiveTo assess the proposed prevalence of unresponsiveness of older men and women to augment lean body mass, muscle fiber size, muscle strength, and/or physical function following prolonged resistance-type exercise training. Design/Setting/ParticipantsA retrospective analysis of the adaptive response to 12 (n = 110) and 24 (n = 85) weeks of supervised resistance-type exercise training in older (>65 years) men and women. MeasurementsLean body mass (DXA), type I and type II muscle fiber size (biopsy), leg strength (1-RM on leg press and leg extension), and physical function (chair-rise time) were assessed at baseline, and after 12 and 24 weeks of resistance-type exercise training. ResultsLean body mass increased by 0.9 ± 0.1 kg (range: −3.3 to +5.4 kg; P < .001) from 0 to 12 weeks of training. From 0 to 24 weeks, lean body mass increased by 1.1 ± 0.2 kg (range: −1.8 to +9.2 kg; P < .001). Type I and II muscle fiber size increased by 324 ± 137 μm2 (range: −4458 to +3386 μm2; P = .021), and 701 ± 137 μm2 (range: −4041 to +3904 μm2; P < .001) from 0 to 12 weeks. From 0 to 24 weeks, type I and II muscle fiber size increased by 360 ± 157 μm2 (range: −3531 to +3426 μm2; P = .026) and 779 ± 161 μm2 (range: −2728 to +3815 μm2; P < .001). The 1-RM strength on the leg press and leg extension increased by 33 ± 2 kg (range: −36 to +87 kg; P < .001) and 20 ± 1 kg (range: −22 to +56 kg; P < .001) from 0 to 12 weeks. From 0 to 24 weeks, leg press and leg extension 1-RM increased by 50 ± 3 kg (range: −28 to +145 kg; P < .001) and 29 ± 2 kg (range: −19 to +60 kg; P < .001). Chair-rise time decreased by 1.3 ± 0.4 seconds (range: +21.6 to −12.5 seconds; P = .003) from 0 to 12 weeks. From 0 to 24 weeks, chair-rise time decreased by 2.3 ± 0.4 seconds (range: +10.5 to −23.0 seconds; P < .001). Nonresponsiveness was not apparent in any subject, as a positive adaptive response on at least one training outcome was apparent in every subject. ConclusionsA large heterogeneity was apparent in the adaptive response to prolonged resistance-type exercise training when changes in lean body mass, muscle fiber size, strength, and physical function were assessed in older men and women. The level of responsiveness was strongly affected by the duration of the exercise intervention, with more positive responses following more prolonged exercise training. We conclude that there are no nonresponders to the benefits of resistance-type exercise training on lean body mass, fiber size, strength, or function in the older population. Consequently, resistance-type exercise should be promoted without restriction to support healthy aging in the older population.

Angiogenesis-related factors in skeletal muscles of COPD patients: roles of angiopoietin-2

The role of angiogenesis factors in skeletal muscle dysfunction in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is unknown. The first objective of this study was to assess various pro- and antiangiogenic factor and receptor expressions in the vastus lateralis muscles of control subjects and COPD patients. Preliminary inquiries revealed that angiopoietin-2 (ANGPT2) is overexpressed in limb muscles of COPD patients. ANGPT2 promotes skeletal satellite cell survival and differentiation. Factors that are involved in regulating muscle ANGPT2 production are unknown. The second objective of this study was to evaluate how oxidants and proinflammatory cytokines influence muscle-derived ANGPT2 expression. Angiogenic gene expressions in human vastus lateralis biopsies were quantified with low-density real-time PCR arrays. ANGPT2 mRNA expressions in cultured skeletal myoblasts were quantified in response to proinflammatory cytokine and H2O2 exposure. Ten proangiogenesis genes, including ANGPT2, were significantly upregulated in the vastus lateralis muscles of COPD patients. ANGPT2 mRNA levels correlated negatively with forced expiratory volume in 1 s and positively with muscle wasting. Immunoblotting confirmed that ANGPT2 protein levels were significantly greater in muscles of COPD patients compared with control subjects. ANGPT2 expression was induced by interferon-γ and -β and by hydrogen peroxide, but not by tumor necrosis factor. We conclude that upregulation of ANGPT2 expression in vastus lateralis muscles of COPD patients is likely due to oxidative stress and represents a positive adaptive response aimed at facilitating myogenesis and angiogenesis.

Differential Fetal Responses to Maternal Nutrient Restriction: A Population Variance Approach.

Recent studies have demonstrated that, although important, birth weight alone is an insufficient indicator of fetal growth and postnatal health and well-being. Using the undernourished sheep model, it is widely accepted that maternal nutrient restriction (NR) results in offspring that are smaller at birth than counterparts from adequately fed ewes. However, closer examination of these cohorts reveals a highly variable response to maternal nutrient stress, as might be expected in an outbred animal. Our objective was to identify and further investigate fetuses benefiting from a positive adaptive response to this nutritional stress, as evidenced by normal fetal weight, compared to those exhibiting intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR). To identify subpopulations of ewes able to support normal fetal growth despite inadequate nutrition, multiparous Suffolk ewes were made pregnant by transfer of a single embryo into the uterus on Day 5.5 post-estrus. Pregnancy was confirmed by ultrasound on Day 28. Beginning on Day 35 of pregnancy and continuing throughout the study, ewes were fed 50% of the NRC requirements. An additional group of ewes received 100% of their NRC recommended intake throughout the study to serve as a control. On Day 125 of pregnancy, ewes were necropsied and fetal and placental tissues were collected. Results of subsequent analyses identified unique organ specific patterns in gene expression segregating these three distinct fetal sub-populations. Interestingly, in some instances NR non-IUGR fetuses exhibit gene expression patterns similar to control fed animals, while in other cases both NR non-IUGR and IUGR fetuses exhibit a similar pattern of gene expression that is vastly different than that of fetuses from control fed ewes. These intriguing results highlight the need for a more comprehensive assessment of the intrauterine environment during fetal development to predict short- and long-term health of the offspring. This knowledge will prove useful for identifying windows of potential intervention. Further, these studies highlight the value of alternative outbred animal models such as the sheep for understanding dynamic processes regulating fetal growth and development.

High levels of antioxidant enzymatic defence assure good protection against hypoxic stress in spontaneously diabetic rats

Recent data from literature report that reactive oxygen species (ROS) seem to play a crucial role in the etiology of both types I and II diabetes. This may render diabetic individuals more prone to oxidative injury when challenged with hypoxic stress. It is in fact well known that many diabetic complications cause ischaemic episodes, with a consequent reduction in oxygen supply to various tissues and organs. To check this hypothesis, in this work we tested type I diabetic individuals’ antioxidant capability towards a hypoxic-mediated oxidative challenge. In particular, spontaneously diabetic and age-matched non-diabetic biobreeding (BB) Wistar rats were submitted to chronic normobaric hypoxia, and the response of antioxidant enzymes, as well as redox-sensitive transcription factor NF-κB and p53, were monitored. Results show that diabetic subjects present a dramatic enhancement in the major antioxidant enzymes activities, thus supporting the notion of diabetes-related changes in cellular redox status. This allows diabetic individuals to counteract hypoxia-mediated oxidative challenge better than the non-diabetic counterpart. Also the behaviour of both the redox-sensitive nuclear transcription factor NF-κB and p53 protein in response to hypoxic stimulation seems to support the hypothesis of a better ROS scavenging efficiency in diabetics under hypoxic conditions. In conclusion, high levels of antioxidant enzymatic defences in diabetic BB rats reflect a positive adaptive response able to assure an efficient protection not only against chronic, diabetes-mediated reactive oxygen species (ROS) overproduction, but also versus further oxidative damage.

Delayed clot removal and experimental vasospasm.

It is known that vasospastic arteries have reduced compliance and contractility and exhibit changes in expression of various proteins [, ]. It is possible that they may be altered in a manner that reduces their reactivity to blood clot and thereby contributes to the reversal of vasospasm. These experiments determined if subarachnoid blood clot induces a positive adaptive response in cerebral arteries that renders them less responsive to a subsequent challenge with subarachnoid blood.