Stress Factors Research Articles

Oxidative stress of mitophagy in neurodegenerative diseases: Mechanism and potential therapeutic targets.

Neurodegenerative diseases are now significant chronic progressive neurological conditions that affect individuals' physical health. Oxidative stress is crucial in the development of these diseases. Among the various neurodegenerative diseases, mitochondrial damage has become a major factor in oxidative stress and disease advancement. During this process, oxidative stress and mitophagy plays an important role. In this paper, we introduced the role of mitophagy and oxidative stress in detail, and expounded the relationship between them. In addition, we summarized the pathogenesis of some neurodegenerative diseases and the mechanism of three antioxidants. The former includes AD, PD, HD and ALS, while the latter includes carnosine, adiponectin and resveratrol. Provide goals and directions for further research and treatment of neurodegenerative diseases. This review summarizes the impact of oxidative stress on neurodegenerative diseases by regulating mitophagy, provides a deeper understanding of their pathological mechanisms, and suggests potential new therapeutic targets.

Gastroprotective effect of fucoidan from Sargassum siliquastrum against ethanol-induced gastric mucosal injury.

The ethanol-induced BALB/c mice and human gastric epithelial cell (Ges-1 cell) models were used to investigate the Sargassum siliquastrum fucoidan (SFuc) gastroprotective capability. The injury score and histopathological sections of the stomach were used to evaluate the gastroprotective capability. The western blotting and RT-PCR methods determined the signaling mechanism of mice's gastric injury. SFuc is fucoidan with a molecular weight of 300.7 and 25.1kDa. The injury score and ulcer index of the SFuc-200 group decreased by 3.85 and 2.06 folds in contrast with the Model group, respectively. The findings indicated that SFuc reduced oxidative stress and inflammatory factor expression in the gastric mucosa by downregulating the levels of associated genes within the TLR-4, MyD88, and MAPK/NF-κB signaling pathways. Meanwhile, the SFuc-200 group promoted the expressions of EGF and PGE 2 by 1.53 and 1.52 folds, respectively. Together with the expression inhibition of p38, ERK, JNK, and NF-κB proteins in gastric tissue to help for differentiation of gastric cells. In addition, SFuc significantly reduced apoptosis occurrence in mice and Ges-1 cells. Our study provides potential mechanism clues of the SFuc's resistance to ethanol-induced gastric mucosal damage, suggesting its potential functional food for gastric protection.

Exosomes and non-coding RNAs: Exploring their roles in human myocardial dysfunction.

Myocardial dysfunction, characterized by impaired cardiac muscle function, arises from diverse etiologies, including coronary artery disease, myocardial infarction, cardiomyopathies, hypertension, and valvular heart disease. Recent advancements have highlighted the roles of exosomes and non-coding RNAs in the pathophysiology of myocardial dysfunction. Exosomes are small extracellular vesicles released by cardiac and other cells that facilitate intercellular communication through their molecular cargo, including ncRNAs. ncRNAs are known to play critical roles in gene regulation through diverse mechanisms, impacting oxidative stress, fibrosis, and other factors associated with myocardial dysfunction. Dysregulation of these molecules correlates with disease progression, presenting opportunities for therapeutic interventions. This review explores the mechanistic interplay between exosomes and ncRNAs, underscoring their potential as biomarkers and therapeutic agents in myocardial dysfunction. Emerging evidence supports the use of engineered exosomes and modified ncRNAs to enhance cardiac repair by targeting signaling pathways associated with fibrosis, apoptosis, and angiogenesis. Despite promising preclinical results, delivery, stability, and immunogenicity challenges remain. Further research is needed to optimize clinical translation. Understanding these intricate mechanisms may drive the development of innovative strategies for diagnosing and treating myocardial dysfunction, ultimately improving patient outcomes.

Prevalence of Stress, Anxiety, Depression, and Sleep Quality Among Young Adults in Turkiye: A Cross-Sectional Study.

The current study was conducted to measure the prevalence of stress, anxiety, depression, and sleep quality and identify predisposing factors of psychological distress among young adults during the pandemic. A cross-sectional design was adopted. The target population consisted of students studying at an associate degree health services school at a university in Turkiye. Overall, 704 students were included in the sample. Multiple logistic regression was implemented to predict risk factors. The prevalence of moderate to extremely severe stress, anxiety, and depression was found to be 39%, 48.4% and 47.6%, respectively. There was a strong positive association between stress and anxiety (r = 0.869, p < 0.001), stress and depression (r = 0.912, p < 0.001), and between anxiety and depression (r = 0.857, p < 0.001). A moderate positive relationship was found between sleep quality and stress (r = 0.484, p < 0.001), sleep quality and anxiety (r = 0.484, p < 0.001), and sleep quality and depression (r = 0.481, p < 0.001). Young adults with poor sleep quality, those who find safety measures for the pandemic outbreak insufficient, those who use alcohol, and those who feel despair were more likely to have stress, anxiety, and depression risk. Age and gender did not affect their stress, anxiety, or depression risk. Nearly half of the young adults experienced varying degrees of stress, anxiety, and depression, and most had poor sleep quality. The insufficiency of outbreak measures, poor sleep quality, using alcohol, and feelings of despair were mutual predictive factors of stress, anxiety, and depression.

Experiences and Concerns of Pregnant Refugee Women from Nigeria Seeking for Asylum in Germany - A qualitative analysis

ProblemInsights into and data of the experiences of pregnant women seeking asylum in Germany are largely lacking. BackgroundDue to multiple stress factors, pregnant refugees are considered a vulnerable group. Gender-specific causes of flight, traumatic experiences during flight, and numerous stressors in the respective host country have a decisive impact on the health of women and affect pregnancy and childbirth. AimThis study aims to assess the perspectives and needs of pregnant refugee women from Nigeria, that are residing in an initial reception center in Germany. MethodsExperiences and concerns of N = 20 pregnant refugee women from Nigeria relating to pregnancy and impending childbirth were assessed in semi-structured interviews, conducted by three psychologists in English. FindingsFindings emphasize the need for continuous medical and psychotherapeutic care due to the multiple stressors and the partial lack of social support, especially for single women. The participants described their concerns particularly related to their personal and their family's health, as well as their impending birth, their optimistic attitude about the parenting experience, and confidence in medical care in Germany. Their wishes were predominantly related to items necessary for the care of their children, information about the pregnancy and birth process as well as for their integration. Utilization of resources and positive activities were indicative of adapting coping styles and resilience factors of pregnant refugee women. ConclusionThis study highlights the importance of the context-sensitive medical and psychotherapeutic care to adequately support the women during pregnancy and around childbirth. Furthermore, the study demonstrates the necessity of counteracting the negative effects of experiences on their health and that of their children.

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To expedite the deployment of Sesuvium portulacastrum floating bed technology in Hangzhou Bay and the Yangtze River Estuary, and to overcome the cryogenic constraint, our study concentrated on investigating the impacts of both individual and combined stress factors, particularly low temperature and salinity, on its application. We detected the S. portulacastrum related enzyme activity and other biological macromolecules under low temperature stress, salt stress and combined stress. And we also analyzed the stress resistance mechanism under different stress conditions by transcriptomic technology. It was discovered that moderate salt stress could enhance plant tolerance to low temperature, indicating the presence of an antagonistic relationship between salinity and low temperature. The biological mechanism underlying this phenomenon lies in the fact that combined stresses induce the up-regulation of various genes and activate more pathways compared to single stress. Among these pathways, the linoleic acid metabolic pathway stands out as unique to combined stress conditions. This research represents the inaugural endeavor to investigate the impact of low temperature stress and combined stress on S.portulacastrum, offering a pivotal reference for the utilization of this plant in ecological restoration and management within the East China Sea. More valuable is that such conclusions may be extended to the coastal ecological governance of many high latitude countries, which is of great significance for global ecological environment improvement.

Stress factors among physiotherapy students at a university in Gauteng, South Africa

Stress factors among physiotherapy students at a university in Gauteng, South Africa

Can an organizationally anchored, multilevel intervention improve perceived stress and psychosocial factors in the workplace? A pre-post study assessing effectiveness and implementation

BackgroundOrganizational multilevel interventions have been called for as a means to improve psychosocial working conditions, reduce stress, and enhance wellbeing in organizations. However, these types of interventions are highly complex to implement and evaluate, and they remain scarce in the literature. In this study, we present the evaluation of a multilevel intervention conducted in a municipality setting.MethodsThe intervention was based on a train-the-trainer principle and participatory risk assessment workshops on all organizational levels. Action plans were subsequently developed at the team level, and identified risks, which could not be addressed at the team level, were reported to the management for further action planning or escalation to the next management level. Using a pre-post study design, we evaluated changes in proximal outcomes related to the psychosocial working environment, and distal outcomes related to stress and job satisfaction. Changes over time in outcome measures were analyzed using linear mixed models. A quantitative process evaluation was used to examine the degree of implementation of the intervention.ResultsSmall improvements over time were observed with regard to quantitative demands, overall perception of the psychosocial work environment, job satisfaction, and the psychosocial safety climate. We also observed an increase in empowering leadership. Positive tendencies were also found for predicatability at work, possibilities for solving work tasks and support from closest manager. The effect sizes were small in all cases. No improvements in perceived stress or stress symptoms were found. The study revealed several practical and methodological challenges in conducting and implementing this type of multilevel intervention in a municipal setting.ConclusionsOverall, our study suggests that the intervention was associated with small positive changes in certain aspects of the working environment but no improvements were observed in stress outcomes. The study highlights a number of challenges in relation to implementing this type of multilevel intervention in a municipal setting.Trial RegistrationThe study was prospectively registered at ISRCTN84940247 on April 23, 2019.

Developing Countries' Challenges in Cultivating Salt-Tolerant Fodder Peas for Animal Feed

As a result of the rapid increase in the world population, the problem of balanced and adequate nutrition has emerged, and the importance of animal production has increased even more. In this respect, to ensure sufficient and balanced nutrition of existing animals, there is a need to increase the cultivation areas of fodder crops and proper management of pastures and breeding studies. For this reason, fodder pea (Pisum sativum L.), which has high nutritional value and is preferred for animal consumption, is a vital fodder plant to meet this need. Fodder peas are suitable for consumption as animal feed because they contain high levels of carbohydrates and digestible substances. However, salinity, one of the abiotic stress factors, is an essential problem for fodder peas. Salinity significantly limits the development of the plant and leads to yield losses. Although the consequences of climate change vary in many parts of the world, it is predicted that the frequency and severity of conditions such as decreased precipitation, increased temperatures, floods, droughts, and increased saline areas will increase with climate change in developing countries. In addition, salt stress also affects the photosynthetic mechanism in plants and causes changes in chlorophyll, carotenoid, phenolic, and antioxidant concentrations. Since the reclamation of saline farmland is expensive and complex, it is more appropriate to grow salinity-resistant plants. Therefore, gene studies to improve the salinity tolerance of plants have gained momentum in recent years. In this review, studies conducted in the last 20 years are discussed. Salt tolerance in gene-transferred and non-transferred peas, as well as plant growth in a saline environment, were assessed by comparing proline, chlorophyll, total phenolic, and antioxidant levels. In summary, this study seeks to highlight the issues of drought, aridity, and salinity, all of which are expected to worsen as climate change progresses.

An ANN-based model for constructing undrained failure envelopes for circular piles under general loading

ABSTRACT This study introduces a novel approach in which three-dimensional finite element limit analysis (3D FELA) is employed to investigate an undrained circular pile under combined loads. The primary aim is to analyze how vertical (V), horizontal (H), and moment (M) loads affect the pile's ultimate capacity. Unique to this research is the exploration of the relationships between the overburden stress factor (n) and the pile length–diameter ratio (L/D) and the influence of normalised vertical loading (V/V0 ), normalised horizontal loading (H/suLD), and normalised moment loading (M/suL²D). A distinctive feature of this study is the use of total shear dissipation to identify failure zones and patterns within the soil, which reveals significant shearing and failure areas. Additionally, the study constructs a 3D failure envelope to assess the impact of the axis angle (β). The integration of an artificial neural network (ANN) with 8 hidden neurons represents a novel aspect of this research, offering advanced prediction of H/suLD and M/suL²D values. The ANN's effectiveness is validated through seven indices, demonstrating its accuracy in constructing the 3D failure envelope. The results highlight that the angle β has the most significant influence, with an 82.7% impact on the output parameters, underscoring the innovative contribution of combining finite element analysis with an ANN for enhanced prediction and analysis.

“We are simply being pressed out, slowly but surely” - Unhoused peoples’ experience with exclusionary design

With interest in ‘what it is like to be subjected to?’ this article provides insight into unhoused people’s experiences of being exposed to ‘exclusionary design’ (Jensen, 2019, 2023), and how this type of design affects their everyday life. Exclusionary design encompasses elements such as benches divided into sections with armrests, sound installations with music set up in station areas, and areas that are fenced off. In the study of the experience of exclusionary design, 15 unhoused people were interviewed, and it is the statements of some of these people that form the foundation of this article, offering a deeper understanding of the impact of being rejected by exclusionary design in public spaces. The article concludes that three particular aspects are prevalent: exclusionary design is perceived as (1) unsolidary, (2) destructive, and (3) a stress factor in an already chaotic existence.

Hypoxia-inducible factor 2α mediates nonesterified fatty acids and hypoxia-induced lipid accumulation in bovine hepatocytes.

Ketosis is a metabolic disorder frequently occurring in the perinatal period, characterized by elevated circulating concentrations of nonesterified fatty acids (NEFA) due to negative energy balance, resulting in fatty liver in dairy cows. However, the mechanism of hepatic steatosis induced by high concentrations of NEFA in ketosis remains unclear. Hypoxia-inducible factor 2α (HIF-2α), which mediates adaptation to hypoxic stress, plays a critical role in regulating lipid metabolism. In this study, we investigate whether HIF-2α is involved in NEFA-driven hepatic lipid accumulation in dairy cows with ketosis. Liver and blood samples were collected from 10 healthy cows (blood β-hydroxybutyrate (BHB) concentration <1.2 mM) and 10 ketotic cows (blood BHB concentration >3.0 mM with clinical symptoms) with similar lactation numbers (median = 3, range = 2 to 4) at 3 to 9 d in milk (median = 6). In cows with ketosis, serum concentrations of NEFA and β-hydroxybutyrate (BHB) were greater but serum concentrations of glucose were lower. Moreover, hepatic triglyceride content increased significantly. In the liver of ketotic cows, which was accompanied by upregulated HIF-2α expression. To determine the potential association among hypoxia, HIF-2α, and the formation of hepatocellular steatosis in vitro, we isolated hepatocytes from healthy calves for the following experiments. First, hepatocytes were treated with 0, 0.6, 1.2, or 2.4 mM NEFA (52.7 mM stock NEFA solution was diluted in RPMI-1640 basic medium supplemented with 2% fatty acid-free BSA to achieve the specified concentrations) for 18 h, showing that HIF-2α expression and cellular hypoxia occurred in a dose-dependent manner. Next, hepatocytes were infected with HIF-2α (encoded by EPAS1) small interfering RNA (Si-HIF-2α) for 48 h and then treated with 1.2 mM NEFA for 18 h. Results indicated that silencing HIF-2α decreased NEFA-induced lipid accumulation in bovine hepatocytes. Subsequently, hepatocytes treated with or without NEFA were placed in an AnaeroPack System, mimicking a hypoxic condition, for 0, 12, 18, or 24 h. Results showed that hypoxia could induce and further exacerbate lipid accumulation in bovine hepatocytes. Meanwhile, normal or NEFA-treated hepatocytes were cocultured with or without PT2385, a specific HIF-2α inhibitor, showing that hypoxia promoted steatosis through HIF-2α. Activating transcription factor 4 (ATF4) is an endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress and hypoxia-inducible transcription factor. Here, bovine hepatocytes were treated with NEFA or hypoxia following transfecting ATF4 small interfering RNA (Si-ATF4), which demonstrated that ATF4 knockdown alleviated the extent of lipid accumulation in bovine hepatocytes. Besides, we found that ATF4 expression was correlated with HIF-2α levels in both liver tissue and cultured hepatocyte models. Moreover, overexpression of ATF4 weakened the beneficial effects of HIF-2α inhibition. Overall, these data suggest that NEFA-induced hepatic hypoxia significantly contributes to the progression of hepatic steatosis which in turn, intensifies hypoxia and leads to a self-perpetuating cycle of reciprocal causation, further exacerbating hepatic lipid deposition. Additionally, accumulated HIF-2α plays a critical role in this complex-origin steatosis, potentially through ATF4.

Clinical Features and Inhospital Outcomes of Takotsubo (Stress) Cardiomyopathy: Ten Years’ Experience from a Tertiary Care Center in South India

Abstract Background: Takotsubo cardiomyopathy is a syndrome which is characterized by transient regional systolic dysfunction, principally, of the left ventricle (LV), mimicking myocardial infarction (MI), but in the absence of angiographic evidence of obstructive coronary artery disease or acute plaque rupture. Aims and Objectives: In the present study we estimated clinical profile and assess the clinical course and short-term outcome of takotsubo cardiomyopathy. Materials and Methods: This was a single-center retrospective study conducted between April 01, 2013, and May 31, 2023. Cases were patients who were admitted in the Department of Cardiology with a diagnosis of takotsubo cardiomyopathy. Descriptive statistics were obtained for all variables and entered in MS Excel and analyzed with SPSS (SPSS for Windows, version 16.0, Chicago, IL, USA) in the study, and appropriate statistical tests like P value were employed to ascertain the significance. Results: Over 10 years (2012-2022), 55 patients of South Asian ethnicity with a diagnosis of takosubo cardiomyopathy were treated at this 2,858-bed tertiary-care hospital. Out of the study population 89.1% were female. Hypertension was seen in 58.2%, Diabetes Mellitus was seen in 45.5% and Dyslipidaemia was seen in 61.8 % of the patients. Stress factor or a precipitating event, was found in majority of the patients (63.6%). The mode of presentation was such that 63% presented with typical chest pain, 70.9% had dyspnoea, 9.1% had palpitation and 7.3% had syncope. The Cardiac enzymes were raised in 56 % patients. Coronary angiogram was done in all the patients which showed normal coronaries in 89.1% and non-flow limiting Coronaries in 10.9%. Of the study population, 25 (45.5%) patients had developed acute heart failure during their hospital stay and 17 (30.9%) patients had developed new arrhythmias. After Univariate and multivariate analysis to find the predictors of heart failure, evidence of right ventricular dysfunction was found to be an independent risk factor for developing acute heart failure. [OR = 4.14 ,95% CI (1.34 to 12.8)] and initial presentation as palpitation was an independent risk factor for developing new arrythmia. [OR =3.86 ,95% CI (1.16 to 8.84)]. Acute renal failure occurred in 6(10.9%) and there was no occurrence of cerebrovascular accident. The mean ± SD duration of hospital stay of the entire study cohort was of 4.09 ± 2.396 days. The overall mortality in this cohort was 2 (3.6%). At mean follow up time of 5.3 ± 1.4 years two patients died due to cerebrovascular accidents. 41 patients (74%) were asymptomatic, and 5 (9%) patients had intermittent episodes of dyspnoea. 2 (3.4%) patients were found to have paroxysmal atrial fibrillation episodes. At the echocardiographic follow up the mean ejection fraction improved to 56 ± 4%. Conclusions: The present study showed the high morbidity of TTS, diagnosed according to the new Inter-TAK criteria, in a tertiary center in India, especially during hospitalization, even though the overall prognosis is usually good. Often there is a preceding emotional or physical trigger, however absence of a trigger does not preclude a diagnosis of Takotsubo cardiomyopathy. Presence of RV failure had higher chances of acute heart failure and index presentation of palpitation had higher occurrence of arrythmias.

Post-Migration Stress and Mental Health Outcomes: A Comparative Study of Syrian Refugee Women in Houston and Jordan

This study aims to examine context-specific post-migration stress factors and their differential impacts on the mental health of Syrian refugee women resettled in Houston, Texas, and urban communities in Jordan. A cross-sectional survey investigated sociodemographic and health-related conditions, psychological distress and coping (Perceived Stress Scale [PSS]), mental health-related symptomatology (Self-Report Questionnaire [SRQ]), conflict-related psychological distress (Afghan Symptom Checklist [ASC]), and post-migration stress (Refugee Post-Migration Stress Scale [RPMS]). Linear regression models examined factors associated with post-migration stress and mental health outcomes. A total of 127 Syrian refugee women participated in the study. Participants were in their mid-30s (mean age = 34.79 ± 11.2 years), married (66.9%), and reported low levels of education (44.8% below high school), low employment (27.2%), and elevated financial strain (91% below the poverty line). Jordan-based refugees exhibited higher scores on mental distress measures compared to their Houston-based counterparts; specifically more elevated psychological distress (p &lt; 0.001), symptomatology (p &lt; 0.001), and conflict-related distress (p &lt; 0.001). Syrian refugee women in Houston reported higher social strain, while those in Jordan experienced greater financial hardship and barriers to accessing healthcare services. Mental distress among Syrian refugee women is influenced by specific post-migration stressors that vary by resettlement location. Targeted interventions are necessary to improve mental health outcomes in this population.

Machine learning the abiotic stressor impacts on nitrogen availability and photo energy use in dryland forage systems under different tillage and green manuring practices

Background and aimSorghum sudangrass (SSG), a vigorous hybrid C4 plant grown as forage or bioenergy crop during the summer has deeply distributed fibrous root system beneficial to dryland agriculture. Despite these advantages, the crop faces challenges from abiotic stressors, particularly during severe drought seasons. Thus, the goal of planting SSG as a forage is to generate ample biomass with minimal inputs, minimize toxicity, identify stress factors, and implement suitable management strategies with negligible environmental impact. This study focused on machine learning the intricate soil–plant-water-atmosphere relationships associated with abiotic stresses and agroenvironmental variables to enhance energy-efficiency and alleviate nitrogen (N) stress.MethodsA long-term simulation study involving SSG with four N treatments (spring-fallow and N fertilization, and three spring-time cover with 100% residue addition as green manures) under no-till (NT) and conventional (CT) tillage systems was unsuccessful to provide distinct effects of N strategies. Machine learning (ML) was employed to determine how abiotic-stress factors were varied, specifically under influence of green manures such as oat (OG), field peas (FP) and grass peas (GP) under conventional and conservation systems.ResultsResults indicated significantly higher use-efficiency of photosynthetically-active radiation (PAR) and the lowest N stress in NT + FP contrasting with the lowest PAR and the highest N-stress in conventional system. ML Regression models highlighted significant impact of average daily temperatures on water (R2 of 78%) and N-stress (R2 of 79%). Multi-regression ML models, incorporating various agro-environmental variables identified tillage as the most influential factor during wet seasons, water-stress during normal seasons, and temperature as the predominant factor during drought seasons influencing N stress in SSG forage-system.ConclusionConspicuously, drought exhibited a more pronounced influence from green manuring compared to wet or normal seasons in our study. Thus, farmers should be encouraged to adapt the practice of using cover and green-manures despite the concerns about water reserves for summertime cash crops.

Investigating Stress, Burnout, and Organizational Factors Contributing to Psychological Well-being at Work

This research investigates the inter-relationships between work stress, organizational variables, and employee well-being through a quantitative approach. A sample of 350 employees from diverse industries, corporate, healthcare, education, and services, was chosen via snowball sampling. Self-administered questionnaires with closed-ended Likert scale items were used to collect the data, measuring workplace stress, burnout, leadership style, workplace culture, and psychological well-being. Pearson's correlation, multiple regression, and post-hoc analysis (ANOVA/MANOVA) were used in this study to identify relationships among the variables. Significant negative correlations between employee well-being and work stress (r = -0.65, p = 0.001) were observed, whereas organizational variables, including leadership style and workplace culture, predicted employee stress and burnout. The results give an overview of organizational factors and mental health approaches that can help mitigate employee resilience.

ВЛИЯНИЕ КОНТАМИНИРОВАННОГО МИКОТОКСИНАМИ КОРМА И ПРОТИВОПАРАЗИТАРНОЙ ОБРАБОТКИ ЭПРИНОМЕКТИНОМ НА КИШЕЧНУЮ МИКРОБИОТУ ЖИВОТНЫХ В УСЛОВИЯХ ЭКСПЕРИМЕНТА

Animals are exposed to numerous stress factors in industrial conditions. The greatest danger is posed by mycotoxins that change the composition of the microbiota in animals, which is one of the reasons for the development of immunosuppression. The purpose of the study is to establish changes in the composition of the intestinal microbiota in laboratory animals with combined contamination of feed with mycotoxins and antiparasitic treatment with eprinomectin. The study was conducted on laboratory rats (five groups of 10 rats each). Animals of the 1st group received a standardized diet and were not exposed to mycotoxins and eprinomectin, the 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th groups of animals received food containing mycotoxins (DON – 0.93, T-2 – 0.025; ZEA – less than 0.02 mg/kg). Additionally, animals of the 3rd and 5th groups were subjected to a single antiparasitic treatment with the drug Veteprin (active ingredient – eprinomectin). Enterosorbent modified with polyarginine was administered daily with food to animals of groups 4 and 5 at a dose of 0.2 g/kg for 12 days at the final stage of the experiment lasting 50 days. The material for bacteriological research was samples of the contents of the cecum. The luminal microflora of the cecum in all animals is dominated by Bifidobactererium spp. and Lactobacillus spp. However, a noticeable decrease in their number is observed with the combined effect of eprinomectin and mycotoxins on the animal body, which indicates a decrease in colonization resistance and inhibition of parietal digestion. Against the background of a decrease in the proportion of obligate anaerobic microflora in the intestine, the number of facultative opportunistic microorganisms increases. Increased growth of yeast-like fungi in the intestine indicates decreased immune reactivity and impaired intestinal barrier function. The use of a sorbent modified with polyarginine normalizes and stabilizes the intestinal microflora.

From low to high elevations, flowers adapt traits and phenology to climate, but phenology‐trait relationships weak

Abstract Flowering phenology is central to plant reproductive success and can relate to morphological traits such as size and quality of flowers, but phenology–trait associations of flowers remain unclear. Phenology–trait associations can vary within and among species, especially across climate gradients, due to allocational trade‐offs in response to selective pressures from abiotic stress and/or biotic factors such as pollinator availability. It is unknown whether floral morphology and phenology experience coordinated selection across climate gradients or vary independently. Understanding the drivers of trait variation and its implications for floral phenology may be especially relevant in mountains where climate and abiotic gradients change sharply with elevation. At higher elevations, increasing cold and aridity may favour higher quality, stress‐tolerant flowers that withstand harsher conditions better than cheaper flowers, but trade‐off with size and showiness to pollinators. Relatively benign conditions at lower elevations may permit more flexible phenotypes and weaker association between trait and phenology by allowing species more leeway for flowering times compared with the short growing season at higher elevations. We examined trait–phenology associations within and among 250 herbaceous species in the Western Himalayas, spanning 2000–4500 m AMSL. Intraspecific variation in traits and phenology decreased from low to high elevation at the community scale, but species showed idiosyncratic responses. Trait–trait correlations indicated stronger selection and constraints on phenotypes and phenology at higher elevations. However, trait–phenology correlations were relatively weak throughout, suggesting independent selection on flower morphology vs. phenology. Overall, climate imposed strong selection on flower traits and regulated floral phenology, but without any strong or consistent associations between traits and phenology. It is likely that flower morphology responded to multiple abiotic and biotic drivers, within and across elevations, whereas phenology mainly responded to temperature and thaw. Our findings suggest that selection from ongoing warming will operate separately on floral morphology and phenology of alpine plant communities, and mechanisms and consequences should be evaluated using experiments. Read the free Plain Language Summary for this article on the Journal blog.

Research progress in tolerance of petroleum hydrocarbon pollutant-degrading strains

Petroleum hydrocarbon pollution has become one of the global environmental problems, posing a serious threat to the environment and human health. Microbial remediation plays an important role in the remediation of petroleum hydrocarbon-contaminated environment. Nevertheless, the stress factors present in the environment polluted by petroleum hydrocarbons limit the effectiveness of microbial remediation. This paper reviews the common stress factors in petroleum hydrocarbon-polluted environment and the response mechanisms of microorganisms to these factors. Furthermore, we introduce the methods to improve microbial tolerance, such as irrational modification, rational modification based on systems biology tools or tolerance mechanisms, and the construction of microbial consortia. The application of these methods is expected to improve the viability and remediation efficiency of microorganisms in petroleum hydrocarbon-contaminated environment and provide new perspectives and technical support for environmental remediation.

Higher Levels of Dispositional Mindfulness Are Associated With More Effective Ecological Momentary Intervention Outcomes in Reducing the Frequency of Awake Bruxism Behaviours.

Previous research has highlighted the multifactorial nature of awake bruxism (AB), including its associations with stress, anxiety and other psychological factors. Dispositional mindfulness, known for its benefits in enhancing emotional regulation and reducing stress, has not yet been thoroughly investigated in association with AB. This study aimed to investigate whether levels of dispositional mindfulness predict the efficacy of ecological momentary intervention (EMI) in reducing the frequency of AB behaviours. This study employed a quasi-experimental design with a correlational component and involved 83 undergraduate dental students categorised into high and low mindfulness groups based on the Mindfulness Attention and Awareness Scale (MAAS). An EMI was implemented using the No Clenching mobile app, which sent 12 alerts per day over 1 month. The primary outcome measure was a 50% reduction in the frequency of AB behaviours. A significant positive relationship was found between dispositional mindfulness levels and the reduction in AB behaviours. Participants with higher mindfulness levels experienced a greater reduction in AB frequency compared to those with lower mindfulness levels. Mixed-effects regression analysis revealed that mindfulness levels were a significant predictor of bruxism reduction (β = 0.45, p < 0.01). The coefficient for MAAS was positive and significant (coefficient = 1.5305, p < 0.001), indicating that higher mindfulness levels are associated with greater reductions in AB frequency. Additionally, a significantly higher percentage of participants in the high mindfulness group (97.5%) achieved a 50% reduction in AB behaviours compared to the low mindfulness group (62%). Higher levels of dispositional mindfulness are associated with more effective EMI outcomes in reducing AB behaviours. Incorporating mindfulness-based approaches into intervention strategies for AB could lead to more personalised and effective treatments.