Months Of Stress Research Articles

Effects of stress hormones on digestibility and performance in cattle: A review

Abstract Various stress factors affect the physiology of cattle. Environmental stressors include heat, cold, wind, humidity, nutrition, endocrine disruptors, and management. Several negative health effects are associated with the hormones produced under stress conditions. In cattle, cortisol has been associated with reduced rates of reproduction, lowered milk production, and suppression of the immune system causing greater disease susceptibility. For a better understanding of how stress hormones impact feed digestibility and animal performance, this review has been divided into four sections (feed digestibility, milk production, milk composition, and meat quality). In dairy cows, the transition period is challenging because of a shortage of energy and nutrients, inflammation, increased lipid peroxidation, as well as hormonal and metabolic changes. Stress hormones decrease milk yield, but cortisol affects arteriovenous pressure, which is essential for milk production (due to stressful conditions or other factors such as the use of steroid medicines). Higher cortisol levels have been observed in the hotter and more stressful months of the year. On the other hand, in early lactation, reduced feed intake can lead to acidosis, reduced milk fat, and lameness in cattle. Heat stress (HS) influences milk composition negatively, especially a decrease in milk protein. In fattening animals, HS reduces feed intake, animal growth, and production efficiency. These extreme events have short-term effects and can last a day or two. Practical solutions can be adopted to reduce HS by modifying the diet, increasing the amount of water for drinking, providing shade, and a good air exchange in the barn and installing sprinklers. It is possible to increase animal welfare and product quality based on the conclusions of this review.

Effect of Saline Stress on the Growth and Physiological Behavior of Young Planting <i>Acacia nilotica</i> in Nursery and After Transplantation

This work consisted of studying the effect of saline constraint represented by different concentrations of NaCl (0, 2, 4, 8 and 11 g / l) at <i>Acacianilotica</i> on certain nursing parameters (germination, growth, biochemical and nutritional) and the survival rate one year after transplanting young clubs in field. The results obtained 14 days after seeding show that the germination rate falls below 40 g / l of NaCl and passes from 90% to 39.2% to 11 g / l of NaCl. After 3 months of stress, it is spring that the growth marked by the height, the diameter of the collar, the number of sheet and the foliar surface decrease as the NaCl concentration increases unlike ray biomass. Salinity has favored the accumulation of soluble, polyphenol, proline and total protein levels in the plant during the experimentation. Regarding the nutritional effect, NaCl negatively affects the nutritional scale of the plants. One year after transplantation, NaCl processed plantations have the best survival rates and the highest was obtained with 4 g / l of NaCl (89.61%). Thus, the submission of young <i>Acacia nilotica</i> plants to a salt strike of 4 g / l NaCl could allow to produce saltwoods for the salinity of the Sahelian zone of Cameroon and this fact contribute to the success of the reforestation campaigns by lower decreases of the mortality rates of transplantation.

The effect of smartphone-based monitoring and treatment including clinical feedback versus smartphone-based monitoring without clinical feedback in bipolar disorder: the SmartBipolar trial—a study protocol for a randomized controlled parallel-group trial

IntroductionA substantial proportion of patients with bipolar disorder experience daily subsyndromal mood swings, and the term “mood instability” reflecting the variability in mood seems associated with poor prognostic factors, including impaired functioning, and increased risk of hospitalization and relapse.During the last decade, we have developed and tested a smartphone-based system for monitoring bipolar disorder. The present SmartBipolar randomized controlled trial (RCT) aims to investigate whether (1) daily smartphone-based outpatient monitoring and treatment including clinical feedback versus (2) daily smartphone-based monitoring without clinical feedback or (3) daily smartphone-based mood monitoring only improves mood instability and other clinically relevant patient-related outcomes in patients with bipolar disorder.Methods and analysisThe SmartBipolar trial is a pragmatic randomized controlled parallel-group trial. Patients with bipolar disorder are invited to participate as part of their specialized outpatient treatment for patients with bipolar disorder in Mental Health Services in the Capital Region of Denmark. The included patients will be randomized to (1) daily smartphone-based monitoring and treatment including a clinical feedback loop (intervention group) or (2) daily smartphone-based monitoring without a clinical feedback loop (control group) or (3) daily smartphone-based mood monitoring only (control group). All patients receive specialized outpatient treatment for bipolar disorder in the Mental Health Services in the Capital Region of Denmark. The trial started in March 2021 and has currently included 150 patients. The outcomes are (1) mood instability (primary), (2) quality of life, self-rated depressive symptoms, self-rated manic symptoms, perceived stress, satisfaction with care, cumulated number and duration of psychiatric hospitalizations, and medication (secondary), and (3) smartphone-based measures per month of stress, anxiety, irritability, activity, and sleep as well as the percentage of days with presence of mixed mood, days with adherence to medication and adherence to smartphone-based self-monitoring. A total of 201 patients with bipolar disorder will be included in the SmartBipolar trial.Ethics and disseminationThe SmartBipolar trial is funded by the Capital Region of Denmark and the Independent Research Fund Denmark. Ethical approval has been obtained from the Regional Ethical Committee in The Capital Region of Denmark (H-19067248) as well as data permission (journal number: P-2019–809). The results will be published in peer-reviewed academic journals, presented at scientific meetings, and disseminated to patients’ organizations and media outlets.Trial registrationTrial registration number: NCT04230421. Date March 1, 2021. Version 1.

Azoospermia: Is it worth waiting for the confirmation of the semen abnormality to start an infertility assessment?

Azoospermia is found in about 1% of men in the general population and in about 10%–15% of infertile men. Upon discovery of semen analysis abnormality, another test must be performed after an interval of 3 months before any other infertility work‐up. This research aimed at evaluating the benefit of waiting for the control test. This retrospective monocentric descriptive study was carried out in the fertility center of the University Hospital of Saint Etienne. All consecutive azoospermic patients diagnosed between January, 2012 and December, 2019 were included. For each patient, two consecutive semen analyses performed 3 months apart were studied. The main focas was on patients whose second semen analysis would have modified the infertility work‐up. Amongst the 172 cases under study, the second semen analysis revealed the presence of sperm for three men. Only one of these 3 modified semen analyses was normal. In the observed azoospermic population, sperm was found on the second test in 1.7%. An infertility assessment is necessary after the discovery of azoospermia in the first semen analysis in 99.5%. These results suggest that it is useless to wait three stressful months before starting an infertility assessment for azoospermic population.

Seagrass in a Changing Estuary, the Indian River Lagoon, Florida, United States

Seagrass is a major structural habitat in the Indian River Lagoon. Maps documented locations and areal extents of beds periodically since the 1940s, and surveys of fixed transects yielded changes in percent cover and depths at the end of the canopy since 1994. Areal extent increased by ∼7,000 ha from 1994 to 2009, mean percent cover within beds decreased from ∼40 to 20%, and mean percent cover standardized to maximum transect length remained near 20%. Thus, conditions supported a consistent biomass because cover decreased as areal extent increased. Between 2011 and 2019, ∼19,000 ha or ∼58% of seagrasses were lost, with offshore ends of canopies moving shoreward and shallower, and standardized mean percent cover decreased to ∼4%. These changes coincided with blooms of phytoplankton, and ≤ 27% of incident subsurface irradiance at 0.9 m was stressful. Decreases in mean percent cover per month of stress became larger when initial mean cover per transect was < 20%, which suggested that the ratio of aboveground to belowground tissues in the expanded and sparser beds led to respiratory demand that was not met by photosynthesis. Despite intermittent improvements in light penetration, widespread recovery of seagrasses has not occurred potentially due to detrimental feedbacks. For example, loss of seagrass exposed sediments to waves, and the resulting disturbance may have hampered recruitment of new shoots. The same decreases also made 58–88% of the carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus in seagrass tissue available to other primary producers. These nutrients did not enhance growth of epiphytes, whose biomass decreased by ∼42%, but they apparently fueled blooms of phytoplankton, with mean chlorophyll-a concentrations increasing by > 900%. Such intense blooms increased shading and loss of seagrasses. Fortunately, data showed that patches of seagrasses at depths of 0.5–0.9 m persisted for 22–24 years, which suggested that this depth zone could hold the key to recovery. Nevertheless, optimistic estimates predict recovery could take 12–17 years. Such a long-term, widespread loss of a key structural habitat may generate multiple adverse effects in the system, and mitigating such effects may entail planting seagrasses to accelerate recovery.

Sociodemographics and chronic stress in mother-toddler dyads living in poverty.

Experiencing chronic stress early in life is associated with later health disparities, and poverty may be a significant stressor for both mothers and children. With a sample of primarily Black and White mothers (N=75) and toddlers (N=71) living in poverty in the United States, we examined the direct relations between sociodemographic conditions of poverty and chronic physiological stress. Mothers completed questionnaires on sociodemographics, including mother/toddler race, mother's education, father's education, poverty level, economic hardship, marital status, unemployment status, and toddler sex. Physiological chronic stress was measured by assaying the cortisol content of 4cm samples of hair cut from the posterior vertex of mothers and toddlers (20-24 months of age) to represent 4 months of stress. Mothers' and toddlers' chronic stress was significantly, moderately, and positively associated. Toddlers had a trending relationship of moderately higher chronic stress if they were Black compared to not Black. Mothers had significantly, moderately higher chronic stress if they were Black or had a Black toddler (compared to not Black), not married (compared to married), or were working (compared to not working). The findings suggest that these mothers, simultaneously navigating poverty and parenting a toddler, need resources to reduce chronic stress.

Physiological and morphological traits associated with germinative and reproductive stage of garden orache (A. hortensis L. var. rubra) under water stress

BackgroundDrought is a major problem limiting the growth and development of plants in the world and especially in Tunisia. Halophytes constitute a renewable wealth and they offer great flexibility with regard to abiotic stresses, and they are evaluated for their ecological and potential food use.ResultsThe proposed work identifies the response of Atriplex hortensis var. rubra to the germinal stage and the reproductive stage under a deficient water regime to measure the drought resistance of this plant that has very interesting forage production abilities. The morphological and water parameters are used to characterize the physiological response of this species to the effects of water deficit. For the germination test, four levels of osmotic potential caused by PEG-6000 solutions at different levels of water potential (− 0.1, − 0.5, − 1.0, − 1.5 MPa) were adopted in seed of A. hortensis germination media. The methodology adopted in the second experiment is based on the cultivation of potted plants stored in a semi-controlled greenhouse at flowering stage. The water deficit was imposed on the plants by watering stop for a week, and the control plants are subjected to a water regime maintained irrigated at 100% of the capacity in the field. Drought tolerance was scored 30 days after the drought stress commenced based on the number of branches and leaf, dry biomass, relative water content, leaf water potential, and nitrogen content. No significant difference was observed in germination rates for all PEG concentrations throughout the experiment which are still close to 60%. The results obtained for the second experiment show a high tolerance of A. hortensis under water stress. Drought induced decreases in two physiological parameters, the number of branches and leafs, and the relative water content of annual Atriplex. Heatmap and PCA data revealed that physiological parameters are more sensitive than morphological parameters in distinguishing the control and drought treatments.ConclusionsIndeed, the orache is distinguished by a great ability to retain water potential after a month of stress. Thus, height, number of branches, leaf and shoot dry weight, and percentage of nitrogen were significantly similar for controls and stressed for A. hortensis. On the other hand, measured root length and basic and midday water potential show significant variability between controls and stressors. In addition, these results highlight the importance of the resistance of Atriplex halophyte forage to drought.

Note from the Editor

CLA JOURNAL 1 Note from the Editor March 2020 will be remembered for many reasons, but what will surely set it apart in the history books was the gradual realization during the final weeks of a relatively mild winter that America--indeed the world--was witnessing in slow motion the fast-moving onset of the Covid-19 pandemic. Throughout March 2020 and the months that followed, we sheltered in place, venturing out in masks, gloves, or sometimes improvised gear to gather essentials only. During these stressful months--and even earlier, we were soon to learn--infections from this virus led to a staggering worldwide loss of life as the relentless, equal-opportunity killer took down seniors and children alike. Within a matter of days, collateral damage from the virus upended carefully laid plans for conferences, graduations, vacations, weddings, concerts, and sporting events. The80thAnnualConventionof theCollegeLanguageAssociation(Afrofuturism: Diasporic Visions) was not spared from the succession of postponed or cancelled events. Decision-makers moved reluctantly but quickly to devise contingency plans. In an historic announcement to the CLA membership, then-President Donna Akiba Sullivan Harper wrote, “Your CLA Executive Committee has decided to take the extraordinary action of postponing our April 2020 convention–-a decision that CLA fortunately has not had to make since WWII, when three national meetings were cancelled. Following quickly on the heels of Dr. Harper’s announcement was welcomed news that the April 2020 CLA Convention had been rescheduled for March 3-6, 2021 at its original Memphis, TN location. Although birthed amid the onset of an historic upheaval, CLAJ 63.1 does not take up the subject. Instead, the six essays that appear here had their origins during earlier, virus-free moments. Topics range from films by Abdul Ben-Abdallah and Haile Gerima to the science fiction of Ray Bradbury and Derrick Bell. Agnieszka Tuszynska’s essay,“Raceless No More: In Search of Race in Willard Motley’s Papers,” offers a reevaluation of Willard Motley’s engagement with the subject of antiblack racism with the hope of a subsequent reassessment of his place in the canon of African American literature. The author argues that the reason for the lack of critical attention to Motley’s work lies in his status as an African American author who became defined early on as a “raceless” writer and challenges calls for scrutiny of his papers--a scrutiny grounded in what he calls archival intimacy. Such archival intimacy requires a holistic study of a broad range of the author’s personal and literary pursuits, leading to a deeply contextual reading of any works produced by the author. Trent Masiki’s essay,“Any place is better than here”: Afro-Zionism in the Science Fiction of Ray Bradbury and Derrick Bell,” examines how U.S. writers use African 2 CLA JOURNAL Note from the Editor American music in speculative emigration narratives that contextualize and critique the state of U.S. race relations. It explores the relationship between Afro-Zionism, contributionism and messianism in the short stories “Way in the Middle of the Air” (1950) by Ray Bradbury and the “The Space Traders” (1991) by Derrick A. Bell, one of the founders of critical race theory. Using cultural poetics and close textual analysis, I examine how the writers of these short stories use Negro spirituals, the blues, and hip hop to express their ambivalence, if not pessimism, about emigration as a solution to the permanence of racial discrimination and terror in the U.S. William Cunningham’s essay, “Quiet Places in Jesmyn Ward and Natasha Trethewey” builds upon Kevin Quashie’s description and analysis of the inner landscape of black expression in The Sovereignty of Quiet. The essay argues for a spatial analog of quiet as revealed in the works of Natasha Trethewey and Jesmyn Ward. It asserts further that Trethewey’s use of telescoping imagery on a still photo demonstrates an intentional and intersectional discourse of quiet that shapes individual identity while also being contained within the landscape. Connecting TretheweyandWardthroughtheiruseof undergroundspaces,theessaydemonstrates how characters in Salvage the Bones access quiet spaces in order to better understand their environment, articulate their own desires, and survive natural and social forces bent on their destruction. Kwangsoon Kim...

Note from the Editor

CLA JOURNAL 1 Note from the Editor March 2020 will be remembered for many reasons, but what will surely set it apart in the history books was the gradual realization during the final weeks of a relatively mild winter that America--indeed the world--was witnessing in slow motion the fast-moving onset of the Covid-19 pandemic. Throughout March 2020 and the months that followed, we sheltered in place, venturing out in masks, gloves, or sometimes improvised gear to gather essentials only. During these stressful months--and even earlier, we were soon to learn--infections from this virus led to a staggering worldwide loss of life as the relentless, equal-opportunity killer took down seniors and children alike. Within a matter of days, collateral damage from the virus upended carefully laid plans for conferences, graduations, vacations, weddings, concerts, and sporting events. The80thAnnualConventionof theCollegeLanguageAssociation(Afrofuturism: Diasporic Visions) was not spared from the succession of postponed or cancelled events. Decision-makers moved reluctantly but quickly to devise contingency plans. In an historic announcement to the CLA membership, then-President Donna Akiba Sullivan Harper wrote, “Your CLA Executive Committee has decided to take the extraordinary action of postponing our April 2020 convention–-a decision that CLA fortunately has not had to make since WWII, when three national meetings were cancelled. Following quickly on the heels of Dr. Harper’s announcement was welcomed news that the April 2020 CLA Convention had been rescheduled for March 3-6, 2021 at its original Memphis, TN location. Although birthed amid the onset of an historic upheaval, CLAJ 63.1 does not take up the subject. Instead, the six essays that appear here had their origins during earlier, virus-free moments. Topics range from films by Abdul Ben-Abdallah and Haile Gerima to the science fiction of Ray Bradbury and Derrick Bell. Agnieszka Tuszynska’s essay,“Raceless No More: In Search of Race in Willard Motley’s Papers,” offers a reevaluation of Willard Motley’s engagement with the subject of antiblack racism with the hope of a subsequent reassessment of his place in the canon of African American literature. The author argues that the reason for the lack of critical attention to Motley’s work lies in his status as an African American author who became defined early on as a “raceless” writer and challenges calls for scrutiny of his papers--a scrutiny grounded in what he calls archival intimacy. Such archival intimacy requires a holistic study of a broad range of the author’s personal and literary pursuits, leading to a deeply contextual reading of any works produced by the author. Trent Masiki’s essay,“Any place is better than here”: Afro-Zionism in the Science Fiction of Ray Bradbury and Derrick Bell,” examines how U.S. writers use African 2 CLA JOURNAL Note from the Editor American music in speculative emigration narratives that contextualize and critique the state of U.S. race relations. It explores the relationship between Afro-Zionism, contributionism and messianism in the short stories “Way in the Middle of the Air” (1950) by Ray Bradbury and the “The Space Traders” (1991) by Derrick A. Bell, one of the founders of critical race theory. Using cultural poetics and close textual analysis, I examine how the writers of these short stories use Negro spirituals, the blues, and hip hop to express their ambivalence, if not pessimism, about emigration as a solution to the permanence of racial discrimination and terror in the U.S. William Cunningham’s essay, “Quiet Places in Jesmyn Ward and Natasha Trethewey” builds upon Kevin Quashie’s description and analysis of the inner landscape of black expression in The Sovereignty of Quiet. The essay argues for a spatial analog of quiet as revealed in the works of Natasha Trethewey and Jesmyn Ward. It asserts further that Trethewey’s use of telescoping imagery on a still photo demonstrates an intentional and intersectional discourse of quiet that shapes individual identity while also being contained within the landscape. Connecting TretheweyandWardthroughtheiruseof undergroundspaces,theessaydemonstrates how characters in Salvage the Bones access quiet spaces in order to better understand their environment, articulate their own desires, and survive natural and social forces bent on their destruction. Kwangsoon Kim...

Long-term trends and regional variability in extreme temperature and salinity conditions experienced by coastal marine organisms on Vancouver Island, Canada

Studies of ocean temperature and salinity typically focus on global or large-scale trends that may not accurately reflect the conditions experienced locally by marine organisms. When assessing impacts of climate change, it is important to document local conditions, and also to focus on the most physiologically stressful time of year. Our goals were therefore to (1) characterize long-term trends in sea surface temperature (SST) and salinity (SSS) experienced by coastal marine organisms during the most stressful time of year around Vancouver Island; and (2) document variation between east and west coasts of Vancouver Island in terms of SST, SSS, and daytime rock surface temperatures in the intertidal zone. Over an 82-yr period, from 1935 to 2016, summertime SST on both coasts increased by 0.67–0.78 °C (i.e., 0.82–0.97 °C per century). Trends in salinity differed between coasts: east coast salinity increased by 3.9 while west coast salinity decreased by 0.64. Although long-term SST trends are the same on both coasts, during the most stressful time of year, east coast waters are on average 4.3 °C warmer and salinity is 7.8 lower than on the west coast. Rock temperature in the mid and upper intertidal zone during daytime low tides is 3.9–4.2 °C warmer on the east coast. Populations of marine organisms inhabiting the coasts of Vancouver Island have therefore been experiencing long-term changes in abiotic stress, as well as persistent spatial variation in climate-related conditions during the most stressful months of the year.

Effectiveness of two types of incontinence rehabilitation exercises: A pilot study

Is abdominal muscle exercise (AME) an effective alternative therapy to treat urinary incontinence (UI)?. Pelvic floor muscle exercise (PFME) is a conservative and conventional treatment for UI. In recent decades, another innovative method of incontinence rehabilitation involving abdominal muscles exercise, namely AME, was proposed to achieve better UI care. However, the effectiveness of AME is unclear. A quasi‐experimental pilot study with a 12‐week intervention period compared AME with PFME. Women aged ≥45 years with at least one episode per month of stress or mixed UI were enrolled. Informed consent was obtained before participation in the study. Women from each region were considered a cluster and were randomly allocated into the AME or PFME groups. All exercise sessions were accomplished at citizen activity centres. With 20 women in each group, the primary outcomes were to compare the score changes in the Incontinence Severity Index (ISI), 1‐hour pad test, and 3‐day voiding diary whereas the secondary outcomes compared the scores between the pre‐ and post‐tests. The ISI, 1‐hour pad test, and 3‐day voiding diary improved significantly after the interventions within each group; however, no significant difference was found between the groups. The effectiveness of AME was similar to that of PFME. Nevertheless, health care providers should understand the effectiveness of different strategies for treating or preventing UI.

Effects of Alkalinity and pH on Survival, Growth, and Enzyme Activities in Juveniles of the Razor Clam, Sinonovacula constricta.

In order to clarify the possibility of rearing razor clams (Sinonovacula constricta) in inland saline water (ISW) and to facilitate their breeding under these stressful conditions, we performed semi-static acute and chronic toxicity tests to determine the effects of carbonate alkalinity (CA) and pH on the survival and growth rate, and critical metabolic enzyme activity in juvenile of S. constricta (JSC). (1) Acute toxicity test. As the water CA increased from 1.22 to 45.00 mmol L-1, the survival rate decreased significantly, which was exacerbated by the increase in the pH. When the water CA was set at 2.5 mmol L-1, the 48 h lethal concentration 50% (LC50) for JSCs with respect to pH was 9.86. When the water pH was 9.0, 9.5, and 10.0, the 48 h LC50 values for JSCs with respect to CA were 10.38, 8.79, and 3.11 mmol L-1, respectively. (2) Chronic toxicity test. Four experimental groups comprising the control, CAS, pHS, and CA-pHS were designated according to the target ISW data. After 3 months of stress, the JSC survival rate in each group exceeded 85%, but survival was significantly lower in the CA-pHS group than the control group (p < 0.05) in the first month. For the JSCs in various groups, the shell length growth rate (SGR) and weight gain (WG) rate were significantly lower in the CA-pHS group than the other groups (p < 0.05 for SGR; p < 0.001 for WG) in the first month. However, the difference in the growth rate among groups decreased in the next 2 months. For the JSCs in the CA-pHS group, the oxygen consumption, ammonia-N excretion, Na+/K+-ATPase, aspartate aminotransferase, and superoxide dismutase levels were significantly higher than those in the other groups during the first month, but there were no significant differences between the groups subsequently. The acetylcholinesterase and lysozyme levels did not differ significantly among groups during stress for 3 months. The integrated biomarker response index showed that stressors comprising high pH and CA could be tolerated well by JSCs over long periods of stress. These results indicate that water CA and pH together affect the survival, growth, and physiological activity of JSCs. S. constricta is suitable for culture in ISW.

Effect of peanut shells amendment on soil properties and growth of seedlings of Senegalia senegal (L.) Britton, Vachellia seyal (Delile) P. Hurter, and Prosopis juliflora (Swartz) DC in salt-affected soils

The soil amendment with peanut shells (4, 6 or 8 t ha −1 ) improves soil properties and growth of Senegalia senegal (L.) Britton , Vachellia seyal ( Delile) P . Hurter and Prosopis juliflora (Swartz) DC seedlings on salty soils (86, 171, 257 mM NaCl). Salinization causes the degradation of biological, chemical, and physical properties of soils. Salty soils reclamation can be achieved with organic amendments and afforestation with salt tolerant species. The aim of the study was to assess in greenhouse conditions the effect of peanut shells on soil chemical characteristics and growth of multipurpose leguminous trees Senegalia senegal, Vachellia seyal, and Prosopis juliflora under salt-affected soils. Seedlings were individually cultivated in plastic bags containing a mixture of non-saline and non-sterile soil and crushed peanut shells. Four doses of peanut shells (0, 4, 6, and 8 t ha−1) of 73-33 variety were tested. Salt stress was gradually applied after 1 month of cultivation at a rate of 43 mM NaCl per day until concentrations of 0, 86, 171, and 257 mM were reached. Seedlings growth, physiological responses, and soil characteristics were evaluated after 3 months of stress. Peanut shells application improved soil chemical properties (carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus contents, pH, total microbial activity, and cation-exchange capacity) and reduced soil salinity. They also increased height, collar diameter, shoots and root biomass, chlorophyll, and proline contents of seedlings. The organic amendment with peanut shells improves soil fertility and tree growth under saline conditions.

English

In this work, the effect of different concentrations of NaCl on calli induced from two sugarcane cultivars NCo310 and CP59-73 was studied. Growth and ion concentrations (Na+, Cl-, K+ and Ca2+) of calli were determined after 1, 2 and 3 months of stress with the objective to understand the cellular mechanisms operating in salt stress tolerance and to determine the implication of inorganic fraction in salt tolerance in sugarcane cultivars. A negative effect of the NaCl concentration and the duration of stress exposure on the callus rate growth was observed in both cultivars and with more extent in CP59-73 cv. Results showed an increase in Na+ and Cl&ndash; and a decrease in K+ and Ca2+ concentrations after 1, 2 and 3 months of salt stress exposure. It also showed that resistant cv. NCo310 stressed calli accumulated less Na+ and retained more K+ and Ca2+ than CP59-73 calli. Cl- appeared to be involved in osmotic adjustment since the resistant cv. NCo310 stressed calli accumulated more Cl- than CP59-73 ones. These results suggested that the resistance to salinity in sugarcane is associated with a high K+, Ca2+ and Cl- concentrations and a low Na+ concentration within cells. Key words: &nbsp;sugarcane (Saccharum sp.), salt stress, ion uptake, callus growth, long-term stress exposure.

Early adversity contributes to chronic stress induced depression-like behavior in adolescent male rhesus monkeys

Chronic stress is an important cause for depression. However, not everyone who is exposed to chronic stress will develop depression. Our previous studies demonstrated that early adversity can cause lasting changes in adolescent rhesus monkeys, but depressive symptoms have not been observed. Compared to adults, it is still unknown that whether adolescent rhesus monkeys experiencing early adversity are more likely to develop depressive symptoms. In this study, we investigated the long term relationship between early adversity, chronic stress and adolescent depression for the first time. Eight male rhesus monkeys were reared in maternal separation (MS) or mother-reared (MR) conditions. All of them went through unpredictable chronic stress for two months at their age four. The stressors included space restriction, intimidation, long illumination and fasting. Behavioral and physiological data were collected during the experiment. The results showed that, compared with the MR group, the locomotor activity of MS group was significantly decreased after one month of chronic stress while huddling up and stereotypical behaviors were significantly increased. Moreover, this trend continued and even worsened at the second month. Significantly higher hair cortisol levels and lower body weight were observed in MS group after two months of stress. These results indicate that early adversity is one of the environmental factors which can increase the susceptibility of depression when experiencing chronic stress in the later life. This will further clarify the important roles of early environmental factors in the development of adolescent depression and children rearing conditions should receive more attention.

Putting the past behind us: Social stress-induced urinary retention can be overcome

To study the pathophysiology of dysfunctional voiding, we have previously developed a model of stress-induced voiding dysfunction. We have shown that cyclosporine A (CsA), an inhibitor of the Ca(2+)-calmodulin complex, can prevent social stress-induced urinary retention. However, treatment with cyclosporine has not had an effect on the increase in the stress peptide corticotrophin-releasing factor (CRF) in Barrington's nucleus, which is involved in the micturition pathway. We now investigate whether cyclosporine administered after stress can reverse the abnormal voiding phenotype, and whether it has effects on the bladder wall itself, or on the stress response within Barrington's nucleus. Six-week old Swiss-Webster mice were exposed to aggressor males for 1 h a day, followed by 23 h of barrier separation. In a long-term trial, 1 month of stress was followed by single-cage housing for 6 months. In a separate CsA reversal trial, mice either received CsA in drinking water or had plain drinking water during 1 month of single-cage housing during recovery. Bladder contractile function was examined on a Guth myograph. Nuclear translocation of myocyte enhancing factor (MEF)-2 and NFAT (nuclear factor of activated T cells) in the bladder was assessed using electrophoretic mobility shift assays (EMSAs). The expression of CRF was determined in Barrington's nucleus using in situ hybridization. Voiding dysfunction persisted for up to 6 months after stress exposure while mice recovered in single-cage housing. In the CsA reversal trial, voiding patterns improved when they received CsA in water during single-cage housing following stress, whereas those that underwent single-cage housing alone had persistent abnormal voiding (Fig. A). There was no difference between CRF levels in Barrington's nucleus between reversal groups (p = 0.42) (Fig. B), possibly indicating a direct effect on the bladder rather than a persistent stress effect. There were no differences in the contractility of bladder wall muscle. CsA decreased the nuclear translocation of MEF-2 and NFAT induced by stress (Fig. C,D). CsA reverses stress-induced urinary retention, but does not change the stress-induced CRF increase in Barrington's nucleus. Furthermore, bladder smooth muscle contractility is unchanged by CsA; however, there are changes in the levels of the downstream transcription factors MEF-2 and NFAT. We suspect that additional CsA responsive neural changes play a pivotal role in the abnormal voiding phenotype following social stress.

Integrated biomarker responses of the invasive species Corbicula fluminea in relation to environmental abiotic conditions: A potential indicator of the likelihood of clam's summer mortality syndrome

The aim of this study was to investigate the variation of several biomarkers in wild populations of Corbicula fluminea in relation to abiotic condition changes to identify environmental factors associated with increased stress in this species potentially leading to massive mortality events. The study was carried out from July to October in the freshwater tidal areas of the estuaries of Minho and Lima Rivers (NW Iberian Peninsula). Monthly, 7 biomarkers (biotransformation, energy production, anti-oxidant defenses and lipid peroxidation damages) were determined in C. fluminea and 17 abiotic parameters were determined in water or sediments in 4 sampling sites: M1, M2 and M3 in Minho (up=> downstream); and L in Lima estuaries. The results of biomarkers were integrated using the Integrated Biomarker Response (IBR), Index and also analysed in relation to environmental parameters by Redundancy Analysis (RDA). Overall, the findings of the present study indicate that July and August are particularly stressful months for the studied C. fluminea populations, especially at downstream sites; the increase of nutrients and ammonium water concentrations, water temperature and conductivity are major contributors for this increased stress; the biomarkers indicated that in July/August C. fluminea is exposed to oxidative stress inducers, environmental chemical contaminants biotransformed by esterases and glutathione S-transferase enzymes, and that organisms need additional energy to cope with the chemical and/or thermally-induced stress. The findings of the present study stress the importance of biomonitoring the health condition of C. fluminea because it may allow determining the likelihood of summer/post summer mortality syndrome in this species.

Characterization in greenhouse conditions of two salt tolerant citrumelo (Citrus paradisi Macf. x Poncirus trifoliata (L.) Raf.) cultivars

Increasing salinity in Mediterranean soils and the wide spread of citrus tristeza virus have challenged the use of sour orange (Citrus aurantium) and have accelerated the process of seeking alternative rootstocks. In the present study, nine cultivars of citrumelo (Citrus paradisi Macf. x Poncirus trifoliata (L.) Raf.) were evaluated for salt tolerance. Two month-old seedlings were raised under greenhouse conditions and irrigated with a half strength Hoagland solution supplemented with different concentrations of NaCl, i.e., 0 mM, 35 mM and 85 mM. Tolerance was assessed after two months of stress by measuring stem growth, number of leaves, fresh and dry weight organs and leaf water, chlorophyll and chloride contents. A differential behavior was noticed among the seedlings we studied. When using increased concentration of salt in irrigation water, all the parameters were significantly reduced except for leaf chloride content which highly increased in response to stress. At 85 mM, the cultivar SC2 showed a high tolerance resulting in less apparent leaf symptoms, higher growth and higher leaf chlorophyll content when compared to other seedlings. Similarly, the cultivar C4475-C was shown to be a strong root chloride excluder with less than 2.6% DW (dry weight) chloride accumulation at leaf level. By contrast, our results suggest that C4475-A and C4475-B are salt sensitive cultivars regarding to all the parameters studied while the other citrumelos were considered as moderately tolerant.

Physiological responses of needles of Pinus massoniana elite families to phosphorus stress in acid soil

Pinus massoniana Lamb. is a major timber species widely planted in the South China, where the soil is acidic and deficient in phosphorus (P) due to fixation by aluminum and iron. Understanding the physiological responses to rhizospheric insoluble P is essential for enhancing plantation productivity. Thus, a sand culture experiment was conducted with four levels of P treatment (0, 5, 20 g insoluble P and 10 g soluble P), and 11 P. massoniana elite families. Physiological responses were measured after two months of stress. Compared to the normal soluble P treatment, the insoluble P treatment significantly reduced the proline content and the APase activity in the needles, while it significantly increased the catalase activity by 1.3-fold and malondialdehyde content by 1.2-fold. Soluble protein content was unaffected by the treatments, but chlorophyll content was significantly lower in P-deprived treatment compared with soluble and insoluble P treatments. These physiological responses also exhibited highly significant variation among families (p < 0.01). The findings suggest that increased catalase activities in the presence of insoluble P might be involved in the activation of an anti-oxidation defense mechanism that scavenges the reactive oxygen species elicited by the stress. And this response has a strong genetic control that can be exploited to identify desirable genotypes.

HEAT SHOCK PROTEIN72 PROTECTS HIPPOCAMPAL NEURONS FROM APOPTOSIS INDUCED BY CHRONIC PSYCHOLOGICAL STRESS

When exposed to nonlethal heat stress (i.e., heat shock preconditioning), HSP72 expression increased in the mammalian brain. HSP72 enhance the viability of neurons and decrease TUNEL-positive neurons under several kinds of stress (e.g., ischemic). Chronic psychological stress is a kind of stress that could cause hippocampal neuron apoptosis. But whether overexpression of HSP72 can decrease TUNEL-positive hippocampal neurons caused by chronic psychological stress is unclear. To investigate the possible protective role of HSP72 in decreasing chronic psychological stress–induced hippocampal neuron apoptosis, this study analyzed HSP72 expression, apoptotic neurons in the hippocampus of mice. Adult mice were divided into four groups unstressed group; chronic psychological stress group; heat shock stress group; heat shock preconditioning plus psychological stress group; receiving no experimental stress, chronic psychological stress, heat shock stress, heat shock preconditioning plus psychological stress separately. Mice were killed after one month, two months, or three months of stress. A three-way ANOVA (psychological stress × heat shock stress × time) revealed a significant effect of heat shock stress in increasing HSP72 expression, decreasing neuronal apoptosis in hippocampus CA3 region caused by chronic psychological stress, and showed that HSP72 protected hippocampus CA3 neurons from chronic psychological stress.