Types Of Stress Research Articles

The Lumen of Human Intestinal Organoids Poses Greater Stress to Bacteria Compared to the Germ-Free Mouse Intestine: Escherichia coli Deficient in RpoS as a Colonization Probe.

Pluripotent stem-cell-derived human intestinal organoids (HIOs) are three-dimensional, multicellular structures that model a naive intestinal epithelium in an in vitro system. Several published reports have investigated the use of HIOs to study host-microbe interactions. We recently demonstrated that microinjection of the nonpathogenic Escherichia coli strain ECOR2 into HIOs induced morphological and functional maturation of the HIO epithelium, including increased secretion of mucins and cationic antimicrobial peptides. In the current work, we use ECOR2 as a biological probe to further characterize the environment present in the HIO lumen. We generated an isogenic mutant in the general stress response sigma factor RpoS and employed this mutant to compare challenges faced by a bacterium during colonization of the HIO lumen relative to the germ-free mouse intestine. We demonstrate that the loss of RpoS significantly decreases the ability of ECOR2 to colonize HIOs, although it does not prevent colonization of germ-free mice. These results indicate that the HIO lumen is a more restrictive environment to E. coli than the germ-free mouse intestine, thus increasing our understanding of the HIO model system as it pertains to studying the establishment of intestinal host-microbe symbioses.IMPORTANCE Technological advancements have driven and will continue to drive the adoption of organotypic systems for investigating host-microbe interactions within the human intestinal ecosystem. Using E. coli deficient in the RpoS-mediated general stress response, we demonstrate that the type or severity of microbial stressors within the HIO lumen is more restrictive than those of the in vivo environment of the germ-free mouse gut. This study provides important insight into the nature of the HIO microenvironment from a microbiological standpoint.

Added value of the NemaSPEAR[%]-index to routinely used macrofauna-based indices for assessing the quality of freshwater sediments

Assessments of the ecological status of freshwater ecosystems, such as mandated by the EU Water Framework Directive, are routinely conducted by monitoring macroinvertebrates. However, for the quality assessment of fine sediments, macroinvertebrates are of limited suitability. In such habitats they show a low species diversity and often low densities, whereas a more diverse meiofauna can be found. Among the meiofaunal groups in benthic habitats, nematodes are one of the most abundant and species-rich. Fine, cohesive sediments considerably contribute to many ecosystem services, but they are often hotspots of chemical contamination as well. In the present study, the added value of the recently developed and validated NemaSPEAR[%]-index was evaluated by directly comparing it to routinely used macrofauna-based indices. Macrofaunal and nematode communities were synchronously monitored at seven sites in six different streams. The results of a chemical analysis of sediment pollutants combined with sediment quality guidelines revealed widely diverging toxic potentials at the seven investigated locations. The seasonal robustness of the NemaSPEAR[%]-index compared with macrofauna-based indices was also determined, by additionally obtaining synchronous samples of macrofauna and nematodes over the course of one year at one of the seven sites, a reference stream with very low toxic potential.The NemaSPEAR[%] performed robustly despite seasonal variations in the nematode community in the sediment of the unpolluted stream. At the seven sampling sites, representing a pollution gradient, the NemaSPEAR[%]-index correlated well with the toxic potential of the sediments. By contrast, the macrofauna-based indices did not correlate significantly with either the toxic potential of the sediments or with the results of NemaSPEAR[%] at the seven sites. For many non– endobenthic macroinvertebrates, chemical exposure is mostly through the water phase, such that the toxic potential of the sediments will not necessarily be reflected directly by macrofaunal indices. Accordingly, identifying the stressors that contribute to degrading the ecological status of a water body requires the inclusion of methods that examine different types of stressors, targets, and exposure pathways. Our study shows that the NemaSPEAR[%]-index provides added value to routinely used macrofaunal-based indices.

The relationship between stressful events, emotion dysregulation, and anxiety symptoms among youth: longitudinal support for stress causation but not stress generation

ABSTRACT Introduction There is a clear bi-directional link between stressful events and depressive symptoms in adolescence, but the directionality of this link for anxiety symptoms remains underexamined. We critically evaluate the longitudinal relationship between stressors and anxiety among youth. Specifically, we examine whether stressors predict anxiety symptoms over a 1.5-year period (stress causation), and whether anxiety symptoms predict stressors over this period (stress generation). We examine potential influencing factors, including stressor type (independent vs. dependent) and emotion dysregulation (nonacceptance; goal-directed difficulty). Methods Social, separation, and physical anxiety symptoms, and frequency and stressor type, were assessed every 3 months for 1.5 years among community youth (n = 528, ages 8–17). Baseline emotion dysregulation was assessed. Time-lagged analyses evaluated the bi-directional relationship of stress and anxiety over time, controlling for previous anxiety and depression. Results Interpersonal stressors predicted subsequent physical and social anxiety symptoms, but anxiety did not predict subsequent stressors. Both nonacceptance and goal-directed difficulties predicted subsequent anxiety symptoms and stressors, but did not moderate the relationship. Conclusion The findings supported the stress causation model for youth anxiety, but not the stress generation model. Nonacceptance and goal-directed difficulty predicted greater subsequent anxiety symptoms and stressors. We discuss implications for prevention and intervention.

Stress, health and the welfare of laying hens

It is essential to understand responses to stress and the impact of stress on physiological and behavioural functioning of hens, so as to assess their welfare. The current understanding of stress in laying hens is comprehensively reviewed here. Most research on stress in hens has focussed on the activity of the adrenal glands, with the most common approach being to measure corticosterone, which is the predominant glucocorticoid produced by birds in response to stress. While these measures are useful, there is a need to understand how the brain regulates stress responses in hens. A greater understanding of the sympathoadrenal system and its interaction with the hypothalamo–pituitary–adrenal axis is required. There is also a lack of knowledge about the many other peptides and regulatory systems involved in stress responses in hens. The usefulness of understanding stress in hens in terms of assessing welfare depends on appreciating that different stressors elicit different responses and that there are often differences in responses to, and impacts of, acute and chronic stress. It is also important to establish the actions and fate of stress hormones within target tissues. It is the consequences of these actions that are important to welfare. A range of other measures has been used to assess stress in hens, including a ratio of heterophils to lymphocytes and haematocrit : packed cell-volume ratio and measures of corticosterone or its metabolites in eggs, excreta, feathers and the secretions of the uropygial gland. Measures in eggs have proffered varying results while measures in feathers may be useful to assess chronic stress. There are various studies in laying hens to indicate impacts of stress on the immune system, health, metabolism, appetite, and the quality of egg production, but, generally, these are limited, variable and are influenced by the management system, environment, genetic selection, type of stressor and whether or not the birds are subjected to acute or chronic stress. Further research to understand the regulation of stress responses and the impact of stress on normal functioning of hens will provide important advances in the assessment of stress and, in turn, the assessment of welfare of laying hens.

The Good, the Bad and the Unknown Aspects of Ghrelin in Stress Coping and Stress-Related Psychiatric Disorders.

Ghrelin is a peptide hormone released by specialized X/A cells in the stomach and activated by acylation. Following its secretion, it binds to ghrelin receptors in the periphery to regulate energy balance, but it also acts on the central nervous system where it induces a potent orexigenic effect. Several types of stressors have been shown to stimulate ghrelin release in rodents, including nutritional stressors like food deprivation, but also physical and psychological stressors such as foot shocks, social defeat, forced immobilization or chronic unpredictable mild stress. The mechanism through which these stressors drive ghrelin release from the stomach lining remains unknown and, to date, the resulting consequences of ghrelin release for stress coping remain poorly understood. Indeed, ghrelin has been proposed to act as a stress hormone that reduces fear, anxiety- and depression-like behaviors in rodents but some studies suggest that ghrelin may - in contrast - promote such behaviors. In this review, we aim to provide a comprehensive overview of the literature on the role of the ghrelin system in stress coping. We discuss whether ghrelin release is more than a byproduct of disrupted energy homeostasis following stress exposure. Furthermore, we explore the notion that ghrelin receptor signaling in the brain may have effects independent of circulating ghrelin and in what way this might influence stress coping in rodents. Finally, we examine how the ghrelin system could be utilized as a therapeutic avenue in stress-related psychiatric disorders (with a focus on anxiety- and trauma-related disorders), for example to develop novel biomarkers for a better diagnosis or new interventions to tackle relapse or treatment resistance in patients.

Teaching During a Pandemic: A Model for Trauma-Informed Education and Administration.

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) realities have demanded that educators move swiftly to adopt new ways of teaching, advising, and mentoring. We suggest the centering of a trauma-informed approach to education and academic administration during the COVID-19 pandemic using the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration's (SAMHSA) guidance on trauma-informed approaches to care. In our model for trauma-informed education and administration (M-TIEA), SAMHSA's four key organizational assumptions are foundational, including a realization about trauma and its wide-ranging effects; a recognition of the basic signs and symptoms of trauma; a response that involves fully integrating knowledge into programs, policies, and practices; and an active process for resisting retraumatization. Since educators during the pandemic must follow new restrictions regarding how they teach, we have expanded the practice of teaching in M-TIEA to include both academic administrators' decision making about teaching, and educators' planning and implementation of teaching. In M-TIEA, SAMHSA's six guiding principles for a trauma-informed approach are infused into these two interrelated teaching processes, and include the following: safety; trustworthiness and transparency; peer support; collaboration and mutuality; empowerment, voice, and choice; and cultural, historical, and gender issues. M-TIEA's organizational assumptions, processes, and principles are situated within an outer context that acknowledges the potential influences of four types of intersectional traumas and stressors that may occur at multiple socioecological levels: pandemic-related trauma and stressors; other forms of individual, group, community, or mass trauma and stressors; historical trauma; and current general life stressors. This acknowledges that all trauma-informed work is dynamic and may be influenced by contextual factors.

Challenges in the quantification approach to a radiation relevant adverse outcome pathway for lung cancer

Purpose Adverse outcome pathways (AOPs) provide a modular framework for describing sequences of biological key events (KEs) and key event relationships (KERs) across levels of biological organization. Empirical evidence across KERs can support construction of quantified AOPs (qAOPs). Using an example AOP of energy deposition from ionizing radiation onto DNA leading to lung cancer incidence, we investigate the feasibility of quantifying data from KERs supported by all types of stressors. The merits and challenges of this process in the context of AOP construction are discussed. Materials and methods Empirical evidence across studies of dose-response from four KERs of the AOP were compiled independently for quantification. Three upstream KERs comprised of evidence from various radiation types in line with AOP guidelines. For these three KERs, a focused analysis of data from alpha-particle studies was undertaken to better characterize the process to the adverse outcome (AO) for a radon gas stressor. Numerical information was extracted from tables and graphs to plot and tabulate the response of KEs. To complement areas of the AOP quantification process, Monte Carlo (MC) simulations in TOPAS-nBio were performed to model exposure conditions relevant to the AO for an example bronchial compartment of the lung with secretory cell nuclei targets. Results Quantification of AOP KERs highlighted the relevance of radiation types under the stressor-agnostic intent of AOP design, motivating a focus on specific types. For a given type, significant differences of KE response indicate meaningful data to derive linkages from the MIE to the AO is lacking and that better response-response focused studies are required. The MC study estimates the linear energy transfer (LET) of alpha-particles emitted by radon-222 and its progeny in the secretory cell nuclei of the example lung compartment to range from to keV/µm. Conclusion Quantifying AOP components provides a means to assemble empirical evidence across different studies. This highlights challenges in the context of studies examining similar endpoints using different radiation types. Data linking KERs to a MIE of ‘deposition of energy’ is shown to be non-compatible with the stressor-agnostic principles of AOP design. Limiting data to that describing response-response relationships between adjacent KERs may better delineate studies relevant to the damage that drives a pathway to the next KE and still support an ‘all hazards’ approach. Such data remains limited and future investigations in the radiation field may consider this approach when designing experiments and reporting their results and outcomes.

Immunological Changes During Space Travel: A Ground-Based Evaluation of the Impact of Neutron Dose Rate on Plasma Cytokine Levels in Human Whole Blood Cultures

A better understanding of the combined impact of different space stressors on human health is urgently warranted, considering the upcoming long-duration missions beyond lower Earth orbit. Therefore, a growing number of particle accelerator facilities implement ground-based set-ups to study the effect of simulated space radiation with simulated psychological or physical stressors. The immune system is highly sensitive to these types of stressors and limited information is currently available on the impact of the complex space radiation environment on the astronauts' immune function. This pilot study presents a first step in the implementation of a ground-based set-up with neutron irradiation, which is considered to be an important secondary component in space radiation fields. The effect of dose rate on immune alterations was studied using the in vitro cytokine release assay. Whole blood samples (n = 8) were exposed to 0.125 or 1 Gy of neutron irradiation (fluence-weighted average energy: 29.8 MeV) at a lower dose rate (LDR) of 0.015 Gy/min and a higher dose rate (HDR) of 0.400 Gy/min. Immediately post-irradiation, blood samples were stimulated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS), heat-killed Listeria monocytogenes (HKLM) or lectin pokeweed mitogen (PWM), and incubated for 24 h. Cell-mediated immunity was examined by analysing interleukin-2 (IL-2), interferon-gamma (IFN-γ), tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), and interleukin-10 (IL-10) plasma levels. Stimulants significantly increased all cytokine levels except IL-2, where only PWM induced a significant increase. In general, no statistically significant changes were observed in IL-2, IFN-γ, and TNF-α concentrations at different neutron doses and dose rates when compared to their stimulated, sham-irradiated controls. After PWM-stimulation, IL-10 levels were significantly increased at 0.125 Gy HDR and 1 Gy LDR. In a pooled analysis, the HDR significantly increased IL-2 titres (under PWM-stimulation) and IFN-γ titres (with all stimulants), but significantly decreased TNF-α secretion in unstimulated cultures. Due to the limited sample number, no strong conclusions could be made in this pilot study on the effect of neutron radiation as a single stressor on cytokine secretion in response to different stimuli. However, some interesting trends and dose rate effects were observed, which pave the way for future investigations on the synergistic effects of multiple space stressors on immune cell function.

COVID-19-Induced Psychosis and Suicidal Behavior: Case Report.

The COVID-19 pandemic is associated with different types of stressors: fear of infection, financial burden, and social isolation. Additionally, COVID-19 infection seems to increase the risk for neuropsychiatric symptoms including psychosis. We present a case of a 52-year-old male with no previous psychiatric history who developed severe paranoia leading to a suicide attempt. He was successfully treated with a combination of milieu treatment, pharmacotherapy, and electroconvulsive therapy. We add to the nascent literature that COVID-19, as other coronaviruses, can increase the risk for severe psychosis and suicidal behavior.

P21 can be a barrier to ferroptosis independent of p53.

Traditionally, the p21 protein has been viewed as limiting cancer progression and promoting aging. In contrast, there are reports that p21 can enhance cancer survival and limit tissue damage, depending on the tissue of origin and type of stressor involved. Here, we provide evidence to support these latter two roles of p21 by exploring its ability to regulate ferroptosis. Ferroptosis is a form of cell death that is associated with certain degenerative diseases, some of which are aging-related. Our results reveal a correlation between p21 protein levels in cell lines that are resistant to ferroptosis (p21 high) versus cell lines that are sensitive and easily undergo ferroptosis (p21 low). We also show that p21 levels themselves are differentially regulated in response to ferroptosis in a p53-independent manner. Further, experimentally altering the abundance of p21 protein inverts the ferroptosis-sensitivity of both resistant and sensitive human cancer cell lines. Our data also indicate that the interaction of p21 with CDKs is crucial for its ability to restrict the progression of ferroptosis. While this study was performed in cancer cell lines, our results support the potential of p21 to aid in maintenance of healthy tissues by blocking the damage incurred due to ferroptosis.

The visualization of stress in clinical training: A study of nursing students' perceptions.

AimTo determine the perceived level and types of stress experienced by nursing students during clinical training.DesignA descriptive correlational cross‐sectional design.MethodsA convenience sample of 238 nursing students was recruited. Level and types of stress were measured by Perceived Stress Scale. The data were collected in February 2020.ResultsThe mean score of perceived stress was 2.58 (SD 0.92). Different sources of stressors perceived by students were identified in current study. The highest type of stressors perceived by students was stress from taking care of patients (mean = 2.81, SD 1.13). In addition, junior students perceived higher level of stress than senior students and female students experienced a higher level of stress than male counterparts. Students who have been supervised by clinical instructors whom their “primary” language is English scored a higher level of stress.

Appraisal and Coping Link Sexual Victimization History to Emotional Experience: A Multilevel Daily Diary Study.

Sexual victimization (SV) history is common among college students and has many adverse effects on health, but little is known about whether these effects are explained by everyday stress and coping. Further, most studies conflate between- and within-person effects, limiting our understanding of distinct trait- versus state-level pathways. To address these gaps, we examined the multilevel association of SV history with contemporary positive and negative affect and somatic symptoms via daily control appraisals and coping (problem-focused, meaning-focused, and avoidance) with daily stressors. Online daily diary surveys assessed stress, appraisals, coping, affect, and somatization among 261 undergraduates with and without SV history over 11 consecutive days. Between- and within-person differences in appraisals, coping, affect, and somatic symptoms were examined using multilevel covariance modeling in a causal system, testing daily stressor type as a moderator of within-person effects. Across days, SV history was indirectly linked only to average positive affect via meaning-focused coping, with no other between-person indirect effects. At the within-person level, greater negative affect was experienced in the context of interpersonal stress, driven by greater problem-focused coping, greater positive affect was experienced in the context of academic stress, driven by greater control appraisals, and less positive and negative affect were experienced in the context of intrapersonal stress, driven by lower control appraisals and less problem-focused coping. SV may influence daily stress processes at multiple levels, depending on stressor type. Appraised control and active coping are potentially important but understudied ways in which SV history informs contemporary stress management.

Review Cerebral Ischemic Tolerance and Preconditioning: Methods, Mechanisms, Clinical Applications, and Challenges.

Stroke is one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide, and it is increasing in prevalence. The limited therapeutic window and potential severe side effects prevent the widespread clinical application of the venous injection of thrombolytic tissue plasminogen activator and thrombectomy, which are regarded as the only approved treatments for acute ischemic stroke. Triggered by various types of mild stressors or stimuli, ischemic preconditioning (IPreC) induces adaptive endogenous tolerance to ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury by activating a multitude cascade of biomolecules, for example, proteins, enzymes, receptors, transcription factors, and others, which eventually lead to transcriptional regulation and epigenetic and genomic reprogramming. During the past 30 years, IPreC has been widely studied to confirm its neuroprotection against subsequent I/R injury, mainly including local ischemic preconditioning (LIPreC), remote ischemic preconditioning (RIPreC), and cross preconditioning. Although LIPreC has a strong neuroprotective effect, the clinical application of IPreC for subsequent cerebral ischemia is difficult. There are two main reasons for the above result: Cerebral ischemia is unpredictable, and LIPreC is also capable of inducing unexpected injury with only minor differences to durations or intensity. RIPreC and pharmacological preconditioning, an easy-to-use and non-invasive therapy, can be performed in a variety of clinical settings and appear to be more suitable for the clinical management of ischemic stroke. Hoping to advance our understanding of IPreC, this review mainly focuses on recent advances in IPreC in stroke management, its challenges, and the potential study directions.

Does dispositional mindfulness buffer the links of stressful life experiences with adolescent adjustment and sleep?

According to the mindfulness stress buffering hypothesis, mindfulness protects individuals from negative effects of stress. Prior investigations focused on the potential of mindfulness for reducing internalizing symptoms for adults in the context of general stress. We provided the first test of the mindfulness stress buffering hypothesis in the context of both adolescent general stress and interparental conflict (IPC) in relation to internalizing and externalizing, as well as sleep. Participants were 150 adolescents who reported dispositional mindfulness, perceived stress, IPC, internalizing, and externalizing. Participants wore an actigraph which objectively measured sleep for a week. Results suggested a stress buffering effect of mindfulness for the effects of general stress on internalizing symptoms at trend levels. Mindfulness stress buffering was not evident in relation to externalizing or sleep, or for the effect of IPC appraisals on adjustment or sleep. Greater IPC appraisals were associated with greater sleep onset latency, but mindfulness was not associated with objective measures of sleep quality or quantity. This study indicates that mindfulness may protect adolescents from the internalizing problems that often result from general stress, but that these stress buffering effects of mindfulness may not generalize to all types of stressors or adjustment/health outcomes.

Emergence of urban clustering among U.S. cities under environmental stressors

Cities are the hotspots of global human–environment interactions, and their sustainable development requires proactive strategies to mitigate and adapt to emergent environmental issues. Nevertheless, most of the existing studies and strategies are based on specific (and often singular) environmental processes, and their efficacy is largely undermined by their heavy dependence on locality. Here we present a novel modeling framework for urban studies to capture spatial connectivity and teleconnection among cities in response to different environmental stressors. For illustration, a generic message-passing-based algorithm is used to identify spatial structures among U.S. cities. Urban structures are analyzed under two types of environmental stressors, i.e., extreme heat and air pollution, based on remotely sensed land surface temperature data during short-term heat wave events and a yearlong remotely sensed aerosol optical depth dataset, respectively. Results show that U.S. cities are clustered as locally and regionally connected groups, while the hub–periphery organization manifest via environmental similarity and atmospheric transport under both event-scale meteorological extremes and long-term environmental stressors. The physics-driven urban agglomeration reveals that cities are multilevel interconnected complex systems rather than isolated entities. The proposed framework provides a new pathway to shift goal- or process-based urban studies to system-based global ones.

Ex vivo LPS-stimulated cytokine production is associated with cortisol curves in response to acute psychosocial stress

BackgroundEmpirical and theoretical evidence suggest that because of the co-evolution of the endocrine and immune response systems, different types of stressors may lead to similar levels of physiological activation. The present analyses examined associations between two physiological stress responses: the cortisol response to an acute laboratory stressor and ex vivo lipopolysaccharide (LPS) stimulated inflammatory cytokine production. MethodsHealthy middle-aged adults (N = 65) completed testing at two appointments, two weeks apart. Blood was collected at each appointment to measure circulating inflammatory cytokine levels and stimulated inflammatory cytokine production after 4 and 24 hours of incubation with LPS. A cumulative standardized composite measure of inflammation was calculated using the cytokines interleukin-6 (IL-6), interleukin-1β (IL-1β), and interferon-γ (IFN-γ). At visit two, after the blood draw, participants completed the Trier Social Stress Test (TSST); saliva samples were collected before and after to generate cortisol response curves (area under the curve with respect to ground [AUCG] and increase/decrease [AUCI]). ResultsAUCG was significantly associated with stimulated cytokine production at visit 2 after both 4 hours (B = 6.89; p = 0.007) and 24 hours (B = 7.50; p = 0.005) of incubation, controlling for age, sex, and BMI. AUCI was also significantly associated with stimulated cytokine production at visit 2 after 4 hours (B = 6.28; p = 0.004) and 24 hours (B = 6.16; p = 0.007) of incubation, controlling for age, sex, and BMI. Stimulated inflammatory cytokine production was strongly correlated across the two visits (2 weeks apart) after 4 hours of incubation (r = 0.80, p < 0.001) and after 24 hours (r = 0.80, p < 0.001). Within each visit, stimulated cytokine production after 4 hours was significantly correlated with stimulated inflammation at 24 hours (r = 0.93-0.94, p < 0.05) ConclusionsThese results suggest that LPS-stimulated inflammatory cytokine production and the cortisol response to the TSST contain comparable information about acute human physiological stress responses. Moreover, measurement of stimulated cytokines was highly stable across a two-week time period whether measured after 4 or 24 hours of incubation with LPS.

Dispositional empathy, emotional display authenticity, and employee outcomes.

With the rise of jobs in the health care sector, research on emotional labor has become of increasing importance. In this study, we follow calls for scholars to include authentic emotional displays alongside the more traditionally examined emotional labor strategies (surface and deep acting) when examining the effects of employees' emotional performance at work. We theorize that dispositional empathy is an individual difference variable that influences whether and how employees regulate their emotional displays at work, and examine the indirect relationships between dispositional empathy and employees' self-reported job satisfaction, and objectively measured job performance and sickness absenteeism, through these emotional displays. Additionally, we examine how different types of job stressors (challenge and hindrance stressors) act as boundary conditions for the relationships of empathy with emotional displays and employee outcomes. Results from a study of 156 employees in a public hospital mostly supported our theoretical model. Implications for theory and practice are discussed. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2020 APA, all rights reserved).

Unplanned Absenteeism: The Role of Workplace and Non-Workplace Stressors.

Unplanned absenteeism (UA), which includes medically certified leave (MC) or emergency leave (EL), among nurses may disturb the work performance of their team and disrupt the quality of patient care. Currently, there is limited study in Malaysia that examines the role of stressors in determining absenteeism among nurses. Therefore, apart from estimating the prevalence and the reasons of UA among nurses in Malaysia, this study aims to determine its stressor-related determinants. A cross-sectional study was conducted among 697 randomly sampled nurses working in Selangor, Malaysia. Most of them were female (97.3%), married (83.4%), and working in shifts (64.4%) in hospital settings (64.3%). In the past year, the prevalence of ever taking MC and EL were 49.1% and 48.4%, respectively. The mean frequency of MC and EL were 1.80 (SD = 1.593) and 1.92 (SD = 1.272) times, respectively. Meanwhile, the mean duration of MC and EL were 4.24 (SD = 10.355) and 2.39 (SD = 1.966) days, respectively. The most common reason for MC and EL was unspecified fever (39.2%) and child sickness (51.9%), respectively. The stressor-related determinants of durations of MC were inadequate preparation at the workplace (Adj.b = −1.065) and conflict with doctors (adjusted regression coefficient (Adj.b) = 0.491). On the other hand, the stressor-related determinants of durations of EL were conflict with spouse (Adj.b = 0.536), sexual conflict (Adj.b = −0.435), no babysitter (Adj.b = 0.440), inadequate preparation at workplace (Adj.b = 0.257), lack of staff support (Adj.b = −0.190) and conflict with doctors (Adj.b = −0.112). The stressor-related determinants of the frequency of MC were conflicts over household tasks (Adj.b = −0.261), no time with family (Adj.b = 0.257), dangerous surroundings (Adj.b = 0.734), conflict with close friends (Adj.b = −0.467), and death and dying (Adj.b = 0.051). In contrast, the stressor-related determinants of frequency of EL were not enough money (Adj.b = −0.334), conflicts with spouse (Adj.b = 0.383), pressure from relatives (Adj.b = 0.207), and inadequate preparation (Adj.b = 0.090). In conclusion, apart from the considerably high prevalence of unplanned absenteeism and its varying frequency, duration and reasons, there is no clear distinction in the role between workplace and non-workplace stressors in determining MC or EL among nurses in Malaysia; thus, preventive measures that target both type of stressors are warranted. Future studies should consider longitudinal design and mixed-method approaches using a comprehensive model of absenteeism.

Effects of crude oil on plant growth and leaf anatomical structures in a common coastal plant

Phenotypic plasticity is one mechanism that allows organisms to adapt to changing environmental conditions, and is especially important for plants since they are generally immobile. Recent anthropogenic disturbances such as oil spills have expanded the types of stressors that plants must cope with, and more work is needed to understand the extent to which plants can adapt. This study examined the physiological and anatomical responses of Ipomoea pes-caprae to crude oil, and determined its plasticity in response to crude oil. Four concentrations of crude oil (1%, 2%, 3%, and 4% v/w) were applied to experimental plants and then compared with control plants over the next 120 days. Crude oil meaningfully impacted 4 out of 5 physiological characters (survival time, leaf length, leaf width, and chlorophyll content) and 4 out of 19 anatomical characters (leaf blade thickness, leaf spongy layer height, leaf adaxial cutin thickness, and leaf abaxial cutin thickness). These results demonstrate that I. pes-caprae exhibits low anatomical plasticity in response to crude oil, resulting in reduced survival and physiological performance. Our findings highlight the importance of understanding how anthropogenic actions affect relatively immobile plants, which are not always able to cope with such stressors.

The Application of the Concept of Resilience in Aging Research and Older Adult Care: A Focus Group Study.

Introduction: Research incorporating resilience, a concept featuring a positive outcome despite some type of stressor, has the potential to identify possibilities for promotion of the well-being of older people. This study aims to gain insight into the value and potential applications of resilience in both research and care practice from the perspective of researchers and care professionals. Specifically, the value of two scientific approaches, the a priori (i.e., based on a priori definition of a stressor and outcome) and dynamical systems approaches (i.e., based on mathematically modeled patterns in the real-time response to perturbations), was explored.Methods: Focus groups were performed to explore the thoughts of academic researchers from different disciplines in the fields of aging and care and care professionals on the application of the concept of resilience, including the a priori and dynamical systems approaches. Analysis of these focus groups was based on the framework method.Results: Five focus groups were held with a total of nine researchers from different disciplines (e.g., epidemiology, sociology) and 15 older adult care professionals from different professions (e.g., elderly care physician, physiotherapist). The participants described resilience as a concept with value for both aging research and care through its positive connotation and comprehensiveness. Continued research was thought to play an important role in clearing up some of the existing ambiguity surrounding resilience. The importance of resilience in the context of both high- and low-intensity stressors was underscored. The a priori and dynamical systems approaches were considered to have their specific advantages and disadvantages on both conceptual and feasibility levels. Therefore, the use of both approaches, side by side and in combination, was suggested.Conclusion: This qualitative exploration among researchers and care professionals confirms that the concept of resilience, including the a priori and dynamical systems approaches, is valuable. However, more work is necessary before can be delivered on the potential of resilience in aging research and older adult care practice. Greater conceptual and operational clarity can be achieved through more qualitative studies on the concept that take the perspective of older people into account and through empirical studies that work with both approaches simultaneously and/or in combination.