Search Results (1,844)

Understanding how individual personality traits relate to stress and abnormal behaviors is essential for improving animal welfare and management. However, few studies have quantitatively examined these relationships in giant pandas. This study aimed to investigate how personality traits predict stereotypic behavior and physiological stress responses in captive giant pandas under a simulated transport context. Stereotypies are abnormal repetitive behaviors thought to reflect stress coping, and personality is increasingly recognized as a factor shaping animal welfare. We compared non-stereotypic (n = 16) and stereotypic (n = 16) giant pandas using keeper-based ratings, crate-entry training, and urinary cortisol. Intraclass correlation and principal component analyses identified two personality components, activity and timidity. Non-stereotypic pandas were significantly less timid (p = 0.005), whereas activity did not differ (p = 0.355). In crate-entry training, non-stereotypic pandas tended to enter faster (48.5 vs. 139.5 s; p = 0.074), and timidity was strongly correlated with latency (ρ = 0.74, p < 0.01). Censoring-aware analyses treating 300 s as right-censoring further supported this pattern (stratified Cox (Hazard Ratio) HR = 3.09, 95% CI 0.93–10.25; likelihood-ratio p = 0.052; log-normal accelerated failure-time model time ratio = 0.36, p = 0.054). Urinary cortisol showed no between-group difference after adjustment (geometric mean ratio = 0.93, 95% CI 0.57–1.49; p = 0.75), with consistent sensitivity analyses. These findings indicate that stereotypic pandas are more timid, and higher timidity predicts slower adjustment to a stress context, highlighting the value of personality assessment in management to mitigate stereotypies and improve welfare, while inconsistent cortisol results warrant further study. Full article

Secondary metabolites produced by endophytic fungi living in medicinal plants are important resources in the field of biological control. In this study, Achaetomium sophora HY17, an endophytic fungus of Sophora alopecuroides, was taken as the research object and Botrytis cinerea HM1 as the target pathogen, and the response characteristics and antifungal mechanism of secondary metabolites produced during their interaction were explored through a co-culture system combined with metabonomic analysis. The key findings are as follows: (1) A. sophora HY17 produces many kinds of secondary metabolites, such as alkaloids, flavonoids, and phenolic acids, among which 10 different metabolites, such as Sophoridine, Matrine, and Luteolin, are significantly up-regulated during the interaction process and are the core antifungal active substances; (2) KEGG pathway enrichment analysis revealed that the phenylalanine metabolic pathway was significantly enriched during the interaction between the two fungi, and the activation of this pathway was the key regulatory mechanism underlying A. sophora HY17′s ability to cope with pathogen stress and synthesize antifungal metabolites. This study reports A. sophora HY17 as a new species, confirms its broad application prospects as a multifunctional and efficient biocontrol strain, and provides a core theoretical basis and target direction for mining antifungal substances from endophytic fungi to develop new biocontrol agents. Full article

Glyoxal (GO) and methylglyoxal (MGO) are highly toxic metabolic byproducts that induce carbonyl stress in bacteria and eukaryotes. Their accumulation in cells is linked to non-enzymatic glycosylation (glycation) of proteins, nucleic acids, and lipids, leading to the formation of advanced glycation end products (AGEs). In humans, AGEs are associated with several health problems, such as diabetes, Alzheimer’s disease, cancer, and aging. Recent studies indicate that, despite their short lifespan, bacteria are also affected by AGEs formation. In this review, we summarize the pathways and mechanisms that help bacteria cope with GO, MGO, and AGEs. We also discuss the impact of dietary AGEs on gut microbiota and the antibacterial activity of host-derived GO/MGO. Recent studies highlight three main areas for future research: the role of AGEs in dysbiosis, the regulation of protein activities by MGO/GO-dependent modifications, and the potential use of glyoxalase pathway inhibitors to combat pathogens. This last point is especially important due to the rising prevalence of multidrug-resistant strains and the failure of antibiotic therapies. Full article

Mental health problems are widespread in prison populations and can negatively affect inmates’ well-being. Although physical activity (PA) is known to benefit mental health in the general population, less is known about this relationship in correctional settings. This study examined the association between PA levels, symptoms of anxiety and depression, as well as coping strategies among 130 male prisoners at Prison No. 1 in Wroclaw, Poland. Data were collected using validated self-report tools: the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ), the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), and the Mini-COPE inventory. Inmates who met the criteria for Health-Enhancing Physical Activity (HEPA) reported fewer symptoms of anxiety and depression than less active participants. Individuals showing signs of mental health difficulties were also more likely to rely on avoidant coping strategies, though no clear link was found between coping style and activity level. Cluster analysis further supported the observed association between low PA and higher psychological distress. These findings suggest a potential role for PA in supporting mental health in prison settings. They also highlight the importance of identifying individuals who may be at risk due to maladaptive coping strategies. Given its exploratory nature, the study’s findings should be interpreted with caution and verified in future research with larger and more diverse samples. Full article

Background/Objectives: GuaB, which is known as inosine 5′-phosphate dehydrogenase (IMPDH), is an enzymatic target involved in the de novo guanine biosynthetic pathway of the multidrug-resistant (MDR) Acinetobacter baumannii. GuaB has emerged as a potential therapeutic target to cope with increasing antibiotic resistance. Here, we used machine learning-based virtual screening as a verification technique to find potential inhibitors possessing different chemical scaffolds, using structure-based drug design as a discovery platform. Methods: Four machine learning models, built based on chemical fingerprint data, were trained, and the best models were used for virtual screening of the ChEMBL library, which covers 153 active molecules. Molecular dynamics (MD) simulations of 200 ns were carried out for all three compounds in order to explain conformational changes, evaluate stability, and provide validation of the docking results. Post-simulation analyses include principal component analysis (PCA), bond analysis, free-energy landscape (FEL), dynamic cross-correlation matrix (DCCM), radial distribution function (RDF), salt-bridge identification, and secondary-structure profiling, etc. Results: For molecular docking, the screened compounds were used against the GuaB protein to achieve proper docked conformation. Upon visual examination of the best-docked compounds, three leads (lead-1, lead-2, and lead-3) were found to have better interaction with the GuaB protein in comparison to the control. The mean RMSD scores between the three leads and the control were between 2.54 and 2.89 Å. In addition, the three leads as well as the control were characterized for pharmacokinetic features. All three leads met Lipinski’s Rule 5 and were thus drug-like. PCA and FEL analyses showed that lead-2 exhibited improved conformational stability, identified as deeper energy minima, whereas RDF and DCCM analyses revealed that lead-2 and lead-3 exhibited strong local structuring and concerted dynamics. In addition, lead-2 displayed a very rich hydrogen-bonding network with a total of 460 frames possessing such interactions, which is the highest among the complexes investigated here. Based on entropy calculations and the maximum entropy method of gamma–gram, lead-1 proved to be the most stable one with the lowest binding free-energy. Conclusions: This study provides an integrated machine learning-based virtual screening pipeline for the identification of new scaffolds to moderate infections associated with AMR; however, in vitro validation is still required to assess the efficacy of such compounds. Full article

Purpose: As cancer treatments and survival rates continue to improve, integrating supportive complementary therapies into oncology practice is increasingly important. Identifying patient- and clinic-level considerations can guide the selection and integration of evidence-based and effective therapies. Using the Behavioural Design Space (BDS), this study illustrates how a design framework can facilitate the identification of patient needs, clinic requirements, and system-level constraints prior to implementing a digital meditation tool (DMT). Methods: A cross-sectional survey of cancer patients in active treatment to assess distress, attitudes, barriers, and knowledge of meditation. Descriptive statistics and binary multivariate logistic regressions examined associations between patient characteristics and interest in meditation or using a DMT. Findings were mapped onto the six elements of the BDS framework in consultation with clinic staff. Results: Among 148 patients surveyed, 65% had never meditated, yet 42% expressed interest in using a DMT. Greater engagement in stress-coping activities was the strongest predictor of interest in both learning meditation and using a DMT. Female sex increased, while age decreased, the odds of interest in using a DMT. Conclusions: Integrating complementary therapies into oncology care requires attention to patient, clinic, and system-level factors. The BDS framework can guide the therapy/tool selection process by highlighting patient needs, potential barriers, and implementation challenges. Future work should focus on operationalizing the BDS into a practical decision-making tool for healthcare providers. Full article

This paper presents a method to design a preview controller with virtual disturbance and an active suspension system for ride comfort improvement and motion sickness mitigation. Quarter-car and half-car models are selected as the vehicle model. With those models, an LQ optimal preview controller is designed in the discrete-time domain. In the controller, feedback controllers are designed with LQ static output feedback (SOF) control. In real driving environments, it is hard to exactly measure a bump profile, which causes performance deterioration. To cope with difficulties and uncertainties in measuring a real bump, a virtual disturbance is used instead of a real bump. In the LQ optimal preview controller, the virtual disturbance, used for the feedforward control, is optimized with a simulation-based optimization method. To show the effectiveness of the proposed method, a simulation is performed on a vehicle simulation package. The simulation results show that the LQ SOF controller decreases the vertical acceleration and pitch rate of the sprung mass by 28% and 66%, respectively, whereas the preview controllers with the optimized virtual disturbance yield reductions of 41% and 84%, respectively. Those results demonstrate that the proposed preview controller with the optimized virtual disturbance can effectively enhance ride comfort and mitigate motion sickness. Full article

Background/Objectives: Despite extensive research on the outcomes faced by parents in contexts of political violence, as well as the protective factors that enhance their well-being, the experiences of single parents by choice (SPCs) in such circumstances have largely been neglected. This study sought to address this gap by examining the experiences of SPCs during the current phase of the Israel–Hamas war that began on 7 October 2023. Method: This qualitative study used a context-informed approach. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 11 Israeli SPCs (5 fathers and 6 mothers), including 2 displaced due to the destruction of their homes. All participants were secular Jews, predominantly middle- to upper-middle-class, aged 40–58, and had at least one child aged 15 months to 17 years. A thematic analysis method was utilized. Results: Two overarching themes emerged from the interviews, shaping participants’ wartime experiences: (1) the intensified challenges associated with parenting alone in the context of armed conflict and (2) the factors that mediated the impact of these challenges. Three key challenges identified by participants included: (1) persistent perceptions of danger and threat to life; (2) heightened financial insecurity; and (3) significant disruptions to daily routines. Three systemic-level protective factors were identified as instrumental in mitigating these challenges: (1) engagement in joint familial activities; (2) the presence of a supportive work environment; and (3) social and political engagement. These factors appeared to foster resilience and enhance participants’ psychological coping capacities amidst ongoing conflict. Conclusions: By highlighting the distinct stressors faced by SPCs in wartime and the factors mediating their impact on well-being, our findings extend the Stress Process Model to conflict settings, enhancing understanding of how single parenting is contextually shaped during major community crises. The findings may encourage clinicians and social workers to adopt a more nuanced approach when working with parents in conflict zones, enabling them to tailor interventions to the specific needs of different family structures. For SPCs, such interventions may include tele-counseling to provide psychosocial support and guidance for parents in supporting their children, without the need for childcare or travel, as well as advocacy for workplace policies that reduce financial and emotional vulnerabilities. Full article

Arsenic (As) contamination poses a critical threat to agricultural productivity, affecting rapeseed (Brassica napus L.), an agronomically important crop. A comparative assessment was performed to evaluate the efficacy of chemogenic and biogenic manganese nanoparticles (C-MnNPs and B-MnNPs) for mitigating As toxicity. B-MnNPs were biosynthesized using cell-free filtrate of Bacillus pumilus MAY4, while C-MnNPs were obtained from Cwnano Co., Ltd. (Shanghai, China). Greenhouse assays demonstrated that both C-MnNPs and B-MnNPs alleviated detrimental effects of As; however, B-MnNPs exhibited superior performance compared to their chemical counterparts. Compared to As-stressed plants, B-MnNPs enhanced leaf and root biomass (26.4% and 56.15%, respectively), net photosynthetic rate (64.8%), and stomatal conductance (50%). B-MnNPs more effectively reduced oxidative stress markers by activating antioxidant defense systems in both leaf and root tissues. Furthermore, B-MnNPs reduced in planta As accumulation while significantly improving uptake of essential nutrients, including potassium, phosphorous, magnesium, and manganese, etc., in rapeseed plants. Expression studies revealed that B-MnNPs upregulated antioxidant defense and redox homeostasis related stress-responsive genes under induced As stress. Biochemical assays further confirmed the enrichment of stress-responsive phytohormones, including salicylic acid, jasmonic acid, and abscisic acid, in B-MnNP-treated As-stressed rapeseed plants, indicating activation of multi-tier defense response by B-MnNPs to cope with As stress. These findings establish B-MnNPs as a highly effective nano-enabled strategy for managing As toxicity in the rapeseed cultivation system. This research provides critical insights into the molecular and physiological mechanisms underlying MnNP-mediated stress tolerance and offers a promising green nanotechnology approach for heavy metal-resilient crops. Full article

Religion can provide comfort, a sense of purpose and community support, but when it comes to mental health, it may also have a negative impact by triggering feelings of guilt, fear and social stigma. The aim of this study is to explore the medical students’ beliefs about possible impact of religion on mental health. A 16-item questionnaire was distributed online to 100 medical students with different religious backgrounds. It assessed beliefs, the frequency of religious activities and the perceived influence on mental health. Data were analyzed using the Chi-square test and Fisher’s exact test (via GraphPad Prism 10.5.0 (774) software). The participants were young adults (61% aged 20–25), predominately female (59%) and Islam was the most represented religion (51%). 64% reported mental struggles and 76% had faced hardships that affected their mental state. Among these, 66% said hardships brought them closer to faith and 85% found religious refuge helpful. Also, 83% valued religious community support. On the other hand, 56% have reported frequent feeling of guilt related to religious practices and 41% believe that being too religious can affect mental health. Significant associations were found between level of religious practice and several beliefs, indicating differences in how more and less practicing individuals perceived guilt, religious coping, and the impact of hardships. Religion may provide psychological support, offering effective coping tools and emotional help. However, it may also contribute to mental distress through guilt and social stigma. These findings highlight the need for culturally and spiritually sensitive mental health care that respects each individual’s beliefs. Full article

Chile, the leading exporter of cherries (Prunus avium L.) in the southern hemisphere, faces sustained variations in precipitation patterns and high evaporative demand in its productive areas. The low availability of water during the period of highest environmental demand makes it essential to reduce or suspend irrigation applications. In this scenario, regulated deficit irrigation (RDI) after harvest is an efficient strategy for optimizing water use without compromising orchard yields. This study was conducted over three consecutive seasons in a traditional commercial orchard of ‘Santina’ cherry trees grafted onto Colt rootstock, evaluating the effect of two levels of RDI, moderate (MDI) and severe (SDI), on productive and ecophysiological parameters. Both treatments resulted in water savings of between 10% and 28%, without negatively affecting yield or fruit quality. The SDI treatment, despite reaching higher levels of cumulative water stress, improved intrinsic water use efficiency while maintaining stable photosynthetic efficiency. In addition, an increase in the abundance of fine roots and beneficial rhizosphere bacteria populations, such as Azospirillum and Bacillus, was observed, suggesting the activation of water resilience mechanisms mediated by plant–microbiota interaction, possibly associated with stress-induced ecological memory and microbial legacy effects. These results position after-harvest RDI as a sustainable tool for coping with climate variability and water scarcity in commercial cherry orchards. Full article

Test anxiety is a specific form of anxiety that occurs in evaluative situations, comprising psychological, physiological, and behavioral reactions associated with concern about outcomes. Aiming to analyze the relationship between physical activity and coping with anxiety, particularly test anxiety, in students aged 13 to 25 years, as well as the effects on mental health, this review followed the PRISMA guidelines. We searched PubMed, Web of Science, Lilacs, Cochrane, Medline, and Scielo databases, from January 2014 to January 2024, to select randomized and controlled clinical studies (including cluster-randomized) and quasi-experimental studies in English and Portuguese, focusing on the relationship between physical activity and anxiety, particularly test anxiety, in the context of mental health. Two independent researchers performed data extraction. The quality of the studies was assessed using the PEDro scale, and the risk of bias was evaluated using the RoB 2.0 tool. A total of 537 articles were found, and 14 were included via Rayyan. The selected scientific studies indicate an effective relationship between physical activity and coping with general anxiety, but clinical studies specifically related to test anxiety are still scarce. The reviewed studies support this positive relationship, which could be further explored in future research and diversified practices offered to students. Full article

Purpose: This study aimed to explore the lived experiences of Saudi female nurses working in mixed-gender healthcare environments and understand how they navigate professional identity while managing cultural expectations in Saudi Arabia’s evolving healthcare landscape. Methods: A descriptive phenomenological qualitative study grounded in symbolic interactionism was conducted using in-depth semi-structured interviews with 20 Saudi female nurses working in mixed-gender healthcare settings in Riyadh. Interviews were conducted in Arabic and systematically translated using forward–backward translation protocols. Data were analyzed using Colaizzi’s phenomenological analysis framework to identify essential themes and meanings. Trustworthiness was established through credibility, dependability, confirmability, and transferability strategies, including member checking with 6 participants, peer debriefing, and comprehensive audit trails. Results: Four major themes emerged: (1) Reconciling Traditional Values with Professional Duties, (2) Negotiating Gender Dynamics in Clinical Practice, (3) Developing Professional Identity Amid Cultural Tensions, and (4) Organizational Support and Environmental Adaptation. Participants demonstrated remarkable resilience in balancing cultural expectations with professional responsibilities while developing sophisticated coping strategies. Conclusions: Saudi female nurses actively construct their professional identities while navigating complex cultural landscapes. The study reveals the need for organizational policies that support cultural sensitivity while promoting professional growth and gender equality in healthcare settings. These findings may inform healthcare workforce development in other Islamic and culturally transitioning contexts. Full article

Previous research indicates that bullying victimization is a key predictor of adolescent suicidal ideation. From the perspective of the Integrated Motivational–Volitional (IMV) model, active coping strategies may buffer the feelings of defeat and humiliation caused by bullying victimization, thereby mitigating the emergence of suicidal ideation. However, this buffering effect weakens as the severity of bullying increases, reflecting a reverse buffering pattern. Moreover, due to developmental differences in the effectiveness of coping under varying levels of bullying severity, this moderating effect is further influenced by age cohort. To investigate the moderating role of active coping strategies and the moderating effect of age cohort (early-to-middle adolescents vs. late-age adolescents) in the bullying victimization–suicidal ideation relationship, we collected data from 3227 Chinese students, measuring bullying victimization, suicidal ideation, active coping strategies, age and other demographic variables. The results revealed that (a) bullying victimization was significantly and positively associated with suicidal ideation and (b) active coping significantly buffered this relationship; however, the buffering effect weakened as bullying severity increased, and (c) the reverse buffering effect of active coping was significant among early-to-middle-aged adolescents but not among late-age adolescents. This study offers important implications for designing targeted prevention and intervention strategies to reduce suicidal ideation among youth exposed to bullying. Full article

Background: In the cold plateau environment, the yak’s coat exhibits significant adaptive regulation to cope with adverse conditions. This adaptation is fundamentally governed by the cycle of hair follicles (HFs), a complex process involving numerous molecular signals. However, the key regulators and underlying pathways remain poorly understood. Methods: Proteomic and non-targeted metabolomic analyses were employed to systematically investigate changes in proteins and metabolites during the cycle of yak hair follicles. We further validated the expression dynamics of PPARβ/δ and its related molecules, as well as the specific biological role of PPARβ/δ in regulating lipid metabolism and influencing the proliferation and apoptosis of yak dermal papilla cells (DPCs). Results: Proteomic results indicated that lipid-related proteins were among the most significantly altered, second only to hair structural proteins. The PPAR signaling pathway, which regulates lipid metabolism, may also play an important role in the cycle of yak HF. Non-targeted metabolomics revealed that Fatty Acyls were the most significantly altered metabolites during the transitions into anagen and catagen. Notably, unsaturated long-chain fatty acids (PPARβ/δ agonists) were consistently up-regulated in anagen and down-regulated in catagen, whereas saturated long-chain fatty acids (lacking PPARβ/δ agonist activity) did not exhibit a similar trend. PPARβ/δ shows significant expression changes in the dermal papilla (DP) and hair matrix (HM) during the cycle of yak HFs. Specifically, PPARβ/δ expression in the DP underwent progressive downregulation during the transition from anagen to catagen and subsequently to telogen, becoming nearly undetectable in the telogen DP. Cellular experiments confirmed that PPARβ/δ activation significantly reduced intracellular lipid content in yak DPCs and was accompanied by increased proliferation. Conversely, PPARβ/δ inhibition led to intracellular lipid accumulation and decreased proliferation. Conclusions: These findings suggest that PPARβ/δ may regulate the yak HF cycle by modulating lipid metabolism in DP. The level of intrinsic lipid metabolism within HFs may be a key factor influencing yak HF growth. Full article