Search Results (10,324)

Plants are constantly exposed to various environmental challenges, such as drought, flooding, heavy metal toxicity, and pathogen attacks. To cope with these stresses, they employ several adaptive strategies. This review highlights the potential of plant-derived smoke (PDS) solution as a natural biostimulant for improving plant health and resilience, contributing to both crop productivity and ecological restoration under abiotic and biotic stress conditions. Mitigating effects of PDS solution against various stresses were observed at morphological, physiological, and molecular levels in plants. PDS solution application involves strengthening the cell membrane by minimizing electrolyte leakage, which enhances cell membrane stability and stomatal conductance. The increased reactive-oxygen species were managed by the activation of the antioxidant system including ascorbate peroxidase, superoxide dismutase, and catalase to meet oxidative damage caused by challenging conditions imposed by flooding, drought, and heavy metal stress. PDS solution along with other by-products of fire, such as charred organic matter and ash, can enrich the soil by slightly increasing its pH and improving nutrient availability. Additionally, some studies indicated that PDS solution may influence phytohormonal pathways, particularly auxins and gibberellic acids, which can contribute to root development and enhance symbiotic interactions with soil microbes, including mycorrhizal fungi. These combined effects may support overall plant growth, though the extent of PDS contribution may vary depending on species and environmental conditions. This boost in plant growth contributes to protecting the plants against pathogens, which shows the role of PDS in enduring biotic stress. Collectively, PDS solution mitigates stress tolerance in plants via multifaceted changes, including the regulation of physico-chemical responses, enhancement of the antioxidant system, modulation of heavy metal speciation, and key adjustments of photosynthesis, respiration, cell membrane transport, and the antioxidant system at genomic/proteomic levels. This review focuses on the role of PDS solution in fortifying plants against environmental stresses. It is suggested that PDS solution, which already has been determined to be a biostimulant, has potential for the revival of plant growth and soil ecosystem under abiotic and biotic stresses. Full article

Background: Outdoor and household PM_2.5 are established risk factors for chronic disease and early mortality. In China, high levels of outdoor PM_2.5 and solid fuel use for cooking and heating, especially in winter, pose large health risks to the country’s aging population. Hand grip strength is a validated biomarker of functional aging and strong predictor of disability and mortality in older adults. We investigated the effects of wintertime household and outdoor PM_2.5 on maximum grip strength in a rural cohort in Beijing. Methods: We analyzed data from 877 adults (mean age: 62 y) residing in 50 rural villages over three winter seasons (2018–2019, 2019–2020, and 2021–2022). Outdoor PM_2.5 was continuously measured in all villages, and household (indoor) PM_2.5 was monitored for at least two months in a randomly selected ~30% subsample of homes. Missing data were handled using multiple imputation. We applied multivariable mixed effects regression models to estimate within- and between-individual effects of PM_2.5 on grip strength, adjusting for demographic, behavioral, and health-related covariates. Results: Wintertime household and outdoor PM_2.5 concentrations ranged from 3 to 431 μg/m³ (mean = 80 μg/m³) and 8 to 100 μg/m³ (mean = 49 μg/m³), respectively. The effect of a 10 μg/m³ within-individual increase in household and outdoor PM_2.5 on maximum grip strength was 0.06 kg (95%CI: −0.01, 0.12 kg) and 1.51 kg (95%CI: 1.35, 1.68 kg), respectively. The household PM_2.5 effect attenuated after adjusting for outdoor PM_2.5, while outdoor PM_2.5 effects remained robust across sensitivity analyses. We found little evidence of between-individual effects. Conclusions: We did not find strong evidence of an adverse effect of household PM_2.5 on grip strength. The unexpected positive effects of outdoor PM_2.5 on grip strength may reflect transient physiological changes following short-term exposure. However, these findings should not be interpreted as evidence of protective effects of air pollution on aging. Rather, they highlight the complexity of air pollution’s health impacts and the value of longitudinal data in capturing time-sensitive effects. Further research is needed to better understand these patterns and their implications in high-exposure settings. Full article

Picea neoveitchii Mast., a critically endangered spruce species endemic to China, is classified as a national second-level key protected wild plant and listed as critically endangered (CR) on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List. Its habitat features complex forest light environments, and global climate change coupled with environmental pollution has increased regional nitrogen deposition, posing significant challenges to its survival. This study explores the effects of light–nitrogen interactions on the leaf functional traits of Picea neoveitchii Mast. seedlings by simulating combinations of light intensities (100%, 70%, and 40% full sunlight) and nitrogen application levels (0, 10, and 20 g N·m ⁻²·a⁻¹, where g N·m⁻²·a⁻¹ denotes grams of nitrogen applied per square meter per year). We examined changes in morphological traits, anatomical structures, photosynthetic physiology, and stress resistance traits. Results indicate that moderate shading (70% full sunlight) significantly enhances leaf morphological traits (e.g., leaf length, leaf area, and specific leaf area) and anatomical features (e.g., mesophyll tissue area and resin duct cavity area), improving light capture and stress resistance. Medium- to high-nitrogen treatments (10 or 20 g N·m⁻²·a⁻¹) under moderate shading further increase photosynthetic efficiency, stomatal conductance, and antioxidant enzyme activity. According to the comprehensive membership function evaluation, the L2N0 (70% full sunlight, 0 g N·m⁻²·a⁻¹) treatment exhibits the most balanced performance across both growth and stress-related traits. These findings underscore the critical role of light–nitrogen interactions in the growth and adaptability of Picea neoveitchii Mast. leaves, offering a scientific foundation for the conservation and ecological restoration of endangered plant populations. Full article

Background/Objectives: The advancing technological developments of recent decades have also changed the stress profile of pilots of high-performance aircraft (HPA) immensely. Pilots are exposed to different gravitational (G)-forces and are only able to fly with anti-G suits that compensate for the physiological loss of cerebral perfusion by applying external pressure to the body, and positive pressure breathing during G [PBG]. The present study therefore aims to investigate long-term effects of PBG on the lung capacity of fighter pilots. Methods: In a retrospective data analysis (1972–2024), the clinical findings of all German military pilots were analyzed. In total, 1838 subjects were included in the analysis, divided into three groups: HPA with PBG, HPA without PBG, and fixed-wing aircraft. Results: Lung function analysis showed that no significant decrease in FVC was found in the HPA group with PBG, but a decrease was found in the HPA group without PBG. FEV1 and FEV1/FVC decreased significantly in all groups. Multiple regression analyses indicated that the variables age and aircraft type were significant predictors of the changes in FVC and FEV1, but not for the Tiffeneau index. Conclusions: Our study showed that the lung function of HPA pilots who were exposed to both PBG and repeated increased G-forces did not deteriorate to a significantly greater extent compared with other pilots without these conditions; in some cases, it even deteriorated to a lesser extent. Overall, age has primarily been shown to be the predisposing factor for a deterioration in lung function parameters over time. Full article

Background: The purpose of alveolar ridge preservation (ARP) is to minimise the physiological alveolar ridge reduction occurring after dental extraction, which can prevent the need for future alveolar ridge augmentation. Biologic materials (biologics) promote tissue regeneration based on their effect on wound healing at a cellular level. By integrating biologics into ARP biomaterials, there is a potential to enhance the regeneration of both hard and soft tissues with greater efficacy. Aim: This narrative review aims to evaluate the clinical efficacy of the addition of biologics to existing ARP materials on the physiological changes following ARP of an extraction site. Methods: A search of the PubMed electronic database was conducted, and relevant articles were examined. Sixty-three articles met the inclusion and exclusion criteria and were included in this review. Results and Conclusions: A review of the existing literature found that the combination of biologics with ARP materials resulted in similar dimensional changes when compared to using ARP materials alone. Existing research has identified an enhancement in bone density, increased wound healing capacity of soft and hard tissue, and a reduction in post-operative pain. Whilst the addition of biologics to ARP materials has shown an increase in bone density, its effectiveness in improving implant outcomes and reducing the need for future alveolar ridge augmentation is unclear. Recognising the limitations within the existing literature, along with the risk of bias and heterogeneity, renders it unwise to make definite conclusions about the benefits of integrating biologics with ARP materials. This narrative review found possible benefits in the use of biologics in ARP to optimise patient-related and treatment outcomes, indicating the need for additional research. Full article

In temperate regions, early sowing of high nutritive genotypes could support maize production sustainability by avoiding warming-related unfavorable environment conditions during flowering. Seven standard maize (SM) lines and their nine quality protein maize (QPM) counterparts were evaluated for cold tolerance during germination. Cold stress (13°/6 °C) was applied for five days, after a 48 h imbibition period under optimal temperature (25°/22 °C). Germination, physiological parameters, and some primary and secondary metabolites in the seeds were analyzed. No significant differences (p > 0.05) were observed in cold tolerance between SM and QPM. Cold stress significantly reduced germination energy (SM-p < 0.05, QPM-p < 0.001) and physiological traits (p < 0.001), with shoot traits being most severely affected. The potentially high impact of gallic (p < 0.001), protocatechuic (p < 0.05), and p-coumaric (p < 0.001) acids on germination under stress and negative effect of lutein + zeaxhantin and β-cryptoxhantin (p < 0.05) on root length was revealed. Among all lines, L3QPM excelled under stress, with unchanged germination energy and the lowest fold change in vigor indices (0.35 for VI1, 0.45 for VI2). Also, β + γ-tocopherol and gallic and caffeic acids were significantly higher (p < 0.05) compared to its SM original. Lines L1QPM2, L3QPM, and L7QPM, combining improved nutritional quality with high cold tolerance, will be incorporated in further early sowing research and breeding programs. Full article

Tenrecs are heterothermic burrowing mammals, which are capable of withstanding extreme environmental stressors, including during hibernation. Their phylogenetic position as reminiscent of an ancestral placental mammal makes tenrecs a unique model for evolutionarily conserved traits, with potential translatability to human physiology and pathobiology, including adaptations to extreme environments. In this study, we compared tenrec plasma for post-translational protein citrullination profiles (citrullinomes) and extracellular vesicle (EV) characteristics, including selected microRNA cargoes (miR-21, miR-155, miR-206, miR-210), between baseline active and hibernating states at low (12 °C) and high (28 °C) ambient temperatures. Our findings show considerable changes in citrullinome plasma profiles and associated Gene Ontology and KEGG pathway analysis linked to physiological and inflammatory processes, comparing hibernating and active states, also differing between the two ambient temperature groups. We furthermore identified modified EV profiles with respect to stress-related (miR-21, miR-155), hypoxia (miR-210) and metabolic/muscle related (miR-206) microRNA cargoes, which showed significant differences between active and hibernating animals, also comparing the two ambient temperature groups. Our findings show novel roles for post-translational protein citrullination in regulating immune and metabolic associated pathways in the tenrec, and highlight EV profiles, based on microRNA cargoes, as indicators for stress and metabolic responses in active versus hibernating states, including at different temperatures. Collectively our data highlights the tenrec as an evolutionary model for regulating pathobiological responses in extreme environments and may have translatable potential for human physiology and pathologies. Full article

Background: Transcription factors have been linked to changes in various physiological processes, such as attractive and rewarding phenotypes during plant–pollinator interactions. In the genus Petunia, most species are pollinated by bees, but hawkmoth- and bird pollination are also observed. Here, we aimed to test the hypothesis that species with the same pollination syndrome evolved through convergence, while differences in pollinators indicate divergence. We selected six genes (MYB-FL, DFR, EOBII, ODO1, BPBT, and NEC1) involved in establishing pollination syndromes to explore the potential role of cis-regulatory elements in shifts among pollination syndromes, attracting and rewarding pollinators. Methods: We retrieved the genomic sequences of genes from the genomes of four Petunia species, which exhibit distinct pollination syndromes. We analyzed the cis-regulatory elements, focusing on the structure and composition of motifs, and inferred the functions of these transcription factors using Gene Ontology analysis. Results: All sequences were highly conserved among species, with variations in promoter motif structure and TF binding sites. The evolutionary relationships among the genes closely reflected the species’ phylogeny. Likewise, regulatory elements and gene structure mostly followed the species’ evolutionary history. However, different pollination syndromes are present, and there is an unexpected lack of convergence between the two bee-pollinated species. Conclusions: Our findings showed that the most recent common ancestor of these species better predicts relationships among gene regulatory elements than does the pollination syndrome. To fully understand the evolution of pollination syndromes in Petunia, additional studies are needed to analyze entire pathways and compare genomes and transcriptomes. Full article

Insects, the most diverse group of animals on Earth, have historically evolved under strong environmental selective pressures, particularly fluctuations in atmospheric oxygen and temperature. During the Anthropocene, rapid climate change, pollution, and habitat alteration now impose new and compounded stresses, accelerating insect decline at unprecedented rates. Here, we present a conceptual framework comparing ancient environmental drivers of insect physiology, size, and diversity with modern anthropogenic stressors. This perspective reveals how contemporary pressures such as pesticide-induced hypoxia, climate-driven size alterations, and habitat fragmentation resemble and intensify ancient evolutionary constraints. We further highlight the disruption of key ecological services and the emergence of novel biotic pressures, including intensified competition and predation. Recent advances in trait-based modeling, environmental DNA analysis, remote sensing, and AI-powered monitoring offer promising avenues for assessing these complex interactions. Integrating these modern tools with historical evolutionary insights is essential for improving risk assessments, informing conservation strategies, and mitigating the cascading effects of insect diversity loss on ecosystems. Full article

Background: Chronic musculoskeletal pain (CMP) is a multidimensional condition involving both peripheral and central mechanisms, with increasing evidence supporting an interplay between subjective pain perception and autonomic nervous system (ANS) function. However, few studies have explored whether a single non-invasive intervention can concurrently modulate both domains. Objectives: To evaluate the short-term effects of a single session of Pulsed Electromagnetic Field (PEMF) therapy—administered via the PAP Ion Magnetic Induction (PAPIMI™) device—on subjective pain intensity and heart rate variability (HRV) parameters in individuals with CMP. The relationship between perceived pain relief and physiological autonomic adaptations was also explored. Methods: Thirty adults with CMP underwent a single PAPIMI™ session. Subjective pain intensity was measured using the Numeric Pain Rating Scale (NPRS), while autonomic function was assessed via HRV. Pre- to post-intervention changes were analyzed using the Wilcoxon Signed-Rank test, while Spearman’s correlation was computed to assess associations between post-intervention changes in subjective perceived pain and HRV parameters. Results: A significant reduction in NPRS scores (p < 0.001) was found after PAPIMI intervention. Also, a significant increase in specific parasympathetic-related HRV indices, namely, RMSSD (p = 0.015) and HF power (p = 0.029), was observed. No significant correlations were found between post-intervention changes in pain perception and HRV metrics. Conclusions: A single PAPIMI session induced both analgesic effects and improvements in autonomic balance in individuals with CMP. These findings underscore the potential of PAPIMI as a non-pharmacological approach for rapid pain modulation and systemic rebalancing. Full article

Ammonia is widely regarded as the primary chemical pollutant responsible for fish toxicity in aquaculture. Scatophagus argus is an economically important euryhaline species extensively cultured in marine aquaculture. To investigate its physiological responses and molecular mechanisms under ammonia exposure, we determined the 96 h median lethal concentration (LC₅₀-96 h) of total ammonia nitrogen (TAN) for S. argus juveniles. Histopathological analyses were conducted at TAN concentrations of 0 (control), 30, and 60 mg/L, with transcriptomic analysis performed at 0 and 60 mg/L. The results showed that the LC₅₀-96 h for S. argus was 59.43 mg/L. Histological analysis revealed lamellar epithelial detachment and hepatocyte vacuolization in S. argus exposed to 60 mg/L TAN, indicating substantial structural impairment under ammonia stress. Transcriptomic profiling identified 245 differentially expressed genes (DEGs), comprising 142 upregulated and 103 downregulated genes. KEGG enrichment analysis indicated that DEGs were primarily enriched in energy metabolism and immune-related pathways. Key genes involved in glucose metabolism, amino acid metabolism, and cellular regulation (e.g., PFKM, PGM1, MAT2A, DDIT4) were significantly upregulated in energy metabolism pathways. In immune-related pathways, immune regulatory genes such as GIMAP4 and ARRDC3 were upregulated, while NAMLAA, associated with inflammatory modulation, was downregulated. Collectively, these transcriptional changes suggest that S. argus responds to external ammonia stress through coordinated regulation of energy metabolism and immune function. This study provides novel insights into the physiological and molecular strategies employed by S. argus in response to ammonia toxicity, offering a reference for environmental risk assessment and aquaculture management. Full article

As the risk of drought increases due to climate change, understanding ecological drought has become increasingly important for ensuring water resource security and carbon balance. However, most current ecological drought assessments rely on meteorological or hydrological indicators, which may not accurately reflect changes in the eco-physiological status of ecosystems. Therefore, this study establishes an ecological drought assessment framework using solar-induced chlorophyll fluorescence (SIF) as an indicator to examine its interpretable responses to climate–hydrology–environmental variables. The framework was tested across China’s nine major river basins and different ecosystems. Results show that SIF increased in 80.0% of China’s areas, with 60.9% showing significant increases (p < 0.05). Forest ecosystems experienced the lowest frequency of ecological drought but showed increasing duration and intensity, while grassland ecosystems had the highest frequency but decreasing duration and intensity. LightGBM machine learning analysis revealed that surface soil moisture (SMs), temperature (Tm), root-zone soil moisture (SMrz), and CO₂ were the main factors influencing ecological drought, with SMs and Tm contributing to over 66.1% of ecological drought. The SMs-Tm interaction alleviated ecological drought under low-temperature and high-humidity conditions but initially intensified then alleviated ecological drought under high-temperature and high-humidity conditions. The SMs-CO₂ interaction promoted ecological drought at high or low CO₂ concentrations but alleviated it at moderate concentrations. Full article

Background/Objectives: The aortic valve has a prominent role in regulating blood flow and is of exceptional importance in clinical cardiological practice, as it can be affected by numerous abnormalities, so any clinical study that examines its physiological properties may be of significance. It is known that the dimensions of the aortic valve annulus (AVA) not only change during the cardiac cycle, but also undergo spatial displacement. Considering this, the question arises as to whether the AVA’s dimensions and their spatial displacement, represented by aortic annular plane systolic excursion (AAPSE), are related or not. Therefore, these parameters were simultaneously assessed using three-dimensional speckle-tracking echocardiography (3DSTE) in healthy adults. Methods: The present study’s cohort consisted of 148 healthy adults (mean age: 34.8 ± 12.4 years, 80 men). In all cases, two-dimensional Doppler echocardiography and 3DSTE were performed, the latter being used to assess the aortic valve. Results: In all subjects, end-diastolic and end-systolic AVA dimensions showed no association with an increase in AAPSE. In subjects with a greater end-diastolic AVA area (AVA-A), end-systolic AVA dimensions tended to decrease with increasing AAPSE; this trend reached statistical significance for end-systolic minimum AVA diameter, when comparing participants with AAPSE below versus above the mean. With increasing end-diastolic AVA-A, all other AVA parameters increased accordingly in all subjects and regardless of which AVA-A proved to be greater. In all subjects, and in those with a greater end-systolic AVA-A, the AAPSE proved to be similar regardless of the size of the end-diastolic AVA-A. In cases with a greater end-diastolic AVA-A, only one subject showed a very small end-diastolic AVA-A. With increasing end-systolic AVA-A, all other AVA dimensions were increased in all subjects and in cases with a greater end-diastolic or end-systolic AVA-A. AAPSE showed no significant differences between the subgroups examined, although it tended to be lower in cases with a greater end-diastolic AVA-A and the largest end-systolic AVA-A, and in subjects with a greater end-systolic AVA-A and the smallest end-systolic AVA-A. Moreover, individuals with a greater end-diastolic AVA-A and the smallest end-systolic AVA-A had a tendency for increased AAPSE. No correlations were present between AVA dimensions and AAPSE. Conclusions: 3DSTE-derived AVA dimensions showed no obvious associations with AAPSE in the same healthy adults. Full article

The purpose of this study was to establish the relationship between the chilling resistance of rubber trees and the bark-bleeding characteristics caused by chilling stress, considering physiological indicators in rubber tree bark, cell wall chemical components, fiber morphologies, and tensile properties. This offered a unique perspective for examining the underlying mechanisms of latex bleeding and chilling stress in Hevea brasiliensis. One-year-old seedlings and two-year-old twig segments in five- and twenty-one-year-old rubber trees (5YB and 21YB) were used to compare the age-mediation differences in their various parameters. Meanwhile, the LT₅₀ values were calculated with Logistic regression analysis of relative electrical conductivity (REC) data under gradient low temperatures. Subsequently, changes in corresponding parameters of 1-year-old seedling stem bark at different ages were determined, and the bark-bleeding characteristics of seedlings and twig segments were analyzed under artificially simulated chilling stress, respectively. A correlation analysis between semi-lethal temperature (LT₅₀) values, relative water content (RWC) values, bark-bleeding characteristics, cell-wall chemical component contents, fiber dimensions, and tensile property parameters was implemented to estimate interrelationships among them. The LT₅₀ values ranged from −2.0387 °C to −0.8695 °C. The results showed that the chilling resistance order of rubber trees at different ages was as follows: 21YB (2-year-old twig bark from 21-year-old rubber trees) > 5YB (2-year-old twig bark from 5-year-old rubber trees) > SLB (semi-lignification bark in 1-year-old seedlings) > GB (green bark in 1-year-old seedlings). The chilling resistance of seedlings and twig segments in rubber trees was highly positively (p < 0.001) related to fiber morphologies. Chilling-induced bark-bleeding characteristics were significantly correlated (p < 0.001) with fiber morphologies, bark tensile properties, and cell-wall components. The analysis data in this study contribute towards building a comprehensive understanding of the mechanisms of chilling-induced bark bleeding needed not only in rubber tree cultivation but also in sustainable rubber production. Full article

Type 2 diabetes (T2D) is a chronic metabolic disorder requiring effective management to avoid complications. Metformin is a first-line drug agent and is routinely prescribed for the control of glycemia, but its underlying dynamics are complicated and not fully quantified. This paper formulates a control-oriented and interpretable mathematical model that integrates metformin dynamics into a classic beta-cell–insulin–glucose (BIG) regulation system. The paper’s applicability to theoretical and clinical settings is enhanced by rigorous mathematical analysis, which guarantees the model is globally bounded, well-posed, and biologically meaningful. One of the key features of the study is its global stability analysis using Lyapunov functions, which demonstrates the asymptotic stability of critical equilibrium points under realistic physiological constraints. These findings support the predictive reliability of the model in explaining long-term glycemic regulation. Bifurcation analysis also clarifies the dynamic interplay between glucose production and utilization by identifying parameter thresholds that signify transitions between homeostasis and pathological states. Residual analysis, which detects Gaussian-distributed errors, underlines the robustness of the fitting process and suggests possible refinements by including temporal effects. Sensitivity analysis highlights the predominant effect of the initial dose of metformin on long-term glucose regulation and provides practical guidance for optimizing individual treatment. Furthermore, changing the two considered metformin parameters from their optimal values—altering the dose by ±50% and the decay rate by ±20%—demonstrates the flexibility of the model in simulating glycemic responses, confirming its adaptability and its potential for optimizing personalized treatment strategies. Full article