Search Results (8,224)

The welfare of farmed hybrid striped bass remains largely unaddressed in U.S. aquaculture, despite the species’ economic significance and the scale of production. Physical handling during grading and inspection not only causes stress and increased incidence of injury, but also results in unmarketable fish and significant financial loss for producers. To address these issues, we present a prototype system that uses directed water currents to leverage the fish’s natural rheotactic behavior, enabling directed movement between tank regions without the need for direct physical contact. Our design allows for early identification of malformed individuals, who otherwise face prolonged suffering and starvation, so they can be humanely culled. In a small pilot study, we observed that fish moved into the destination region more frequently and with less behavioral variability when exposed to a directed current, suggesting this method as a viable alternative to traditional handling. While the system requires further refinement and testing at scale, these preliminary results offer a promising step toward ethical, commercially viable, and low-stress fish sorting systems in commercial aquaculture. Full article

Under global warming, drought frequency and its severity have risen notably, posing considerable challenges to vegetation growth. Central Asia (CA), recognized as the largest non-zonal arid zone globally, features dryland ecosystems that are particularly vulnerable to drought stress. This research examines how plant life in CA reacts to prolonged dry spells by analyzing multiple datasets, including drought indices and satellite-derived NDVI measurements, spanning four decades (1982–2022). This study also delves into the compound impact of drought, revealing how its influence on vegetation unfolds through both cumulative stress and delayed ecological responses. Based on the research results, the vegetation coverage in CA exhibited a notable rising tendency from 1982 to 1998. Specifically, it increased at a rate of 4 × 10⁻³ per year (p < 0.05). On the other hand, the direction of this trend shifted to a downward one during the period from 1999 to 2022. During this latter phase, the vegetation coverage decreased at a rate of −4 × 10⁻³ per year (p > 0.05). Vegetation changes in the study area underwent a fundamental reversal around 1998, shifting from widespread greening during 1982–1998 to persistent browning during 1999–2022. Specifically, 98.6% of the region underwent pronounced summer drought stress, which triggered a substantial rise in vegetation browning. The vegetation response to the accumulated and lagged effects of drought varied across seasons, with summer exhibiting the strongest sensitivity, followed by spring and autumn. The lagged effect of drought predominantly influences the vegetation during the growing season and spring, affecting 59.44% and 79.27% of CA, respectively. In contrast, the accumulated effect of drought is more prominent in summer and autumn, affecting 54.92% and 56.52% of CA. These insights offer valuable guidance for ecological restoration initiatives and sustainable management of dryland ecosystems. Full article

Residual cardiovascular risk remains substantial despite widespread adoption of intensive lipid-lowering strategies—statins, PCSK9 inhibitors, and RNA-based agents—that achieve very low LDL-C and apoB levels. Over the past three years, converging epidemiologic and mechanistic evidence has highlighted emotional stress—including anger, grief, anxiety, and chronic psychosocial strain—as a biologically active determinant of atherosclerotic disease and a frequent trigger of acute events. We propose the Emotion–Lipid Synergy Model, in which lipid burden establishes the atherothrombotic substrate while emotion-driven autonomic and vascular perturbations amplify endothelial dysfunction, microvascular constriction, inflammation, and thrombogenicity—thereby widening the residual-risk gap even when lipid targets are met. From this perspective, prevention should evolve toward precision psychocardiology: systematically screening for distress and stress reactivity; leveraging wearables to detect high-risk emotional states; and delivering timely, scalable, just-in-time behavioral interventions alongside guideline-directed lipid management. Particular attention is warranted for women and patients with angina and no obstructive coronary disease, who appear disproportionately susceptible to mental-stress ischemia. We outline a research agenda—flagship outcomes trials, mechanistic studies, and multimodal phenotyping—and discuss implementation pathways that integrate emotion metrics into cardiac rehabilitation and routine care. Integrating emotion assessment and modulation with lipid control offers a pragmatic route to reduce residual risk and advance equitable, personalized cardiovascular prevention. Full article

The deterioration of the global climate and accelerated urbanization have led to intense pressure on surface space resources. As a strategic development field, deep underground space has become a crucial direction for alleviating human habitation pressure. However, current research on deep underground space mostly focuses on fields such as geology and medicine, while the design of habitable environments lacks interdisciplinary integration and systematic approaches. Taking deep underground space as the research object, this study first clarifies the interdisciplinary research context through bibliometric analysis. Then, combined with geological data (ground temperature, groundwater, and ground stress, etc.) from major cities in China, it defines the characteristics of the in situ environment and the characteristics of the development and utilization of deep underground space. By comparing the habitable design experiences of extreme environments, such as space stations, Moon habitats, and desert survival modules, the study extracts five categories of design elements: natural conditions, construction status, social economy, users, and existing resources. Ultimately, it establishes a demand-oriented, five-dimensional habitable design methodology covering in situ environment adaptation, living support, medical and health services, resilience and flexibility, and existing space renovation. This research clarifies the differentiated design strategies for hundred-meter-level and kilometer-level deep underground spaces, providing theoretical support for the scientific development of deep underground space and serving as a reference for habitable design in other extreme environments. Full article

Ordovician marine red beds (OMRBs) are widely developed along the margins of Gondwana and represent distinctive limestone facies. These red beds are known for their diverse sedimentary structures and have been described by scholars as the “fashionable facies” in geological history. However, their characteristics and classification remain controversial. Multiple hypotheses about their origin have also hindered a clear understanding of these strata. Therefore, this study focuses on the Xiangxi area (South China) and presents a detailed analysis of the sedimentary structures of marine red beds, building on previous research on OMRBs in South China. Based on genetic features, we divide the most debated “nodule-like” and “cracked” structures—previously identified by earlier researchers—into ten subtypes. Three key genetic end-members are identified among these subtypes: breccia, patch, and argillaceous band. Detailed studies using microslab analysis, scanning electron microscopy, geochemistry, and paleontology were carried out on these three end-members. The results confirm that the Ordovician marine red beds were mainly deposited in a shallow marine environment, with the red coloration primarily derived from continental sources. As the sea level rose, the color of the red beds lightened, and the dominant sedimentary structures shifted from breccia end-members to argillaceous band end-members. Additionally, this study identified a vertically penetrating argillaceous band controlled by syndepositional compressive stress, which may be linked to NW-directed compression from the Kwangsian Orogeny. Evidence from tectonic styles, biofacies migration, and chronostratigraphy supports this hypothesis. Full article

Background: Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading global cause of death and is shaped by interacting biological, environmental, lifestyle, and social factors. Traditional models often treat risk factors in isolation and may miss dependencies among exposures and biomarkers. Objective: To map interdependencies among environmental, social, behavioral, and biological predictors of CVD risk using Bayesian network models. Methods: A cross-sectional analysis was conducted using NHANES 2017–2018 data. After complete-case procedures, the analytic sample included 601 adults and 22 variables: outcomes (systolic/diastolic blood pressure, total/LDL/HDL cholesterol, triglycerides) and predictors (BMI, C-reactive protein (CRP), allostatic load, Dietary Inflammatory Index, income, education, age, gender, race, smoking, alcohol, and serum lead, cadmium, mercury, and PFOA). Spearman’s correlations summarized pairwise associations. Bayesian networks were learned with two approaches: Grow–Shrink (constraint-based) and Hill-Climbing (score-based, Bayesian Gaussian equivalent score). Network size metrics included number of nodes, directed edges, average neighborhood size, and Markov blanket size. Results: Correlation screening reproduced expected patterns, including very high systolic–diastolic concordance (p ≈ 1.00), strong LDL–total cholesterol correlation (p = 0.90), inverse HDL–triglycerides association, and positive BMI–CRP association. The final Hill-Climbing network contained 22 nodes and 44 directed edges, with an average neighborhood size of ~4 and an average Markov blanket size of ~6.1, indicating multiple indirect dependencies. Across both learning algorithms, BMI, CRP, and allostatic load emerged as central nodes. Environmental toxicants (lead, cadmium, mercury, PFOS, PFOA) showed connections to sociodemographic variables (income, education, race) and to inflammatory and lipid markers, suggesting patterned exposure linked to socioeconomic position. Diet and stress measures were positioned upstream of blood pressure and triglycerides in the score-based model, consistent with stress-inflammation–metabolic pathways. Agreement across algorithms on key hubs (BMI, CRP, allostatic load) supported network robustness for central structures. Conclusions: Bayesian network modeling identified interconnected pathways linking obesity, systemic inflammation, chronic stress, and environmental toxicant burden with cardiovascular risk indicators. Findings are consistent with the view that biological dysregulation is linked with CVD and environmental or social stresses. Full article

Vitamin D₃ plays a pivotal role not only in bone health but also in the functioning of the nervous system, particularly in the context of age-related neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease, multiple sclerosis, and Parkinson’s disease. Vitamin D₃ deficiency has been associated with cognitive decline, heightened inflammation, and shortened leukocyte telomere length, which may contribute to accelerated cellular aging. Therapeutic interventions involving vitamin D₃ have been reported in selected clinical studies and meta-analyses to potentially enhance cognitive function, decrease amyloid β biomarkers, and prolong telomere length, although heterogeneity remains across study designs and populations. Furthermore, vitamin D₃ has been shown to influence the expression of genes implicated in DNA repair and oxidative stress response, including NRF2, OGG1, MYH, and MTH1. This narrative review synthesizes current knowledge on the molecular mechanisms of vitamin D₃ action in the context of neuroprotection and discusses potential directions for future research, including its possible therapeutic applications in neurodegenerative diseases. Full article

Environmental stressors during the crucial period of fetal development can have a substantial impact on long-term health outcomes. A major concern is dietary exposure to endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs), which can readily cross the placenta and disrupt fetal hormonal signaling and developmental programming. Examples of these chemicals include bisphenols, phthalates, pesticides, and persistent organic pollutants (POPs). Prenatal exposure to EDC has been associated with long-term effects in children, including immune disruption, metabolic dysregulation, impaired neurodevelopment, and reproductive alterations, as evidenced by human cohort studies and experimental models. Epigenetic reprogramming, direct interference with endocrine signaling, and oxidative stress (OS) are hypothesized pathways for these adverse consequences, which often combine to produce long-lasting physiological changes. This narrative review summarizes current research on maternal dietary exposure to EDCs during pregnancy, highlighting associations with adverse child health outcomes. It also discusses the growing evidence of transgenerational effects, the potential mechanisms linking prenatal exposure to long-term outcomes, and the importance of understanding the roles of timing, dosage, and chemical type. By highlighting the necessity of focused interventions to lower maternal EDC exposure and lessen threats to the health of offspring, the review concludes by discussing implications for future research, preventive measures, and public health policy. Full article

The fragile karst ecosystem in Southwest China faces severe water scarcity. Since 2000, large-scale ecological restoration programs (e.g., the “Grain for Green” Program) have substantially increased vegetation coverage. Concurrently, climate change has manifested as a distinct warming trend and heightened drought risk in recent decades. Therefore, understanding the synergistic and competing effects of climate change and vegetation restoration on regional evapotranspiration (ET) is critical for projecting water budgets and ensuring the sustainability of ecosystems and water resources within this vital ecological barrier region. This study employs a dual-scenario PT-JPL model (simulating natural vegetation dynamics versus constant coverage) integrated with Sen + MK trend analysis to quantify the spatiotemporal patterns of ET and its components—canopy transpiration (ETc), interception evaporation (ETi), and soil evaporation (ETs)—in Southwest China’s karst region (2000–2018). Furthermore, multiple regression analysis and SEM were utilized to investigate the driving mechanisms of vegetation and climatic factors (temperature, precipitation, radiation, and relative humidity) on changes in ET and its components. The key results demonstrate the following: (1) Vegetation restoration exerted a net positive effect on total ET (+0.44 mm/a) through enhanced ETi (+0.22 mm/a) and ETs (+0.37 mm/a), despite reducing ETc (−0.08 mm/a), revealing trade-offs in water allocation. (2) Radiation dominated ET variability (66.45% of the area exhibiting >50% contribution), while temperature exhibited the most extensive spatial dominance (44.02% of the region), and relative humidity exhibited drought-mediated dual effects (promoting ETi while suppressing ETc). (3) Precipitation exhibited minimal direct influence. Vegetation restoration and climate change collectively drive ET dynamics, with ETc declines indicating potential water stress. These findings elucidate the synergistic regulation of vegetation restoration and climate change on karst ecohydrology, providing critical insights for water resource management in fragile ecosystems globally. Full article

Additive Manufacturing (AM) has attracted considerable interest over the past three decades, driven by growing industrial demand. Among metal AM techniques, Wire and Arc Additive Manufacturing (WAAM), a Directed Energy Deposition (DED) variant, has emerged as a prominent method for producing large-scale components with high deposition rates and cost efficiency. However, WAAM parts typically exhibit rough surface profiles, which can induce stress concentrations and promote fatigue crack initiation under cyclic loading. This study presents an integrated experimental and numerical investigation into the fatigue performance of as-built WAAM steel. Fatigue specimens extracted from a WAAM-fabricated wall were tested under cyclic loading, followed by fractography to assess the influence of surface irregularities and subsurface defects on fatigue behaviour. Surface topography analysis identified critical stress-concentration regions and key surface roughness parameters. Additionally, 3D scanning was used to reconstruct the specimen topography, enabling detailed 2D and 3D finite element (FE) modelling to analyze stress distribution along the as-built surface and predict fatigue life. A Smith-Watson-Topper (SWT) critical plane-based approach was applied for multiaxial fatigue life estimation. The results reveal a good correlation between experimental fatigue data and numerically predicted results, validating the proposed combined methodology for assessing durability of as-built WAAM components. Full article

Drought is a leading constraint on plant productivity and will intensify with climate change. Plant acclimation emerges from a multilayered regulatory system that integrates signaling, transcriptional reprogramming, RNA-based control, and chromatin dynamics. Within this hierarchy, non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) provide a unifying regulatory layer; microRNAs (miRNAs) modulate abscisic acid and auxin circuits, oxidative stress defenses, and root architecture. This balances growth with survival under water-deficient conditions. Small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) include 24-nucleotide heterochromatic populations that operate through RNA-directed DNA methylation, which positions ncRNA control at the transcription–chromatin interface. Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) act in cis and trans, interact with small RNA pathways, and can serve as chromatin-associated scaffolds. Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are increasingly being detected as responsive to drought. Functional studies in Arabidopsis and maize (e.g., ath-circ032768 and circMED16) underscore their regulatory potential. This review consolidates ncRNA biogenesis and function, catalogs drought-responsive modules across model and crop species, especially cereals, and outlines methodological priorities, such as long-read support for isoforms and back-splice junctions, stringent validation, and integrative multiomics. The evidence suggests that ncRNAs are tractable entry points for enhancing drought resilience while managing growth–stress trade-offs. Full article

TRIC-A is an intracellular cation channel enriched in excitable tissues that is recently identified as a key modulator of sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) Ca²⁺ homeostasis through direct interaction with type 2 ryanodine receptors (RyR₂). Given the intimate anatomical and functional coupling between the SR and mitochondria, we investigated whether TRIC-A contributes to SR–mitochondrial crosstalk under cardiac stress conditions. Using a transverse aortic constriction (TAC) model, we found that TRIC-A^−/− mice developed more severe cardiac hypertrophy, underwent maladaptive remodeling, and activated apoptotic pathways compared with wild-type littermates. At the cellular level, TRIC-A-deficient cardiomyocytes were more susceptible to H₂O₂-induced mitochondrial injury and displayed abnormal mitochondrial morphology. Live-cell imaging revealed exaggerated mitochondrial Ca²⁺ uptake during caffeine stimulation and increased propensity for store-overload-induced Ca²⁺ release (SOICR). Complementary studies in HEK293 cells expressing RyR₂ demonstrated that exogenous TRIC-A expression attenuates RyR₂-mediated mitochondrial Ca²⁺ overload, preserves respiratory function, and suppresses superoxide generation. Together, these findings identify TRIC-A as a critical regulator of SR–mitochondrial Ca²⁺ signaling. By constraining mitochondrial Ca²⁺ influx and limiting oxidative stress, TRIC-A safeguards cardiomyocytes against SOICR-driven injury and confers protection against pressure overload-induced cardiac dysfunction. Full article

Background: Aviation is one of the most demanding professions, exposing pilots to persistent stressors such as fatigue, irregular schedules, and high safety responsibility. These conditions heighten vulnerability to depression, anxiety, and stress (DAS), yet the protective mechanisms mitigating such effects remain less well understood. Objective: This study examined the roles of resilience, coping strategies, and fatigue in predicting DAS among commercial airline pilots. Method: A sample of 200 pilots completed validated self-report measures: the Connor–Davidson Resilience Scale (CD-RISC), the Coping Inventory for Stressful Situations (CISS), the Fatigue Severity Scale (FSS), and the Depression Anxiety Stress Scale (DASS-21). Data were analyzed using bivariate correlations, hierarchical multiple regression, and mediation/moderation analyses via the PROCESS macro. Results: Resilience was negatively correlated with total DAS scores (r = −0.46, p < 0.001), while fatigue (r = 0.42, p < 0.001) and avoidance coping (r = 0.38, p < 0.001) were positively correlated. The regression model accounted for 46% of the variance in DAS (R² = 0.46). Task-focused coping predicted lower stress levels, whereas avoidance coping predicted higher anxiety and depression. Resilience moderated the relationship between stress and depression, buffering the impact of stress on mood outcomes. Mediation analyses indicated that coping styles partially explained the protective effect of resilience. ANOVA results confirmed that pilots with high resilience reported significantly lower depression scores than those with medium or low resilience, F(2, 197) = 6.72, p < 0.01. Conclusions: Resilience emerged as both a direct and indirect buffer against psychological strain in aviation. These findings underscore the importance of promoting adaptive coping and resilience training, alongside effective fatigue management, to enhance pilot well-being and maintain safety in aviation systems. Full article

Euglena gracilis’s mixotrophic metabolism offers biotechnological potential. This study investigated how glucose, sodium acetate, ethanol, and propanetriol regulate its growth, photosynthesis, and paramylon production. All carbon sources boosted paramylon yield versus photoautotrophic controls. Ethanol and glucose were both highly effective, supporting the highest biomass accumulation (5.71 and 4.42-fold increases, respectively) and paramylon content without a significant difference between them. Ethanol supplementation enhanced chlorophyll b via coupled TCA cycle/glyoxylate shunt activity, while glucose showed the strongest tendency for high paramylon and the highest carotenoid content (13.36-fold higher). Sodium acetate triggered alkaline stress (pH 8.5), suppressing pigments and inducing spherical cells. Propanetriol reduced biomass but enhanced PSII efficiency (Fv/Fm). These results demonstrate carbon source-driven metabolic partitioning: ethanol and glucose both excel in promoting growth and storage, while additionally directing carbon toward chlorophyll b or carotenoids, respectively. These findings enable targeted bioprocess optimization: selection between ethanol or glucose can be based on the value of co-products, advancing E. gracilis as a sustainable cell factory. Full article

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a neurodegenerative disorder involving the progressive degeneration of upper and lower motor neurons. While oxidative stress, RNA-binding protein (RBP) pathology, mitochondrial dysfunction, and glial–neuronal dysregulation is involved in ALS pathogenesis, current therapies provide limited benefit, underscoring the need for multi-target disease-modifying strategies. Nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2), classically regarded as a master regulator of redox homeostasis, has recently emerged as a central integrator of cellular stress responses relevant to ALS. Beyond its canonical antioxidant function, Nrf2 regulates critical pathways involved in mitochondrial quality control, proteostasis, nucleocytoplasmic transport, RNA surveillance, and glial reactivity. Experimental models demonstrate that astrocyte-specific Nrf2 activation enhances glutathione metabolism, suppresses neuroinflammation, promotes stress granule disassembly, and reduces RBP aggregation. In C9orf72-linked ALS, Nrf2 activation mitigates dipeptide repeat protein toxicity and restores RNA processing fidelity via modulation of nonsense-mediated decay and R-loop resolution. Recent advances in Nrf2-targeted interventions including Keap1–Nrf2 protein–protein interaction inhibitors, dual Nrf2/HSF1 activators, and cell-type-selective Adeno-associated virus 9 (AAV9) vectors show promise in preclinical ALS models. These multimodal approaches highlight Nrf2’s therapeutic versatility and potential to address the upstream convergence points of ALS pathogenesis. Taken together, positioning Nrf2 as a systems-level regulator offers a novel framework for developing precision-based therapies in ALS. Integrating Nrf2 activation with RNA- and glia-directed strategies may enable comprehensive modulation of disease progression at its molecular roots. Full article