Hybridization in the Anthropocene - how pollution and climate change disrupt mate selection in freshwater fish.

Chemical pollutants and/or climate change have the potential to break down reproductive barriers between species and facilitate hybridization. Hybrid zones may arise in response to environmental gradients and secondary contact between formerly allopatric populations, or due to the introduction of non-native species. In freshwater ecosystems, field observations indicate that changes in water quality and chemistry, due to pollution and climate change, are correlated with an increased frequency of hybridization. Physical and chemical disturbances of water quality can alter the sensory environment, thereby affecting chemical and visual communication among fish. Moreover, multiple chemical compounds (e.g. pharmaceuticals, metals, pesticides, and industrial contaminants) may impair fish physiology, potentially affecting phenotypic traits relevant for mate selection (e.g. pheromone production, courtship, and coloration). Although warming waters have led to documented range shifts, and chemical pollution is ubiquitous in freshwater ecosystems, few studies have tested hypotheses about how these stressors may facilitate hybridization and what this means for biodiversity and species conservation. Through a systematic literature review across disciplines (i.e. ecotoxicology and evolutionary biology), we evaluate the biological interactions, toxic mechanisms, and roles of physical and chemical environmental stressors (i.e. chemical pollution and climate change) in disrupting mate preferences and inducing interspecific hybridization in freshwater fish. Our study indicates that climate change-driven changes in water quality and chemical pollution may impact visual and chemical communication crucial for mate choice and thus could facilitate hybridization among fishes in freshwater ecosystems. To inform future studies and conservation management, we emphasize the importance of further research to identify the chemical and physical stressors affecting mate choice, understand the mechanisms behind these interactions, determine the concentrations at which they occur, and assess their impact on individuals, populations, species, and biological diversity in the Anthropocene.

Obtaining more contaminant-resistant variants from a native Chlorella vulgaris strain.

Cildáñez stream (in Matanza-Riachuelo basin, Buenos Aires) is one of the most polluted watercourses of Argentina, containing a mixed contamination from agricultural and industrial wastes. The application of water bioremediation processes for this kind of effluent will require microorganisms with a high tolerance to contamination. In this sense, obtaining higher contaminant-resistant microalgae lines is widely desired. In this study, adaptive laboratory evolution (ALE) and random mutagenesis were used to obtain Chlorella vulgaris LMPA-40 strains adapted to grow in polluted water from the Cildáñez stream. The ALE process was performed by 22 successive subcultures under selective pressure (Cildáñez wastewater alone or with the addition of phenol or H2O2) while random mutagenesis was performed with UV-C radiation at 275nm. Not all the cell lines obtained after ALE could adapt enough to overcome the stress caused by the Cildáñez wastewater, indicating that the process is quite random and depends on the stressor used. The best results were obtained for the Cildáñez wastewater adapted cells (Cild 3 strain) that were more resistant than the original strain. The concentration of protein, Chlorophyll A, Chlorophyll B, and carotenoids in the Cild 3 ALE evolved strain was higher than that of the control strain. However, this strain exhibited half of the lipid content compared to the same control strain. Interestingly, these alterations and the acquired tolerance may be reversed over time during storage. These findings suggest that the acquisition of novel cell lines could not be permanent, a fact that must be considered for future trials.

Multiple climate change stressors reduce the emergence success of gravel-spawning fish species and alter temporal emergence patterns.

Climate change, with its profound effects on stream sediment, hydrological, and temperature dynamics, will exacerbate impacts on habitat conditions for many species, particularly those with vulnerable early life stages relying on the hyporheic zone, such as gravel-spawning fishes. Due to the complex and interactive nature of multiple stressor effects, we employed large-scale outdoor mesocosms to systemically test how the reproductive success of three gravel-spawning fish species brown trout (Salmo trutta), nase, (Chrondrostoma nasus) and Danube salmon (Hucho hucho) was affected by individual and combined effects of warming (+3-4 °C), fine sediment (increase in <0.85 mm by 22 %) and low-flow (eightfold discharge-reduction). Fine sediment had the most detrimental effect on emergence rate and fry length in all three species, reducing the emergence rate to zero in brown trout, 9 % in nase, and 4 % in Danube salmon. The emergence mortality caused by fine sediment surpassed that of hatching distinctly, suggesting that negative effects due to hypoxia were considerably exacerbated by entombment. Warming had only minor effects as a single stressor, but low flow reduced emergence rates of the spring spawning species nase and Danube salmon by 8 and 50 %, respectively. In combined treatments including fine sediment, however, the emergence success of all three species responded strongly negatively, even in the cyprinid species nase, which showed little interactive effects between stressors regarding hatching success. Warming and fine sediment also led to the earlier emergence of fry, implying a risk of asynchrony with available food resources. This study dramatically shows that climate change can have deleterious impacts on the reproductive success of gravel-spawning fish species, irrespective of taxonomic or ecological traits.

How stressors disrupt honey bee biological traits and overwintering mechanisms.

High winter mortality of honey bees (Apis mellifera) has been observed in temperate regions over the past 30 years. Several biotic and abiotic stressors associated with winter colony losses have been identified, but the mechanisms and interactions underlying their effects remain unclear. We reviewed the effects of stressors on key overwintering biological traits, distinguishing between individual and colony traits. We found that disturbances at the level of individual traits can be amplified when transmitted to colony traits. By analyzing these cascading effects, we propose a concept of a feedback loop mechanism of winter mortality. We found that population size, social thermoregulation and honey reserve are integrative traits and can predict overwintering failure. Furthermore, we identified social thermoregulation as a good candidate for an early warning indicator. We therefore discuss existing tools for monitoring hive temperature to help mitigate the current high winter mortality of honey bees and support the sustainability of beekeeping.

Career transition plans of veterinarians in clinical practice.

Objective: Gain an understanding of the career transition plans of veterinarians in clinical practice. Sample: Veterinary members of the Veterinary Information Network (VIN) working as small animal clinicians. Procedures: An electronic survey distributed via the VIN data collection portal. Results: A total of 1,256 responses from veterinarians in clinical practice were analyzed, with 61% indicating they plan to decrease their clinical work, and 31% to stop entirely within the next 5 years. The most common reasons for these choices were to have more free time for oneself and/or family/friends (76%), to maintain good health (59%), and feeling burned out (50%). Factors that might entice them to retain their current number of clinical hours included reduced workload or shorter hours (42%), financial incentivization (38%), and improved working conditions (26%). Concerns related to retirement were common with 47% of participants in our study reported feeling concerned about the loss of professional identity, 34% reported concern about reduced social connections, and 28% reported concern as to how they would fill their time. Conclusions and clinical relevance: The reported desire to reduce/stop one's clinical work within the next 5 years by 42% of veterinarians ≤44 years of age, with burnout a primary predictor, offers insights into the necessity of change at the organizational, systemic (versus individual) level. The fact that many participants reported concerns related to retirement and 32% reported that they did not have adequate retirement information suggests a need for supportive services to help ensure a successful transition.

Considering ultraviolet radiation in experimental biology: a neglected pervasive stressor.

Ultraviolet radiation (UVR) is a pervasive factor that has shaped the evolution of life on Earth. Ambient levels of UVR mediate key biological functions but can also cause severe lethal and sublethal effects in a wide range of organisms. Furthermore, UVR is a powerful modulator of the effects of other environmental factors on organismal physiology, such as temperature, disease, toxicology and pH, among others. This is critically important in the context of global change, where understanding the effects of multiple stressors is a key challenge for experimental biologists. Ecological physiologists rarely afford UVR discussion or include UVR in experimental design, even when it is directly relevant to their study system. In this Commentary, we provide a guide for experimental biologists to better understand if, when, and how UVR can be integrated into experimental designs to improve the ecological realism of their experiments.

Psychosocial Stressors at Work and Atrial Fibrillation Incidence: An 18-Year Prospective Study.

BACKGROUND: Psychosocial stressors at work, defined by the job strain and effort-reward imbalance at work (ERI) models, were shown to increase coronary heart disease risk. No previous study has examined the adverse effect of psychosocial stressors at work from both models on atrial fibrillation (AF) incidence. The objective of this study was to examine the separate and combined effect of psychosocial stressors at work from the job strain and ERI models on AF incidence in a prospective cohort study. METHODS AND RESULTS: A total of 5926 white-collar workers (3021 women and 2905 men) free of cardiovascular disease at baseline were followed for an average of 18 years. Job strain (high psychological demands combined with low decision latitude) and ERI were assessed using validated instruments. AF events were identified in medical databases with universal coverage. Hazard ratios (HRs) with 95% CIs were estimated using Cox regression models, controlling for socioeconomic characteristics and lifestyle-related and clinical risk factors. A total of 186 AF incident events were identified over 18 years. Workers exposed to job strain (HR, 1.83 [95% CI, 1.14-2.92]) and ERI (HR, 1.44 [95% CI, 1.05-1.98]) had a higher risk of AF in fully adjusted models. Combined exposure to job strain and ERI was associated with a 2-fold AF risk increase (HR, 1.97 [95% CI, 1.26-3.07]). CONCLUSIONS: Psychosocial stressors at work from the job strain and ERI models are associated with an increased risk of AF, separately and in combination. Workplace prevention strategies targeting these psychosocial stressors at work may be effective to reduce the burden associated with AF.

Robust identification of environmental exposures and community characteristics predictive of rapid lung disease progression.

Environmental exposures and community characteristics have been linked to accelerated lung function decline in people with cystic fibrosis (CF), but geomarkers, the measurements of these exposures, have not been comprehensively evaluated in a single study. To determine which geomarkers have the greatest predictive potential for lung function decline and pulmonary exacerbation (PEx), a retrospective longitudinal cohort study was performed using novel Bayesian joint covariate selection methods, which were compared with respect to PEx predictive accuracy. Non-stationary Gaussian linear mixed effects models were fitted to data from 151 CF patients aged 6-20 receiving care at a CF Center in the midwestern US (2007-2017). The outcome was forced expiratory volume in 1 s of percent predicted (FEV1pp). Target functions were used to predict PEx from established criteria. Covariates included 11 routinely collected clinical/demographic characteristics and 45 geomarkers comprising 8 categories. Unique covariate selections via four Bayesian penalized regression models (elastic-net, adaptive lasso, ridge, and lasso) were evaluated at both 95 % and 90 % credible intervals (CIs). Resultant models included one to 6 geomarkers (air temperature, percentage of tertiary roads outside urban areas, percentage of impervious nonroad outside urban areas, fine atmospheric particulate matter, fraction achieving high school graduation, and motor vehicle theft) representing weather, impervious descriptor, air pollution, socioeconomic status, and crime categories. Adaptive lasso had the lowest information criteria. For PEx predictive accuracy, covariate selection from the 95 % CI elastic-net had the highest area under the receiver-operating characteristic curve (mean ± standard deviation; 0.780 ± 0.026) along with the 95 % CI ridge and lasso methods (0.780 ± 0.027). The 95 % CI elastic-net had the highest sensitivity (0.773 ± 0.083) while the 95 % CI adaptive lasso had the highest specificity (0.691 ± 0.087), suggesting the need for different geomarker sets depending on monitoring goals. Surveillance of certain geomarkers embedded in prediction algorithms can be used in real-time warning systems for PEx onset.

Mitigation of ultraviolet-induced erythema and inflammation by para-hydroxycinnamic acid in human skin.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate whether p-hydroxycinnamic acid (pHCA) alone and in combination with niacinamide (Nam) can mitigate UV-induced erythema, barrier disruption, and inflammation. METHODS: Three independent placebo-controlled double-blinded studies were conducted on female panellists who were pretreated on sites on their backs for 2 weeks with skin care formulations which contained 0.3% or 1% pHCA with 5% Nam, 1% pHCA alone, 1.8% octinoxate, or control formula. Treated sites were then exposed to 1.5 minimal erythemal dose (MED) solar simulated radiation (SSR) and had chromameter and expert grading measures for erythema, barrier integrity via TEWL, and the skin surface IL-1RA/IL-1α inflammatory biomarkers isolated from D-Squame tapes. RESULTS: Across the three independent studies, pHCA alone or in combination with Nam showed a significant mitigation of UV-induced erythema, barrier disruption, and levels of the surface inflammatory biomarkers IL-1RA/IL-1α. The cinnamate analogue Octinoxate did not replicate the effects of pHCA. CONCLUSION: The study results show that pHCA alone or in combination with Nam can mitigate UV-induced damage to skin. These include mitigation of UV-induced erythema as measured by instrument and expert grade visualization. Additionally, pHCA with Nam protected damage to the barrier and reduced the induction of the SASP-related surface inflammatory biomarker IL-1RA/IL-1α. The inability of Octinoxate to have any protective effect and the detection of low levels of pHCA on skin surface after 24 h of application supports that these effects are based on a biological response to pHCA. These findings add to the body of evidence that pHCA alone or in combination with Nam can enhance the skin's biological response to UV-induced damage. This supports pHCA can potentially impact aging and senescence, thereby maintain skin's functionality and appearance.

OBJECTIF: Évaluer si l'acide p­hydroxycinnamique (p­hydroxycinnamic acid, pHCA) seul et en association avec le niacinamide (Nam) peut atténuer l'érythème induit par les UV, la rupture de la barrière et l'inflammation. MÉTHODES: Trois études en double aveugle, contrôlées par placebo et indépendantes, ont été menées auprès de femmes panélistes ayant reçu un traitement préalable sur le dos pendant deux semaines avec des formulations de soins cutanés contenant 0.3% ou 1% de pHCA avec 5% de Nam, 1% de pHCA seul, 1.8% d'octinoxate ou une formule témoin. Les sites traités ont ensuite été exposés à une dose érythémateuse minimale (MED) de 1.5 de radiation solaire simulée (SSR) et ont été évalués à l'aide de mesures par chromamètre et de cotations par des experts concernant l'érythème, l'intégrité de la barrière via la perte insensible en eau (TEWL), et les biomarqueurs inflammatoires de la surface cutanée IL­1RA/IL­1 α isolés à partir de bandes D­Squame. RÉSULTATS: Dans les 3 études indépendantes, le pHCA seul ou en association avec le Nam a montré une atténuation significative de l'érythème induit par les UV, de la perturbation de la barrière et des taux des biomarqueurs inflammatoires de surface IL­1RA/IL­1α. L'analogue du cinnamate, l'octinoxate, n'a pas reproduit les effets du pHCA. CONCLUSION: Les résultats des études montrent que le pHCA seul ou en association avec le Nam peut atténuer les dommages cutanés induits par les UV. Ceux­ci comprennent l'atténuation de l'érythème induit par les UV, mesuré par instrument et une visualisation de qualité experte. En outre, le pHCA en association avec le Nam a protégé contre les dommages de la barrière et a réduit l'induction du biomarqueur inflammatoire de surface lié à la SASP IL­1RA/IL­1α. L'incapacité de l'octinoxate à avoir un effet protecteur, ainsi que la détection de faibles niveaux de pHCA à la surface de la peau après 24 heures d'application, confirme que ces effets sont basés sur une réponse biologique au pHCA. Ces résultats viennent s'ajouter à l'ensemble des preuves montrant que le pHCA seul ou en association avec le Nam peut améliorer la réponse biologique de la peau aux dommages induits par les UV. Cela soutient l'hypothèse que le pHCA peut avoir une incidence potentielle sur le vieillissement et la sénescence, maintenant ainsi la fonctionnalité et l'aspect de la peau.

Intersecting planetary health: Exploring the impacts of environmental stressors on wildlife and human health.

This comprehensive review articulates critical insights into the nexus of environmental stressors and their health impacts across diverse species, underscoring significant findings that reveal profound effects on both wildlife and human health systems. Central to our examination is the role of pollutants, climate variables, and pathogens in contributing to complex disease dynamics and physiological disruptions, with particular emphasis on immune and endocrine functions. This research brings to light emerging evidence on the severe implications of environmental pressures on a variety of taxa, including predatory mammals, raptorial birds, seabirds, fish, and humans, which are pivotal as indicators of broader ecosystem health and stability. We delve into the nuanced interplay between environmental degradation and zoonotic diseases, highlighting novel intersections that pose significant risks to biodiversity and human populations. The review critically evaluates current methodologies and advances in understanding the morphological, histopathological, and biochemical responses of these organisms to environmental stressors. We discuss the implications of our findings for conservation strategies, advocating for a more integrated approach that incorporates the dynamics of zoonoses and pollution control. This synthesis not only contributes to the academic discourse but also aims to influence policy by aligning with the Global Goals for Sustainable Development. It underscores the urgent need for sustainable interactions between humans and their environments, which are critical for preserving biodiversity and ensuring global health security. By presenting a detailed analysis of the interdependencies between environmental stressors and biological health, this review highlights significant gaps in current research and provides a foundation for future studies aimed at mitigating these pressing issues. Our study is significant as it proposes integrative and actionable strategies to address the challenges at the intersection of environmental change and public health, marking a crucial step forward in planetary health science.

Locus of Control and Mental Health: Human Variation Complicates a Well-Established Research Finding.

INTRODUCTION: Locus of control (LoC) refers to one's expectation that life outcomes and (mis)fortune are driven largely by one's own actions or abilities (internal LoC) or by external factors (e.g., powerful others, chance; external LoC). There is a large literature demonstrating an association between internal LoC and positive mental health outcomes. However, this research is conducted mostly in high-income, Global North settings, with limited consideration of cross-cultural variability. This short report explores how LoC relates to mental health when considered in a less-studied context: in a setting of stark structural violence and in relation to supernatural agents. METHODS: I conducted a community-based survey in rural Haiti (n = 322) that assessed sent spirit-related locus of control (LoC-S) and mental health. RESULTS: Among individuals experiencing higher levels of daily stressors, depressive and anxiety symptoms were high regardless of LoC-S. However, for individuals facing low-to-moderate daily stressors, external LoC-S (believing one does not have control in relation to sent spirits) was associated with lower depressive and anxiety symptoms, though this interaction did not hold for anxiety after controlling for covariates. Though initially a nonintuitive finding, I contextualize this outcome in relation to ethnographic work in Haiti, showing that the ability to explain misfortune via the supernatural world can serve as a form of blame displacement. CONCLUSION: In a context where extreme structural violence means that individuals realistically have little control over their lives, an external LoC better reflects lived experience, helping explain the association with better mental health outcomes.

How the perfectionistic climate of a sports team predicts the athletic performance of elite athletes: a case study of the CUBAL women's basketball team.

Objective: In competitive sports, understanding how the perfectionistic climate within teams influences the performance of elite female athletes can provide valuable insights for enhancing coaching practice and athletic achievement. Based on the cognitive appraisal theory of stress, this study constructs a dual-path model using stressors and coping strategies as mediators, referred to as the Perfectionistic Climate on Athletic Performance model (PCPM). The study explores the predictive role of the perfectionistic climate within sports teams on the athletic performance of elite female basketball players. Methods: The empirical study the relationships among the variables in the model using a sample of 125 core players from the top-level women's basketball teams in the 24th CUBAL24 tournament in 2022. A Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) analysis was conducted using AMOS 20.0, primarily employing the bias-corrected Bootstrap method to test the dual-path model. Results: The findings reveal double-edged paths towards a perfectionistic climate on athletic performance. In the positive pathway, a perfectionistic climate can positively predict athletic performance through challenge-related sources of stress and positive coping strategies. In the negative pathway, a perfectionistic climate can negatively predict athletic performance through threat-related sources of stress and negative coping strategies. Conclusion: Coaches need to pay attention to athletes' cognitive evaluations of the perfectionistic climate as a source of pressure. By setting challenging goals, coaches can guide athletes to view the perfectionistic climate of the sports team as a source of challenging pressure, thus unleashing their potential. Coaches should actively guide athletes in coping with the pressure brought about by the perfectionistic climate, enhancing their ability to handle stress. This will enable athletes to better adapt to the team's perfectionistic climate and further improve individual and team athletic performance.

Microplastics pollution in tropical lakes: water, zooplankton, and fish in Central Mexico.

The presence of microplastics in freshwater systems can have harmful effects on the food chain. Zooplankton, especially suspension and filter feeders, can ingest microplastics, which can cause adverse effects and transfer them to higher trophic levels. Here, we analyze the presence, abundance, and distribution of microplastics in surface water, zooplankton, and fish in two tropical lakes in central Mexico. We collected water samples in triplicate at three sites in each lake and 120 fish of the genus Chirostoma. From each water sample, 300 rotifers and 150 microcrustaceans were randomly isolated and processed independently. Of the particles found in the water, zooplankton, and fish from both lakes, the fragments were the predominant ones. The total abundance of microplastics in the water column of both lakes varied between 1.2 and 17.0 items L-1. In zooplankton, fragments were found predominantly with up to 0.1 items ind-1, while in fish, up to 4.5 items ind-1 was recorded. Our results confirm the presence of microplastics in different compartments of the food webs of freshwater bodies, water column, zooplankton, and fish. Further work is required on the possible effects of these stressors at the different trophic levels.

Nanoprimers in sustainable seed treatment: Molecular insights into abiotic-biotic stress tolerance mechanisms for enhancing germination and improved crop productivity.

Abiotic and biotic stresses during seed germination are typically managed with conventional agrochemicals, known to harm the environment and reduce crop yields. Seeking sustainable alternatives, nanotechnology-based agrochemicals leverage unique physical and chemical properties to boost seed health and alleviate stress during germination. Nanoprimers in seed priming treatment are advanced nanoscale materials designed to enhance seed germination, growth, and stress tolerance by delivering bioactive compounds and nutrients directly to seeds. Present review aims to explores the revolutionary potential of nanoprimers in sustainable seed treatment, focusing on their ability to enhance crop productivity by improving tolerance to abiotic and biotic stresses. Key objectives include understanding the mechanisms by which nanoprimers confer resistance to stresses such as drought, salinity, pests, and diseases, and assessing their impact on plant physiological and biochemical pathways. Key findings reveal that nanoprimers significantly enhance seedling vigor and stress resilience, leading to improved crop yields. These advancements are attributed to the precise delivery of nanomaterials that optimize plant growth conditions and activate stress tolerance mechanisms. However, the study also highlights the importance of comprehensive toxicity and risk assessments. Current review presents a novel contribution, highlighting both the advantages and potential risks of nanoprimers by offering a comprehensive overview of advancements in seed priming with metal and metal oxide nanomaterials, addressing a significant gap in the existing literature. By delivering advanced molecular insights, the study underscores the transformative potential of nanoprimers in fostering sustainable agricultural practices and responsibly meeting global food demands.

Development and validation of the Environmental Confinement Stressors Scale (ECSS-20).

The COVID-19 pandemic has generated a global crisis with severe consequences for public health. There have been negative impacts on people's quality of life and mental health due to various stressors arising in this context, such as physical, social, economic, and psychological challenges. Noteworthy among these are the indirect effects of health measures, especially social distancing and confinement, which have significantly altered people's daily lives and social activities, producing high levels of anxiety, depression, and stress. This study proposes developing and validating a cross-sectional scale called the "Environmental Stressors Scale (ECSS-20)" to address the need to measure the impact of environmental stressors during confinement. The scale, which has been validated following ethical and methodological guidelines, consists of four dimensions: economic stressors (EE), social activities (SA), habitability (H), and exposure to virtual media (EMV). A pilot study (n = 113) and a main study (n = 314) were applied. The results showed that the instrument has a reliable and valid structure, with satisfactory internal consistency and factorial validity. Likewise, gender invariance tests supported its suitability for its applicability to women and men. Overall, the ECSS-20 is a valuable instrument for assessing the impact of confinement and improving the understanding of people's subjective experiences in this situation. Future research could further develop its applicability in different contexts and populations to better understand its usefulness and psychometric properties.

Microplastic-stressor responses are rarely synergistic in freshwater fishes: A meta-analysis.

Microplastic exposure can cause a range of negative effects on the biochemistry, condition and ecology of freshwater fishes depending on aspects of the exposure and the exposed fish. However, fishes are typically exposed to microplastics and additional multiple stressors simultaneously, for which the combined effects are poorly understood and may have important management consequences. Additive effects are those where the combined effect is equal to the sum, antagonistic where combined effects are less than the sum and for synergistic effects the combined effect is greater to the sum of the individual effects. Here, we performed a meta-analysis of studies recording freshwater fish responses to microplastic-stressor exposures to test if interactions were primarily non-additive (synergistic or antagonistic), and factors impacting the net response. Individual responses were classified (antagonistic/additive/synergistic) and the fit of net responses to a null additive model determined for 838 responses (36 studies) split by categorical variables for the microplastic exposure (environmental relevance, interacting stressor, microplastic morphology and response category measured), as well as the exposed fish (lifestage, ecology and family). Most responses were classified as antagonistic (48 %) and additive (34 %), with synergistic effects least frequent (17 %). Net responses fitted null additive models for all levels of interacting stressor, fish family and microplastic morphology. In contrast, net antagonism was present for biochemical responses, embryo lifestages, environmentally relevant microplastic exposures and fish with benthopelagic ecology, while synergism was identified for fishes with demersal ecology. While substantial knowledge gaps remain and are discussed, the data thus far suggest microplastic-stressor responses in freshwater fishes are rarely synergistic and, therefore, addressing either or both stressors will likely result in positive management and biological outcomes.

Crack Length of Elastomeric Sealants and Their Service Life in Contrasting Canadian Climates: Effects of Climate Change.

The longevity of polymer-based sealant and jointing products, including elastomers, significantly depends on the level of exposure to sunlight and joint movement. These factors are particularly crucial in the application of polymers in construction due to their susceptibility to degradation under environmental conditions. For instance, diurnal cycles of contraction and dilation, arising from daily temperature fluctuations, impose significant stress on sealants and joints, impacting their durability over time. The elastic nature of polymeric sealants enables them to endure these cyclic mechanical loads. Athough there is considerable information on sealant durability obtained from laboratory accelerated aging, there is limited knowledge about the effect of climatic factors using historical and projected weather data on the durability and expected service life of these products. This study employed the Shephard crack growth model to predict the performance of sealants in a Canadian context; the crack growth and time-to-failure of hypothetical silicone sealants were investigated across 564 locations, for which historical climate data were obtained from 1998 to 2017, including gridded reanalysis data for the period of 1836-2015. The historical climate data were classified into four climate categories, and crack growth was estimated based on historical climatic data within the valid range for the Shephard model, revealing that locations in colder climates with lower levels of precipitation typically exhibit higher cumulative crack growth. The impact of climatic variation and environmental stressors on the longevity of sealants in the context of climate change was also investigated using future projected data.

From 'Farm to Fork': Exploring the Potential of Nutrient-Rich and Stress-Resilient Emergent Crops for Sustainable and Healthy Food in the Mediterranean Region in the Face of Climate Change Challenges.

In the dynamic landscape of agriculture and food science, incorporating emergent crops appears as a pioneering solution for diversifying agriculture, unlocking possibilities for sustainable cultivation and nutritional bolstering food security, and creating economic prospects amid evolving environmental and market conditions with positive impacts on human health. This review explores the potential of utilizing emergent crops in Mediterranean environments under current climate scenarios, emphasizing the manifold benefits of agricultural and food system diversification and assessing the impact of environmental factors on their quality and consumer health. Through a deep exploration of the resilience, nutritional value, and health impacts of neglected and underutilized species (NUS) such as quinoa, amaranth, chia, moringa, buckwheat, millet, teff, hemp, or desert truffles, their capacity to thrive in the changing Mediterranean climate is highlighted, offering novel opportunities for agriculture and functional food development. By analysing how promoting agricultural diversification can enhance food system adaptability to evolving environmental conditions, fostering sustainability and resilience, we discuss recent findings that underscore the main benefits and limitations of these crops from agricultural, food science, and health perspectives, all crucial for responsible and sustainable adoption. Thus, by using a sustainable and holistic approach, this revision analyses how the integration of NUS crops into Mediterranean agrifood systems can enhance agriculture resilience and food quality addressing environmental, nutritional, biomedical, economic, and cultural dimensions, thereby mitigating the risks associated with monoculture practices and bolstering local economies and livelihoods under new climate scenarios.

Psychosocial stressors of adolescents with E-cigarette, or vaping, product-use associated lung injury: A qualitative study.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Adolescent electronic cigarette (EC) use has reached epidemic rates and has been linked to numerous mental health and psychosocial stressors (PS). There is limited qualitative data on PS for adolescents with e-cigarette, or vaping, product-use associated lung injury (EVALI), a severe complication of EC use. METHODS: All patients hospitalized at Children's Medical Center in Dallas, Texas from 2018 to 2022 and met CDC case definitions for EVALI were included in the analysis. PS were extracted from the electronic health record and analyzed for recurring themes using the HEADSS assessment as a framework. Results were summarized using descriptive statistics, and representative quotations were selected to highlight each theme. RESULTS: Forty-three adolescents (mean age 16.3 years; 62.8 % male; 39.5 % Non-Hispanic White, 60.5 % Hispanic) were included in the analysis, and 40 (93 %) reported PS. The most common themes were family (51 %; "restraining order issued against 28-year-old brother"), polysubstance use (77 %; "experimenting with…ecstasy, LSD, CCC, misusing Adderall"), and mental health (63 %; "has been suicidal since he was 'a toddler'"). Less commonly, patients reported PS related to peers (28 %; "spending the entire day at the cemetery where his best friend was buried"), school (49 %; "attending his second alternative school"), and the legal system (19 %; "placed in juvenile detention, released, and will be on probation"). CONCLUSIONS: Adolescents with EVALI had PS that were chronic, severe, and involving multiple domains. These findings emphasize the importance of psychosocial screening in adolescents and coordinating interdisciplinary care with mental health and social services.