Precooked state based on protein denaturation kinetics impacts moisture status, protein oxidation and texture of prepared chicken breast.

The quality of meat in prepared dishes deteriorates due to excessive protein denaturation resulting from precooking, freezing, and recooking. This study aimed to link the precooked state with chicken breast's recooked quality. Cooked Value (CV), based on protein denaturation kinetics, was established to indicate the doneness of meat during pre-heating. The effects of CVs after pre-heating on recooked qualities were investigated compared to fully pre-heated samples (control). Mild pre-heating reduced water migration and loss. While full pre-heating inhibited protein oxidation during freezing, intense oxidation during pre-heating led to higher oxidation levels. Surface hydrophobicity analysis revealed that mild pre-heating suppressed aggregation during recooking. These factors contributed to a better texture and microstructure of prepared meat with mild pre-heating. Finally, a potential mechanism of how pre-heating affects final qualities was depicted. This study underlines the need for finely controlling the industrial precooking process to regulate the quality of prepared meat.

Multifunctional MOF: Cold/hot adapted sustainable oxidase-like MOF nanozyme with ratiometric and color tonality for nitrite ions detection.

Integrating multiple functionalities into a single entity is highly important, especially when a broad spectrum of application is required. In the present work, we synthesized a novel manganese-based MOF (denoted as UoZ-6) that functions as a cold/hot-adapted and recyclable oxidase nanozyme (Km 0.085 mM) further developed for ratiometric-based colorimetric and color tonality visual-mode detection of nitrite in water and food. Nitrite ions promote the diazotization process of the oxTMB product, resulting in a decay in the absorbance signal at 652 nm and the emergence of a new signal at 461 nm. The dual-absorbance ratiometric platform for nitrite ion detection functions effectively across a wide temperature range (0 °C to 100 °C), offering a linear detection range of 5-45 µM with a detection limit of 0.15 µM using visual-mode. This approach is sensitive, reliable, and selective, making it effective for detecting nitrite ions in processed meat and water.

Evaluation of the potential of annatto seed powder to reduce the formation of heterocyclic amines in charcoal-grilled and pan-fried beef patties.

Various strategies are being explored to reduce the formation of undesirable compounds during the thermal processing of foods. This study investigates the impact of incorporating annatto seed powder (Bixa orellana L.) into beef patties to reduce the formation of heterocyclic amines (HAs) during charcoal-grilling and pan-frying. A three-level full factorial design was used to assess the effect of both annatto seed powder concentration and cooking times on HAs formation. The results showed that HA formation increased with longer cooking times and decreased with higher concentrations of annatto seed powder. A significant reduction in HA content was observed in both charcoal-grilled and pan-fried beef patties when annatto seed powder was added, with a particularly notable 91 % reduction at the 1 % addition level. These findings demonstrate that the addition of annatto seed powder is a highly effective strategy for reducing HA formation in beef patties. CHEMICAL COMPOUNDS STUDIED IN THIS ARTICLE: 2-amino-3,8-dimethylimidazo[4,5-f]quinoxaline (MeIQx) (PubChem CID: 62275); 2-amino-3,4,8-trimethylimidazo[4,5-f]quinoxaline (4,8-DiMeIQx) (PubChem CID: 104739); 2-amino-3,7,8-trimethylimidazo[4,5-f]quinoxaline (7,8-DiMeIQx) (PubChem CID: 104855); 2-amino-1-methyl-6-phenylimidazo[4,5-b]pyridine (PhIP) (PubChem CID: 1530); 3-amino-1,4-dimethyl-5H-pyrido[4,3-b]indole (Trp-P-1) (PubChem CID: 5284474); 3-amino-1-methyl-5H-pyrido[4,3-b]indole (Trp-P-2) (PubChem CID: 5284476); 2-amino-9H-pyrido[2,3-b]indole (AαC) (PubChem CID: 62805); 2-amino-3-methyl-9H-pyrido[2,3-b]indole (MeAαC) (PubChem CID: 62244); Bixin (PubChem CID: 5281226).

Multivariate analysis of structural and functional properties of soluble dietary fiber from corn bran using different modification methods.

This study comprehensively investigated the effects of high-temperature cooking (HT), complex enzyme hydrolysis (CE), and high-temperature cooking combined enzymatic hydrolysis (HE) on the chemical composition, microstructure, and functional attributes of soluble dietary fiber (SDF) extracted from corn bran. The results demonstrated that HE-SDF yielded the highest output at 13.80 ± 0.20 g/100 g, with enhancements in thermal stability, viscosity, hydration properties, adsorption capacity, and antioxidant activity. Cluster analysis revealed three distinct categories of SDF's physicochemical properties. Principal component analysis (PCA) confirmed the superior functional properties of HE-SDF. Correlation analysis showed positive relationships between the monosaccharide composition, purity, and viscosity of SDF and most of its functional attributes, whereas particle size and zeta potential were inversely correlated. Furthermore, a highly significant positive correlation was observed between crystallinity and thermal properties. These findings suggest that the HE method constitutes a viable strategy for enhancing the quality of SDF sourced from corn bran.

Facile synthesis of magnetic ionic covalent organic framework and dispersive magnetic solid phase extraction of aromatic amino acid oxidation products in thermally processed foods.

Aromatic amino acid oxidation products (AAAOPs) are newly discovered risk substances of thermal processes. Due to its significant polarity and trace level in food matrices, there are no efficient pre-treatment methods available to enrich AAAOPs. Herein, we proposed a magnetic cationic covalent organic framework (Fe3O4@EB-iCOF) as an adsorbent for dispersive magnetic solid-phase extraction (DMSPE). Benefiting from the unique charged characteristics of Fe3O4@EB-iCOF, AAAOPs can be enriched through electrostatic interaction and π-π interactions. Under the optimal DMSPE conditions, the combined HPLC-MS/MS method demonstrated good linearity (R2 ≥ 0.990) and a low detection limit (0.11-7.5 µg·kg-1) for AAAOPs. In addition, the method was applied to real sample and obtained satisfactory recoveries (86.8 % âˆ¼ 109.9 %). Especially, we applied this method to the detection of AAAOPs in meat samples and conducted a preliminarily study on its formation rules, which provides a reliable basis for assessing potential dietary risks.

Improving paste stabilities of cassava starch through molecular density after maltogenic amylase and transglucosidase.

To improve paste stability of cassava starch, including acid resistance, high-temperature shear resistance and freeze-thaw stability, cassava starch was modified by sequential maltogenic amylase and transglucosidase to form an optimally denser structure, or branched density (12.76 %), molecular density (15.17 g/mol/nm3), and the proportions of short-branched chains (41.41 % of A chains and 44.01 % of B1 chains). Viscosity stability (88.52 %) of modified starch was higher than that (64.92 %) of native starch. After acidic treatment for 1 h, the viscosity of modified starch and native starch decreased by 56.53 % and 65.70 %, respectively. Compared to native starch, modified starch had lower water loss in freeze-thaw cycles and less viscosity reduction during high-temperature and high-shear processing. So, the appropriate molecular density and denser molecule structure enhanced paste stabilities of modified starch. The outcome expands the food and non-food applications of cassava starch.

A review of functions and mechanisms of clay soil conditioners and catalysts in thermal remediation compared to emerging photo-thermal catalysis.

High temperatures and providing sufficient time for the thermal desorption of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) from contaminated clay soils can lead to intensive energy consumption. Therefore, this article provides a critical review of the potential additives which can improve soil texture and increase the volatility of POPs, and then discusses their enhanced mechanisms for contributing to a green economy. Ca-based additives have been used to reduce plasticity of bentonite clay, absorb water and replenish system heat. In contrast, non-Ca-based additives have been used to decrease the plasticity of kaolin clay. The soil structure and soil plasticity can be changed through cation exchange and flocculation processes. The transition metal oxides and alkali metal oxides can be applied to catalyze and oxidize polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, petroleum and emerging contaminants. In this system, reactive oxygen species (•O2- and •OH) are generated from thermal excitation without strong chemical oxidants. Moreover, multiple active ingredients in recycled solid wastes can be controlled to reduce soil plasticity and enhance thermal catalysis. Alternatively, the alkali, nano zero-valent iron and nano-TiN can catalyze hydrodechlorination of POPs under reductive conditions. Especially, photo and photo-thermal catalysis are discussed to accelerate replacement of fossil fuels by renewable energy in thermal remediation.

Effects of concurrent heat and hypoxic training on cycling anaerobic capacity in men.

Physical training in heat or hypoxia can improve physical performance. The purpose of this parallel group study was to investigate the concurrent effect of training performed simultaneously in heat (31 °C) and hypoxia (FIO2 = 14.4%) on anaerobic capacity in young men. For the study, 80 non-trained men were recruited and divided into 5 groups (16 participants per group): control, non-training (CTRL); training in normoxia and thermoneutral conditions (NT: 21 °C, FIO2 = 20.95%); training in normoxia and heat (H: 31 °C, FIO2 = 20.95%); training in hypoxia and thermoneutral conditions (IHT: 21 °C, FIO2 = 14.4%), and training in hypoxia and heat (IHT + H: 31 °C, FIO2 = 14.4%). Before and after physical training, the participants performed the Wingate Test, in which peak power and mean power were measured. Physical training lasted 4 weeks and the participants exercised 3 times a week for 60 min, performing interval training. Only the IHT and IHT + H groups showed significant increases in absolute peak power (p < 0.001, ES = 0.36 and p = 0.02, ES = 0.26, respectively). There were no significant changes (p = 0.18) after training in mean power. Hypoxia appeared to be an environmental factor that significantly improved peak power, but not mean power. Heat, added to hypoxia, did not increase cycling anaerobic power. Also, training only in heat did not significantly affect anaerobic power. The inclusion of heat and/or hypoxia in training did not induce negative effects, i.e., a reduction in peak and mean power as measured in the Wingate Test.

Heatwave and upper urinary tract stones morbidity: effect modification by heatwave definitions, disease subtypes, and vulnerable populations.

As heatwave occurs with increased frequency and intensity, the disease burden for urolithiasis, a heat-specific disease, will increase. However, heatwave effect on urolithiasis subtypes morbidity and optimal heatwave definition for urolithiasis remain unclear. Distributed lagged linear models were used to assess the associations between 32 defined heatwave and upper urinary tract stones morbidity. Relative risk (RR) and attributable fraction (AF) of upper urinary tract stone morbidity associated with heatwave of different intensities (low, middle, and high) were pooled by meta-analysis. Optimal heatwave definition was selected based on the combined score of AF, RR, and quasi-Akaike Information Criterion (QAIC) value. Stratified analyses were conducted to investigate the modification effects of gender, age, and disease subtypes. Association between heatwave and upper urinary tract stones morbidity was mainly for ureteral calculus, and AF was highest for low-intensity heatwave. This study's optimal heatwave was defined as average temperature > 93rd percentile for ≥ 2 consecutive days, with AF of 7.40% (95% CI: 2.02%, 11.27%). Heatwave was associated with ureteral calculus morbidity in males and middle-aged adults. While heatwave effect was statistically insignificant in females and other age groups. Managers should develop appropriate definitions to address heatwave based on regional characteristics and focus on heatwave effects on urolithiasis.

Comparative evaluation of cigarette smoke and a heated tobacco product on microglial toxicity, oxidative stress and inflammatory response.

BACKGROUND: Tobacco smoking is the leading cause of preventable death and disease worldwide, with over 8 million annual deaths attributed to cigarette smoking. This study investigates the impact of cigarette smoke and heated tobacco products (HTPs) on microglial function, focusing on toxicological profiles, inflammatory responses, and oxidative stress using ISO standard and clinically relevant conditions of exposure. METHODS: We assessed cell viability, reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, lipid peroxidation, mitochondrial function, unfolded protein response, and inflammation in human microglial cells (HMC3) exposed to cigarette smoke, HTP aerosol or nicotine. RESULTS: Our findings show that cigarette smoke significantly reduces microglial viability, increases ROS formation, induces lipid peroxidation, and reduces intracellular glutathione levels. Cigarette smoke also alters the expression of genes involved in mitochondrial dynamics and biogenesis, leading to mitochondrial dysfunction. Additionally, cigarette smoke impairs the unfolded protein response, activates the NF-κB pathway, and induces a pro-inflammatory state characterized by increased TNF and IL-18 expression. Furthermore, cigarette smoke causes DNA damage and decreases the expression of the aging marker Klotho ß. In contrast, HTP, exhibited a lesser degree of microglial toxicity, with reduced ROS production, lipid peroxidation, and mitochondrial dysfunction compared to conventional cigarettes. CONCLUSION: These results highlight the differential toxicological profile of cigarette smoke and HTP on microglial cells, suggesting a potential harm reduction strategy for neurodegenerative disease for smokers unwilling or unable to quit.

Warmer is better for evolutionary rescue, driving a warm-to-cold bias in habitat colonization dynamics.

Evolutionary rescue occurs when populations survive lethal environmental stresses through the rising and fixation of tolerant genotypes. Temperature has long been believed to determine the evolutionary speed of populations and species. Here, we suggest that warmer temperatures can facilitate evolutionary rescue. Moreover, with dispersal among habitats, the advantage in evolutionary rescue for warmer populations may cause a bias in habitat colonization dynamics towards the warm-to-cold direction. We experimentally tested these hypotheses with a model microbial system. Our first experiment showed that bacterial populations at warmer temperatures had a greater chance to evolve resistance and escape the fate of extinction under an antibiotic treatment. In the second experiment, metapopulations that consisted of warm and cold habitats were exposed to the antibiotic stress; local populations that went extinct might be recolonized, and such recolonization events were biased to the warm-to-cold direction. We also examined possible mechanisms underlying the temperature effect on the rapid evolution of resistance in our study system. Our results may help to understand the mechanisms of maintenance of biodiversity and patterns of gene flow among climatic regions, particularly in pest species subject to chemical control treatments.

The filamentous γ-prefoldin chaperone is not essential for growth and thermal adaptation in Methanocaldococcus jannaschii.

Elucidating the role of molecular chaperones in extremely thermophilic archaea, including the gamma prefoldin (γPFD) in the deep-sea methanogen Methanocaldococcus jannaschii, is integral to understanding microbial adaptation to hot environments. This study focuses on genetically engineered knock-out and overexpression strains to evaluate the importance of γPFD in the growth and thermal tolerance of M. jannaschii. An in-depth analysis of cell growth, morphology and transcriptional responses to heat stress revealed that although the gene encoding γPFD is substantially upregulated in response to heat shock, the γPFD is not indispensable for high-temperature survival. Instead, its absence in the knock-out strain is compensated for by the upregulation of several proteolytic proteins in the absence of heat shock, nearly matching the corresponding transcription profile of selected transcripts for proteins involved in protein synthesis and folding in the wild-type strain following heat shock, using quantitative reverse-transcription PCR (RT-qPCR). These findings bridge environmental adaptation with molecular biology, underscoring the versatility of extremophiles and providing a deeper mechanistic understanding of how they cope with stress.

Response of broilers to supplementation of Salvia officinalis L. essential oil in hot ambient conditions.

Heat stress has various detrimental effects on poultry production. The aim of the study was to alleviate the effects of heat stress in broiler production. For this purpose, 288 one-day-old broiler chicks (Ross 308) were obtained from a commercial hatchery and randomly allocated to one of three treatment groups; CON: corn-soybean meal based commercial diet, SEO100: CON with 100 mg/kg Sage essential oil (SEO) and SEO200: CON with 200 mg/kg SEO with 96 birds in each group (4 replicates each) in a completely randomized design under hot ambient temperatures for 42 days. No differences were observed in the body weight, feed intake, and feed conversion ratio at 42 days of age among groups. However, there was a significant increase in 21-day body weight in SEO200 chicks compared to CON. Furthermore, the addition of SEO significantly decreased the mortality rate under heat stress conditions. The total oxidant status value was lower in broiler chickens in which SEO was added to their diets. While the total antioxidant status value was higher in SEO100 chicks, it did not show a linear increase. Additionally, the results demonstrated that the addition of SEO to broiler diets under heat stress did not have a significant effect on inspected meat quality traits, with the exception of the b*(yellowness) value of breast muscle. In conclusion, the results of this study indicate that 200 mg/kg SEO can be added to diets for the welfare of broiler chickens under heat stress conditions for struggling with oxidants and increasing viability. Further research is needed to investigate the antioxidant activity and meat quality of different levels of SEO in hot ambient conditions.

Identification and biochemical characterization of a novel halolysin from Halorubellus sp. PRR65 with a relatively high temperature activity.

Extracellular proteases from haloarchaea, also referred to as halolysins, are in increasing demand and are studied for their various applications in condiments and leather industries. In this study, an extracellular protease encoding gene from the haloarchaeon Halorubellus sp. PRR65, hly65, was cloned and heterologously expressed in E. coli. The novel halolysin Hly65 from the genus Halorubellus was characterized by complete inhibition of phenylmethanesulfonyl fluoride (PMSF) on its enzyme activity. Experimental determination revealed a triad catalytic active center consisting of Asp154-His193-Ser348. Deletion of the C-terminal extension (CTE) resulted in loss of enzyme activity, while dithiothreitol (DTT) did not inhibit the enzyme activity, suggesting that Hly65 may function as a monomer. The Km, Vmax and Kcat for the Hly65 were determined to be 2.91 mM, 1230.47 U·mg-1 and 1538.09 S-1, respectively, under 60 °C, pH 8.0 and 4.0 M NaCl using azocasecin as a substrate. Furthermore, a three-dimensional structure prediction based on functional domains was obtained in this study which will facilitate modification and reorganization of halolysins to generate mutants with new physiological activities.

Optimizing phage-based mutant recovery and minimizing heat effect in the construction of transposon libraries in Staphylococcus aureus.

Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus), particularly Methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA), poses a significant global public health threat, necessitating advanced methodologies to enhance our understanding of this organism at the omics levels. This study introduces a refined protocol for constructing and curing high-density transposon mutant (tn-mutant) libraries in S. aureus, addressing the challenges associated with low transductant yields, and the complex genetic manipulation mechanism in Gram-positive bacteria. Our methodology employs a Himar1 transposon based on a two-plasmid system, leveraging Himar1's high insertional efficiency in AT-rich organisms. Enhanced transduction efficiency was achieved through chloramphenicol pre-treatment and the use of modified enriched media. Complementing this, an optimized plasmid curing procedure ensured a representative and stable tn-mutant library. The protocol was successfully applied to multiple S. aureus strains, demonstrating an increase in mutant recovery and reduced post-curing impact. The method offers a robust approach for Transposon Insertion Sequencing (TIS) applications in S. aureus, enabling deeper insights into survival, resistance, and pathogenicity mechanisms. This protocol holds a significant potential for accelerating the construction of tn-mutant libraries in various S. aureus strains.

Random mutagenesis and disulfide bond formation improved thermostability in microbial transglutaminase.

Microbial transglutaminase (MTG) from Streptomyces mobaraensis is widely used in the food and pharmaceutical industries for cross-linking and post-translational modification of proteins. It is believed that its industrial applications could be further broadened by improving its thermostability. In our previous study, we showed that the introduction of structure-based disulfide bonds improved the thermostability of MTG, and we succeeded in obtaining a thermostable mutant, D3C/G283C, with a T50 (incubation temperature at which 50% of the initial activity remains) 9 °C higher than that of wild-type MTG. In this study, we performed random mutations using D3C/G283C as a template and found several amino acid substitutions that contributed to the improvement of thermostability, and investigated a thermostable mutant (D3C/S101P/G157S/G250R/G283C) with three amino acid mutations in addition to the disulfide bond. The T50 of this mutant was 10 °C higher than that of the wild type, the optimal temperature for enzymatic reaction was increased to 65 °C compared to 50 °C for the wild type, and the catalytic efficiency (kcat/Km) at 37.0 °C was increased from 3.3 × 102 M-1 s-1 for the wild type to 5.9 × 102 M-1 s-1. X-ray crystallography of the D3C/G283C MTG showed no major structural differences against wild-type MTG. Structural differences were found that may contribute to thermostabilization and improve catalytic efficiency. KEY POINTS: • Improved heat resistance is essential to broaden the application of MTG. • The MTG mutant D3C/S101P/G157S/G250R/G283C showed improved thermostability. • X-ray crystallography of the disulfide bridge mutant D3C/G283C MTG was elucidated.

Identification and characterization of sulphotransferase (SOT) genes for tolerance against drought and heat in wheat and six related species.

BACKGROUND: Sulphotransferase (SOT) enzyme (encoded by a conserved family of SOT genes) is involved in sulphonation of a variety of compounds, through transfer of a sulphuryl moiety from 3'phosphoadenosine- 5'phosphosulphate (PAPS) to a variety of secondary metabolites. The PAPS itself is derived from 3'adenosine-5'phosphosulphate (APS) that is formed after uptake of sulphate ions from the soil. The process provides tolerance against abiotic stresses like drought and heat in plants. Therefore, a knowledge of SOT genes in any crop may help in designing molecular breeding methods for improvement of tolerance for drought and heat. METHODS: Sequences of rice SOT genes and SOT domain (PF00685) of corresponding proteins were both used for identification of SOT genes in wheat and six related species (T. urartu, Ae. tauschii, T. turgidum, Z. mays, B. distachyon and Hordeum vulgare), although detailed analysis was conducted only in wheat. The wheat genes were mapped on individual chromosomes and also subjected to synteny and collinearity analysis. The proteins encoded by these genes were examined for the presence of a complete SOT domain using 'Conserved Domain Database' (CDD) search tool at NCBI. RESULTS: In wheat, 107 TaSOT genes, ranging in length from 969 bp to 7636 bp, were identified and mapped onto individual chromosomes. SSRs (simple sequence repeats), microRNAs, long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) and their target sites were also identified in wheat SOT genes. SOT proteins were also studied in detail. An expression assay of TaSOT genes via wheat RNA-seq data suggested engagement of these genes in growth, development and responses to various hormones and biotic/abiotic stresses. CONCLUSIONS: The results of the present study should help in further functional characterization of SOT genes in wheat and other related crops.

Identification of genes associated with the high-temperature fermentation trait in the Saccharomyces cerevisiae natural isolate BCC39850.

The fermentative model yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae has been extensively used to study the genetic basis of stress response and homeostasis. In this study, we performed quantitative trait loci (QTL) analysis of the high-temperature fermentation trait of the progeny from the mating of the S. cerevisiae natural isolate BCC39850 (haploid#17) and the laboratory strain CEN.PK2-1C. A single QTL on chromosome X was identified, encompassing six candidate genes (GEA1, PTK2, NTA1, NPA3, IRT1, and IML1). The functions of these candidates were tested by reverse genetic experiments. Deletion mutants of PTK2, NTA1, and IML1 showed growth defects at 42 °C. The PTK2 knock-out mutant also showed significantly reduced ethanol production and plasma membrane H+ ATPase activity and increased sensitivity to acetic acid, ethanol, amphotericin B (AMB), and ß-1,3-glucanase treatment. The CRISPR-Cas9 system was used to construct knock-in mutants by replacement of PTK2, NTA1, IML1, and NPA3 genes with BCC39850 alleles. The PTK2 and NTA1 knock-in mutants showed increased growth and ethanol production titers at 42 °C. These findings suggest an important role for the PTK2 serine/threonine protein kinase in regulating plasma membrane H+ ATPase activity and the NTA1 N-terminal amidase in protein degradation via the ubiquitin-proteasome system machinery, which affects tolerance to heat stress in S. cerevisiae.

Burden of non-communicable diseases attributable to high temperature in a changing climate from 1990 to 2019: a global analysis.

BACKGROUND: With global climate change, the health threats of ambient high temperature have received widespread attention. However, latest spatio-temporal patterns of the non-communicable diseases (NCDs) burden attributable to high temperature have not been systematically reported. We aimed to analyze vulnerable areas and populations based on a detailed profile for the NCDs burden attributable to high temperature globally. METHODS: We obtained data from the Global Burden of Diseases (GBD) Study (2019) to describe the temporal and spatial patterns of NCDs burden attributable to high temperature globally from 1990-2019. Then we analyzed the differences by region, sex, and socio-demographic index (SDI). Finally, the age­period­cohort (APC) model was utilized to explore the age, period, and cohort effects of NCDs mortality caused by high temperature. RESULTS: In 2019, the number of deaths and Disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) from high-temperature-related NCDs was about 150,000 and 3.4 million globally, of which about 70% were in South Asia and North Africa and Middle East, and the burden was higher in men. Among 204 countries and territories, the highest age-standardized mortality rate (ASMR) and age-standardized DALY rate (ASDR) were observed in Oman and United Arab Emirates, respectively. The global burden showed an upward trend from 1990 to 2019, with an EAPC of 3.66 (95%CI: 3.14-4.18) for ASMR and 3.68 (95%CI: 3.16-4.21) for ASDR. Cardiovascular diseases were the main contributors to the global burden of high-temperature-related NCDs in 2019. The age and period effect in APC model showed an increasing trend globally. There was a significant negative correlation between SDI and both ASMR (r = -0.17) and ASDR (r = -0.20) from 1990 to 2019. CONCLUSION: There was an increasing trend of the global burden of high-temperature-related NCDs. The burden was likely to be higher in males and the elderly, as well as in countries and regions with less economically and socially developed and in tropical climates. Surveillance and prevention measures should be implemented with a focus on these vulnerable areas and susceptible populations.

Thermal tolerance traits of individual corals are widely distributed across the Great Barrier Reef.

Adaptation of reef-building corals to global warming depends upon standing heritable variation in tolerance traits upon which selection can act. Yet limited knowledge exists on heat-tolerance variation among conspecific individuals separated by metres to hundreds of kilometres. Here, we performed standardized acute heat-stress assays to quantify the thermal tolerance traits of 709 colonies of Acropora spathulata from 13 reefs spanning 1060 km (9.5° latitude) of the Great Barrier Reef. Thermal thresholds for photochemical efficiency and chlorophyll retention varied considerably among individual colonies both among reefs (approximately 6°C) and within reefs (approximately 3°C). Although tolerance rankings of colonies varied between traits, the most heat-tolerant corals (i.e. top 25% of each trait) were found at virtually all reefs, indicating widespread phenotypic variation. Reef-scale environmental predictors explained 12-62% of trait variation. Corals exposed to high thermal averages and recent thermal stress exhibited the greatest photochemical performance, probably reflecting local adaptation and stress pre-acclimatization, and the lowest chlorophyll retention suggesting stress pre-sensitization. Importantly, heat tolerance relative to local summer temperatures was the greatest on higher latitude reefs suggestive of higher adaptive potential. These results can be used to identify naturally tolerant coral populations and individuals for conservation and restoration applications.