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The histone deacetylases (HDACs) are a family of enzymes that catalyse lysine deacetylation of both histone and non-histone proteins. Here, we review, summarize, and provide perspectives on the literature regarding one such HDAC, HDAC1, in endothelial biology. In the endothelium, HDAC1 mediates the effects of external and environmental stimuli by regulating major endothelial functions such as angiogenesis, inflammatory signalling, redox homeostasis, and nitric oxide signalling. Angiogenesis is most often, but not exclusively, repressed by endothelial HDAC1. The regulation of inflammatory signalling is more complex as HDAC1 promotes or suppresses inflammatory signalling depending upon the environmental stimuli. HDAC1 is protective in models of atherosclerosis where loss of HDAC1 results in increased cytokine and cell adhesion molecule (CAM) abundance. In other models, HDAC1 promotes inflammation by increasing CAMs and repressing claudin-5 expression. Consistently, from many investigations, HDAC1 decreases antioxidant enzyme expression and nitric oxide production in the endothelium. HDAC1 decreases antioxidant enzyme expression through the deacetylation of histones and transcription factors, and also regulates nitric oxide production through regulating both the expression and activity of nitric oxide synthase 3. The HDAC1-dependent regulation of endothelial function through the deacetylation of both histone and non-histone proteins ultimately impacts whole animal physiology and health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Stomata control CO2 uptake for photosynthesis and water loss through transpiration, thus playing a key role in leaf thermoregulation, water-use efficiency (iWUE), and plant productivity. In this work, we investigated the relationship between several leaf traits and hypothesized that stomatal behavior to fast (i.e. minutes) environmental changes co-determines, along with steady-state traits, the physiological response of grapevine to the surrounding fluctuating environment over the growing season. No relationship between iWUE, heat stress tolerance, and stomatal traits was observed in field-grown grapevine, suggesting that other physiological mechanisms are involved in determining leaf evaporative cooling capacity and the seasonal ratio of CO2 uptake (A) to stomatal conductance (g s). Indeed, cultivars that in the field had an unexpected combination of high iWUE but low sensitivity to thermal stress displayed a quick stomatal closure to light, but a sluggish closure to increased vapor pressure deficit (VPD) levels. This strategy, aiming both at conserving water under a high to low light transition and in prioritizing evaporative cooling under a low to high VPD transition, was mainly observed in the cultivars Regina and Syrah. Moreover, cultivars with different known responses to soil moisture deficit or high air VPD (isohydric versus anisohydric) had opposite behavior under fluctuating environments, with the isohydric cultivar showing slow stomatal closure to reduced light intensity but quick temporal responses to VPD manipulation. We propose that stomatal behavior to fast environmental fluctuations can play a critical role in leaf thermoregulation and water conservation under natural field conditions in grapevine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Most feedlot animals in Australia experience 2 to 3 moderate heat waves during summer. This study aimed to gain understanding of the physiological drivers in response to and during recovery from such events with a view to designing strategies to ensure rapid and safe recovery. Two hypotheses were tested during thermal challenge and recovery in climate-controlled rooms (CCR): firstly, the feedlot steer on a grain-based diet mounts appropriate physiological responses during moderate heat load and in recovery so that its performance and physiology state after recovery is not different to the feed restricted thermoneutral (FRTN) steer. Secondly, commonly used indicators of increased heat load, e.g. respiration rate (RR), panting score (PS), body surface temperatures (ST), and water consumption (WC), reflect rumen temperature (RT) during thermal challenge and recovery at the level of daily means. In this study, 36 Angus steers (live weight (LW) 451.5 ± 22.6 kg) made up 3 cohorts of 12 animals that sequentially underwent the CCR phase. For this 18-d phase, the steers were allocated to either a moderate heat load treatment (thermally challenged, TC, n = 18) or a FRTN treatment (n = 18). The TC group underwent 3 periods, Pre-Challenge (4 d, temperature humidity index (THI) range of 68 to 71), Challenge (7 d, THI 73 to 84 with diurnal cycling), and Recovery (7 d, THI 68 to 71). The FRTN group were held at thermoneutral conditions in the CCR (THI 66.9 ± 0.3), and each animal was offered an amount of feed was based on the feed intake of its LW matched TC pair. Thus, as DMI fell in the TC group during Challenge, feed restriction was imposed on the FRTN group. The data were collected by trained observers were DMI, RT, RR, PS, body STs (forehead, shoulder, leg, rump), and WC. Challenge induced a heat stress response in the TC group with reduced DMI and LW, and elevated RT, RR, PS, body STs, and WC (P < 0.001). These measures were unchanged or reduced in the FRTN group (P < 0.001). At the end of Recovery, the TC and FRTN groups had converged on most measures including LW. Daily mean RT of both groups showed strong linear relationships with THI, RR, PS, head ST, and WC (P ≤ 0.0022) but opposing elliptical relationships with DMI; that is, as DMI fell with increasing RT for the TC group, DMI increased with rising RT for the FRTN group. In all, the feedlot steers in this study demonstrated sufficient homeorhetic capacity to adjust to moderate heat load and recover from it. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Compared to other methods to monitor and detect cyanobacteria in phytoplankton populations, fluorometry gives rapid, robust and reproducible results and can be used in situ. Fluorometers capable of providing biomass estimates and physiological information are not commonly optimized to target cyanobacteria. This study provides a detailed overview of the fluorescence kinetics of algal and cyanobacterial cultures to determine optimal optical configurations to target fluorescence mechanisms that are either common to all phytoplankton or diagnostic to cyanobacteria. We confirm that fluorescence excitation channels targeting both phycocyanin and chlorophyll a associated to the Photosystem II are required to induce the fluorescence responses of cyanobacteria. In addition, emission channels centered at 660, 685 and 730 nm allow better differentiation of the fluorescence response between algal and cyanobacterial cultures. Blue-green actinic light does not yield a robust fluorescence response in the cyanobacterial cultures and broadband actinic light should be preferred to assess the relation between ambient light and photosynthesis. Significant variability was observed in the fluorescence response from cyanobacteria to the intensity and duration of actinic light exposure, which needs to be taken into consideration in field measurements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Study Question: Can additional genetic variants for circulating anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) levels be identified through a genome-wide association study (GWAS) meta-analysis including a large sample of premenopausal women?Summary Answer: We identified four loci associated with AMH levels at P < 5 × 10-8: the previously reported MCM8 locus and three novel signals in or near AMH, TEX41 and CDCA7.What Is Known Already: AMH is expressed by antral stage ovarian follicles in women, and variation in age-specific circulating AMH levels has been associated with disease outcomes. However, the physiological mechanisms underlying these AMH-disease associations are largely unknown.Study Design, Size, Duration: We performed a GWAS meta-analysis in which we combined summary statistics of a previous AMH GWAS with GWAS data from 3705 additional women from three different cohorts.Participants/materials, Setting, Methods: In total, we included data from 7049 premenopausal female participants of European ancestry. The median age of study participants ranged from 15.3 to 48 years across cohorts. Circulating AMH levels were measured in either serum or plasma samples using different ELISA assays. Study-specific analyses were adjusted for age at blood collection and population stratification, and summary statistics were meta-analysed using a standard error-weighted approach. Subsequently, we functionally annotated GWAS variants that reached genome-wide significance (P < 5 × 10-8). We also performed a gene-based GWAS, pathway analysis and linkage disequilibrium score regression and Mendelian randomization (MR) analyses.Main Results and the Role Of Chance: We identified four loci associated with AMH levels at P < 5 × 10-8: the previously reported MCM8 locus and three novel signals in or near AMH, TEX41 and CDCA7. The strongest signal was a missense variant in the AMH gene (rs10417628). Most prioritized genes at the other three identified loci were involved in cell cycle regulation. Genetic correlation analyses indicated a strong positive correlation among single nucleotide polymorphisms for AMH levels and for age at menopause (rg = 0.82, FDR = 0.003). Exploratory two-sample MR analyses did not support causal effects of AMH on breast cancer or polycystic ovary syndrome risk, but should be interpreted with caution as they may be underpowered and the validity of genetic instruments could not be extensively explored.Large Scale Data: The full AMH GWAS summary statistics will made available after publication through the GWAS catalog (https://www.ebi.ac.uk/gwas/).Limitations, Reasons For Caution: Whilst this study doubled the sample size of the most recent GWAS, the statistical power is still relatively low. As a result, we may still lack power to identify more genetic variants for AMH and to determine causal effects of AMH on, for example, breast cancer. Also, follow-up studies are needed to investigate whether the signal for the AMH gene is caused by reduced AMH detection by certain assays instead of actual lower circulating AMH levels.Wider Implications Of the Findings: Genes mapped to the MCM8, TEX41 and CDCA7 loci are involved in the cell cycle and processes such as DNA replication and apoptosis. The mechanism underlying their associations with AMH may affect the size of the ovarian follicle pool. Altogether, our results provide more insight into the biology of AMH and, accordingly, the biological processes involved in ovarian ageing.Study Funding/competing Interest(s): Nurses' Health Study and Nurses' Health Study II were supported by research grants from the National Institutes of Health (CA172726, CA186107, CA50385, CA87969, CA49449, CA67262, CA178949). The UK Medical Research Council and Wellcome (217065/Z/19/Z) and the University of Bristol provide core support for ALSPAC. This publication is the work of the listed authors, who will serve as guarantors for the contents of this article. A comprehensive list of grants funding is available on the ALSPAC website (http://www.bristol.ac.uk/alspac/external/documents/grant-acknowledgements.pdf). Funding for the collection of genotype and phenotype data used here was provided by the British Heart Foundation (SP/07/008/24066), Wellcome (WT092830M and WT08806) and UK Medical Research Council (G1001357). M.C.B., A.L.G.S. and D.A.L. work in a unit that is funded by the University of Bristol and UK Medical Research Council (MC_UU_00011/6). M.C.B.'s contribution to this work was funded by a UK Medical Research Council Skills Development Fellowship (MR/P014054/1) and D.A.L. is a National Institute of Health Research Senior Investigator (NF-0616-10102). A.L.G.S. was supported by the study of Dynamic longitudinal exposome trajectories in cardiovascular and metabolic non-communicable diseases (H2020-SC1-2019-Single-Stage-RTD, project ID 874739). The Doetinchem Cohort Study was financially supported by the Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sports of the Netherlands. The funder had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish or preparation of the manuscript. Ansh Labs performed the AMH measurements for the Doetinchem Cohort Study free of charge. Ansh Labs was not involved in the data analysis, interpretation or reporting, nor was it financially involved in any aspect of the study. R.M.G.V. was funded by the Honours Track of MSc Epidemiology, University Medical Center Utrecht with a grant from the Netherlands Organization for Scientific Research (NWO) (022.005.021). The Study of Women's Health Across the Nation (SWAN) has grant support from the National Institutes of Health (NIH), DHHS, through the National Institute on Aging (NIA), the National Institute of Nursing Research (NINR) and the NIH Office of Research on Women's Health (ORWH) (U01NR004061; U01AG012505, U01AG012535, U01AG012531, U01AG012539, U01AG012546, U01AG012553, U01AG012554, U01AG012495). The SWAN Genomic Analyses and SWAN Legacy have grant support from the NIA (U01AG017719). The Generations Study was funded by Breast Cancer Now and the Institute of Cancer Research (ICR). The ICR acknowledges NHS funding to the NIHR Biomedical Research Centre. The content of this manuscript is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent official views of the funders. The Sister Study was funded by the Intramural Research Program of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (Z01-ES044005 to D.P.S.); the AMH assays were supported by the Avon Foundation (02-2012-065 to H.B. Nichols and D.P.S.). The breast cancer genome-wide association analyses were supported by the Government of Canada through Genome Canada and the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, the 'Ministère de l'Économie, de la Science et de l'Innovation du Québec' through Genome Québec and grant PSR-SIIRI-701, The National Institutes of Health (U19 CA148065, X01HG007492), Cancer Research UK (C1287/A10118, C1287/A16563, C1287/A10710) and The European Union (HEALTH-F2-2009-223175 and H2020 633784 and 634935). All studies and funders are listed in Michailidou et al. (Nature, 2017). F.J.M.B. has received fees and grant support from Merck Serono and Ferring BV. D.A.L. has received financial support from several national and international government and charitable funders as well as from Medtronic Ltd and Roche Diagnostics for research that is unrelated to this study. N.S. is scientific consultant for Ansh Laboratories. The other authors declare no competing interests. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Soil salinity, in both natural and managed environments, is highly heterogeneous, and understanding how plants respond to this spatiotemporal heterogeneity is increasingly important for sustainable agriculture in the era of global climate change. While the vast majority of research on crop response to salinity utilizes homogeneous saline conditions, a much smaller, but important, effort has been made in the past decade to understand plant molecular and physiological responses to heterogeneous salinity mainly by using split-root studies. These studies have begun to unravel how plants compensate for water/nutrient deprivation and limit salt stress by optimizing root-foraging in the most favourable parts of the soil. Scope This paper provides an overview of the patterns of salinity heterogeneity in rain-fed and irrigated systems. We then discuss results from split-root studies and the recent progress in understanding the physiological and molecular mechanisms regulating plant responses to heterogeneous root-zone salinity and nutrient conditions. We focus on mechanisms by which plants (salt/nutrient sensing, root-shoot signalling and water uptake) could optimize the use of less-saline patches within the root-zone, thereby enhancing growth under heterogeneous soil salinity conditions. Finally, we place these findings in the context of defining future research priorities, possible irrigation management and crop breeding opportunities to improve productivity from salt-affected lands. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Quantifying inter-specific variations of tree resilience to drought and revealing the underlying mechanisms are of great importance to the understanding of forest functionality, particularly in water-limited regions. So far, comprehensive studies incorporating investigations in inter-specific variations of long-term growth patterns of trees and the underlying physiological mechanisms are very limited. Here, in a semi-arid site of northern China, tree radial growth rate, inter-annual tree-ring growth responses to climate variability, as well as physiological characteristics pertinent to xylem hydraulics, carbon assimilation and drought tolerance were analyzed in seven pine species growing in a common environment. Considerable inter-specific variations in radial growth rate, growth response to drought and physiological characteristics were observed among the studied species. Differently, the studied species exhibited similar degrees of resistance to drought-induced branch xylem embolism, with water potential corresponding to 50% loss hydraulic conductivity ranging from −2.31 to −2.96 MPa. We found that higher branch hydraulic efficiency is related to greater leaf photosynthetic capacity, smaller hydraulic safety margin and lower woody density (P  < 0.05, linear regressions), but not related to higher tree radial growth rate (P  > 0.05). Rather, species with higher hydraulic conductivity and photosynthetic capacity were more sensitive to drought stress and tended to show weaker growth resistance to extreme drought events as quantified by tree-ring analyses, which is at least partially due to a trade-off between hydraulic efficiency and safety across species. This study thus demonstrates the importance of drought resilience rather than instantaneous water and carbon flux capacity in determining tree growth in water-limited environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Genes on the long arm of the Drosophila melanogaster 4th chromosome are difficult to study because the chromosome lacks mitotic and meiotic recombination. Without recombination numerous standard methods of genetic analysis are impossible. Here, we report new resources for the 4th. For mitotic recombination, we generated a chromosome with an FRT very near the centromere in 101F and a derivative that carries FRT101F with a distal ubiquitously expressed GAL80 transgene. This pair of chromosomes enables both unmarked and MARCM clones. For meiotic recombination, we demonstrate that a Bloom syndrome helicase and recombination defective double mutant genotype can create recombinant 4th chromosomes via female meiosis. All strains will be available to the community via the Bloomington Drosophila Stock Center. Additional resources for studies of the 4th are in preparation and will also be made available. The goal of the 4th Chromosome Resource Project is to accelerate the genetic analysis of protein-coding genes on the 4th, including the 44 genes with no demonstrated function. Studies of these previously inaccessible but largely conserved genes will close longstanding gaps in our knowledge of metazoan development and physiology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Milk production in dairy cows increases worldwide since many decades. With rising milk yields, however, potential limiting factors are increasingly discussed. Particularly, the availability of glucose and amino acids is crucial to maintain milk production as well as animal health. Limitations arise from feed sources, the rumen and digestive tract, tissue mobilization, intermediary metabolism and transport, and the uptake of circulating nutrients by the lactating mammary gland. The limiting character can change depending on the stage of lactation. Although physiological boundaries are prevalent throughout the gestation–lactation cycle, limitations are aggravated during the early lactation period when high milk production is accompanied by low feed intake and high mobilization of body reserves. The knowledge about physiological constraints may help to improve animal health and make milk production more sustainably. The scope of this review is to address contemporary factors related to production limits in dairy cows from a physiological perspective. Besides acknowledged physiological constraints, selected environmental and management-related factors affecting animal performance and physiology will be discussed. Potential solutions and strategies to overcome or to alleviate these constraints can only be presented briefly. Instead, they are thought to address existing shortcomings and to identify possibilities for optimization. Despite a scientific-based view on physiological limits, we should keep in mind that only healthy animals could use their genetic capacity and produce high amounts of milk. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plants constitute 80% of the biomass on earth, and almost two-thirds of this biomass is found in wood. Wood formation is a carbon (C)-demanding process and relies on C transport from photosynthetic tissues. Thus, understanding the transport process is of major interest for understanding terrestrial biomass formation. Here, we review the molecules and mechanisms used to transport and allocate C in trees. Sucrose is the major form in which C is transported in plants, and it is found in the phloem sap of all tree species investigated so far. However, in several tree species, sucrose is accompanied by other molecules, notably polyols and the raffinose family of oligosaccharides. We describe the molecules that constitute each of these transport groups, and their distribution across different tree species. Furthermore, we detail the metabolic reactions for their synthesis, the mechanisms by which trees load and unload these compounds in and out of the vascular system, and how they are radially transported in the trunk and finally catabolized during wood formation. We also address a particular C recirculation process between phloem and xylem that occurs in trees during the annual cycle of growth and dormancy. A search of possible evolutionary drivers behind the diversity of C-carrying molecules in trees reveals no consistent differences in C transport mechanisms between angiosperm and gymnosperm trees. Furthermore, the distribution of C forms across species suggests that climate-related environmental factors will not explain the diversity of C transport forms. However, the consideration of C-transport mechanisms in relation to tree–rhizosphere coevolution deserves further attention. To conclude the review, we identify possible future lines of research in this field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The finite nature of fossil fuels and the environmental impact of its use have raised interest in alternate renewable energy sources. Specifically, nonfood carbohydrates, such as lignocellulosic biomass, can be used to produce next generation biofuels, including cellulosic ethanol and other nonethanol fuels like butanol. However, currently there is no native microorganism that can ferment all lignocellulosic sugars to fuel molecules. Thus, research is focused on engineering improved microbial biocatalysts for production of liquid fuels at high productivity, titer, and yield. A clear understanding and application of the basic principles of microbial physiology and biochemistry are crucial to achieve this goal. In this review, we present and discuss the construction of microbial biocatalysts that integrate these principles with ethanol-producing Escherichia coli as an example of metabolic engineering. These principles also apply to fermentation of lignocellulosic sugars to other chemicals that are currently produced from petroleum. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The auxin-inducible degradation system in C. elegans allows for spatial and temporal control of protein degradation via heterologous expression of a single Arabidopsis thaliana F-box protein, transport inhibitor response 1 (AtTIR1). In this system, exogenous auxin (Indole-3-acetic acid; IAA) enhances the ability of AtTIR1 to function as a substrate recognition component that adapts engineered degron-tagged proteins to the endogenous C. elegans E3 ubiquitin ligases complex [SKR-1/2-CUL-1-F-box (SCF)], targeting them for degradation by the proteosome. While this system has been employed to dissect the developmental functions of many C. elegans proteins, we have found that several auxin-inducible degron (AID)-tagged proteins are constitutively degraded by AtTIR1 in the absence of auxin, leading to undesired loss-of-function phenotypes. In this manuscript, we adapt an orthogonal auxin derivative/mutant AtTIR1 pair [C. elegans AID version 2 (C.e.AIDv2)] that transforms the specificity of allosteric regulation of TIR1 from IAA to one that is dependent on an auxin derivative harboring a bulky aryl group (5-Ph-IAA). We find that a mutant AtTIR1(F79G) allele that alters the ligand-binding interface of TIR1 dramatically reduces ligand-independent degradation of multiple AID*-tagged proteins. In addition to solving the ectopic degradation problem for some AID-targets, the addition of 5-Ph-IAA to culture media of animals expressing AtTIR1(F79G) leads to more penetrant loss-of-function phenotypes for AID*-tagged proteins than those elicited by the AtTIR1-IAA pairing at similar auxin analog concentrations. The improved specificity and efficacy afforded by the mutant AtTIR1(F79G) allele expand the utility of the AID system and broaden the number of proteins that can be effectively targeted with it. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Behavior is one of the major architects of evolution: by behaviorally modifying how they interact with their environments, organisms can influence natural selection, amplifying it in some cases and dampening it in others. In one of the earliest issues of Evolution, Charles Bogert proposed that regulatory behaviors (namely thermoregulation) shield organisms from selection and limit physiological evolution. Here, I trace the history surrounding the origin of this concept (now known as the "Bogert effect" or "behavioral inertia"), and its implications for physiological and evolutionary research throughout the 20th century. A key follow‐up study in the early 21st century galvanized renewed interest in Bogert's classic ideas, and established a focus on slowdowns in the rate of evolution in response to regulatory behaviors. I illustrate recent progress on the Bogert effect in evolutionary research, and discuss the ecological variables that predict whether and how strongly the phenomenon unfolds. Based on these discoveries, I provide hypotheses for the Bogert effect across several scales: patterns of trait evolution within and among groups of species, spatial effects on the phenomenon, and its importance for speciation. I also discuss the inherent link between behavioral inertia and behavioral drive through an empirical case study linking the phenomena. Modern comparative approaches can help put the macroevolutionary implications of behavioral buffering to the test: I describe progress to date, and areas ripe for future investigation. Despite many advances, bridging microevolutionary processes with macroevolutionary patterns remains a persistent gap in our understanding of the Bogert effect, leaving wide open many avenues for deeper exploration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Characterizing the sow physiological response to an increased heat load is essential for effective heat stress mitigation. The study objective was to characterize the effects of a 400-min heating episode on sow heart rate variability (HRV) at different reproductive stages. HRV is a commonly used noninvasive proxy measure of autonomic function. Twenty-seven sows were enrolled in the study according to their gestation stage at time of selection: 1) nonpregnant (NP; n = 7), 2) mid-gestation (MID; 57.3 ± 11.8 d gestation; n = 11), and 3) late-gestation (LATE; 98.8 ± 4.9 d gestation; n = 8). The HRV data utilized in the study were collected from each pig as the dry bulb temperature in the room increased incrementally from 19.84 ± 2.15 °C to 35.54 ± 0.43 °C (range: 17.1–37.5 °C) over a 400-min period. After data collection, one 5-min set of continuous heart rate data were identified per pig for each of nine temperature intervals (19–20.99, 21–22.99, 23–24.99, 25–26.99, 27–28.99, 29–30.99, 31–32.99, 33–34.99, and 35–36.99 °C). Mean inter-beat interval length (RR), standard deviation of r-r intervals (SDNN), root mean square of successive differences (RMSSD), high frequency spectral power (HF), sample entropy (SampEn), short-term detrended fluctuation analysis (DFAα1), and three measures (%REC, DET, LMEAN) derived from recurrence quantification analysis were calculated for each data set. All data were analyzed using the PROC GLIMMIX procedure in SAS 9.4. Overall, LATE sows exhibited lower RR than NP sows (P < 0.01). The standard deviation of r–r intervals and RMSSD differed between each group (P < 0.01), with LATE sows exhibiting the lowest SDNN and RMSSD and NP sows exhibiting the greatest SDNN and RMSSD. Late-gestation sows exhibited lower HF than both MID and NP sows (P < 0.0001), greater DFA values than NP sows (P = 0.05), and greater DET compared to MID sows (P = 0.001). Late-gestation also sows exhibited greater %REC and LMEAN compared to MID (P < 0.01) and NP sows (all P < 0.01). In conclusion, LATE sows exhibited indicators of greater autonomic stress throughout the heating period compared to MID and NP sows. However, temperature by treatment interactions were not detected as dry bulb increased. Future studies are needed to fully elucidate the effect of gestational stage and increasing dry bulb temperature on sow HRV. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Alpha-terpineol, popular monoterpenoid alcohol, is known to cause cytotoxicity in a few cancer cells or to have antioxidant activity, but underlying mechanisms or apoptotic processes in yeast cell death should be understood. We used the fission yeast (Schizosaccharomyces pombe) as a unicellular model to monitor cellular toxicology and physiological mechanisms for the involvement of alpha-terpineol in cell death. Alpha-terpineol caused Reactive oxygen species (ROS) overproduction and following cytotoxicity and apoptosis in a dose-dependent manner. The effect of oxidative stress was proved using sod1 and sod2 mutants (antioxidant-limited cells), and the results showed that apoptosis was caused by alpha-terpineol-driven oxidation. In addition, resorcinol, a herbal extract from medicinal plants, showed protective activity against alpha-terpineol cytotoxicity. Survival rates, apoptotic cell death ratios, oxidation levels, and antioxidant gene expressions were completely altered; surprisingly sod1 and sod2 levels dramatically increased. However, sod2 was highly upregulated in response to resorcinol treatment with alpha-terpineol. The potential role of the Sod2 enzyme was proved using sod2 mutant cells that do not have a mitochondrial radical-clearing activity. Consequently, the dose-dependent and ROS-mediated cytotoxic/apoptotic effects of alpha-terpineol and the Sod2-dependent protective and antioxidant effects of resorcinol were demonstrated in unicellular model organism S. pombe by this study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Brettanomyces species, and particularly B. bruxellensis as the most studied representative, are strongly linked to industrial fermentation processes. This association is considered either positive or undesirable depending on the industry. While in some brewing applications and in kombucha production Brettanomyces yeasts contribute to the flavour and aroma profile of these beverages, in winemaking and bioethanol production Brettanomyces is considered a spoilage or contaminant microorganism. Nevertheless, understanding Brettanomyces biology and metabolism in detail will benefit all industries. This review discusses recent molecular biology tools including genomics, transcriptomics, and genetic engineering techniques that can improve our understanding of Brettanomyces physiology and how these approaches can be used to make the industrial potential of this species a reality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Emotions can be communicated in social contexts through chemosignals contained in human body odors. The transmission of positive emotions via these signals has received little interest in past research focused mainly on negative emotional transmission. Furthermore, how the use of perfumed products might modulate this transmission remains poorly understood. To investigate human positive chemical communication, we explored the autonomic, verbal, and behavioral responses of receivers exposed to body odors of donors having undergone a within-subject positive or neutral mood induction procedure. These responses were compared with those obtained after exposure to the same body odors with added fragrance. Our findings suggest that positive emotions can be transmitted through body odor. They not only induced modifications at the physiological (heart rate) and verbal levels (perceived intensity and familiarity) but also at the behavioral level, with an improved performance on creativity tasks. Perfume did not modulate the physiological effects and had a synergistic effect on the positive body odor ratings (increased perceived differences between the neutral and positive body odor). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effects of honey bee management, such as intensive migratory beekeeping, are part of the ongoing debate concerning causes of colony health problems. Even though comparisons of disease and pathogen loads among differently managed colonies indicate some effects, the direct impact of migratory practices on honey bee pathogens is poorly understood. To test long- and short-term impacts of managed migration on pathogen loads and immunity, experimental honey bee colonies were maintained with or without migratory movement. Individuals that experienced migration as juveniles (e.g. larval and pupal development), as adults, or both were compared to control colonies that remained stationary and therefore did not experience migratory relocation. Samples at different ages and life-history stages (hive bees or foragers), taken at the beginning and end of the active season, were analyzed for pathogen loads and physiological markers of health. Bees exposed to migratory management during adulthood had increased levels of the AKI virus complex (Acute bee paralysis, Kashmir bee, and Israeli acute bee paralysis viruses) and decreased levels of antiviral gene expression (dicer-like). However, those in stationary management as adults had elevated gut parasites (i.e. trypanosomes). Effects of environment during juvenile development were more complex and interacted with life-history stage and season. Age at collection, life-history stage, and season all influenced numerous factors from viral load to immune gene expression. Although the factors that we examined are not independent, the results illuminate potential factors in both migratory and nonmigratory beekeeping that are likely to contribute to colony stress, and also indicate potential mitigation measures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Aldosterone synthase deficiency (ASD) caused by mutations in the CYP11B2 gene is characterized by isolated mineralocorticoid deficiency. Data are scarce regarding clinical and biochemical outcomes of the disease in the follow-up. Objective: Assessment of the growth and steroid profiles of patients with ASD at the time of diagnosis and after discontinuation of treatment. Design and method: Children with clinical diagnosis of ASD were included in a multicenter study. Growth and treatment characteristics were recorded. Plasma adrenal steroids were measured using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. Genetic diagnosis was confirmed by CYP11B2 gene sequencing and in silico analyses. Results: Sixteen patients from 12 families were included (8 females; median age at presentation: 3.1 months, range: 0.4 to 8.1). The most common symptom was poor weight gain (56.3%). Median age of onset of fludrocortisone treatment was 3.6 months (range: 0.9 to 8.3). Catch-up growth was achieved at median 2 months (range: 0.5 to 14.5) after treatment. Fludrocortisone could be stopped in 5 patients at a median age of 6.0 years (range: 2.2 to 7.6). Plasma steroid profiles revealed reduced aldosterone synthase activity both at diagnosis and after discontinuation of treatment compared to age-matched controls. We identified 6 novel (p.Y195H, c.1200 + 1G > A, p.F130L, p.E198del, c.1122-18G > A, p.I339_E343del) and 4 previously described CYP11B2 variants. The most common variant (40%) was p.T185I. Conclusions: Fludrocortisone treatment is associated with a rapid catch-up growth and control of electrolyte imbalances in ASD. Decreased mineralocorticoid requirement over time can be explained by the development of physiological adaptation mechanisms rather than improved aldosterone synthase activity. As complete biochemical remission cannot be achieved, a long-term surveillance of these patients is required. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Catch-and-release fishing is an important component of ecotourism industries and scientific research worldwide, but its total impact on animal physiology, health and survival is understudied for many species of fishes, particularly sharks. We combined biologging and blood chemistry to explore how this fisheries interaction influenced the physiology of two widely distributed, highly migratory shark species: the blue shark (Prionace glauca) and the tiger shark (Galeocerdo cuvier). Nineteen sharks were caught by drum line or rod-and-reel angling; subcutaneous body temperature measurements were taken immediately upon capture, with six individuals also providing subsequent subcutaneous body temperature measurements via biologging as they swam freely for several hours post-release. We found that short-term capture caused shark body temperature to increase significantly and rapidly, with increases of 0.6°C–2.7°C for blue sharks (mean, 1.2 ± 0.6°C) and 0.5°C–0.9°C for tiger sharks (mean, 0.7 ± 0.2°C) and with capture-induced heating rates of blue sharks averaging 0.3°C min−1 but as high as 0.8°C min−1. Blue shark body temperature was even higher deeper into the white muscle. These heating rates were three to eight times faster than maximum rates encountered by our biologging sharks swimming through thermally stratified waters and faster than most acute heating experiments conducted with ectotherms in laboratory experiments. Biologging data showed that body temperatures underwent gradual decline after release, returning to match water temperatures 10–40 mins post-release. Blood biochemistry showed variable lactate/glucose levels following capture; however, these concentrations were not correlated with the magnitude of body temperature increase, nor with body size or hooking time. These perturbations of the natural state could have immediate and longer-term effects on the welfare and ecology of sharks caught in catch-and-release fisheries and we encourage further study of the broader implications of this reported phenomenon. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reintroduction programs are important tools for wildlife conservation. However, captive rearing environments may lead to maladaptive behavior and physiological alterations that reduce survival probability after release. For captive rearing programs that raise individuals captured from the wild during early ontogeny for later release, there is a lack of information about when during ontogeny the detrimental effects of captive rearing may become evident. In this study we compared cortisol levels, predation rates and swimming behavior between hatchery-produced and wild-caught larval lake sturgeon (Acipenser fulvescens), a threatened fish species, at three times over 9 days. Cortisol levels did not indicate that hatchery-produced individuals were more stressed, but cortisol reactivity to an acute stressor disappeared for both hatchery-produced and wild-caught larvae after 9 days in the hatchery. Swimming activity levels decreased over time for hatchery-produced larvae but increased over time for wild-caught larvae, suggesting that behavioral trajectories may be programmed prior to the larval stage. Neither increasing nor decreasing activity levels was advantageous for survival, as predation rates increased over time in captivity for larvae from both treatments. Results suggest that physiological and behavioral phenotypes may not accurately predict survival for individuals released from reintroduction programs and that the captive environment may inhibit transition to the wild even if cortisol levels do not indicate high stress. Findings emphasize that even a short amount of time in captivity during early ontogeny can affect phenotypes of individuals captured from wild populations, which may impact the success of reintroduction programs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fish physiological performance is directly regulated by their thermal environment. Intraspecific comparisons are essential to ascertain the vulnerability of fish populations to climate change and to identify which populations may be more susceptible to extirpation and which may be more resilient to continued warming. In this study, we sought to evaluate how thermal performance varies in coastal cutthroat trout (Oncorhynchus clarki clarki) across four distinct watersheds in OR, USA. Specifically, we measured oxygen consumption rates in trout from the four watersheds with variable hydrologic and thermal regimes, comparing three ecologically relevant temperature treatments (ambient, annual maximum and novel warm). Coastal cutthroat trout displayed considerable intraspecific variability in physiological performance and thermal tolerance across the four watersheds. Thermal tolerance matched the historical experience: the coastal watersheds experiencing warmer ambient temperatures had higher critical thermal tolerance compared with the interior, cooler Willamette watersheds. Physiological performance varied across all four watersheds and there was evidence of a trade-off between high aerobic performance and broad thermal tolerance. Given the evidence of climate regime shifts across the globe, the uncertainty in both the rate and extent of warming and species responses in the near and long term, a more nuanced approach to the management and conservation of native fish species must be considered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent literature suggests that anthropogenic stressors can disrupt ecologically relevant behaviours in fish, such as the ability to escape from predators. Disruption of these behaviours at critical life history transitions, such as the transition from the pelagic environment to the juvenile/adult habitat, may have even greater repercussions. The literature suggests that an increase in temperature can affect fish escape response, as well as metabolism; however, few studies have focused on the acute sensitivity responses and the potential for acclimation through developmental plasticity. Here, we aimed at evaluating the acute and long-term effects of exposure to warming conditions on the escape response and routine metabolic rate (RMR) of early life stages of the white seabream, Diplodus sargus. Additionally, as food availability may modulate the response to warming, we further tested the effects of long-term exposure to high temperature and food shortage, as individual and interacting drivers, on escape response and RMR. Temperature treatments were adjusted to ambient temperature (19°C) and a high temperature (22°C). Feeding treatments were established as high ration and low ration (50% of high ration). Escape response and RMR were measured after the high temperature was reached (acute exposure) and after 4 weeks (prolonged exposure). Acute warming had a significant effect on escape response and generated an upward trend in RMR. In the long term, however, there seems to be an acclimation of the escape response and RMR. Food shortage, interacting with high temperature, led to an increase in latency response and a significant reduction in RMR. The current study provides relevant experimental data on fishes' behavioural and physiological responses to the combined effects of multiple stressors. This knowledge can be incorporated in recruitment models, thereby contributing to fine-tuning of models required for fisheries management and species conservation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To promote survival and fitness, organisms use a suite of physiological systems to respond to both predictable and unpredictable changes in the environment. These physiological responses are also influenced by changes in life history state. The continued activation of physiological systems stemming from persistent environmental perturbations enable animals to cope with these challenges but may over time lead to significant effects on the health of wildlife. In the present study, we tested how varying environmental perturbations driven by tourism and associated supplemental feeding affects the energetics, corticosterone and immunity of six discrete populations of the northern Bahamian rock iguana (Cyclura cychlura inornata and Cyclura cychlura figginsi). We studied populations within and outside the reproductive season and quantified tourist numbers during sample collection. Specifically, we measured clutch size, body condition, plasma energy metabolites, reactive oxygen species, baseline corticosterone concentrations and immune function of male and female iguanas from each population to address whether (i) disparate physiologies are emerging across a gradient of tourism and feeding, (ii) both subspecies respond similarly and (iii) responses vary with season/reproductive condition. We found significant effects of tourism level, season and their interaction on the physiology of both C. c. inornata and C. c. figginsi , supporting the idea that tourism is leading to the divergence of phenotypes. Specifically, we found elevated plasma energy metabolites, oxidative stress and a measure of innate immunity (bactericidal ability), but reduced corticosterone concentrations with increasing tourism in both subspecies of rock iguanas. These physiological metrics differ according to the level of tourism in both subspecies and persist across seasons despite variation with natural seasonal and reproductive changes. These findings suggest that anthropogenic disturbance results in disparate physiologies in northern Bahamian rock iguanas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

From the earliest days of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, there have been reports of significant neurological and psychological symptoms following Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection. This narrative review is designed to examine the potential psychoneuroendocrine pathogenic mechanisms by which SARS-CoV-2 elicits psychiatric sequelae as well as to posit potential pharmacologic strategies to address and reverse these pathologies. Following a brief overview of neurological and psychological sequelae from previous viral pandemics, we address mechanisms by which SARS-CoV-2 could enter or otherwise elicit changes in the CNS. We then examine the hypothesis that COVID-19–induced psychiatric disorders result from challenges to the neuroendocrine system, in particular the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal stress axis and monoamine synthesis, physiological mechanisms that are only further enhanced by the pandemic-induced social environment of fear, isolation, and socioeconomic pressure. Finally, we evaluate several FDA-approved therapeutics in the context of COVID-19–induced psychoneuroendocrine disorders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims We evaluated the long-term prognostic value of invasively assessing coronary physiology after heart transplantation in a large multicentre registry. Methods and results Comprehensive intracoronary physiology assessment measuring fractional flow reserve (FFR), the index of microcirculatory resistance (IMR), and coronary flow reserve (CFR) was performed in 254 patients at baseline (a median of 7.2 weeks) and in 240 patients at 1 year after transplantation (199 patients had both baseline and 1-year measurement). Patients were classified into those with normal physiology, reduced FFR (FFR ≤ 0.80), and microvascular dysfunction (either IMR ≥ 25 or CFR ≤ 2.0 with FFR > 0.80). The primary outcome was the composite of death or re-transplantation at 10 years. At baseline, 5.5% had reduced FFR; 36.6% had microvascular dysfunction. Baseline reduced FFR [adjusted hazard ratio (aHR) 2.33, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.88–6.15; P  = 0.088] and microvascular dysfunction (aHR 0.88, 95% CI 0.44–1.79; P  = 0.73) were not predictors of death and re-transplantation at 10 years. At 1 year, 5.0% had reduced FFR; 23.8% had microvascular dysfunction. One-year reduced FFR (aHR 2.98, 95% CI 1.13–7.87; P  = 0.028) and microvascular dysfunction (aHR 2.33, 95% CI 1.19–4.59; P  = 0.015) were associated with significantly increased risk of death or re-transplantation at 10 years. Invasive measures of coronary physiology improved the prognostic performance of clinical variables (χ 2 improvement: 7.41, P  = 0.006). However, intravascular ultrasound-derived changes in maximal intimal thickness were not predictive of outcomes. Conclusion Abnormal coronary physiology 1 year after heart transplantation was common and was a significant predictor of death or re-transplantation at 10 years. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Allele substitution effects at quantitative trait loci (QTL) are part of the basis of quantitative genetics theory and applications such as association analysis and genomic prediction. In the presence of nonadditive functional gene action, substitution effects are not constant across populations. We develop an original approach to model the difference in substitution effects across populations as a first order Taylor series expansion from a "focal" population. This expansion involves the difference in allele frequencies and second-order statistical effects (additive by additive and dominance). The change in allele frequencies is a function of relationships (or genetic distances) across populations. As a result, it is possible to estimate the correlation of substitution effects across two populations using three elements: magnitudes of additive, dominance, and additive by additive variances; relationships (Nei's minimum distances or Fst indexes); and assumed heterozygosities. Similarly, the theory applies as well to distinct generations in a population, in which case the distance across generations is a function of increase of inbreeding. Simulation results confirmed our derivations. Slight biases were observed, depending on the nonadditive mechanism and the reference allele. Our derivations are useful to understand and forecast the possibility of prediction across populations and the similarity of GWAS effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Natural populations often show enhanced genetic drift consistent with a strong skew in their offspring number distribution. The skew arises because the variability of family sizes is either inherently strong or amplified by population expansions. The resulting allele-frequency fluctuations are large and, therefore, challenge standard models of population genetics, which assume sufficiently narrow offspring distributions. While the neutral dynamics backward in time can be readily analyzed using coalescent approaches, we still know little about the effect of broad offspring distributions on the forward-in-time dynamics, especially with selection. Here, we employ an asymptotic analysis combined with a scaling hypothesis to demonstrate that over-dispersed frequency trajectories emerge from the competition of conventional forces, such as selection or mutations, with an emerging time-dependent sampling bias against the minor allele. The sampling bias arises from the characteristic time-dependence of the largest sampled family size within each allelic type. Using this insight, we establish simple scaling relations for allele-frequency fluctuations, fixation probabilities, extinction times, and the site frequency spectra that arise when offspring numbers are distributed according to a power law. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Observational studies describing the impact of transport duration on weaned piglet welfare are limited. Current Canadian transport regulations are heavily informed by studies involving market hogs. Due to physiological differences between weaned piglets and market hogs, additional data on their response to transport are needed for age-specific evidence-based recommendations. A cohort study was conducted to describe and compare mortality, injury, weight change, hematological or biochemical changes in hydration, muscle injury and stress response observed in weaned piglets undergoing short duration (SD, <3 h), or long duration (LD, >30 h) commercial summertime transport events. Data collection on 440 of 11,434 transported piglets occurred the morning of the day before transport (T0), at arrival (T1) and approximately 3 to 4 d (78 to 93 h) after arrival at the nursery barn (T2). Low mortality occurred over all transport events (0.06%) with no association observed between transport duration and odds of death during transport (P = 0.62). The incidence of lameness between T0 and T1 was low (1.84% of the 435 focal piglets scored) with all lameness cases identified as mild in severity. Lesions on ears and skin were more prevalent than other injury types after transport (T1) and may have been related to mixing aggression associated with weaning rather than transport alone. LD piglets weighed 0.39 kg less than SD piglets at T1 (P < 0.01), but no difference in group weight was observed at T2 (P = 0.17). Hematological and biochemical differences were present between groups at T1. LD piglets had increased hematocrit levels compared with SD piglets (P = 0.01), suggesting increased body water losses. SD piglets showed greater levels of muscle injury compared with LD piglets including elevated aspartate aminotransferase (P < 0.01) and creatine kinase (P < 0.01). However, these parameters were within normal reference ranges for piglets of this age group. Indicators of physiological stress response including cortisol and neutrophil to lymphocyte ratios were elevated in SD piglets compared with LD piglets (P = 0.02 and P < 0.01, respectively). The results of this study demonstrate that both short and long transport durations can result in detectable physiological changes in weaned piglets. The overall impact of these durations on piglet welfare should be further explored by analyzing behavioral time budgets during and after transport. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plasticity-led evolution posits that (a) novel environments unleash cryptic genetic variation through phenotypic plasticity, (b) a fraction of this variation is adaptive in the new environment, and (c) subsequent evolution modifies phenotypic plasticity and can result in novel traits. Futuyma (chapter 14) correctly points out that plasticity can be maladaptive, particularly in novel environments, which might favor canalization of trait values as opposed to the evolution of novel traits. Of these three topics, plasticity-led evolution receives the most attention, which requires readers to reconsider many of our earlier issues of how often plasticity is adaptive, whether plasticity is costly, and whether plasticity facilitates or impedes evolution. In other words, plasticity-led evolution is adaptive evolution initiated by an environmentally induced change in a phenotype (plasticity) i " (Levis and Pfennig, chapter 9). [Extracted from the article]

The Drosophila genome contains approximately 14,000 protein-coding genes encoding all the necessary information to sustain cellular physiology, tissue organization, organism development, and behavior. In this manuscript, we describe in some detail the phenotypes in the adult fly wing generated after knockdown of approximately 80% of Drosophila genes. We combined this phenotypic description with a comprehensive molecular classification of the Drosophila proteins into classes that summarize the main expected or known biochemical/functional aspect of each protein. This information, combined with mRNA expression levels and in situ expression patterns, provides a simplified atlas of the Drosophila genome, from housekeeping proteins to the components of the signaling pathways directing wing development, that might help to further understand the contribution of each gene group to wing formation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Modern biological approaches generate volumes of multi-dimensional data, offering unprecedented opportunities to address biological questions previously beyond reach owing to small or subtle effects. A fundamental question in plant biology is the extent to which below-ground activity in the root system influences above-ground phenotypes expressed in the shoot system. Grafting, an ancient horticultural practice that fuses the root system of one individual (the rootstock) with the shoot system of a second, genetically distinct individual (the scion), is a powerful experimental system to understand below-ground effects on above-ground phenotypes. Previous studies on grafted grapevines have detected rootstock influence on scion phenotypes including physiology and berry chemistry. However, the extent of the rootstock's influence on leaves, the photosynthetic engines of the vine, and how those effects change over the course of a growing season, are still largely unknown. Results Here, we investigate associations between rootstock genotype and shoot system phenotypes using 5 multi-dimensional leaf phenotyping modalities measured in a common grafted scion: ionomics, metabolomics, transcriptomics, morphometrics, and physiology. Rootstock influence is ubiquitous but subtle across modalities, with the strongest signature of rootstock observed in the leaf ionome. Moreover, we find that the extent of rootstock influence on scion phenotypes and patterns of phenomic covariation are highly dynamic across the season. Conclusions These findings substantially expand previously identified patterns to demonstrate that rootstock influence on scion phenotypes is complex and dynamic and underscore that broad understanding necessitates volumes of multi-dimensional data previously unmet. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Epigenome of Bull Sperm and Its Relationships with Fertility Mature bovine spermatozoa have a particularly low global level of 5meC compared with bovine somatic cells and also to spermatozoa from goats, rams, humans, stallions, boars, and mice. Using a different whole-genome approach (whole-genome bisulfite sequencing), another team reported that the DNA methylome of bull sperm contains specific undermethylated domains enriched for satellites and evolutionary young TEs that may escape piRNA-mediated silencing ([62]). Comparative whole genome DNA methylation profiling of cattle sperm and somatic tissues reveal s striking hypomethylated patterns in sperm. The somatic epigenome represents the main barrier to the efficiency of cloning, while the oocyte and sperm epigenomes are extensively reprogrammed after fertilization to allow development of the embryo (Figure 3A). [Extracted from the article]

This was recently confirmed in a study conducted in calves born to late gestation heat-stressed nulliparous heifers whereby apparent efficiency of absorption of IgG tended to be lower in late-gestation IUHT calves compared with IUCL calves whereas serum IgG concentrations from birth to day 56 were significantly lower ([22]). Main characteristics of studies included in the calculations to assess differences in gestation length, calf birthweight, and growth between late-gestation in utero heat-stressed Holstein calves and in utero cooled Holstein calves HT