Psychological test performance of different personality types on Sharav days in artificial air ionisation

440 subjects were tested in a microclimate enriched with small negative ions. 225 subjects were tested on Sharav days, whereas 215 tested on regular days served as controls. It was hypothesized: (a) that test performance on Sharav days could be similar to that of the control group due to the ionized climate, and (b) that the improved performance would be different for subjects high or low on neuroticism and extraversion. Results showed that the performance of the Sharav groups was considerably similar to that of their controls. It was further found that on Sharav days subjects high on neuroticism scored worse than controls on non-verbal intelligence, whereas extraverts performed worse on substitution tests. A possible underlying mechanism is discussed.     

A Threshold-based Dynamic Data Replication and Parallel Job Scheduling strategy to enhance Data Grid

Data Grids provide environment for huge, data-intensive applications that produce and process enormous data. Such environments are thus asked to manage data and schedule jobs at the same time. These two important operations have to be tightly coupled to achieve the best results. Replication techniques are widely used to increase the availability of data, improving performance of query latency and load balancing in Data Grid. Also effective resource scheduling is a challenging research issue. In this paper we propose a job scheduling policy, called Parallel Job Scheduling (PJS), and a dynamic data replication strategy, called Threshold-based Dynamic Data Replication (TDDR), to improve the data access efficiencies in a hierarchical Data Grid. The PJS uses hierarchical scheduling to reduce the search time for an appropriate computing node. It considers network characteristics, number of jobs waiting in queue, file locations, and disk read speed of storage drive at data sources. The main idea of TDDR strategy is using a threshold value to determine if the requested replica needs to be copied to the node. The TDDR determines this threshold dynamically based on data request arrival rates and available storage capacities. Then, in order to overcome the problem of limited storage space in each node, we design an efficient replica replacement strategy, which is developed as a two stages process. First, it deletes those files with minimum time for transferring. Second, if space is still insufficient then it considers the last time the replica was requested, number of access, size of replica and file transfer time. Results from the simulation show that our proposed algorithms have better performance in comparison with other algorithms in terms of Mean Job Time, Number of Intercommunications, Number of Replications, Computing Resource Usage, and Effective Network Usage.     

Inter-animal radiation as potential heat stressor in lying animals

A model for predicting inter-animal radiant heat exchange in shaded animals is presented, with emphasis on mature cattle. When a cow’s surface temperature is 35 °C, as is common in warmer climates, it loses ～510 Watt m^?2 as radiant heat. Net radiant heat balance depends on radiation coming from bodies in the vicinity. In the 30 °C radiant temperature shaded environment typical of warm climates, net radiant loss from a lactating cow is ～60 Watt m^?2, i.e., 30 % of its ～173 Watt m^?2 heat production. Cows rest for 8–14 h day^?1. The heat exchange of a lying cow differs from that of a standing one: the body center is low and 20–30 % of its surface contacts a surface of relatively low heat conductance. Lying reduces the impact of the surrounding shaded area on heat exchange but increases that of heat radiating from neighboring cows. When a cow rests adjacent to other cows, with 1.25 m between body centers when in stalls, it occupies about 140° of the horizontal plane of view. Heat emitted from the animal’s surface reduces the net radiant heat loss of a resting cow by ～30 Watt m^?2. In contrast, the presence of cows at 5 and 10 m distance, e.g., cows resting on straw in loose yard housing, reduces the net radiant heat loss of the resting cow by 9 and 5 Watt m^?2, respectively. Radiant heat input increases with animal density, which is beneficial in cooler climates, but acts as a stressor in warm climates.     

Long-term Heat Exposure Prevents Hypoxia-Induced Apoptosis in Mouse Fibroblast Cells

Long-term continuous exposure to high ambient temperatures induces complete heat acclimation in humans and animals. However, to date, the effects of long-term exposure to heat stress on cells have not been fully evaluated. In this study, we investigated an adaptive physiological process induced in culture cells by continuous exposure to mild heat stress for 60 days. The results of this investigation provide evidence that after long-term heat acclimation in cells, (1) heat shock protein levels are increased, (2) hypoxia inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α) expression is upregulated, and (3) heat shock-induced and hypoxia-induced apoptoses are attenuated. These results suggest that the hypoxia response pathway is an intrinsic part of the heat acclimation repertoire and that the HIF-1 pathway following long-term heat acclimation induces cells with cross tolerance against hypoxia.     

An educational format for teaching stress management to groups with a wide range of stress symptoms

In view of the pervasiveness of stress reactions in contemporary society, together with the limited availability of effective coping techniques, the authors attempted to develop a stress management program that combined education on the nature of stress disorders with instruction on several practical procedures useful in coping with stress. Our study used a general population drawn from a small rural university community. There were 38 subjects, 17 male and 21 female, in the final statistical analyses. One independent variable was a lecture-discussion format to present cognitive and relaxation skills. A second independent variable was biofeedback training to decrease frontal EMG activity. The subjects were divided into five treatment groups that consisted of one or some combination of these two treatment conditions. Dependent variables were the two scales—A-State and A-Trait—of Spielberger's STAI(Spielberger, Gorsuch, & Lushene, 1970) and an adaptive application of Kerle and Bialek's(1958) Subjective Stress Scale(SSS). The SSS served as an instrument to keep subjects aware of their physical and psychological responses to stress as well as providing a pre/post measure of reactions to stress as they experienced it. Results indicated that the lecture-discussion format was effective in reducing the subjects' level of stress as measured by the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory and the Subjective Stress Scale. There was no evidence that frontal EMG feedback relaxation training contributed to the reduction of stress.     

Changes in heat-shock protein synthesis and thermotolerance of Arabodopsis thaliana seedlings resulting from Hsp90 inhibition by geldanamycin

The influence of geldanamycin (GA), a specific inhibitor of heat-shock protein Hsp90, on the synthesis of Hsp70 and Hsp90 and thermotolerance of Arabidopsis thaliana seedlings has been studied. Incubation of seedlings with GA under normal conditions induced synthesis of these stress proteins. Treatment of seeds with the Hsp90 inhibitor resulted in elevated constitutive levels of Hsp70 and Hsp90 in seedlings, as well as increased induction of their synthesis under heat shock. The GA effect increased with its concentration. Hsp up-regulation promoted thermotolerance of seedlings. The findings suggest autoregulation of heatshock protein synthesis and regulation of plant tolerance by Hsp90.     

Chloroplast elongation factor BcEF-Tu responds to turnip mosaic virus infection and heat stress in non-heading Chinese cabbage

Eukaryotic elongation factor Tu has been implicated in responses to heat stress and viral infection. In this study, the turnip mosaic virus (TuMV)-response gene BcLRK01, which encodes a leucine-rich repeat receptor-like kinase, was probed using the cDNA library of TuMV-infected leaves of non-heading Chinese cabbage (Brassica campestris ssp. chinensis). The BcEF-Tu gene, which encodes chloroplast elongation factor Tu, was obtained and verified by a yeast two-hybrid system to interact with the BcLRK01 gene. TuMV infection depressed the expression of this gene, whereas a heat stress induced its expression. Overexpression of BcEF-Tu enhanced the viability of Escherichia coli transformants under the heat stress. These results demonstrate that elongation factor BcEF-Tu responded to the TuMV infection and heat stress. This is the first report on chloroplast EF-Tu in non-heading Chinese cabbage which provides a theoretical basis for the functional research of EF-Tu.     

High correlation between thermotolerance and photosystem II activity in tall fescue

Heat stress affects a broad spectrum of cellular components and metabolism. The objectives of this study were to investigate the behavior of Photosystem II (PSII) in tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea Schreb) with various thermotolerance capacities and to broaden our comprehension about the relationship between thermotolerance and PSII function. Heat-tolerant and heat-sensitive accessions were incubated at 24 °C (control) and 46 °C (heat stress) for 5 h. The fluorescence transient curves (OJIP curves), slow Chl fluorescence kinetic, and light response curve were employed to study the behavior of PSII subjected to heat stress. After heat stress, performance index for energy conservation from photons absorbed by PSII antenna until the reduction of PSI acceptors (PI_Total), the value of electrons produced per photon (a), and the maximal rate of electron transport (ETR_max) of heat-tolerant accessions were lower than those of heat-sensitive accessions. Relatively lower reactive oxygen species (ROS) contents were detected in heat-tolerant accessions. Simultaneously, there was a significant decline in the quantum yield of photochemical energy conversion in PS II (Y(II)), probability that a PSII Chl molecule functions as reaction center (γ_RC), and the increase of quantum yield for non-regulated non-photochemical energy loss (Y(NO)) in heat-tolerant accessions. Moreover, a significant inverse correlation between heat tolerance indexes (HTI) and Y(II) was observed. Therefore, maintaining a lower photochemical activity in heat-tolerant accessions could be a crucial strategy to improve their thermotolerance. This finding could be attributed to the structural difference in the reaction center, and for heat-tolerant accessions, it could simultaneously limit energy input into linear electron transport, and dissipate more energy through non-regulated non-photochemical energy loss processes.     

The impact of Sharav weather conditions on airborne pollen in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv (Israel)

Pollen grains have been a major focus of research mostly in temperate regions due to their effects on human health, especially allergies and asthma. The current study investigates a subtropical region characterized by a Mediterranean climate where Sharav conditions are experienced during the spring and autumn. The aim of the current study was to investigate whether Sharav conditions impacted airborne pollen concentrations of allergenic Amaranthaceae, Poaceae, Morus, Pinus, and Quercus more than standard Warm days during the main pollen seasons in the years 2010–2014 in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem (Israel). Slight variation was observed between the main pollen seasons in Tel Aviv compared to Jerusalem resulting from differences in temperature and relative humidity percentages. Additionally, more Sharav conditions occurred in Jerusalem than in Tel Aviv during the study period. The highest pollen concentrations occurred during Sharav days for Amaranthaceae, Poaceae, and Pinus but not for Morus and Quercus. Therefore, individuals who are allergic to Amaranthaceae, Poaceae, and Pinus pollen, and exposed to high pollen concentrations during Sharav days, might suffer more allergy symptoms than on Warm days.     

Insights into resistome and stress responses genes in Bubalus bubalis rumen through metagenomic analysis

Buffalo rumen microbiota experience variety of diets and represents a huge reservoir of mobilome, resistome and stress responses. However, knowledge of metagenomic responses to such conditions is still rudimentary. We analyzed the metagenomes of buffalo rumen in the liquid and solid phase of the rumen biomaterial from river buffalo adapted to varying proportion of concentrate to green or dry roughages, using high-throughput sequencing to know the occurrence of antibiotics resistance genes, genetic exchange between bacterial population and environmental reservoirs. A total of 3914.94 MB data were generated from all three treatments group. The data were analysed with Metagenome rapid annotation system tools. At phyla level, Bacteroidetes were dominant in all the treatments followed by Firmicutes. Genes coding for functional responses to stress (oxidative stress and heat shock proteins) and resistome genes (resistance to antibiotics and toxic compounds, phages, transposable elements and pathogenicity islands) were prevalent in similar proportion in liquid and solid fraction of rumen metagenomes. The fluoroquinolone resistance, MDR efflux pumps and Methicillin resistance genes were broadly distributed across 11, 9, and 14 bacterial classes, respectively. Bacteria responsible for phages replication and prophages and phage packaging and rlt-like streptococcal phage genes were mostly assigned to phyla Bacteroides, Firmicutes and proteaobacteria. Also, more reads matching the sigma B genes were identified in the buffalo rumen. This study underscores the presence of diverse mechanisms of adaptation to different diet, antibiotics and other stresses in buffalo rumen, reflecting the proportional representation of major bacterial groups.     

Influence of the shear stress and salinity on Anammox biofilms formation: modelling results

Anammox biomass has a long duplication time and low yield, thus the process must be operated in reactors with good sludge retention, such as biofilm systems. Therefore, it would be important to research the ability of Anammox biomass to form biofilms under different conditions. The effects of shear stress and salinity (NaCl and CaCl₂) on Anammox biofilm formation were studied. Anammox bacteria showed good attachment capacity, with an initial adhesion phase lasting for 5–7 days at the different flow rates tested (Reynolds numbers 54, 63, 188 and 400). A four-parameter model was developed and the experimental data fitted well into the model. The presence of 5 g/L of each of the two salts favoured the formation of Anammox biofilm. The effects of CaCl₂ were stronger than those caused by NaCl. 15 g/L of NaCl was detrimental for the biofilm, probably due to an inhibitory effect.     

Hydrolysis,acidification and methanogenesis during low-temperature anaerobic digestion of dilute dairy wastewater in an inverted fluidised bioreactor

The application of low-temperature (10 °C) anaerobic digestion (LtAD) for the treatment of complex dairy-based wastewater in an inverted fluidised bed (IFB) reactor was investigated. Inadequate mixing intensity provoked poor hydrolysis of the substrate (mostly protein), which resulted in low chemical oxygen demand (COD) removal efficiency throughout the trial, averaging ~69 % at the best operational period. Overgrowth of the attached biomass to the support particles (Extendospheres) induced bed stratification by provoking agglutination of the particles and supporting their washout by sedimentation, which contributed to unstable bioprocess performance at the organic loading rates (OLRs) between 0.5 and 5 kg COD m^?3 day^?1. An applied OLR above 2 kg COD m^?3 day^?1 additionally promoted acidification and strongly influenced the microbial composition and dynamics. Hydrogenotrophic methanogens appeared to be the mostly affected group by the Extendospheres particle washout as a decrease in their abundance was observed by quantitative PCR analysis towards the end of the trial, although the specific methanogenic activity and maximum substrate utilisation rate on H₂/CO₂ indicated high metabolic activity and preference towards hydrogenotrophic methanogenesis of the reactor biomass at this stage. The bacterial community in the bioreactor monitored via denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) also suggested an influence of OLR stress on bacterial community structure and population dynamics. The data presented in this work can provide useful information in future optimisation of fluidised reactors intended for digestion of complex industrial wastewaters during LtAD.     

Evidence of endoplasmic reticulum stress and liver inflammation in the American mink Neovison vison with benign hepatic steatosis

We investigated the presence of inflammatory signs in the progression of fatty liver disease induced by fasting. Sixty standard black American mink (Neovison vison) were fasted for 0, 1, 3, 5, or 7 days and one group for 7 days followed by re-feeding for 28 days. Liver sections were evaluated histologically and liver mRNA levels indicating endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress, adipogenic transformation, and inflammation were assessed by quantitative real-time PCR. After 3 days of fasting, the mink had developed moderate liver steatosis. Increased hyaluronan reactivity in lymphocytic foci but no Mallory–Denk bodies were seen in livers of the mink fasted for 5–7 days. Up-regulation of glucose-regulated protein, 78 kDa was observed on day 7 indicating ER stress, especially in the females. Liver lipoprotein lipase and monocyte chemoattractant protein 1 mRNA levels increased in response to 5–7 days of food deprivation, while tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α) was the highest in the mink fasted for 5 days. The expression of the genes of interest, except for TNF-α, correlated with each other and with the liver fat content. The mRNA levels were found to change more rapidly below n-3/n-6 polyunsaturated fatty acid ratio threshold of 0.15. Following re-feeding, hepatocyte morphology and mRNA abundance returned to pre-fasting levels. Within the studied timeframe, evidence for ER stress, adipogenic transformation, and liver inflammation suggested incipient transition from steatosis to steatohepatitis with potential for development of more severe liver disease. This may present a possibility to influence disease progression before histologically observable steatohepatitis.