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Anchialine systems are coastal groundwater habitats around the world which host a unique community of cave adapted species (stygobionts). Such communities are expected to be separated by haloclines into either fresh or saline groundwater communities, hence climate changes (e.g., eustatic sea level shifts) and anthropic driven changes (e.g., salinization) may have a great impact on these stygobiont communities. Here we used cave-restricted species of Typhlatya from the Yucatan Peninsula as models to identify physiological capacities that enable the different species to thrive in marine groundwater (T. dzilamensis) or fresh groundwater (T. mitchelli and T. pearsei), and test if their distribution is limited by their salinity tolerance capacity. We used behavior, metabolic rates, indicators of the antioxidant system and cellular damage, and lactate content to evaluate the response of individuals to acute changes in salinity, as a recreation of crossing a halocline in the anchialine systems of the Yucatan Peninsula. Our results show that despite being sister species, some are restricted to the freshwater portion of the groundwater, while others appear to be euryhaline. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Despite the high burden of anxiety and hypertension in Hispanic/Latino adults, little is known about their association in this population. Purpose To examine the associations of anxiety symptoms with 6-year changes in blood pressure (BP) and incident hypertension in Hispanic/Latino adults. Methods We examined data from a probability sample of 10,881 Hispanic/Latino persons aged 18–74 who attended visits 1 (V1; 2008–2011) and 2 (V2; 2014–2017) of the Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos (HCHS/SOL), a prospective cohort study. Anxiety symptoms were assessed at V1 using the 10-item Spielberger Trait Anxiety Scale (M = 17.1; Range = 10–40) and dichotomized using a cut-point of 20, the highest quartile in this cohort. BP was measured at both visits using a standardized protocol. Results Adults with elevated anxiety symptoms had a 1.02 mm Hg greater increase in systolic (p  = .02) and a 0.75 mm Hg greater increase in diastolic BP (p  = .02) over 6.1 years than those with lower symptoms, after adjusting for sociodemographic and clinical covariates. These associations differed by sex. Elevated anxiety was associated with a greater increase in systolic and diastolic BP in men only. Among persons without hypertension at V1 (N = 7,412), those with elevated anxiety symptoms at V1 had a 22% higher incidence of hypertension (p  = .02) 6.1 years later. Conclusions Our findings underscore the importance of screening for and treating elevated anxiety symptoms to help prevent hypertension. Further research on the role of sex and underlying mechanisms is warranted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We examined the 12-month maintenance effects of a previously successful integrated model of diabetes care at improving glycemic management and psychological well-being among Latino adults with type 2 diabetes (T2D). A randomized controlled trial (2015–19) compared an integrated care intervention (ICI) with usual care among 456 adults with T2D. The ICI included integrated medical and behavioral care and health education over 6 months. Assessments were completed at baseline, 3, 6, 9, and 12 months. Most participants were female (63.7%) with a mean age of 55.7 years. In multilevel models, significant Group × Time (quadratic) interaction effects were found for HbA1c [ B int = 0.10, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.02, 0.17, P  < .01] and anxiety symptoms (B int = 0.20, 95% CI 0.05, 0.35, P  < .009), but not depression symptoms (B int = 0.15, 95% CI −0.01, 0.31, P  < .07). Analyses of instantaneous rate of change in the ICI group showed significant decreases at 3 and 6 months for both HbAc1 (B = −0.31 at 3 months; B = −0.12 at 6 months) and anxiety symptoms (B = −0.92 at 3 months; B = −0.46 at 6 months), and no significant instantaneous changes at 9 or 12 months, suggesting that initial improvements were largely maintained. The usual care group showed a small decrease in anxiety symptoms at 6 months (B = −0.17), but no other significant changes at any time-point for anxiety or HbA1c (all P s > .05). This culturally tailored integrated care model shows potential in producing and sustaining positive effects on clinical and psychological outcomes above standard care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Horizontal gene transfer (HGT) is a well-documented strategy used by bacteria to enhance their adaptability to challenging environmental conditions. Through HGT, a group of conserved genetic elements known as mobile genetic elements (MGEs) is disseminated within bacterial communities. MGEs offer numerous advantages to the host, increasing its fitness by acquiring new functions that help bacteria contend with adverse conditions, including exposure to heavy metal and antibiotics. This study explores MGEs within microbial communities along the Yucatan coast using a metatranscriptomics approach. Prior to this research, nothing was known about the coastal Yucatan's microbial environmental mobilome and HGT processes between these bacterial communities. This study reveals a positive correlation between MGEs and antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) along the Yucatan coast, with higher MGEs abundance in more contaminated sites. The Proteobacteria and Firmicutes groups exhibited the highest number of MGEs. It's important to highlight that the most abundant classes of MGEs might not be the ones most strongly linked to ARGs, as observed for the recombination/repair class. This work presents the first geographical distribution of the environmental mobilome in Yucatan Peninsula mangroves. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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The effect of two temperatures (14[degrees]C and 18[degrees]C) and incubation systems (artificial versus female care) on the embryonic development of Octopus vulgaris was studied. Octopuses (six females and two males) were captured in the Ria of Vigo (Northwest Spain). Egg batches were divided into two groups: one left with female care, and others were incubated with artificial aeration. The results indicate that the type of incubation did not affect the embryonic development, whereas temperature had a marked effect on it. The duration of embryonic development was 40 days at 18[degrees]C and 67 days at 14[degrees]C. Results suggest that a reduction of around 24 days [degrees][C.sup.-1] can be obtained when O. vulgaris embryos are incubated into the temperature tolerance range of this species. Results showed that temperature modulated in a different form the embryonic development, at least until stage XIII, where embryos at 18[degrees]C showed lower values of eggs and embryo length than embryos at 14[degrees]C. The proportion of arm/total length was 21% higher in embryos at 14[degrees]C compared with 18[degrees]C, suggesting that in the first phases of embryo development, muscle development is favored at low temperature. Results showed that embryos at 14[degrees]C and 18[degrees]C had no differences in two critical processes, that is, nervous system synthesis (measured through eye synthesis) and organogenesis (measured through mantle length). The fact that there were no differences between hatchlings developing from embryos at both experimental temperatures demonstrates that O. vulgaris embryos can be favored if spawn occurs at relatively low temperatures.KEY WORDS: embryonic development, Octopus vulgaris, temperature, paralarvae, INTRODUCTIONThe common octopus Octopus vulgaris (Cuvier, 1797) is the best known of the more than 100 species described (Mangold 1983) and one of the most studied cephalopod from the culture [...]

Growth in the online survey market may be increasing response burden and possibly jeopardizing higher response rates. This meta‐analysis evaluated survey trends over one decade (2011–2020) to determine: (1) changes in survey publication rates over time, (2) changes in response rates over time, (3) typical response rates within health sciences education research, (4) the factors influencing survey completion levels, and (5) common gaps in survey methods and outcomes reporting. Study I estimated survey publication trends between 2011 and 2020 using articles published in the top three health sciences education research journals. Study II searched the anatomical sciences education literature across six databases and extracted study/survey features and survey response rates. Time plots and a proportional meta‐analysis were performed. Per 2926 research articles, the annual estimated proportion of studies with survey methodologies has remained constant, with no linear trend (p > 0.050) over time (Study I). Study II reported a pooled absolute response rate of 67% (95% CI = 63.9–69.0) across 360 studies (k), totaling 115,526 distributed surveys. Despite response rate oscillations over time, no significant linear trend (p = 0.995) was detected. Neither survey length, incentives, sponsorship, nor population type affected absolute response rates (p ≥ 0.070). Only 35% (120 of 339) of studies utilizing a Likert scale reported evidence of survey validity. Survey response rates and the prevalence of studies with survey methodologies have remained stable with no linear trends over time. We recommend researchers strive for a typical absolute response rate of 67% or higher and clearly document evidence of survey validity for empirical studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]