Universidad de Almería

Low temperature during the reproductive stage, particularly late-spring cold events, severely threatens wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) yield. This study explored how exogenous glucose promotes the source-flow-sink balance under low temperature by assessing its effects on sucrose metabolism, carbohydrate partitioning, vascular development, and yield components in wild-type (WT) and chlorophyll b-deficient mutant (ANK 32B) plants. Low temperature inhibited the activities of sucrose metabolism enzymes (soluble acid invertase, neutral invertase, sucrose phosphate synthase, and sucrose synthase) in spikes, while inducing abnormal activation in leaves and uppermost internodes. This disturbance caused carbohydrate retention in non-spike organs and severe depletion in spikes, markedly reducing starch, glucose, fructose, and sucrose in the basal and apical spikelets. Consequently, spike development was impaired, grain number and weight decreased, and main-stem yield declined by 60.66 %, 31.05 %, and 52.63 % in the basal, central, and apical spikelets. Micro-CT analysis revealed that cold stress also restricted rachis vascular bundle formation, particularly the bundles delivering assimilates to basal spikelets. The assimilate-limited ANK 32B mutant exhibited compounded sensitivity to low temperature. Exogenous glucose provided sufficient assimilates, stabilized the "source" by mitigating the sucrose metabolism enzyme disturbance, ensured the "flow" by maintaining vascular development, and strengthened the "sink" by increasing carbohydrate accumulation and dry matter in spikes. This coordinated regulation ultimately optimized source-flow-sink system, alleviating cold-induced yield loss by 4.54 %, 0.32 %, and 6.75 % in the basal, central, and apical spikelets, respectively.

This study analyzes the self-perceived health of seasonal migrant farmworkers in Spain and identifies its associations with socio-demographic and occupational factors.

Cross-sectional multicenter study.

A total of 616 seasonal migrant farmworkers of African origin were recruited in 2021-2022 from four Spanish provinces. Self-perceived health was assessed using a validated questionnaire and dichotomized as poor (regular/bad/very bad) vs good (good/very good). Multivariate logistic regression and decision tree analysis were conducted to identify associated factors. The model was evaluated using AUC and Hosmer-Lemeshow tests.

Poor self-perceived health was reported by 23.1% of participants. Women (OR = 2.10), older adults (OR = 8.36 for ≥45 years), individuals without residence permits (OR = 2.10), alcohol users (OR = 2.02), and residents in southern regions (OR = 2.29) had significantly higher odds of reporting poor health. Specific conditions such as respiratory, circulatory, musculoskeletal, and mental health problems were also associated with poor health perception. Gender and geographic origin defined risk patterns.

Our findings show that seasonal migrant farmworkers in Spain, particularly women and those without legal documentation or living in southern regions, experience worse health outcomes. Addressing and transforming the social and occupational conditions in which these migrant workers live and work requires structural interventions through governmental policies.

Strength training (ST) is recommended for survivors of breast cancer due to its health-related benefits. However, the optimal method for prescribing ST intensity in this population remains unexplored.

To compare the effects of three intensity prescription methods on muscular strength, body composition, physical function and psychological health in survivors of breast cancer; and to examine how the training intensity progresses over time according to each method.

A three-arm randomized trial will be conducted with 60 women survivors of breast cancer randomly allocated to: (1) daily estimated one-repetition maximum (1RM) using individual load-velocity relationship; (2) initial 1RM estimation via load-velocity relationship, without daily updates; or (3) initial 1RM estimation via a 10RM test, without daily updates. The intervention includes a 2-week familiarization phase and an 8-week intervention phase. Training intensity will be prescribed between 60 and 75% 1RM, following the American College of Sports Medicine guidelines. Primary outcomes include muscle strength, physical function, cardiorespiratory fitness, fatigue, pain, quality of life, anxiety, and depressive symptoms. The secondary outcome is the difference between prescribed and achieved training intensity, which will be continuously monitored in all groups using a linear velocity transducer, and analyzed over time. Adherence, adverse events, and deviations from the protocol will be recorded.

This trial will provide novel insights into the effects of different ST intensity prescription methods on physical and psychological outcomes in survivors of breast cancer. It will also determine whether traditional approaches achieve intended training intensities, thereby advancing knowledge on exercise prescription in oncology.