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Glutamate administration is associated with aggravated atherosclerosis and altered expression of RAPGEF1, OPN, and MYL7 in High-Fat Diet-Fed ApoE⁻/⁻ Mice

Objective This study aims to examine whether oral glutamate administration is associated with accelerated atherosclerosis progression in high-fat diet-fed ApoE ⁻ / ⁻ mice and to identify candidate protein associated with this process. Methods Atherosclerosis (AS) was induced in ApoE ⁻ / ⁻ mice by feeding a high-fat diet (HFD) for three months. The mice were randomly divided into four groups: (1) the AS-GLU group, receiving glutamate with HFD; (2) the AS group, receiving HFD with placebo; (3) the Glu group, receiving glutamate with normal chow; and (4) the Control group, receiving normal chow with a placebo. Atherosclerotic lesions were assessed using Lillie's oil red O staining and histological analysis. LC-MS/MS based proteomics profiling was employed to identify differentially expressed proteins, with subsequent validation by Western blotting and qPCR. Results Glutamate administration alone (Glu group) induced minimal plaque formation. The combination of HFD and glutamate (AS-GLU) was associated with a greater atherosclerotic plaque area compared to HFD alone (AS group). Proteomics identified RAPGEF1, OPN, and MYL7 as proteins whose expression was increased in the AS-GLU group compared to AS group. These associations were confirmed by Western blot and qPCR. Conclusions This study shows that oral glutamate administration, in the context of a high-fat diet in ApoE ⁻ / ⁻ mice, is associated with exacerbated atherosclerosis and increased expression of RAPGEF1, OPN, and MYL7. These proteins represent candidate molecules associated with glutamate exposure, but their causal role remains to be determined. Serum glutamate levels were not significantly elevated, and lipid profile changes may also contribute to the observed associations.

The social-class gap in negotiation: Lower-class individuals negotiate less and face more backlash

Economic inequality has widened considerably in the United States and globally, raising pressing questions about the mechanisms that reproduce social stratification. One prominent manifestation of this inequality is the “class ceiling” in organizations: individuals from lower social classes earn less and advance more slowly than their higher-class counterparts, even with comparable credentials. We identify a crucial behavioral pathway contributing to this class ceiling: a social-class gap in the propensity to negotiate. We propose that lower-class individuals are less likely to initiate negotiations than their higher-class counterparts, a pattern that can compound economic disadvantage over time. Across four studies (total N = 10,211)—including a nationally representative sample of employees (Study 1), a sample of business school students (Study 2), a field study of an online labor market (Study 3), and a survey study of workplace negotiations and career outcomes (Study 4)—we find consistent evidence for this gap. This gap is partially explained by lower-class individuals’ reduced sense of power and heightened concerns about social backlash. Additionally, Study 5 ( N = 1,133) finds that such concerns may be justified: an experiment with human resources (HR) professionals shows that identical negotiation requests elicit stronger social backlash when initiated by lower-class (vs. higher-class) individuals. Together, these findings reveal a pernicious double bind for lower-class individuals: remaining silent perpetuates economic disadvantage, yet initiating negotiation exposes them to greater social penalties. Addressing this double bind is critical for ensuring that negotiation serves as a vehicle for upward mobility rather than a gatekeeper of privilege.

Contemporary patients with atrial fibrillation are not anticoagulated despite risks of stroke - Insights from GARDENIA

Background GARDENIA is a global, multicentre, prospective, non-interventional study in high-risk atrial fibrillation (AF) patients, who were untreated with anticoagulants. Objectives Provide contemporary evidence on reasons for non-treatment with an anticoagulant, and outcomes in high-risk AF patients. Methods GARDENIA enrolled 704 AF patients with a CHA 2 DS 2 -VA score ≥2 and an elevated risk of bleeding (older age (≥70 years), reduced renal function, concomitant antiplatelet or NSAID use, or other conditions associated with increased bleeding risk), and had not been recently treated with an oral anticoagulant (OAC). Patients were followed for at least 4 months. The two-year risks of mortality, stroke and major bleeding with or without direct OACs (DOACs) in these patients was estimated using the GARFIELD risk score. Results History of major bleeding (18.7%), physician-assessed high-risk of bleeding (17.1%), and patient refusal (17.6%) were the top reasons for not initiating OACs. The 100-person-year event rates (95% CI) for mortality, stroke/systemic embolism (SE)/transient ischemic attack (TIA), and ISTH major bleeding were 13.22 (10.33, 16.92), 2.12 (1.14, 3.94), and 2.21 (1.13, 3.91), respectively. GARFIELD risk analysis indicated a 31% and 40% increase in the risk of mortality and stroke, respectively, and a ~ 30% decrease in risk of major bleeding, compared to the estimated risk, had the patients been anticoagulated. The study was prematurely terminated due to low rate of patient accrual. Conclusions Perceived risk of bleeding was the leading cause for non-treatment with OACs in high-risk AF patients. Risk prediction modelling indicated that the benefits of anticoagulation in stroke and mortality reduction outweigh the risk of bleeding.

Structural and mechanistic basis for membrane recognition and activation of the vacuolar lipase Atg15

Atg15 is a vacuolar phospholipase B essential for the degradation of intravacuolar vesicles such as autophagic bodies. Despite its central role in cellular membrane turnover, the molecular basis of how Atg15 is activated and acts on internal membranes has remained elusive. Here, by combining all-atom and coarse-grained molecular dynamics (MD) simulations with in vitro and in vivo analyses, we elucidate the structural and mechanistic principles underlying Atg15 activation and substrate recognition. Our simulations revealed that disulfide bonds are critical for maintaining the structural integrity of the catalytic core, while the C-terminal region locks the catalytic center in a closed state that prevents activation. Membrane binding induces a transition to an open state, enabling catalysis. Through MD-guided mutational analysis, we identified three regions crucial for catalytic locking, membrane binding, and substrate recognition, and experimentally confirmed that mutations in these regions inhibit activity. Furthermore, Atg15 preferentially associates with positively curved membranes, providing a potential basis for its preferential action on internal vesicular membranes. These findings suggest that Atg15’s activity is controlled through multiple regulatory layers to ensure safe and preferential membrane degradation.

The mediating role of organizational justice in the relationship between value-centered school culture and organizational citizenship: A case of North Cyprus

This quantitative research aimed to determine the mediating role of organizational justice in the relationship between teachers’ perceptions of value-centered school culture and their views on organizational citizenship. A relational screening model was utilized as the research framework. A survey was administered to 301 randomly selected teachers from general secondary education in the two largest cities of North Cyprus, Nicosia and Kyrenia. The survey consisted of four parts: A personal information form,Value-Centered School Culture Scale, Organizational Justice Scale, and Organizational Citizenship Scale. As the data showed a normal distribution, parametric tests were performed to analyze the data. In addition, the mediating role of the Organizational Justice Scale in the relationship between the participating teachers’ Values-Centered School Culture Scale scores and the Organizational Citizenship Scale scores was examined using observed-variable path analysis. The findings of this research indicated that teachers’ perceptions of values-centered school culture,organizational citizenship, and organizational justice were above average. Significant positive correlations were identified between organizational justice and organizational citizenship, as well as between organizational citizenship and a values-centered school culture. Observed-variable path analysis revealed that a values-centered school culture significantly and positively predicted organizational justice, which in turn significantly and positively predicted organizational citizenship. In addition, values-centered school culture is associated with organizational citizenship. This study offers empirical evidence that a values-centered school culture is a crucial organizational factor associated with teachers’ perceptions of organizational justice and organizational citizenship. The findings reveal that values-centered school culture has both direct and indirect effects on organizational citizenship, mediated by organizational justice. This underscores the significant role of school culture in relation to teachers’ perceptions and behaviors regarding their organization. These results expand existing knowledge by illustrating the interconnectedness of organizational culture, justice, and citizenship within educational settings. Additionally, organizational-level characteristics should be taken into account when examining teachers’ work-related attitudes and behaviors.

HUWE1 targets mitochondria via RMC1 to promote neurodevelopment

The HECT-type E3 ubiquitin ligase HUWE1 is a critical regulator of protein homeostasis, genome stability, and neurodevelopment. Variants in HUWE1 are linked to X-linked intellectual disability (XLID), yet a significant number of HUWE1 variants are noncatalytic, leaving their disease mechanisms unresolved. Here, we identify an AMBRA1–RMC1–HUWE1 signaling axis that directs HUWE1-mediated ubiquitination to mitochondria to regulate neural development. In zebrafish, noncatalytic HUWE1 variants found in XLID patients (M375I, G660R, and H669Q) recapitulate key neurodevelopmental deficits, including impaired brain growth and motor neuron defects. Global ubiquitin profiling reveals that these variants selectively disrupt the ubiquitination of mitochondrial proteins without affecting nuclear substrates. Mechanistically, AMBRA1 acts as a mitochondrial scaffold that recruits RMC1, enabling HUWE1 localization to mitochondria through direct interaction with RMC1. Disruption of this recruitment by disease-associated HUWE1 variants prevents mitochondrial targeting and impairs mitochondrial substrate ubiquitination. Notably, Urolithin A treatment ameliorates neurodevelopmental phenotypes in HUWE1-deficient zebrafish. Together, our findings define an AMBRA1-organized mitochondrial recruitment pathway in which RMC1 links HUWE1 to mitochondria, explain noncatalytic HUWE1-associated XLID, and suggest mitochondrial quality-control enhancement as a potential therapeutic strategy.

Spillover effects on infant caregiving and domestic work during the poriborton clean cookstove trial

Quality care during early childhood is essential for life-long health, well-being, and productivity. Recognizing the global importance of advancing early childhood development strategies, this study conducted in-depth, face-to-face interviews with women, their husbands, and mothers-in-law to explore perceived shifts in childcare roles among participants of Poriborton Trial, a randomized controlled trial of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) cookstoves. These interviews aimed to capture diverse perspectives on evolving caregiving dynamics and explored mothers’ perspectives. Qualitative data were systematically analyzed using thematic analysis following an iterative process of coding and theme development. We found that LPG stoves facilitated notable changes in caregiving. Firstly, LPG adoption reduced cooking time and decreased workload, which increased women’s time availability for childcare. Secondly, mothers reported a greater capacity to balance household tasks and childcare, fostering more frequent interaction with their children. Thirdly, the study identified enhanced childcare practices, with LPG use enabling women to be more responsive to their children's needs particularly during illness and to maintain closer physical proximity. The adoption of LPG stoves has multiple positive impacts on the childcare roles of breastfeeding women, empowering them to engage more fully in their children’s upbringing. Building on these qualitative insights into how LPG use may enhance childcare, future quantitative research is recommended to rigorously assess outcomes such as reductions in maternal stress, increased time availability for mothers, and changes in mother-child attachment attributable to LPG stove adoption.

High-coverage ancient genomes reveal divergent population histories and prehistoric starch-related genetic variation in Japan

Prehistoric population movements played a central role in shaping the genetic diversity across Eurasia. As the eastern terminus of the Eurasian continent, the Japanese archipelago provides a pivotal context for reconstructing the genetic interplay between prehistoric indigenous lineages and continental migrations. However, high-resolution genomic evidence from mainland Japan is limited due to poor DNA preservation. In the present study, we report two low-contamination, high-coverage ancient genomes from mainland Japan, namely an Initial Jomon individual (>67-fold) and a Middle Yayoi individual (>46-fold). The genomes enabled diploid genotyping and individual-level demographic inferences at unparalleled resolutions. Demographic reconstructions revealed that while both lineages underwent population contractions during the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM), their subsequent trajectories diverged; the Jomon lineage was characterized by long-term postglacial stability with no discernible expansion, whereas the Yayoi-related ancestral population exhibited gradual and sustained growth. Our analysis further identified a distinct genetic continuity between the Middle Yayoi and present-day mainland Japanese, refining the evolutionary trajectory of modern genetic profiles. Furthermore, the genomic profile of the Yayoi individual reflected a complex ancestral background shaped by continental interactions before their arrival on the archipelago. Notably, the higher salivary amylase ( AMY1 ) copy number observed in the Initial Jomon individual suggests that AMY1 copy number variation, potentially relevant to starch-rich diets, was already present before the large-scale expansion of rice farming in the Japanese Archipelago. Collectively, the findings demonstrate that high-coverage ancient genomic approaches can provide a powerful framework for deciphering the contrasting population histories and evolutionary trajectories of human lifestyles.

Beyond physical fitness: Pre-to-post hematological and physical fitness changes during an eight-week multi-component exercise program in sedentary adults aged 30–45 years

This exploratory study aimed to examine pre-to-post changes in physical fitness and selected hematological parameters during an 8-week multi-component exercise program in sedentary adults. The study used a single-group pre-test/post-test quasi-experimental design to describe temporal changes within the same participants. Thirty-six sedentary volunteers (15 females and 21 males) aged 30–45 years completed a multi-component program including cardiorespiratory endurance, strength, balance, and flexibility exercises for 45–50 minutes per session, 3 days per week, for 8 weeks. Paired-samples t-tests were used to compare pre-test and post-test measurements. Body weight and body mass index decreased, whereas estimated VO 2 max, vertical jump, flexibility, speed, agility, and balance performance showed statistically significant pre-to-post changes (all p < 0.001). Significant increases were also observed in hemoglobin, hematocrit, erythrocyte, leukocyte, and platelet values (all p < 0.001), whereas MCV and MCH did not change significantly (p > 0.05). Participation in the program coincided with favorable changes in body composition and physical performance and with measurable changes in selected hematological parameters. However, the absence of a control group and the lack of direct assessment of plasma volume, hydration status, erythropoietin, iron status, and hemoglobin mass preclude causal and mechanistic conclusions. The hematological findings may partly reflect hemoconcentration, plasma-volume shifts, or other physiological variation and should therefore be interpreted cautiously.

Measurement accuracy in mechanobiology: A unifying statistical framework for testing cellular forces

Mechanobiology is gaining traction as it reveals the fundamental role of physical forces and mechanical stress in biological function. Because physiologically relevant experiments are often inaccessible to direct physical probes, forces and stress at the microscale are increasingly estimated via multistep, image-based inverse problems such as Traction Force Microscopy. However, these measurements typically lack essential statistical descriptors such as error bars, CI, or P -values, limiting their reliability in experimental science. We present a single-step reconstruction framework that unifies a broad class of image-based inverse methods in mechanobiology under a general formulation that enables uncertainty quantification. This includes the visualization of high-dimensional credible regions, as well as an original formalization of abstract experimental questions into hypothesis tests. Overall, our work systematizes the development of new measurement techniques and contributes rigor and interpretability to image-based quantification in biophysical systems.

Design of a novel epitope-based tetravalent subunit vaccine against dengue virus: An immunoinformatic approach

Dengue imposes a profound global impact, with millions affected annually. Its transmission by Aedes mosquitoes poses significant challenges to combat, aggravated by urbanization and climate change. Despite efforts, no impeccable antiviral treatment exists to date, highlighting the urgency for a vaccine. Developing one encounters hurdles like the four distinctive serotypes of the virus and complex immune responses. In this study, we employed an immunoinformatics approach to design an epitope-based tetravalent subunit vaccine aimed at confronting all DENV serotypes. The study contemplates epitope prediction and screening, physicochemical assessment, molecular docking, molecular dynamics (MD) simulations, immune simulations, and in silico cloning. The vaccine construct comprises human β-defensin 3 adjuvant and 23 epitopes joined with linkers. Notably, the vaccine has an antigenicity of 0.9319 with 97.35% population coverage worldwide. Molecular docking with toll-like receptor 2 (TLR2) and TLR4 showed promising interactions with lowest energies of −1240.5 kJ/mol (76 members) and −1393.3 kJ/mol (40 members), respectively, exhibiting significant electrostatic, van dar Waals, and other interactions. Molecular dynamics (MD) simulations of 200 nanoseconds revealed the vaccine to be stable and flexible with the receptors. The solvent accessibility and radius of gyration were also in suitable ranges. The three-dose vaccine regimen elicited a robust and durable multi-lineage immune response, characterized by stable B and T-cell memory, sustained surveillance, and high-titer antibody production (IgM/IgG) alongside a pro-inflammatory cytokine profile (IFN-γ and IL-2) for effective antigen clearance. These findings suggest that our vaccine outperforms any other Dengue vaccine developed to date. However, since this study was conducted through in silico methods, in vitro and in vivo validations are required to confirm the vaccine as a potential candidate for clinical trials.

Stabilization of recurrent neural networks through divisive normalization

Stability is a fundamental requirement for both biological and engineered neural circuits, yet it is surprisingly difficult to guarantee in the presence of recurrent interactions. Standard linear dynamical models of recurrent networks are sensitive to the precise values of the synaptic weights, since stability requires all eigenvalues of the recurrent matrix to lie within the unit circle. Here we demonstrate, both theoretically and numerically, that an arbitrary recurrent neural network can remain stable even when its spectral radius exceeds 1, provided it incorporates divisive normalization, a dynamical neural operation that suppresses the responses of individual neurons. Sufficiently strong recurrent weights lead to instability, but the approach to the unstable phase is preceded by a regime of critical slowing down, a well-known early warning signal for loss of stability. Remarkably, the onset of critical slowing down coincides with the breakdown of normalization, which we predict analytically as a function of the synaptic strength and the magnitude of the external input. Our findings suggest that the widespread implementation of normalization across neural systems may be linked to its essential role in ensuring dynamical stability in the presence of the strong recurrent interactions required for complex cortical computations.

‘Pilot RCT of a new treatment for child conduct problems that have not responded to evidence-based parent training’

Background Children with conduct problems are at high risk of persisting mental health problems, making them a priority for early intervention. Group-based parent-training is effective but with a substantial failure rate. Based on evidence on the value of involving children, we developed Reflective Interpersonal Therapy for Children and Parents, (RICAP). We report feasibility and outcomes from the first pilot trial of an intervention for children with conduct problems persisting after parent training. In contrast to most studies, we used both parent and teacher report. Methods The sample comprised 105 children and their parents aged 4–10 years inclusive referred to UK Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) with conduct problems. All were offered the Incredible Years (IY) parent training intervention, and parents provided pre- and post-treatment measures (including CBCL, SDQ). Children still above clinical threshold after IY were randomized either to RICAP or to usual CAMHS treatment (CTAU) with follow up 8 months later. Only those randomized to CTAU could receive school-based interventions. Trial Registration Number: ISRCTN25252940. Results Feasibility was supported by high retention through the initial IY (102/105) and subsequent RCT phases of the study (58/70 eligible for randomization). The majority of those randomized to RICAP attended for 11/14 or more sessions, reflecting its high acceptability to both children and parents. By parent report RICAP was superior to CTAU on CBCL externalising (d = 0.32) and internalising (d = 0.42) problems, while by teacher report CTAU was superior on SDQ total problems (d = 0.32) and reactive aggression (d = 0.27). Conclusions We provide first evidence of the feasibility of a design in which non-responders to parent training are randomized to novel intervention or control conditions. Outcomes were different for parent and teacher reports, highlighting for future randomized controlled trials the need to attend to possible reporter and treatment context variations.

Equilibrium and stability of coupled nonlinear energy-storing components

Coupled systems of nonlinear components occur across physics and engineering and can display rich behaviors such as multistability, snap-through, and memory. These phenomena play a key role in physical intelligence, where functional behavior emerges from structure rather than algorithmic control. Yet, predicting the equilibrium states and stability of these systems is challenging due to intricate energy landscapes and the presence of multiple, often disconnected, equilibria. Here, we introduce a general static framework based on a parametric space in which each point represents an element-level equilibrium. In this space, system-level equilibria appear as a one-dimensional manifold, enabling their visualization without the ambiguities that appear in conventional displacement maps. By combining this formulation with a continuation strategy and a local stability assessment, the method traces both stable and unstable equilibria, including isolated isolas inaccessible by standard loading paths. We validate the method experimentally in the mechanical domain using coupled nonlinear-spring and inflatable systems, achieving quantitative agreement between predictions and measurements. This unifying approach offers a powerful tool for the design and analysis of nonlinear coupled systems, enabling systematic exploration of their equilibrium landscapes across disciplines.

Stability of grain and fodder yields in extra-early cowpea genotypes in Southeastern Niger

Cowpea [ Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp.] is a vital food and fodder crop in Niger, but its productivity is constrained by drought, poor soils, striga and pest pressures. Developing extra-early dual-purpose varieties is essential for strengthening food and feed security in these fragile production zones. This study evaluated the effects of genotype, environment, and their interaction on the stability of grain and fodder yields in 21 cowpea genotypes tested across six environments using an alpha-lattice design with three replications. Stability was assessed through Shukla’s stability variance, the cultivar superiority index, Wricke’s ecovalence, GGE biplot, and the multi-trait genotype–ideotype distance index (MGIDI). Results revealed significant differences among genotypes, environments, and genotype × environment interactions for all traits; environmental effects had the highest mean squares for all traits (p < 0.001). Broad-sense heritability ranged from 0.77 (fodder yield) to 0.88 (days to 50% flowering), and genetic advance as percentage of mean was high for yield traits (GAM = 78.67% for pod yield, 81.80% for grain yield, 99.59% for fodder yield), indicating strong selection potential. Mean grain yield across all genotypes and environments was 1,394.32 kg ha ⁻ ¹, and the coefficient of variation ranged from 26.59% (GY) to 40.63% (FY). Notably, ten extra-early lines—BM22, BP02, BP15, MM142, 65B5080, BP18, BM21, BM13, MM141, and BM12—were identified as combining early maturity with high and stable grain and fodder yields. These lines should be further evaluated across diverse agroecological zones to confirm their adaptability and alignment with farmer preferences, prior to deployment as released varieties or as parents in cowpea improvement programs targeting climate-resilient, dual-purpose productivity in the Sahel.

The multilayered cuticle underlying structural coloration in red algae shares features with the metazoan extracellular matrix

Structural coloration, a physical phenomenon observed in many living organisms, may arise from the interference of light with highly organized surface nanostructures. In some seaweeds, these nanostructures consist of cuticular lamellae in the outer part of the extracellular matrix (ECM) of the epidermis. However, the chemical composition of seaweed cuticles is poorly understood and the molecular components of lamellae remain unidentified. Here, we use integrated genomic, transcriptomic, proteomic, and metabolomic approaches together with analytical profiling of carbohydrates to determine the composition of the multilayered cuticle in the red alga Chondrus crispus and assess its evolutionary conservation. The structural assembly reveals common features with the ECM of animals. The carbohydrate fraction includes a complex mixture of carrageenans and glycosaminoglycan-like compositions. A major von Willebrand factor A domain protein, Lamellae Cohesive Protein, plays a critical role in protein–protein interactions and binding to sulfated polysaccharides. We have further identified the major proteins of the algal cuticle, providing a framework for addressing the evolutionary origins of the cuticle and raising important questions regarding its role, particularly across the red algal life cycle marked by major structural differences in its ECM.

Correction: The relationship between N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic and coronary artery lesions in Kawasaki disease: A meta-analysis

TBC1D9 and TBC1D9B are ARL8 effectors that modulate exosome secretion through a RAB11A–exocyst pathway

Multivesicular endosomes (MVEs) are endolysosomal compartments containing intraluminal vesicles (ILVs) that follow two alternative pathways: fusion with lysosomes, leading to ILV degradation, or fusion with the plasma membrane, resulting in ILV secretion as exosomes. The mechanisms governing this fate decision have only recently begun to be elucidated. Previous work showed that the Biogenesis of lysosome related organelles complex-one-related complex (BORC) and the small guanosine triphosphatase (GTPase) ARL8 promote MVE–lysosome fusion through the ARL8 effector homotypic fusion and protein sorting complex (HOPS), thereby diverting MVEs from exosome secretion. Here, we identify TBC1D9 and TBC1D9B as ARL8 effectors that further suppress exosome release. Acting as GTPase-activating proteins, these proteins drive RAB11A inactivation and dissociation from endolysosomes. This reduces recruitment of the RAB11A effector exocyst complex, preventing MVE fusion with the plasma membrane. These findings thus define a BORC–ARL8–TBC1D9/TBC1D9B axis that further attenuates exosome secretion by blocking MVE–plasma membrane fusion.

Correction: Burnout among anesthesia personnel in Thailand: A national survey of workload, personality traits, and resilience

Analysis of physical and physiological training demands in women’s basketball

Purpose The primary aim of the present study was to analyze the physical and physiological demands associated with different training tasks in women’s basketball. Methods Fourteen basketball players were continuously monitored for 22 weeks using WIMU PRO ® ™ local positioning system and GARMIN ® heart rate monitors. The variables examined included: distance (DIST in m), number of accelerations (>2 m·s -2 , HACC) and decelerations (<−2 m·s -2 , HDEC); high speed running (>18 km·h -1 , HSR in m), number of jumps (JUMPS), player load (PL in arbitrary units) and heart rate zones (>80% of maximum heart rate, HRZ in seconds). Training tasks were classified into three orientations: directed-oriented (DIR, drills without opposition), special-oriented (SPE, small-sided games), and competitive-oriented (COM, 4-on-4 and 5-on-5 formats); and further grouped by three levels of court space. The Shapiro–Wilk test was used to verify data normality. Linear mixed-effects models were used to analyze all variables. Skewed variables were log-transformed to meet model assumptions. Significance was set at p < 0.05. Results The SPE tasks showed higher values than COM tasks (p < 0.001) in all variables except for HRZ. Also, SPE tasks reported greater values than DIR in the following variables: HRZ and HSR (both p < 0.001) and PL (p = 0.008). Finally, DIR tasks showed higher values than COM tasks in DIST, HACC, HDEC and JUMPS (all p < 0.001), whereas COM tasks exhibited higher values than DIR tasks in HRZ (p < 0.001). Considering the court space in which the tasks were performed, differences were found in all the variables analyzed, with larger spaces generally resulting in greater demands in most variables. Conclusions The results describe that task orientation and court space influence the load demands in women’s basketball. DIR and SPE tasks elicited greater intensities than COM tasks, suggesting that training design should be strategically adapted according to the desired physical and physiological stimuli.