Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is associated with an increased risk of CVD, type 2 diabetes and death from all causes. Dietary factors correlate with MetS, making diet a potential target for intervention. We used data from the 2012–2016 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES, n 12 122) to identify a dietary pattern (DP) using thirty-nine predefined food groups as predictors. MetS components were used as the response variable with the food groups in reduced rank regression followed by stepwise linear regression analyses. We then verified the Korean status of the DP externally in the Cardiovascular Disease Association Study (CAVAS) (n 8277) and the Health EXAminees (HEXA) study (n 48 610). The DP score, which included twenty food groups, showed significant positive associations with all MetS components and a higher prevalence ratio in KNHANES participants (P < 0·0001). Although the score was NS in CAVAS (P = 0·0913), it showed a strong positive association with MetS prevalence in HEXA (P < 0·0001). We identified and tested a DP associated with MetS in Korean populations. This DP may be a useful tool for assessing MetS risk. Although the score was linked to higher MetS risk, particularly in the predominantly urban population of the HEXA study, further validation in more diverse populations is needed.

We present a comprehensive analysis of the rise of fictions across human narratives, using large-scale datasets that collectively span over 65,000 works across various media (movies, literary works), cultures (over 30 countries, Western and non-Western), and time periods (2000 BCE to 2020 CE). We measured fictiveness – defined as the degree of departure from reality – across three narrative dimensions: protagonists, events, and settings. We used automatic annotations from large language models (LLMs) to systematically score fictiveness and ensured the robustness and validity of our measure, specifically by demonstrating predictable variations in fictiveness across different genres, in all media. Statistical analyses of the changes in fictiveness over time revealed a steady increase, culminating in the 20th and 21st centuries, across all narrative forms. Remarkably, this trend is also evident in our data spanning ancient times: fictiveness increased gradually in narratives dating back as far as 2000 BCE, with notable peaks of fictiveness during affluent periods such as the heights of the Roman Empire, the Tang Dynasty, and the European Renaissance. We explore potential psychological explanations for the rise in fictiveness, including changing audience preferences driven by ecological and social changes.

Exposure to environmentally transmitted parasites should increase with population density due to accumulation of infective parasites in space. However, resource competition also increases with density, lowering immunity and increasing susceptibility, offering an alternative pathway for density-dependent infection. To test the relationships between these two processes and parasitism, we examined associations between host density, resource availability, immunity, and counts of 3 common helminth parasites using a long-term study of red deer. We found evidence that immunity increased with resource availability while parasite counts declined with immunity. We also found that greater density correlated with reduced resource availability, and while density was positively associated with both strongyle and tissue worm burdens, resource availability was independently and negatively associated with the same burdens. Our results support separate roles of density-dependent exposure and susceptibility in driving infection, providing evidence that resource competition is an important driver of infection, exacerbating effects of density-dependent increases in exposure.

The aim of the study was to evaluate calcium anacardate (CAn), associated or not with citric acid (CAc) in laying hen diets on performance, egg quality, serum biochemical profile, serum lipid peroxidation (TBARS) and catalase (CAT) in reproductive tissue. A total of 432 laying hens from 63 to 74 weeks of age, were distributed in nine diets: Control; 0.25% CAn; 0.25% of CAn associated with 0.25% CAc; 0.50% CAn; 0.50% CAn associated with 0.25% CAc; 0.50% CAn associated with 0.50% CAc; 0.75% of CAn; 0.75% CAn associated with 0.25% CAc; 0.75% CAn associated with 0.50% CAc. There was no effect of CAn or CAc on laying hen performance. Yolk colour showed greater pigmentation for 0.75% CAn and its associations with CAc (0.25% and 0.50%). Lower egg yolk oxidation was observed for an isolated dose of 0.75% CAn. Higher values of TBARs were observed in eggs from birds fed control diet; 0.25% CAn; 0.50% CAn associated with 25% CAc and 0.75% CAn associated with 0.25 and 0.50% CAc. Dietary inclusion of CAn (0.75%) and its association with CAc (0.50% CAn with 0.50 CAc) for late-phase laying hens reduce serum peroxidation. CAn from 0.50% associated with CAc increases catalase in magnum. The addition of 0.75% CAn increases yolk pigmentation, reduces lipid oxidation in the yolk and blood plasma and increases CAT activity in the magnum in late-stage laying hens. These benefits can also be obtained with the combination of 0.50% CAn and 0.50% CAc.

Common peccaries (Tayassu pecari), wild boars (Sus scrofa) and collared peccaries (Dicotyles tajacu) are species that have gained attention in Brazil because of their close relationship with human beings, their influence on the environment and the parasitic fauna they host, which is common in free-ranging animals. In this study, we obtained the carcasses S. scrofa (n = 4), T. pecari (n = 12) and D. tajacu (n = 1) that were killed by hunting (only wild boars), or by being run over or burned. The animals were necropsied and searched for parasites. The parasites found in the gastrointestinal tract were fixed in ethanol for morphological identification. The parasites identified were Ascaris suum, Monodontus rarus, Monodontus semicircularis, Strongyloides spp., Lagochilascaris minor, Eucyathostomum dentatum, Oligacanthorhynchus major and Ascarops strongylina. In addition to observing the occurrence of different species of parasites in tayassuids and suids, we also aimed to raise awareness among the population about the dangers of consuming these animals, as well as the importance of ecological relationships for the propagation of parasitic fauna. Our results indicate that parasites are host switching, possibly related to the adaptation of L. minor and M. rarus.

Snakes serve as important hosts for parasites at the interface of wildlife, humans and domestic animals. However, their helminth fauna in tropical regions, particularly Thailand, remains poorly documented. This study investigates the helminth fauna, community structure, infection patterns and their co-occurrence dynamics in the monocled cobra (Naja kaouthia) from urbanized areas of central Thailand, based on comprehensive analyses of 34 wild-caught individuals. Using integrated morphological and molecular approaches (e.g. mitochondrial 16S rRNA and COI gene sequencing), 11 helminth species were identified – 9 nematodes (Kalicephalus bungari, Kalicephalus sp. I and II, Paracapillaria najae, Paracapillaria siamensis, Serpentirhabdias orientalis, Strongyloides sp., a filarioid nematode and an unknown encysted nematode), 1 cestode (Duthiersia expansa) and 1 acanthocephalan (Sphaerechinorhynchus sp.) – including 2 newly described species: P. siamensis (infected in gastrointestinal tract) and S. orientalis (in respiratory tract). Serpentirhabdias orientalis and K. bungari were the most prevalent species (75.8%), while encysted nematodes exhibited the highest infection intensities (up to 500 parasites per host). Host–parasite network analysis revealed strong organ tropism in some helminth species (e.g. Paracapillaria spp.) and non-random co-occurrence patterns. Parasite abundance was positively correlated with host body condition, and females harboured greater species richness than males (11 vs. 8 taxa). The absence of trematodes is consistent with the host’s terrestrial ecology, while the low prevalence of filarioids (3.0%) suggests limited transmission. These findings underscore the value of integrative taxonomy in revealing hidden parasite diversity and highlight ecological drivers of infection patterns in snakes, with implications for wildlife health and zoonotic risk in human-modified landscapes.

Nutrition intervention is an effective way to improve flesh qualities of fish. The effect of feed supplementation with glutamate (Glu) on flesh quality of gibel carp (Carassius gibelio) was investigated. In trial 1, the fish (initial weight: 37.49 ± 0.08 g) were fed two practical diets with 0 and 2% Glu supplementation. In trial 2, the fish (37.26 ± 0.04 g) were fed two purified diets with 0 and 3% Glu supplementation. The results after feeding trials showed that dietary Glu supplementation increased the hardness and springiness of muscle, whether using practical or purified diets. Glu-supplemented diets increased the thickness and density of myofibres and collagen content between myofibres. Furthermore, Glu promoted muscle protein deposition by regulating the IGF-1-AKT-mTOR signalling pathway, and enhanced the myofibre hypertrophy by upregulating genes related to myofibre growth and development (mef2a, mef2d, myod, myf5, mlc, tpi and pax7α). The protein deposition and myofibre hypertrophy in turn improved the flesh texture. In addition, IMP content in flesh increased when supplementing Glu whether to practical or to purified diet. Metabolomics confirmed that Glu promoted the deposition of muscle-flavoured substances and purine metabolic pathway most functioned, echoed by the upregulation of key genes (ampd, ppat and adsl) in purine metabolism. The sensory test also clarified that dietary Glu improved the flesh quality by enhancing the muscle texture and flavour. Conclusively, dietary Glu supplementation can improve the flesh quality in this fish, which can further support evidence from other studies more generally that improve flesh quality of cultured fish.

Heartwater is a tick-borne disease (TBD) of wild and livestock ruminants that threatens food security and the economy throughout much of Africa. Furthermore, the geographic range of heartwater is expanding and is predicted to continue doing so. Despite this, our understanding of heartwater dynamics lags far behind that of many other TBDs. We are therefore limited in our ability to design effective disease control strategies. In this study, we derive and analyse a mathematical model of heartwater dynamics. We analyse our model to predict the most influential parameters for disease risk, both in terms of new outbreaks and in heartwater-endemic regions. We show that the host-finding efficiency of ticks is the most influential parameter affecting outbreak risk. Also, outbreak risk is highly sensitive to the impact of the heartwater pathogen on tick fitness – a previously unexplored concept for any TBD system. In areas where heartwater is established, we show that disease can be controlled via enzootic stability (prolonged host immunity attained via frequent pathogen exposure). However, the maintenance of enzootic stability was dependent on several ecological and physiological parameters. Regarding practical output, we suggest prioritizing tick control measures during periods when ticks are most active in terms of dispersing towards hosts, so as to mitigate heightened outbreak risk. In addition, given the specificity of conditions required for enzootic stability, we caution against relying solely on enzootic stability for long-term heartwater protection. More broadly, our study highlights important tick life history parameters that have been neglected by previous TBD models.