This population-based cross-sectional study investigated the complex interplay of factors influencing high ultra-processed food (UPF) consumption among Brazilian adolescents using a hierarchical socio-ecological model. Data from 100 028 adolescents (13–17 years) enrolled in public and private schools nationwide were collected via self-administered questionnaires from the 2019 National School Health Survey. High UPF consumption was defined as ≥ 7 subgroups consumed on the previous day based on the NOVA classification. Poisson regression adjusted for complex sampling and hierarchical structure identified prevalence ratios (PR) for associated factors. High UPF consumption was significantly associated with younger age (PR = 1·22; 95 % CI 1·11, 1·34), regular breakfast consumption (PR = 1·32; 95 % CI 1·23, 1·42), regular screen time during meals (PR = 1·36; 95 % CI 1·27, 1·45), frequent UPF purchases at and around school (PR for canteen: 1·57; 95 % CI 1·43, 1·72; street vendors: 1·71; 95 % CI 1·55, 1·89), higher maternal education (PR 1·23, 95 % CI 1·12, 1·36) and lower parental supervision (PR 1·34, 95 % CI 1·11, 1·62). Living in the South (PR 1·50, 95 % CI 1·34, 1·69), Southeast (PR 1·30, 95 % CI 1·17, 1·44) and Midwest regions (PR 1·21, 95 % CI 1·09, 1·34) also correlated with higher consumption. Conversely, high body satisfaction and attending private school showed an inverse association. These findings underscore the intricate, multilevel influences on UPF consumption among Brazilian adolescents. Integrated interventions, spanning schools, family environments and public policies are crucial for promoting healthier eating habits and preventing obesity in this vulnerable population.

Evidence regarding the association between dietary choline intake and mortality in individuals with diabetes remains limited. This study aimed to evaluate the relationship between dietary choline intake and all-cause, CVD and cancer-related mortality among adults with diabetes. A total of 4712 participants with diabetes were included from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2007–2018 cycles. Dietary choline intake was estimated using two 24-h dietary recalls, and mortality outcomes were ascertained via linkage to National Death Index records through 31 December 2019. Cox proportional hazards models and Kaplan-Meier analyses were employed to assess the associations between choline intake and mortality. Restricted cubic spline models were used to examine potential non-linear relationships, and threshold analyses were conducted to identify inflection points. Over a median follow-up of 6·42 years, 805 deaths were documented, including 267 from CVD and 126 from cancer. A U-shaped association was observed between dietary choline intake and all-cause mortality (Pfor non-linearity < 0·0001). Compared with the lowest quartile, multivariable-adjusted hazard ratios for all-cause mortality were 0·64 (95 % CI 0·47, 0·88) for the second quartile, 0·59 (0·43, 0·82) for the third and 0·69 (0·43, 1·09) for the highest quartile. No significant associations were found between choline intake and either CVD or cancer mortality. These findings indicate a U-shaped relationship between dietary choline intake and all-cause mortality in individuals with diabetes, with intakes between 286·77 and 538·86 mg/d associated with the lowest risk – providing potential implications for dietary guidance in diabetes management.

Invasive plants negatively impact natural areas and incur huge costs associated with control and management. A new approach to significantly reduce these effects is to identify species in the earliest stages of spread, using data collected by public gardens across North America. Known as Public Gardens as Sentinels against Invasive Plants (PGSIP), this network includes multiple gardens, each contributing reports of these problematic species to a shared database, using standardized guidelines. We examined this dataset to identify newly spreading species being noticed within gardens within different regions and determined whether they have been reported as state-listed/regulated/noxious outside of gardens. As of November 2024, 53 PGSIP gardens in 28 US states and Canadian provinces had submitted 996 reports, consisting of 597 unique species. The most commonly listed species were Amur corktree [Phellodendron amurense Rupr.], burning bush [Euonymus alatus (Thunb.) Siebold], and wintercreeper [E. fortunei (Turcz.) Hand.-Maz.]. Other less frequently listed species included golden rain tree [Koelreuteria paniculata Laxm.], Norway maple [Acer platanoides L.], and castor aralia [Kalopanax septemlobus (Tunb. Ex A. Murray bis)Koidz.]. Of the 597 species, 36% were not listed by any state or province; gardens also had several species on watchlists, including Japanese tree lilac [Syringa reticulata (Blume) H. Hara] and Siberian squill [Scilla siberica Andrews. Our results demonstrate the utility of the approach and value of the database. This information can now inform the efforts of land managers, invasion biologists, the horticultural industry, and agencies tasked with invasive plant monitoring and assessment.

While the effects of multidisciplinary weight loss (WL) on resting energy expenditure remain unclear in adolescents with obesity, the potential presence of adaptive thermogenesis (AT) has never been explored, which was the objective of the present work. Twenty-six adolescents (14·1 (sd 1·5) years) with severe obesity completed a 9-month inpatient multidisciplinary intervention followed by a 4-month follow-up. Anthropometric measurements, body composition (dual X-ray absorptiometry) and resting energy expenditure (REE, indirect calorimetry) were assessed before (T0) and after 9 months of WL intervention (T1) and after a 4-month follow-up (T2). AT, at the level of REE, was defined as a significantly lower measured v. predicted (using regression models with baseline data) REE. Two pre-cited REE equations were used, using both fat mass and fat-free mass (FFM) (predicted REE using equation 1) or FFM only (predicted REE using equation 2). Measured and predicted REE significantly decreased between T0 and T1 (P < 0·001) and remained lower at T2 compared with T0 (measured REE: P = 0·017; predicted REE: P < 0·001). Predicted REE using equation 2 was significantly higher than measured REE at T1 (P = 0·012), suggesting the presence of AT. FFM at T0 was negatively correlated with ATp1T1 (Rho = –0·428; P = 0·033) and ATp2T1 (Rho = –0·485; P = 0·014). The variation of FFM between T0 and T1 was negatively correlated with AT at T1 and T2. These preliminary results suggest the existence of AT in response to WL in adolescents with obesity, independently of the degree of WL. AT was associated with subsequent body weight and fat regain, suggesting AT may represent a damper to WL attempts while increasing the adolescents’ risks for subsequent weight and adiposity rebounds.

Salmonella enterica serovar Dublin is host-specific to cattle, causing severe symptoms and economically impacting milk herds. Despite an eradication programme in Denmark, levels of infection have not decreased and suspicion has fallen on the common starling Sturnus vulgaris as a potential vector between herds. The number of breeding starlings in Denmark declined by 60% between 1976 and 2015, a trend correlated with decreases in the number of cattle grazing outside. Ironically, more starlings are now coming into Danish cattle sheds to feed on maize silage outside the breeding season, so it is increasingly important to understand the role of starlings in dispersing Salmonella between cattle herds. We caught and tested 394 different starlings at seven separate dairy farms infected with Salmonella Dublin by swabbing breast feathers, legs, feet and undertail coverts as well as taking faecal samples at these and four other infected farms. We found no trace of the pathogen, indicating that starlings are highly unlikely to be significant in spreading Salmonella Dublin between Danish cattle herds. We recommend investigating alternative contacts that may occur between herds as the cause of disease spread.

Management of broadleaf weeds in chile pepper may be improved by including a rotation with sorghum treated with selective, non-residual herbicides. However, herbicide programs within sorghum specifically for managing weeds in subsequent chile pepper have not been evaluated. This study evaluated the effects of two herbicide programs applied in sorghum on broadleaf weed density and hand hoeing time in chile pepper the following year, and compared the programs for their net economic benefits across sorghum and chile pepper growing seasons. Treatments were: 1) sorghum non-treated control, 2) one herbicide application, which was a premix combination of 2,4-D (0.35 kg ai ha-1), bromoxynil (0.35 kg ai ha-1), and fluroxypyr (0.14 kg ai ha-1) applied at the 4-leaf stage of sorghum, 3) two herbicide applications, which included the aforementioned premix combination followed by bromoxynil (0.28 kg ai ha-1) applied at the 6-leaf stage of sorghum, and 4) weed-free sorghum using hand hoeing. Results indicated broadleaf weeds covered less than 10% of the ground in sorghum treated with herbicides. The two-application program resulted in 24% fewer broadleaf weeds in chile pepper than in sorghum hand-hoed, and 63% fewer than the one-application program. Hand hoeing time in chile pepper was similar among the two-application program, one-application program, and weed-free sorghum. A partial budget analysis indicated that the one-application program provided greater net economic benefit than the two-application program (US$6,550 ha⁻¹ vs. US$5,894 ha⁻¹), due to lower input costs and greater overall gross revenue. These findings indicate the two-application program maximizes reductions of broadleaf weeds in chile pepper caused by rotational sorghum; however, the one-application program may be a cost-effective approach to reduce broadleaf weeds in chile pepper.

There is a lack of knowledge available on how cats adjust their macronutrient partitioning due to the consumption of single-macronutrient meals. The objective of this study was to evaluate consumption of a single meal of ingredients that contained foods of strictly carbohydrates (CHO), fat (FAT) or protein (PRO), on energy expenditure (EE) and macronutrient metabolism in cats. Ten domestic shorthair adult cats (1·9 years; 4·12 kg) were fed 22–24 g of chicken fat (FAT), 56–62 g of whey protein solution (PRO) or 54–56 g of cornstarch solution (CHO) for a single day in a randomised complete block design. Indirect calorimetry was conducted for 24 h post-feeding. Mean average EE over 24 h was highest in cats fed PRO (44 kcal/kg BW) and FAT (43 kcal/kg BW) compared with that in cats fed CHO (42 kcal/kg BW; P < 0·01). During 0 to 4 h, cats fed FAT had greater EE (49 kcal/kg BW), suggesting that cats respond to oxidising more dietary fat over protein in the early postprandial stage. Mean 24 h respiratory quotient (RQ) was greatest for cats fed CHO (0·76) followed by PRO (0·75) and FAT (0·74; P < 0·05). During 4 to 8 h, the RQ of cats fed PRO was the greatest (0·77), suggesting that cats initially increase gluconeogenesis from amino acids for subsequent glucose oxidation. In comparison to omnivores and herbivores, obligate carnivores have unique responses to single macronutrient intake, where they apparently generate energy from carbohydrate metabolism and rely more on gluconeogenic precursors.

Mountain ungulates play an important role in ecosystems as primary consumers and as prey for rare predators. Monitoring their populations is therefore critical for conservation efforts. Within the 12 countries comprising the range of the snow leopard Panthera uncia, camera traps are routinely deployed to estimate numbers of this apex predator, providing an opportunity to also estimate numbers of their prey using bycatch data. However, the relative accuracy of the resulting prey density estimates compared to field surveys targeted specifically at prey species was unknown. We compared the performance of distance sampling based on camera-trap data with field surveys to estimate population densities of bharal Pseudois nayaur. We assessed estimates of bharal numbers from cameras placed to detect snow leopards (where ungulate captures presented bycatch data) against estimates from cameras placed specifically to detect bharal and then compared both with an independent estimate of bharal density from double-observer surveys and a total count of all bharal in the study area. The double-observer field surveys suggested a density of 1.94 bharal/km2, which was similar to the density derived from the total count (1.92 bharal/km2). By comparison, we estimated density to be 2.11 bharal/km2 from camera-based distance sampling and 0.35 bharal/km2 from cameras placed to detect snow leopards (bycatch data). The density estimate from the ungulate bycatch data was significantly lower than that from the double-observer field survey and from the total count. It was also less precise, more costly and more time-consuming to obtain. Our results caution against using bycatch data from surveys designed for predators to estimate ungulate prey densities and indicate that tailored survey methods are required.

The United States has long been a global power deeply entangled in regions like Europe and the Middle East, where its foreign policy has been anchored in clear ontological scripts – defender of democracy, bulwark against terrorism, guarantor of order. In contrast, the Arctic has historically lacked this symbolic and strategic integration into US identity. Despite its formal status as an Arctic state since the 1867 purchase of Alaska, the region has remained ontologically peripheral to US strategic imagination. This paper explores the implications of that absence. Through discourse and content analyses of Arctic strategy documents and congressional hearings from 1867 to 2024, I identify four distinct eras of US Arctic engagement and examine how the region’s underdefined identity position has generated scattered and inconsistent policy. The paper argues that this form of ontological ambiguity has given rise to growing anxiety, particularly status anxiety, amid rising Arctic investments by Russia and China. Rather than paralyzing decision-making, however, this anxiety has begun to function as a catalyst, prompting renewed attention to the Arctic’s strategic, environmental, and symbolic relevance.

The threshold values of visceral fat area (VFA) proposed by existing studies for predicting metabolic syndrome (MetS) are contentious, necessitating further empirical evidence. We conducted a cross-sectional study to assess VFA using bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) technology among middle-aged and elderly individuals in the Sichuan area of China. Firstly, we compared the predictive ability of VFA, waist circumference (WC), and body mass index (BMI) among participants with MetS (excluding WC). In males, the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) was 0.680 for VFA, 0.670 for WC, and 0.665 for BMI, with corresponding optimal cut-off values of 77.45 cm2, 83.50 cm, and 24.19 kg/m2. In females, the AUC values and optimal cut-offs were 0.628 (103.55 cm2) for VFA, 0.671 (77.50 cm) for WC, and 0.643 (24.32 kg/m2) for BMI. Additionally, for MetS defined with WC included, the AUC of VFA for prediction was higher in males (0.785) than in females (0.717), with optimal cut-offs of 85.15 cm2 (males) and 109.55 cm2 (females). Further age-stratified analysis revealed gender-specific VFA cut-offs: in males, 80.95 cm2 (45-59 years), 85.15 cm2 (60-74 years), and 77.50 cm2 (≥75 years); in females, 109.65 cm2 (45-59 years), 112.15 cm2 (60-74 years), and 103.05 cm2 (≥75 years). In conclusion, VFA is an effective predictor of MetS, with its optimal cut-off value varying by age and being higher in females than in males.

The inclusion of legumes in crop rotations can provide numerous benefits to crop productivity and environmental sustainability. However, these benefits have primarily been documented in systems that involve regular fertilisation, limiting our understanding of legume effects under low-input or long-term unfertilised conditions. Though soybean (Glycine max L.) is one of the globally most important cultivated legumes, data on its effect on subsequent common wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) crop in low-input European systems are scarce. This study builds on long-term historically consistent trails of two rotation systems: maize-winter wheat (M-W) and maize-soybean-winter wheat (M-S-W) under rainfed conditions on a Chernozem in Serbia, maintained without fertilisation for over 70 years. The aim of our work was to evaluate the effect of soybean as pre-crop on wheat yield and yield components and accumulation of Fe, Zn, Cu and Mn in grain. Over five growing seasons, the soybean pre-crop effect resulted in a grain yield increase ranging from 43% to 301%. Results showed that threefold higher soil mineral N promoted productive tillering, spike development and grain setting in M-S-W. Two-year data on micronutrient concentrations in grain revealed significantly higher levels of Zn and Cu in M-S-W, as well as grain protein content. However, the yield dilution effect in the M-S-W rotation led to reduced levels for both Fe and Mn in one growing season. This long-term field experiment underscores the agronomic and environmental significance of soybean-based rotations, enhancing soil N fertility and carbon sequestration and offering a sustainable solution for winter wheat production.

The bush dog Speothos venaticus, a short-legged, medium-sized Neotropical canid, remains elusive despite its wide geographical range. We present the first documented occurrence of this species within Rio Doce State Park, Minas Gerais state, Brazil. This Park is a unique, well-preserved area with a diverse array of mammal species, a rarity in the fragmented Atlantic Forest. We recorded the bush dog after 7,744 camera-trap days near Lagoa dos Patos, one of the Park’s lakes. This new record is a significant range extension for the species within the Atlantic Forest of Minas Gerais state, as the nearest known record is c. 420 km to the south. The new record is the northernmost documented occurrence of the bush dog in the Brazilian Atlantic Forest. This finding is a significant addition to the Park’s mammalian carnivore community, and underscores its importance as high-quality habitat for rare species such as the bush dog, and its value for scientific research and biodiversity conservation.

African swine fever (ASF) is a highly contagious animal disease caused by African swine fever virus (ASFV). It is listed by the World Organization for Animal Health (WOAH) as an animal disease subject to statutory reporting. ASFV, a large, enveloped double-stranded DNA virus with high genomic complexity, exhibits a case fatality rate of up to 100%, posing a significant threat to the global pig industry and food safety. To date, the absence of a safe commercial ASFV vaccine primarily stems from challenges in identifying immunogenic viral antigens, insufficient characterization of ASFV pathogenesis, and limited understanding of the virus’s immune evasion mechanisms. Here, we review the pathogenic characteristics (morphological structure, clinical symptoms, and epidemiological characteristics), molecular biological characteristics, and infection mechanism of ASFV, as well as the immune response mechanism, vaccine research, and the latest information on ASFV in other areas. This review will be in favour of understanding the current state of knowledge of ASF and developing effective vaccines to control this disease.

Good keeping quality (KQ) is a critical trait for sustaining potato cultivation under subtropical conditions, where post-harvest losses significantly impact profitability. To support breeding for improved KQ, a targeted evaluation of variability in key contributing traits was undertaken using a diverse germplasm set of 540 accessions of Solanum tuberosum ssp. tuberosum. The study utilized data from 2010 to 2020, incorporating control varieties Kufri Pukhraj, Kufri Dewa and Kufri Ashoka. Evaluation was performed using an augmented design with appropriate data transformations to mitigate annual environmental variations treated as block effects. The adjusted means revealed substantial phenotypic variation in sprouting (34.93%), firmness (20.77%), weight loss (27.32%), rottage (75.43%) and total weight loss (25.44%). Significant genotypic differences were observed for total weight loss and sprouting. Principal component analysis reduced data dimensionality, with the first three components accounting for 86.3% of the total variance. Biplots were generated using eigenvalues and eigenvectors to visualize the distribution of accessions based on KQ traits. Genotypes clustered in favourable zones on the biplots, enabling the identification of 18 superior keeping germplasm accessions: CP3151, CP3134, CP3117, CP3208, CP3211, CP3590, CP3515, CP3702, CP3336, CP3661, CP3514, CP4214, CP4229, CP4514, CP3588, CP3639, CP3795 and Kufri Dewa. The findings identify valuable parental material for breeding programs targeting improved post-harvest resilience in potato cultivars suited to the subtropical plains.

Parasitoids play a key role in biological control, regulating pest populations in natural and agricultural ecosystems. Their efficiency depends on a thorough understanding of host–parasitoid interactions. Among these, the functional response, the relationship between parasitism rate and host density, plays a critical role. Despite a well-established background, challenges remain in experimental design, model selection, and parameter estimation for functional response analysis in parasitoids. This study aims to provide a practical guide to addressing these challenges. We outline key considerations in experimental design, including the selection of model organisms and initial host densities. For model selection, we present methods to differentiate between Type II and Type III functional responses, identifying the best-fitting models for parasitoids. In parameter estimation, we present an example demonstrating the application of functional response models for each type, including parameter estimation to guide model choice. Additionally, we provide equations and code based on published data to facilitate parameter comparisons. This guide provides a structured framework for experimental design, parameter estimation, and model selection in functional response studies, which is adaptable to various host–parasitoid interactions. By enhancing methodological rigour, we aim to support researchers in improving the precision and applicability of functional response analyses in parasitoid research.