Nutraceuticals are increasingly of interest in nutritional psychiatry, where creatine has been investigated in several randomised trials for its effects on depressive symptoms. However, these findings have not yet been systematically synthesised. We conducted a systematic review to assess the effects of creatine supplementation on symptoms of depression. Four databases were searched up to February 2025 for trials comparing creatine with placebo in individuals with or without depression. Study selection, data extraction and risk of bias assessment (RoB 2) were conducted independently, and certainty of evidence was evaluated using Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE). Random-effects meta-analyses with Hartung–Knapp–Sidik–Jonkman adjustment including eleven trials (1093 participants) found a standardised mean difference of −0·34 (95 % CI −0·68, −0·00; GRADE: very low quality of evidence), equivalent to 2·2 points on the seventeen-item Hamilton Depression Rating Scale, below the minimal important difference of 3·0 points. CI include non-clinically important effects, and heterogeneity was substantial (I2 = 71·3 %). While effects appeared larger in clinically depressed populations, subgroup analyses and trim-and-fill adjustments indicated substantial bias favouring creatine. Results for secondary endpoints were significant for remission (three trials, OR 3·60; 95 % CI 1·76, 7·56), but not for treatment response (two trials, OR 0·72; 95 % CI 0·28, 1·88). Our findings suggest that creatine may offer a small-to-moderate benefit for individuals with depression, but average effects were not clinically important and the true effect may be trivial or null. The evidence on which these results are based is very uncertain. Larger, more rigorous randomised trials are required to draw definitive conclusions.

The conservation of plant genetic resources for food and agriculture (PGRFA) is essential for global food and nutrition security, climate resilience and sustainable agriculture. This study presents a monitoring and evaluation (M&E) framework applied across 20 countries in the Global South to assess the state of ex situ PGRFA conservation. Using mixed methods, we collected quantitative and qualitative data on genebank performance, validated operational status, and identified specific needs of genebanks. Our findings demonstrate the practical use of this M&E framework for genebanks to assess efficiency and effectiveness in genebank management, while also guiding targeted capacity development and context-specific interventions to address persistent challenges. We recommend adopting the approaches described in this study, including genebank reviews and the review checklist, to support more systematic and evidence-based assessment of genebanks. Aligning national efforts with global conservation objectives will help generate actionable recommendations to strengthen genebanks and ensure the long-term conservation and availability of PGRFA.

In September 2024, BASF Canada introduced a new premixture of pyroxasulfone and encapsulated saflufenacil to control weeds in corn production. Limited research has been conducted to determine the biologically effective dose of this new premixture for the control of common lambsquarters, redroot pigweed, and green foxtail. A total of six field experiments were conducted over 2 yr (2022 and 2023) at three locations in southwestern Ontario to determine the ED50 of pyroxasulfone + encapsulated saflufenacil needed to control these three weed species. Assessment of visible weed control 8 wk after emergence determined the ED50 for redroot pigweed, common lambsquarters, and green foxtail control to be 170, 219, and 240 g ai ha−1, respectively. The results of this study conclude that a higher dose of pyroxasulfone + encapsulated saflufenacil is necessary for agronomically acceptable control (>80%) of these three weed species than the proposed rate (146 to 245 g ai ha−1) listed on the product label.

Although metabolic syndrome (MetSyn) patients are frequently reported to experience alterations in ghrelin levels, appetite regulation and mood, these issues have been largely overlooked. Thus, the present randomised controlled trial (RCT) examined the effects of incorporating brown rice bran powder (BRBP) into a standard diet on ghrelin levels, appetite control, depression, insulin resistance and atherogenicity indices. This secondary analysis used data from our 8-week RCT involving forty-three MetSyn patients, with nineteen on a standard diet and twenty-four receiving an additional 15 g/d of BRBP. Serum ghrelin levels were measured using an ELISA kit, and seven atherosclerosis-related indicators were assessed before and after the intervention. Appetite rating and depression status were evaluated using a four-component visual analogue scale (VAS) and the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) questionnaires. The ANCOVA model adjusted for baseline values (and BMI for ghrelin) indicated that patients receiving BRBP plus the standard diet experienced significant increases in ghrelin levels and feelings of satiety and fullness compared with those on the standard diet alone (P-value < 0·008; effect sizes (ES) of 0·95, 1·14, and 1·34, respectively). BRBP intake led to significant reductions in atherogenic coefficient, Castelli risk index-II, cholesterol index, metabolic score for insulin resistance, BDI scores, and hunger sensations (P-value ≤ 0·05; ES of −0·94, −0·96, −0·81, −1·74, −0·98 and −0·71, respectively) compared with the standard diet alone. Overall, this secondary analysis of the RCT supports the efficacy of BRBP administration in enhancing ghrelin levels while reducing appetite-related indices, depression scores, as well as markers of atherogenicity and insulin resistance. Nevertheless, given the study’s limitations, namely small sample size and lack of a placebo, further research is needed.

Dietary patterns are key modifiable determinants in cardiovascular disease (CVD) prevention, accounting for over half of CVD-related deaths and disabilities. This study aimed to examine whether changes in diet quality and six predefined diet scores were associated with incident cardiovascular (CV) events over four years among secondary care cardiology patients. We conducted a secondary prospective analysis of participants aged ≥45 years from the Brazilian Cardioprotective Nutritional Program Trial, including 1,704, 1,629 and 1,286 individuals for the 12-, 24- and 36-month change analyses, respectively. The assessed diet scores included the Dietary Inflammatory Index (DII), Dietary Total Antioxidant Capacity (dTAC), overall, healthful and unhealthful Plant-Based Diet Index (PDI, hPDI, uPDI), and the modified Alternative Healthy Eating Index (mAHEI). The primary outcome was the incidence of new CV events in each follow-up period, adjudicated by the Clinical Endpoints Committee. Associations were estimated using Cox proportional hazards models, combining intervention and control groups. A total of 162 incident CVD cases occurred over a median follow-up of 3.25 years. After 36 months, improvements in mAHEI scores were inversely associated with CV event incidence in both crude (HR: 0.96; 95% CI: 0.92–0.99) and adjusted models (HR: 0.94; 95% CI: 0.89–1.00). No significant associations were found for changes in DII, dTAC, PDI, hPDI or uPDI across any time point. These findings suggest that, in individuals receiving secondary CV care, sustained improvements in diet quality, particularly those reflected by the mAHEI, may require longer periods to translate into measurable benefits for cardiovascular health.

Accurate assessment of an individual’s diet is vital to study the effect of diet on health. Image-based methods, which use images as input, may improve the reliability of dietary assessment. We developed an iOS application that uses computer vision to identify food from images. This study aimed to assess the accuracy of energy intake (EIapp) estimates from the application by comparing them to estimated energy expenditure (EE) and to the EI estimates from a validated dietary assessment tool, the 24-h recall (EIrecall). Participants were recruited from a randomised controlled trial called He Rourou Whai Painga. Participants recorded all intake over 7 d using the application, which provided a mean daily EI; this was compared to the EI estimated by two 24-h recalls. The EI from the application and the recalls were compared to EE, estimated using indirect calorimetry and wrist-worn accelerometry. EI estimates from the application and the 24-h recalls were lower than EE, with a mean bias of -1814 kJ (95% CI -3012 to -615, p = 0.005) and -1715 kJ (95% CI -3237 to -193, p = 0.029), respectively. The mean bias between EI from the application and the 24-h recall was 783 kJ (95% CI -875 to 2441, p = 0.33). This suggests that the EI estimates from the application are comparable to the 24-h recall method, a validated and widely used tool in nutritional research.

Dietary fibre can modify colostrum and milk composition in sows. Bile acids (BA) aid in fat digestion and lipid absorption and are important signalling molecules for the digestive tract. The aim of this study was to determine BA concentration in colostrum from sows fed two different sources of dietary fibre during gestation and lactation and from the intestinal digesta of their 4-6-days-old suckling offspring. Twenty sows were fed diets enriched with either 15% high-fermentable sugar beet pulp (SBP, n = 10) or 15% low-fermentable lignocellulose (LNC, n = 10). Sow colostrum, piglet gallbladder content, ileum and colon digesta were assessed for BA using high-performance liquid chromatography coupled to triple-quadrupole mass spectrometry. In colostrum, lithocholic acid and oxolithocholic acid were higher in sows fed SBP vs. LNC (p = 0.005 and p = 0.003, respectively), while 3α,7α,12α-trihydroxycholestanoic acid and glycohyodeoxycholic acid were higher in colostrum from sows fed LNC vs. SBP (p = 0.039, p = 0.002, respectively). In the piglet bile, cholic acid and taurodeoxycholic acid were higher in SBP vs. LNC group (p = 0.02, p = 0.001, respectively), while taurochenodeoxycholic acid was higher in LNC vs. SBP group (p = 0.035). In the piglet ileum digesta, lithocholic acid was higher in SBP vs. LNC (p = 0.015). In the piglet colon digesta, lithocholic acid and ursodeoxycholic acid were higher in SBP vs. LNC (p = 0.001 and p = 0.007, respectively). Addition of specific dietary fibres to sow diets differentially influences the BA in colostrum. Dietary fibres in sow diets can impact on the intestinal BA composition in piglets with a possible consequence on the digestive physiology and health in the offspring.

Legumes are key to improving food security due to their nutritional value. In Togo, however, the diversity of local legumes, particularly Kersting’s groundnut (Macrotyloma geocarpum), is rapidly declining. The ethnobotanical survey aimed to assess the geographical distribution, varietal diversity, uses, and sociodemographic characteristics of Kersting's groundnut producers in the five administratives regions and four big agroecological zones of Togo. Semi-structured interviews, group discussions, and field visits were conducted. A total of 238 producers were identified across 132 villages. Descriptive statistics, correlation and correspondence analysis were used to explore relationships between varietal diversity, socio-demographic factors, and regional uses. The crop was found to be most prevalent in northern Togo, particularly the Kara region (60.5%), which belongs to the dry savannah zone. In contrast, production is almost nonexistent in the coastal and subequatorial southern regions. Most producers were women (56.7%), and 47% reported having no formal education. The number of varieties grown per household was positively correlated with farming experience. Varietal preferences varied by gender and ethnic group. While consumption and sale remain the primary motivations for cultivation, ritual and medicinal uses were significantly associated with ethnic groups and regions. These findings underscore the combined influence of ecological conditions and ethnocultural heritage on varietal distribution. They offer a valuable basis for developing strategies to conserve and promote Kersting’s groundnut in Togo.

Jackfruit waste, though abundant in tropical regions, is underutilized due to its low biodegradability, limiting its potential for bioenergy production. This study investigated the impact of co-digesting jackfruit (JF) waste with cow dung (CW) and poultry manure (PM) on biogas production and digestate quality for use as fertilizer. Anaerobic co-digestion was conducted at 37 °C using a water bath, with five treatments: 75% JF:25% PM, 50% JF:50% PM, 75% JF:25% CW, 50% JF:50% CW, and 100% JF (control), each replicated three times. Biogas production was measured using the water displacement method, while digestate nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K) contents were analyzed using calorimetric, modified Olsen-P, and flame photometric methods, respectively. Results showed that the 75% JF:25% PM mixture achieved the highest biogas yield (373.0 mL/gVS), followed by 50% JF:50% PM (339.3 mL/gVS), while 100% JF produced significantly less (82.3 mL/gVS). The 50% JF:50% PM digestate had the highest nutrient content, with N, P, and K levels of 45.44, 28.42, and 32.57 g/kg, respectively, all significantly higher than the 100% JF digestate (p ≤ 0.05). To meet the nitrogen requirement for maize (50 kg N ha−1), 1.089 t of 50% JF:50% PM digestate per hectare would be needed, generating 43.2 m3 of biogas, equivalent to 864 MJ of energy, replacing 26.78 t of firewood. The study concludes that co-digesting jackfruit waste with poultry manure and cow dung enhances biogas yield and digestate quality, supporting sustainable waste management, renewable energy, and soil fertility. Adoption of co-digestion by farmers and biogas operators should be encouraged through policies and training. Future research should focus on efficient and cost-effective pre-treatment methods to improve jackfruit waste biodegradability and process efficiency.

Targeted herbicide applications have the potential to reduce herbicide inputs but pose an inherent risk of missing weeds resulting in late-season escapes. Furthermore, relying on targeted residual herbicides may increase weed emergence relative to broadcast applications. Research was conducted over a three-year period in Keiser, AR, to compare traditional broadcast applications to targeted postemergence applications in glyphosate-, glufosinate-, and dicamba-resistant soybean. The herbicide program was consistent across treatments with a broadcast-applied preemergence residual, and a postemergence program including glufosinate + glyphosate + S-metolachlor followed by glufosinate + acetochlor, both broadcast- or target applied at the highest and lowest spray sensitivities. The soil seedbank was similar at trial initiation across treatments, and there was no increase over three years for broadcast and targeted applications at the highest sensitivity. Averaged over application timing, the lowest sensitivity increased the weed density from 867 plants ha-1 to 2,870 plants ha-1 in year two, to 11,300 plants ha-1 in year three. This response is likely due to more Palmer amaranth escapes at harvest (averaged over years) with >1,000 plants ha-1 compared to the highest sensitivity and broadcast treatments. Targeted applications did improve profitability by reducing herbicide use and increasing application efficiency, providing averaged savings of USD $43.22 ha-1 to $129.19 ha-1 relative to broadcast postemergence cost of $227.22 ha-1. Area sprayed was reduced by 20% to 90%, with the average at early-postemergence being 41.3% and 57.9% and at mid-postemergence equaling 48.1% and 49.3% for the lowest and highest sensitivities, respectively. The only difference in the area sprayed between sensitivity settings occurred early postemergence. Based on the results of this experiment, producers could utilize targeted applications postemergence in soybean to increase profitability, but the lowest sensitivity resulted in unacceptable increases to the weed seedbank, which could impact management in future years.

Almost a decade has passed since a DEFRA consultation concluded that existing legislation governing the UK puppy trade was “outdated, inflexible, incompatible with current welfare legislation and cumbersome for both enforcers and businesses”. The rapid outgrowth of the trade’s governing legislature, fuelled by contemporary consumer culture and the high degree of trader anonymity provided by the internet, has enabled a high-volume, untraceable and profit-driven market to evolve. Increased demand for puppies, exacerbated by social media trends and the COVID-19 pandemic, is sustained by an online medium that both encourages and capitalises upon modern-day ‘click-and-collect’ purchase behaviour. Moreover, the internet has only intensified the demand for pedigree and designer crossbreeds, many of which are shown to suffer lifelong physiological disorders caused by the positive phenotyping selection necessary to achieve breed standards. These factors have made puppies an attractively lucrative, low-risk commodity. Evidence of multi-level fraud and organised crime involvement has been revealed along the supply chain, resulting in systemic canine health and welfare issues. Whilst large-scale breeding operations reportedly smuggle unvaccinated puppies onto the British market from endemic (rabies, Leishmania) countries, high densities of pet dogs in urban areas is reportedly leaving high faecal-saturation levels, spreading anthelmic- and antibiotic-resistant pathogens. Meanwhile, unsafe concentrations of ectoparasiticides are detected in rivers and lakes. This review collates evidence from available sources that illustrate the current nature and impact of inadequate regulation in the UK puppy trade, aiming to support stakeholders in their efforts for essential and comprehensive regulatory reform.

Sea urchins can have considerable ecological impacts on benthic habitats through grazing and bioerosion and many are exploited as fisheries resources. Of the abundant temperate sea urchins, Centrostephanus tenuispinus is among the least studied. We determined the reproductive seasonality of C. tenuispinus off western Australia at Hall Bank where a high density (2.94 ± 0.14 individuals m−2) of small to medium size (66.23 ± 0.24 mm mean test diameter) urchins has been found to suppress macroalgae recruitment and facilitate hard coral dominance of the benthos and at Minden Reef where, typical of most reefs in the region, a low density (0.14 ± 0.01 individuals m−2), larger sized (100.69 ± 0.45 mm) population occupies a habitat dominated by dense macroalgae. Centrostephanus tenuispinus exhibited a clear synchronized annual reproductive cycle. Gametogenesis began in autumn coincident with lowering sea water temperature and decreasing day length and spawning occurred in late winter and spring. The larger urchins from Minden Reef had significantly larger gonads and a higher % GSI (percentage gonadosomatic index) value than Hall Bank Reef. % GSI increased significantly at both sites between winter and summer, but the magnitude of the increase was much greater at Minden Reef (76%) compared to Hall Bank (10%). The results indicate that both populations have the same reproductive cycle but raise questions about the relative contribution the two populations make to the reproductive output of the species in southwestern Australia.

Human eye, skin and hair color pigmentation are highly heritable traits influenced by hundreds of genetic loci. The heritability and genetic etiology of the hyperpigmentation trait pregnancy-related linea nigra (PLN), where a dark but usually temporary vertical line develops on the abdomen, is unknown, and our understanding of its relationships with other pigmentation traits is limited. We conducted a genetic study of self-reported PLN in women of European ancestry, using a genome-based restricted maximum likelihood (GREML) method to estimate PLN heritability, performing a genomewide association study (GWAS) to explore the genetic factors underlying PLN, and calculating polygenic risk scores (PRS) to assess whether this trait shares genetic liability with two other skin pigmentation phenotypes, skin colour and mole count. We found 35% of the variance in developing PLN was explained by common genetic variation. The GWAS revealed four genomic loci suggestively associated (p values ≤ 1 × 10-6) with PLN: rs1263154 near the UPP2 gene (p = 9.0 × 10-7), rs26331 near SEMA6A (p = 6.6 × 10-7), rs78371540 in OLFM3 (p = 5.5 × 10-7), and rs72693263 near FLRT2 (p = 1.1 × 10-7). Of these genes only OLFM3 has been previously associated with pigmentation. Our PRS results provide the first evidence that genetic factors underlying skin color and mole count also contribute to the development of PLN in women of European ancestry.

Devonian stromatoporoid collections have been added to the Natural History Museum, London (UK) for over 100 years. The characteristics and systematic position of these specimens, however, have received little attention. In this study, 297 Devonian stromatoporoid specimens comprising material documented by H. A. Nicholson from the UK, Germany, United States, and Canada, plus specimens described by E. A. Ripper from Australia, were re-examined. Overall, 50 species belonging to 29 genera were systematically redescribed based on recent progress, mainly including Actinostroma, Petridiostroma, Stictostroma, Pseudotrupetostroma, and Parallelopora. Three-dimensional reconstructions reveal stromatoporoid architectural patterns, crucial for enhancing understanding and revision of stromatoporoid identification. This study underscores the significance of three-dimensional reconstruction in taxonomic research on stromatoporoids. The NHMUK material is combined with data from publications and the Paleobiology Database (PBDB) to perform a network analysis of the global occurrence of Devonian stromatoporoids at the generic level; this reveals a close relationship of the global stromatoporoid fauna during the Early Devonian, indicating a widespread distribution, despite this interval being regarded as a time of global stromatoporoid contraction. The Middle Devonian assemblage shows a much higher cosmopolitan occurrence in the context of the subsequent Eifelian–Givetian global stromatoporoid proliferation, consistent with the known pattern from other studies of Middle Devonian stromatoporoids. Overall, the NHMUK collections are a valuable resource to help understand the global occurrence of Devonian stromatoporoids.

Technological enrichment, such as motion sensors, touchscreens, and response-independent feeders, offer innovative ways to enhance animal welfare in captivity by promoting species-appropriate behaviours and cognitive stimulation. A scoping review of 22 publications comprising 25 studies identified various technologies, with computers being the most common, and sensory enrichment the most frequent type implemented. Positive or neutral welfare outcomes were common, though some negative effects were also reported. Primates and carnivores were the most frequently studied groups. Despite increasing research since 2012, gaps remain, including limited peer-reviewed studies and a need for standardised methodologies to better evaluate the impact of technological enrichment.

Indaziflam is a long-term residual weed control option for Georgia pecan [Carya illinoinensis (Wangenh.) K. Koch] growers. As a nonselective cellulose biosynthesis inhibitor, indaziflam has a niche for broad-spectrum weed control with long residual activity in various perennial cropping systems. Indaziflam’s soil persistence and chemical behavior at various temperatures have not been fully evaluated; therefore, the objectives of these experiments were to: (1) quantify indaziflam soil dissipation under field conditions in two common Georgia soils and (2) evaluate indaziflam molecular stability as affected by temperature and time using laboratory techniques. Indaziflam soil dissipation followed first-order kinetics and was adequately described by the exponential decay equation. Indaziflam half-life in Greenville sandy clay loam and Faceville loamy sand was 96 and 78 d, respectively. Indaziflam half-life and soil clay content had a direct relationship, while indaziflam half-life and microbial biomass had an inverse relationship. Aqueous solutions of indaziflam were exposed to temperatures that ranged from 20 to 70 C for up to 672 h, with results indicating that temperature had no influence on indaziflam’s molecular stability.