The establishment of the possible presence of life on Mars (past or present) is based on the study of planetary analogues, which allow in situ analysis of the environments in which living organisms adapt to often extreme conditions. Although Mars has been a candidate for hosting life, based on observations made decades ago, it is thanks to the characteristics identified in environments, mainly volcanic, that it has been possible to calibrate instruments and detail the features of the red planet. In this paper, we present a review of the main characteristics of different planetary analogues, particularly deepening the study of Antarctica, to later expose the factors studied in Deception Island that have contributed to considering it as an analogue of Mars from different perspectives. Although geological and geomorphological studies on the analogies of the island already exist, detailed analyses that present the approach of astrobiological analogues are required, thus allowing further research.

This cross-sectional ecological study described fruit and vegetable (F&V) intake variability across 144 cities in 8 Latin American countries and by city-level contextual variables. Data sources came from health surveys and census data (Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, El Salvador, Guatemala, Mexico, and Peru). Self-reported frequency of F&V intake was harmonised across surveys. Daily F&V intake was considered as consumption 7 d of the week. Using a mixed-effects model, we estimated age and sex-standardised city prevalences of daily F&V intake. Through Kruskal–Wallis tests, we compared city F&V daily intake prevalence by tertiles of city variables related to women’s empowerment, socio-economics, and climate zones. The median prevalence for daily F&V intake was 55.7% across all cities (22.1% to 85.4%). Compared to the least favourable tertile of city conditions, F&V daily intake prevalence was higher for cities within the most favourable tertile of per capita GDP (median = 65.7% vs. 53.0%), labour force participation (median = 68.7% vs. 49.4%), women achievement-labour force score (median = 63.9% vs. 45.7%), and gender inequality index (median = 58.6% vs. 48.6%). Also, prevalences were higher for temperate climate zones than arid climate zones (median = 65.9% vs. 50.6%). No patterns were found by city level of educational attainment, city size, or population density. This study provides evidence that the prevalence of daily F&V intake varies across Latin American cities and may be favoured by higher socio-economic development, women’s empowerment, and temperate weather. Interventions to improve F&V intake in Latin America should consider the behaviour disparities related to underlying local social, economic, and climate zone characteristics.

The Cardiovascular Health Diet Index (CHDI) is a diet quality score based on the dietary guidelines of the American Heart Association for cardiovascular health but with some adaptations, such as red meat, dairy products, beans and ultra-processed foods in its components. The CHDI has shown good relative validity parameters; however, its association with health outcomes is still unclear. Thus, our aim was to investigate the association between the CHDI score with subclinical atherosclerosis. Data from the Brazilian Longitudinal Study of Adult Health (ELSA-Brasil) cohort were used. Subclinical atherosclerosis was assessed by measuring coronary artery calcification at baseline (2008–2010) and second wave (2012–2014) and carotid intima-media thickness at baseline and at the third wave (2017–2019). The CHDI score (ranges from 0 to 110 points) was applied to dietary data obtained from an FFQ at baseline. Poisson regression with robust variance, linear regression and linear mixed-effects models were used to evaluate the association of the CHDI score with coronary artery calcification incidence (n 2224), coronary artery calcification progression (n 725) and changes in carotid intima-media thickness (n 7341) over time, respectively. After a median 8-year follow-up period, a 10-point increase in the CHDI score was associated with a decrease in carotid intima-media thickness of 0·002 mm (95 % CI –0·005, –0·001). No association was observed between the CHDI score and coronary artery calcification incidence and progression after a 4-year follow-up period. Higher scores in the CHDI were prospectively associated with decreased subclinical atherosclerosis after an 8-year follow-up period.

En este trabajo se presentan los resultados del análisis de los restos faunísticos de Hangar, un sitio arqueológico ubicado en la región pampeana argentina. Los fechados realizados sobre huesos de guanaco sitúan cronológicamente a las ocupaciones humanas en el Holoceno tardío final, período escasamente representado en el área. Los análisis tafonómicos y estratigráficos indican que el sitio presenta complejos procesos de formación, con una baja integridad, aunque con buena resolución. Los principales procesos que afectaron a los restos fueron la bioturbación y las tareas de laboreo de la tierra. Las evidencias aportadas por Hangar muestran la explotación de distintos taxones, entre los que se destacan el guanaco, el venado de las Pampas, la vizcacha, el peludo y el ñandú. Estos datos constituyen un importante insumo para el creciente avance en el conocimiento de la subsistencia de los cazadores-recolectores que habitaron la región pampeana. En particular, los fechados-taxón obtenidos aportan nuevos datos para la discusión acerca de la retracción del guanaco en momentos tardíos en el área Interserrana bonaerense.

This prospective study examines the immune response to SARS-CoV-2 vaccination in patients with psychotic disorders compared with healthy volunteers. Participants were recruited naturalistically as part of the UK's COVID-19 vaccination programme. Prior to receiving their first COVID-19 vaccine, blood samples were provided by participants to examine anti-SARS-CoV-2 immunoglobulins (IgG) at baseline, followed by a repeat assay 1 month after receiving their first vaccine to assess vaccine response. The increase of IgG levels from baseline to 1 month post-vaccination was significantly lower in patients compared with controls, supporting evidence of impaired vaccine response in people with psychotic disorders. When excluding patients treated with clozapine from the analysis, this difference was no longer significant, suggesting that effects may be particularly marked in people taking clozapine.

The aim of this study was to analyse whether specialised musical training influences auditory discrimination, working memory, learning strategies and academic performance. Sixty students (30 with at least four years of musical training and 30 without) of the same socioeconomic level were compared. Significant differences were found between students with and without musical training in terms of learning strategies, working memory and academic performance (p= <.05). This study shows the benefits of musical training offered at specialised centres, the development of students’ cognitive skills and the contributions of neuroscience to improving professional practice.

We aimed to assess the dietary Fe intake and the prevalence of inadequate Fe intake over two post-fortification periods in Brazil. The intake was analysed according to sex, life stage, geographic region and stratum of family income per capita. Excluding pregnant and lactating women, this population-based study included 32 749 and 44 744 participants aged ≥ 10 years from the National Dietary Survey-Brazilian Household Budget Surveys 2008–2009 and 2017–2018, respectively. The National Cancer Institute method was used to predict usual dietary Fe intakes. The prevalence of Fe intake inadequacy was estimated following a probabilistic approach for women of childbearing age or with the Estimated Average Requirement cut-off point method. Over an interval of 10 years, the mean Fe intake remained almost unchanged for most sex-age groups, except for women of childbearing age. In this specific group, the prevalence of Fe intake inadequacy was > 20 % in 2008–2009 and have increased to > 25 % in 2017–2018, with the highest reductions in mean Fe intake found in the highest income strata and richest Brazilian regions. Meanwhile, the highest prevalence of Fe intake inadequacy (> 40 %) occurred among the poorest women aged 31–50 years from the lowest family income stratum, irrespective of the study period. Beans were the main Fe source, while fortified breads, pastas, pizzas, cakes and cookies contributed approximately 40 % of the Fe intake. The results provide important insights into the long-standing dietary impacts of food fortification, which can guide future (re)formulation of effective public health strategies to combat Fe deficiency.

Vitamin E is an important nutrient from the earliest stages of life. It plays key roles as an antioxidant and in the maintenance of the immune system, among others. Vitamin E deficiency (VED), which occurs more frequently in children, is rarely addressed in the literature. This narrative review aims to summarise the chemistry, biology, serum indicators and clinical trials that have evaluated the impact of fortification and other relevant aspects of vitamin E, in addition to the prevalence of its deficiency, in children worldwide. Vitamin E intake in recommended amounts is essential for this nutrient to perform its functions in the body. Serum α-tocopherol is the most widely used biochemical indicator to assess the prevalence of VED. VED has been associated with symptoms secondary to fat malabsorption and may lead to peripheral neuropathy and increased erythrocyte haemolysis. Reduced concentrations of α-tocopherol may be caused by the combination of diets with low amounts of vitamin E and inadequate consumption of fats, proteins and calories. The lowest prevalence of VED was found in Asia and the highest in North America and Brazil. High proportions of VED provide evidence that this nutritional deficiency is a public health problem in children and still little addressed in the international scientific literature. The planning, evaluation and implementation of health policies aimed at combatting VED in the paediatric population are extremely important.

A nationally generalisable cohort (n 5770) was used to determine the prevalence of non-timely (early/late) introduction of complementary food and core food groups and associations with maternal sociodemographic and health behaviours in New Zealand (NZ). Variables describing maternal characteristics and infant food introduction were sourced, respectively, from interviews completed antenatally and during late infancy. The NZ Infant Feeding Guidelines were used to define early (≤ 4 months) and late (≥ 7 months) introduction. Associations were examined using multivariable multinomial regression, presented as adjusted relative risk ratios and 95 % confidence intervals (RRR; 95% CI). Complementary food introduction was early for 40·2 % and late for 3·2 %. The prevalence of early food group introduction were fruit/vegetables (23·8 %), breads/cereals (36·3 %), iron-rich foods (34·1 %) and of late were meat/meat alternatives (45·9 %), dairy products (46·2 %) and fruits/vegetables (9·9 %). Compared with infants with timely food introduction, risk of early food introduction was increased for infants: breastfed < 6months (2·52; 2·19–2·90), whose mothers were < 30 years old (1·69; 1·46–1·94), had a diploma/trade certificate v. tertiary education (1·39; 1·1–1·70), of Māori v. European ethnicity (1·40; 1·12–1·75) or smoked during pregnancy (1·88; 1·44–2·46). Risk of late food introduction decreased for infants breastfed < 6 months (0·47; 0.27–0·80) and increased for infants whose mothers had secondary v. tertiary education (2·04; 1·16–3·60) were of Asian v. European ethnicity (2·22; 1·35, 3·63) or did not attend childbirth preparation classes (2·23; 1·24–4·01). Non-timely food introduction, specifically early food introduction, is prevalent in NZ. Interventions to improve food introduction timeliness should be ethnic-specific and support longer breast-feeding.

In recent decades, different data-driven approaches have emerged to identify dietary patterns (DP) and little is discussed about how these methods are able to capture diet complexity within the same population. This study aimed to apply three statistical methods to identify the DP of the Longitudinal Study of Adult Health (ELSA-Brasil) population and evaluate the similarities and differences between them. Dietary data were assessed at baseline in the ELSA-Brasil study using a FFQ. DP were identified by applying three statistical methods: (1) factor analysis (FA), (2) treelet transform (TT) and (3) reduced rank regression (RRR). The characteristics of individuals classified in the last tertile of each DP were compared. Cross-classification and Pearson’s correlation coefficients were assessed to evaluate the agreement between individuals’ adherence to DP of the three methods. A similar convenience DP was identified for all three methods. FA and TT also identified a similar prudent DP and a DP highly loaded for the food groups rice and beans. Individuals classified in the third tertile of similar DP of each method presented similar socio-demographic and nutrient intake characteristics. Regarding the cross-classification, prudent DP from FA and TT presented a higher level of agreement (75 %), while convenience DP from TT and RRR presented the lowest agreement (44·8 %). The different statistical methods were able to capture the populations’ DP in a similar way while highlighting the particularities of each method.

The objectives were to compare the evolution of dietary folate intake, to estimate the prevalence of folate inadequacy (POFI) and the contribution of food groups to folate intake (dietary folate plus folic acid from fortified foods) in two post-fortification periods in the Brazilian population, according to life stages, geographic regions and per capita income. Population-based study including representative data from the National Dietary Survey – Brazilian Household Budget Surveys (NDS-HBS) 2008–2009 and 2017–2018, with a total of 32 749 (2008–2009) and 44 744 (2017–2018) individuals aged ≥ 10 years old, excluding pregnant and lactating women. The National Cancer Institute method was used to estimate the distributions of usual dietary folate intake. POFI was estimated according to estimated average requirement cut-off point method. After 10 years of the first NDS-HBS, POFI has increased in all sex-age groups, except for 10–13 years. POFI among women of reproductive age was around 30 and 40 % in 2008–2009 and 2017–2018. Higher POFI was observed in the North region. The top five food groups contributors to folate intake in Brazil were beans, breads, pasta and pizza, cakes and cookies and non-alcoholic beverages groups in both periods, differing in the rank order of the last two groups. Although being a country that has adopted mandatory folic acid flour fortification for almost two decades, increased POFI was observed in 2017–2018. This study brings significant scientific information, which can help understand folate dietary data in different contexts and consequently guide the approach for public health fortification strategies.