Male adolescence (10–19 years), is a critical life-stage for adequate nutrition due to the rapid growth and development that occurs during this period. Additionally, this population sub-group may begin to engage in muscle-building exercises due to socially established body image ideals(1), which fuel their desire to increase protein consumption. Currently, Irish diets are not sustainable, and exceed all planetary boundaries apart from freshwater use(2). Thus, there is a need to incorporate sustainability into Ireland’s food-based dietary guidelines (FBDG). The aim of this study was to develop FBDG for adolescent males to meet their nutritional needs more sustainably, whilst exploring protein intakes.

Commonly consumed foods (≥10% of consumers) and patterns of consumption were identified from secondary analysis of the National Children’s Food Survey II and the National Teens’ Food Survey II(3). Using the Henry equation(4), energy requirements were calculated, informed by actual height and weight data. Following the food consumption patterns and using foods commonly eaten, four-day omnivore meal patterns (including one lacto-ovo-vegetarian day) were developed within energy requirements for males at nine age-points (9y, 10y, 11y, 12y, 13y, 14y, 15y, 16y, 17–18y), covering five UK90 growth percentiles (5th, 25th, 50th, 75th, 95th), and four physical activity levels (PAL) (1.4, 1.6, 1.8, 2.0). To improve environmental sustainability, diet modelling reduced current FBDG recommendations on meat and dairy for adolescent males. The nutritional composition of modelled meal patterns was assessed using Nutritics software. Nutritional intakes provided by diet modelling were compared with macronutrient and 13 key micronutrient intake goals. The protein digestibility-corrected amino acid score (PDCAAS) was used to record the proportion of highquality protein foods contributing to protein intake.

A total of 180 four-day meal patterns were developed in the diet modelling process, which included vitamin D supplementation. Regardless of variations in energy requirements due to body size and PAL, modelled diets met all macronutrient and micronutrient goals (exceeding target intake levels for calcium, Dietary Folate Equivalents, and vitamin C). Inadequate modelled vitamin D provided from foods only (median 4.8µg/day; range 9–11 years 1.7-6.5µg/day; range 12–18 years 1.814.0µg/day) were resolved by existing 10–15µg supplement recommendations(5). Protein intakes (g/kg body weight) were 316% above recommendations, despite the reduction of red meat and dairy in modelled meal patterns. Examination of foods in modelled meal patterns showed that 49– 76% of protein food sources were high-quality (PDCAAS ≥60), and 48–76% of calcium food sources were bioavailable dairy products.

In conclusion, FBDG for male adolescents in Ireland have been developed considering environmental sustainability, whilst keeping nutritional requirements at the forefront. This study shows lower dairy and red meat intakes than currently recommended, combined with extra lactoovo-vegetarian days, provide adolescent males with nutritionally adequate, high protein (quality and quantity) diets.

We investigated the hypotheses that broilers and pigs have distinct starch digestion capacities and that different cereals could trigger diet–species interactions. Ten replicates of two broilers (14 d old) or one pig (50 d old) each were distributed into a 3 × 2 randomised factorial design with three pelleted diets (maize, barley or oat-based) and the two species. Nutritional composition was equal for both species. Diets were fed for 10 d, and then the pancreas and organs from the stomach region and small intestine were collected with contents. It was observed that both species were similarly efficient at digesting starch but differed in some digestive aspects. Broilers had higher ileal digestibility coefficients (P < 0·001) of DM (0·69) and crude protein (0·75) than pigs (0·66 and 0·67), presented a higher volume of particles < 0·1 mm in duodenal digesta (P < 0·001) and had a lower gizzard pH (3·68) than pig stomach (4·48; P < 0·05). Conversely, pigs had lower ileal viscosity (1·44 v. 2·77 cP; P < 0·05) and higher pancreatic lipase activity (27 v. 5·9 U/g of pancreas; P < 0·05) compared with broilers. In the jejunum, oat led to higher starch digestibility (0·96; P < 0·05) than maize and barley regardless of species. In the ileum, starch digestibility was higher for broilers fed oats (0·99) than broilers fed barley (0·94; P < 0·05), establishing that oats provided, in general, a superior starch availability. The results imply that starch utilisation capacity is more related to its dietary source than to the species to which it is fed.

Background: With the aging of the population, alcohol consumption among older adults presents a growing public health concern. Recognizing the prevalence and determinants of at- risk drinking among older adults is crucial for the development of effective interventions and improved healthcare outcomes.

Objectives: To estimate the prevalence of at-risk drinking and associated factors among older adults in primary care in Brazil.

Methods: A cross-sectional study with 1,639 participants aged 60 and above from fourteen primary care units in the city of the state of Sao Paulo, Brazil, between December 2023 and April 2024. At-risk drinkers were defined by the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test - Consumption (AUDIT-C scores ≥ 4), and/or binge drinking (≥ 3 drinks on a single occasion). Logistic regression was used to assess the association between sociodemographic characteristics, smoking, depression (PHQ-2 scores ≥ 3), and chronic diseases. A gender interaction test was conducted for all positive associations.

Results: The mean age of the 1,639 participants was 68.6 (SD ± 6,2; range: 60 –95), with 52.6% reporting current alcohol consumption, 21.3% were at-risk drinkers (AUDIT-C plus binge), and 26.8% regular smokers. Men (OR: 2,94; 95% CI: 2.21–3.90), those with high education (OR: 1.53; 95% CI: 1.10–2,14), were employed (OR: 1.50; 95% CI: 1.02-2.19), and current smokers (OR: 2.36; 95% CI: 1.73–3.23) were more likely to be at-risk drinkers. While older participants (70+) (OR: 0.96; 95% CI: 0.93–0,98), and those with depression (PHQ-2) (OR: 0.96; 95% CI: 0.93– 0.98) were less likely to be at-risk drinkers. Having a higher level of education was associated with a greater likelihood of at-risk drinking for men but not for women. Conversely, the presence of chronic diseases was associated with a reduced probability to be an at-risk drinker for women, but not formen.

Conclusions: This study revealed a significant prevalence of alcohol consumption, at-risk drinking, and binge drinking among older adults in primary care. Gender differences were observed in drinking behavior. These findings could aid health professionals in identifying at- risk drinkers and inform the development of targeted interventions for the most vulnerable groups.

Blast waves have been produced in solid target by irradiation with short-pulse high-intensity lasers. The mechanism of production relies on energy deposition from the hot electrons produced by laser–matter interaction, producing a steep temperature gradient inside the target. Hot electrons also produce preheating of the material ahead of the blast wave and expansion of the target rear side, which results in a complex blast wave propagation dynamic. Several diagnostics have been used to characterize the hot electron source, the induced preheating and the velocity of the blast wave. Results are compared to numerical simulations. These show how blast wave pressure is initially very large (more than 100 Mbar), but it decreases very rapidly during propagation.

Aortic atresia is a rare finding and has not been previously described with superior-inferior ventricles. Presented here is a case of a heart with these concomitant findings and review of reported cases of aortic atresia in the absence of hypoplastic left heart syndrome. The aim of this report is to help highlight associated findings and the clinical approach taken. Also highlighted is the importance of not mistaking aortic atresia for common arterial trunk.

The dynamics of our species’ dispersal into the Pacific remains intensely debated. The authors present archaeological investigations in the Raja Ampat Islands, north-west of New Guinea, that provide the earliest known evidence for humans arriving in the Pacific more than 55 000–50 000 years ago. Seafaring simulations demonstrate that a northern equatorial route into New Guinea via the Raja Ampat Islands was a viable dispersal corridor to Sahul at this time. Analysis of faunal remains and a resin artefact further indicates that exploitation of both rainforest and marine resources, rather than a purely maritime specialisation, was important for the adaptive success of Pacific peoples.

We consider a class of nonhomogeneous elliptic equations in the half-space with critical singular boundary potentials and nonlinear fractional derivative terms. The forcing terms are considered on the boundary and can be taken as singular measure. Employing a functional setting and approach based on localization-in-frequency and Littlewood–Paley decomposition, we obtain results on solvability, regularity, and symmetry of solutions.

Different starch-to-protein ratios were compared among neutered and spayed domiciled cats. Male and female obese and non-obese cats were fed kibble diets ad libitum for 4 months high in starch (HS (38 % crude protein (CP)): starch 32 %, protein 38 %; DM basis) or high in protein (HP (55 % CP): starch 19 %, protein 55 %) but similar in energy and fat in a crossover design. Physical activity was evaluated using an accelerometer, and body composition (BC), energy expenditure (EE) and water turnover (WT) using the doubly labelled water method. Results were compared in a 2 diet × 2 sex × 2 body condition factorial arrangement. Cats fed the HS (38 % CP) diet maintained a constant body weight, but lean mass (LM) tended to be reduced in female obese but to be increased in male non-obese (P < 0·08) and increased in female non-obese cats (P = 0·01). The HP (55 % CP) diet induced an increase in cat body weight and LM (P < 0·05) without altering BC proportion. EE tended to be higher in males (351 (se 8) kJ/kg0·67/d) than females (330 (se 8) kJ/kg0·67/d; P = 0·06), was unaffected by diet or BC, decreased as age increased (R2 0·44; P < 0·01) and increased as physical activity increased (R2 0·58; P < 0·01). WT was higher for the HP (55 % CP) diet (P < 0·01) and increased with EE (R2 0·65; P < 0·01). The HS (38 % CP) diet favoured body weight control during 4 months of ad libitum feeding. Caution is necessary to balance protein in diets of female obese cats over 5 years, as they may have low energy and food intake, with LM loss.

We evaluated diagnostic test and antibiotic utilization among 252 patients from 11 US hospitals who were evaluated for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pneumonia during the severe acute respiratory coronavirus virus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) omicron variant pandemic wave. In our cohort, antibiotic use remained high (62%) among SARS-CoV-2–positive patients and even higher among those who underwent procalcitonin testing (68%).

A theoretical and experimental investigation of two-dimensional (2-D) liquid curtains (gravitationally thinning liquid sheets) is provided under conditions where the curtain issues from a thin slot whose centreline is inclined with respect to the vertical. This analysis is motivated in part by recent works where it has been proposed that oblique liquid curtains (those exiting a non-vertical slot) may bend upwards against gravity when the relevant Weber number at the slot is less than unity ($We <1$). By contrast, Weinstein et al. (J. Fluid Mech., vol. 876, 2019, R3) have proposed that such $We<1$ curtains must be vertical and downward falling regardless of the inclination of the slot. Under low-Reynolds-number ($Re$) conditions typical of liquid film coating operations, our experiments show that the curtain shape follows the classic ballistic (parabolic) trajectory in the supercritical regime ($We>1$). In subcritical conditions ($We<1$), experiments show that the downward-falling curtain is vertical except in a relatively small region near the slot, where the combined effects of viscosity and surface tension induce the so-called teapot effect. These experimental results are confirmed by 2-D numerical simulations, which predict the curtain behaviour ranging from highly viscous ($Re = O(1)$) to nearly inviscid conditions. The one-dimensional (1-D) inviscid model of Weinstein et al. is recast in a different form to facilitate comparisons with the 2-D model, and 1-D and 2-D results agree favourably for supercritical and subcritical conditions. Despite the large parameter range explored, we have found no evidence that upward-bending curtains exist in an oblique configuration.

Plant-based diets have emerged as athletic performance enhancers for various types of exercise. Therefore, the present study evaluated the effectiveness of plant-based diets on aerobic and strength/power performances, as well as on BMI of physically active individuals. This systematic review and meta-analysis was conducted and reported according to the guidelines outlined in the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) statement. A systematic search of electronic databases, including PubMed, Web of Science and SPORTDiscus, was performed. On the basis of the search and inclusion criteria, four and six studies evaluating the effects of plant-based diets on aerobic and strength/power performances in humans were, respectively, included in the systematic review and meta-analysis. Plant-based diets had a moderate but positive effect on aerobic performance (0·55; 95 % CI 0·29, 0·81) and no effect on strength/power performance (–0·30; 95 % CI −0·67, 0·07). The altogether analyses of both aerobic and strength/power exercises revealed that athletic performance was unchanged (0·01; 95 % CI −0·21, 0·22) in athletes who adopted plant-based diets. However, a small negative effect on BMI (–0·27; 95 % CI −0·40, –0·15) was induced by these diets. The results indicate that plant-based diets have the potential to exclusively assist aerobic performance. On the other hand, these diets do not jeopardise strength/power performance. Overall, the predicted effects of plant-based diets on physical performance are impactless, even though the BMI of their adherents is reduced.

A new record of the diogenid hermit crab Dardanus callichela Cook 1989 is described from the Visayan Sea, Central Philippines. Four specimens of D. callichela were caught in fish traps deployed at depths of about 30–40 m adjacent to islands to the north (Nagarao Island, Masbate) and south (Baliguian Island, Iloilo) of the Visayan Sea. The morphological description and colour photographs are provided. Partial sequences of the cytochrome oxidase subunit I (COI) are provided for two specimens and deposited in GenBank. This new record brings the total number of known Dardanus in the Philippines to 16 species.