Body sizes of species determining the success of biological control in a three-level food chain.

Biological control in plant-insect systems represents a fundamental challenge in theoretical ecology, particularly within agricultural systems. This challenge is amplified by climate change, which, through increasing temperatures, has induced variations in insect body size, altering their ecological interactions and, consequently, their abundance. Although allometric relationships provide a static description of the relationship between body size, metabolism, and population density, dynamic models are needed to adequately simulate agroecological systems.

Effects of manual therapy on oral opening, swallow function and upper quarter mobility in Chilean survivors of head and neck cancer: a study protocol for a controlled, randomised study (MAnual ThErapy for Oral Opening (MATEO) study).

Introduction: Head and neck cancer (HNC) accounts for over 4% of global cancer incidence, yet the oncological treatment induces several sequelae such as oral dysfunction, cervical and shoulder impairments or pain that are not well addressed. Thus, survivors of HNC (sHNC) perceive a decrease in their quality of life (QoL). This study protocol aims to investigate the effects of manual therapy (MT) to determine the effectiveness and safety on oral opening, swallow function and upper quarter mobility, cervical muscle strength, pain, functionality and QoL of sHNC.

The influence of artificial light at night on algal phenol concentrations can mediate herbivore-algal interactions.

Artificial light at night (ALAN) is a growing anthropogenic stressor affecting all biological levels of complexity. Despite this, only a few studies have measured its influence on photosynthetic organisms, and even fewer its effects on macroalgae and their interaction with herbivores. Of particular interest is the potential influence of ALAN on secondary metabolites, such as phenolic compounds, that are used by macroalgae to deter herbivores.

Changes to the configuration of angiography equipment to reduce exposure to ionizing radiation in FGI procedures.

Angiography systems offer three dose rate modes (low, normal, and high) for performing fluoroscopy-guided interventional (FGI) procedures, with each mode corresponding to a specific set of parameters. Although the choice of mode should depend on the patient's biotype, such systems are typically shipped from the factory configured to start examinations in normal mode as the default. To reduce both the need for operator intervention during FGI procedures and the exposure of patients to ionizing radiation, we tested a change to the internal setup of an angiography machine in this study, in which the low-dose-rate mode was automatically selected as the default prior to starting a procedure.

Controls on spatial heterogeneity in dinoflagellate cyst distribution in recent sediments off West Antarctica.

Here we present the study of 48 new dinoflagellate cyst assemblages from the west Antarctic shelf sediments on a wide longitudinal scale, with a greater representation of ice-proximal sites, and provide a comprehensive overview of their distributional patterns and multiple environmental forcing factors. We find a strong spatial heterogeneity in the dinoflagellate cyst distribution patterns; 1) the northern Antarctic Peninsula region is dominated by Islandinium? minutum, Selenopemphix antarctica and Brigantedinium spp. in association with meltwater-induced stratification and high diatom productivity, 2) the Bellingshausen-Amundsen Seas is dominated by Gymnodinium microreticulatum and Selenopemphix sp.

A Psycho-Socio-Cultural Investigation of Factors Involved in the of Chilean Mothers.

Background: Motherhood in Chile is complex and challenging - marked as it is by a growing number of women raising children on their own, against a backdrop of multiple social, cultural and economic factors- as well as a significant decline in birth rates. Perezhivanie is a Russian word, originating in Russian scholarship. This concept integrates the personal, social, and environmental dimensions of individual experience.

The Green Triad: Environmental Knowledge, Nature Connection, and Prosociality as Drivers of Pro-Environmental Behaviour in Chile - A Review.

Background: Addressing global environmental challenges requires an understanding the factors that influence pro-environmental behaviour.

Objective: This review summarises Chilean research that explores how environmental knowledge, nature connection, and prosociality influence such behaviour. The review summarises Chilean studies on these driving factors and discuss their implications for environmental education strategies.

Development of a core patient-centred outcome set for adults living with obesity: a modified delphi-based international consensus.

Background: Obesity is a chronic disease linked to over 200 health conditions, reduced quality of life, and increased mortality. Despite the availability of multimodal treatments, there is a lack of standardised, patient-centred outcome measures to effectively assess and improve clinical care. This project aimed to define a core set of standardised outcome measures for adults with obesity, incorporating both patient-reported and clinician-reported outcomes.

Estimation of Physiological Vocal Features from Neck Surface Acceleration Signals Using Probabilistic Bayesian Neural Networks.

This study presents a novel application of a Probabilistic Bayesian Neural Network (PBNN) for estimating vocal function variables and enhancing non-invasive ambulatory voice monitoring by addressing aleatoric and epistemic uncertainties in regression tasks. The proposed PBNN allows for estimating key physiological parameters including subglottal pressure, vocal fold contact pressure, thyroarytenoid, and cricothyroid muscle activations, from seven aerodynamic and acoustic features. The PBNN is trained on the Triangular Body-Cover Model (TBCM) of the vocal folds to produce a non-linear inverse mapping between its inputs and outputs.

First Report of Root-Knot Nematode, , on Tree Houseleek () in the United States.

, or tree houseleek (), is a bushy, perennial succulent and a popular ornamental plant in regions such as California, New Zealand, Australia, Sicily, Gibraltar, and Chile. It features rosettes of soft, waxy leaves at the tips of sparsely branched or occasionally single, bare stems. It is drought-tolerant and has a variety of colors and forms, making it a popular ornamental plant.

Blending salmon gelatin with polyvinylidene fluoride using coaxial electrospinning.

Electrospinning is a technique that produces large quantities of nanofibers, that can be designed at the molecular level. Electrospun membranes can be designed to biomimic the chemical composition and morphological structure of the extracellular matrix. Here, we blend salmon gelatin with polyvinyl alcohol and chitosan, which are electrospun in a coaxial configuration with polyvinylidene fluoride, a piezoelectric polymer.

Intraocular pressure responses during maximal and submaximal handgrip strength tasks in primary open-angle glaucoma patients and healthy individuals.

Background: This study aimed to compare intraocular pressure (IOP) responses during isometric handgrip strength tasks between primary open-angle glaucoma patients and healthy individuals.

Methods: Forty older adults participated: 21 glaucoma patients and 19 controls. Participants randomly performed four trials at two intensities, maximal and submaximal (at 50% of self-perceived maximal effort), with two trials per hand (one for the left eye and one for the right eye).

Cell death is a conserved innate disease resistance response of brown algae against the oomycete .

Brown algae (Phaeophyta) encompass key primary producers of temperate and cold coastal seas, such as kelps, the cultivation of which is rapidly expanding worldwide. Here, we show that across ten brown algal species, innate resistance against the intracellular oomycete pathogen is mediated by local cell death and accompanied by cell-wide deposition of β1-3 glucans and fluorescent metabolites, the accumulation of reactive oxygen species, and the expression of programmed cell death (PCD) markers. This response also occurs in compatible strains for a fraction of the infected algal cells, which makes it a quantitative trait.

Assessment of chemical methods in the extraction of spore surface layers in spores.

spores are essential for initiation, recurrence, and transmission of infections (CDI). These outermost layers of the spore, the exosporium and spore coat, are responsible for initial interactions with the host and spore resistance properties respectively. Several spore coat /exosporium extraction methods have been utilized to study the spore surface with differing procedures making comparison across studies difficult.

Opposing Modulation of EEG Aperiodic Component by Ketamine and Thiopental: Implications for the Noninvasive Assessment of Cortical E/I Balance in Humans.

The balance between excitatory and inhibitory (E/I) activity is critical for brain function, and its disruption is implicated in neuropsychiatric disorders. Electrophysiological signals can be decomposed into periodic (oscillatory) and aperiodic components. In the power spectrum, the periodic component appears as narrowband peaks, while the aperiodic component underlies its characteristic power-law decay.

Exploring omics strategies for drug discovery from isolated from the marine ecosystem.

Marine are prolific producers of diverse bioactive secondary metabolites, making them vital for drug discovery. Traditional cultivation and bioassay-guided isolation techniques often lead to the rediscovery of the same compounds, revealing the limitations of these traditional approaches and emphasizing the need for more advanced methods. The emergence of omics technologies such as genomics, metagenomics, transcriptomics, and metabolomics has dramatically enhanced the ability to investigate microorganisms by providing detailed insights into their biosynthetic gene clusters, metabolic pathways, and regulatory mechanisms.

Menthol-thymol NADES as a fungicidal and chemosensitizing agent against multidrug-resistant : ROS induction, efflux pump inhibition, and synergy with fluconazole.

Background: The increasing prevalence of azole-resistant (RCa) poses a critical therapeutic challenge, necessitating innovative antifungal approaches. Natural deep eutectic solvents (NADES), derived from natural metabolites such as terpenes, provide a promising and sustainable platform for delivering bioactive compounds with intrinsic pharmacological properties.

Purpose: This study evaluated a eutectic system composed of menthol and thymol (MT NADES, 1:1 M ratio) for its antifungal efficacy against a multidrug-resistant clinical strain.

Long-read sequencing identifies repeat expansions in Parkinson's disease.

Pathogenic GAA repeat expansions in are an established cause of late-onset cerebellar ataxia, but have not been linked to Parkinson's disease (PD). Given emerging evidence that repeat expansions in ataxia-associated genes like , can contribute to atypical or familial forms of PD, we investigated whether expansions might play a similar role. Using long-read whole-genome sequencing on 411 individuals with PD and 197 neurologically healthy controls from the PPMI cohort, alongside 1,429 additional controls from the NIH CARD initiative, the 1000 Genomes Project, and the All of Us program, representing globally diverse populations.

WHF Roadmap on Single Pill Combination Therapies.

Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are the leading global cause of mortality, with treatment adherence posing a major barrier to effective prevention and control. Single pill combinations (SPCs), also known as fixed-dose combinations, simplify treatment by combining multiple agents into one pill, improving adherence and reducing cardiovascular risk. This World Heart Federation Roadmap synthesizes the latest clinical evidence and identifies key barriers to SPC implementation, including limited manufacturing, affordability, regulatory complexity, and inconsistent guideline inclusion.

Opposing Modulation of EEG Aperiodic Component by Ketamine and Thiopental: Implications for the Noninvasive Assessment of Cortical E/I Balance in Humans.

The balance between excitatory and inhibitory (E/I) activity is critical for brain function, and its disruption is implicated in neuropsychiatric disorders. Electrophysiological signals can be decomposed into periodic (oscillatory) and aperiodic components. In the power spectrum, the periodic component appears as narrowband peaks, while the aperiodic component underlies its characteristic 1/f power-law decay.

Mental health and the healthy immigrant effect in Chile: a comparative cross-sectional study with international migrants and locals.

Introduction: The question of whether international migrants appear to be in better health than the locals, and whether this "healthy immigrant effect" declines over time is a highly relevant one, especially with regards to mental health. Based on a community-based survey conducted in Santiago, Chile, this study compares the mental health outcomes of international migrants versus local populations and examines differences within the international migrant group of respondents.

Methods: Observational cross-sectional study.

KFERQ-selective protein autophagy in Caenorhabditis elegans depends on LMP-1.

Mammalian cells exhibit three autophagy mechanisms: macroautophagy, microautophagy (MIA), and chaperone-mediated autophagy (CMA), each employing unique mechanisms for transporting cellular material to the lysosome for degradation. MIA involves the engulfment of proteins via lysosomes/late endosomes through membrane invagination, while CMA directly imports cytosolic proteins into lysosomes, selectively targeting those harboring the KFERQ pentapeptide motif, helped by the chaperone HSC70. Despite the identification of several genetic markers of these pathways, our understanding of the underlying mechanisms, particularly in MIA and CMA, remains limited.