This review summarizes evidence from cohort and intervention studies on the relationships between nutrition in early life, epigenetics, and lifelong health. Established links include maternal diet quality with conception rates, micronutrient sufficiency before and during pregnancy with preterm birth prevention, gestational vitamin D intake with offspring bone health, preconception iodine status with child IQ, adiposity with offspring obesity, and maternal stress with childhood atopic eczema. Animal studies demonstrate that early-life environmental exposures induce lasting phenotypic changes via epigenetic mechanisms, including DNA methylation, histone modifications, and non-coding RNAs, with DNA methylation of non-imprinted genes most extensively studied. Human data show that nutrition during pregnancy induces epigenetic changes associated with childhood obesity risk, such as Antisense long Non-coding RNA in the INK4 Locus (ANRIL, a long non-coding RNA) methylation variations linked to obesity and replicated across multiple populations. Emerging insights reveal that paternal nutrition and lifestyle also modify sperm epigenomics and influence offspring development. Although nutritional randomised trials in pregnancy remain limited, findings from the NiPPeR trial showed widespread preconception micronutrient deficiencies and indicated that maternal preconception and pregnancy nutritional supplementation can reduce preterm birth and early childhood obesity. The randomised trials UPBEAT and MAVIDOS have shown that nutritional intervention can impact offspring epigenetics. Postnatal nutritional exposures further influence offspring epigenetic profiles, exemplified by ALSPAC cohort findings linking rapid infant weight gain to later methylation changes and increased obesity risk. Together, these studies support a persistent impact of maternal and early-life nutrition on child health and development, underpinned by modifiable epigenetic processes.

Loneliness and social isolation represent persisent global public health concerns, particurarly for people in later life, with extensive mental, social, and biological consequences. Both have been associated with increased risk of depression, anxiety, dementia, cardiovascular disease, premature mortality, and greater demand for health and social care services. A growing body of evidence indicates that nature-based interventions are effective in reducing loneliness, enhancing mood, and promoting overall well being, yet they still remain underutilised within health and social care strategies; particularly for older adults and those with limited mobility. One such initiative, Cycling Without Age, a grassroots programme, demonstrates the potential of nature-based interventions. Evidence across multiple contexts indicates improvements in mood, life satisfaction, and social connectedness, alongside benefits for families and care staff. Cycling Without Age illustrates a type of scalable, person-centred intervention that could be integrated into healthy ageing strategies. However, rigourous large-scale research remains scarce, which highlights the need for further evaluation to guide policy adoption and sustainable implementation. Effective responses to loneliness and social isolation require integrated support programmes that foster social connectedness and healthy ageing, delivered through coordinated efforts spanning public health, urban design, and community services.

Smooth scouringrush is a deep-rooted, rhizomatous, herbaceous perennial that has been difficult to control in dryland wheat-producing regions in the Pacific Northwest. Long-term field experiments were conducted at Omak, Edwall, and Steptoe, WA, to evaluate herbicide sequences with chlorsulfuron + metsulfuron (21.9 + 4.4 g ai ha-1), triasulfuron (29.5 g ai ha-1), or MCPA ester (780 or 1122 g ae ha-1). The Omak trial (2017-2021) included two 2-year cycles of a winter wheat/chemical summer fallow rotation. The Edwall and Steptoe trials (2019-2025) included two 3-year cycles of winter wheat/spring wheat/chemical summer fallow rotation. Six pre-assigned herbicide sequences tested efficacy of 1) chlorsulfuron + metsulfuron applied in one or both chemical fallow phases and 2) triasulfuron applied only in wheat. MCPA ester was applied as a check treatment. Smooth scouringrush stem density was evaluated in each plot each year. Chlorsulfuron + metsulfuron applied in the first chemical summer fallow phase maintained relatively low stem density in all three trials through the first rotation cycle compared with the check treatment. Chlorsulfuron + metsulfuron applied in the second chemical summer fallow phase extended control through the second rotation cycle. However, in the 3-year rotation trials, chlorsulfuron + metsulfuron was not as effective in the second rotation cycle at Steptoe where stem densities only averaged 6 stems m-2 at time of the second application. Triasulfuron applied in wheat was not effective in controlling smooth scouringrush. Smooth scouringrush reduced wheat yield in the MCPA ester check sequence at Edwall, but no differences were observed at Steptoe or Omak. Chlorsulfuron + metsulfuron applied in chemical fallow is effective for long-term control of smooth scouringrush in wheat-based cropping systems. A subsequent application in chemical fallow can be effective if there are an adequate number of stems present to facilitate foliar uptake.

Body composition (BC) offers essential insights into the physical condition and performance capacity of athletes. Several factors can influence athletes' BC, such as nutrition, which can improve lean mass (LM) and body fat percentage (%BF). This longitudinal observational study aimed to investigate the factors influencing BC in professional female football players, including hormones, dietary habits, and physical activity, as these are relevant to their sport performance and health. Data related to dietary habits, DXA measurements, serum hormones, menstruation, and GPS metrics were collected in November 2023 and late March 2024 from 38 female football players from the Real Sociedad team. Of the 38 players enrolled, 35 completed all assessments and were included in the final analyses. Spearman correlations and linear regression analyses were performed. Statistically significant models were executed for %BF and LM (adjusted R2 = 0.55 and 0.47 respectively). For %BF, total testosterone had a positive influence while HSR (high-speed running) per minute, FSH, distance covered per minute, prolactin, and fat intake, influenced negatively. In the LM model, positive associations were total testosterone, progesterone, age, ACTH, and carbohydrate intake, while insulin, distance covered per minute, and, SHBG had negative associations. These results emphasise the complexity of the factors influencing BC in female football players. Personalising and periodising carbohydrate intake and monitoring training loads are crucial to prevent adverse effects like higher %BF and muscle catabolism. Establishing healthy nutritional practices is essential for long-term health and performance.

The global syndemic of obesity, undernutrition, and climate change – three interconnected challenges – threatens both human and planetary health. This review focuses on one critical intersection: older populations living with overweight and obesity in the context of sustainable nutrition. Obesity and sarcopenia, particularly the co-occurrence called sarcopenic obesity, are often overlooked until the onset or exacerbation of other diseases necessitates secondary care. Preventing sarcopenic obesity requires reducing excess fat mass while preserving muscle mass and function. This involves lowering total energy intake while ensuring adequate protein intake in terms of quantity, quality, and distribution, combined with physical activity, particularly resistance exercise. Short-term studies show that both the source and dose of dietary protein significantly influence muscle protein synthesis rates. Longer-term studies examining the impact of plant-based diets on muscle health in older adults with or without overweight or obesity remain limited. Animal proteins have shown a modest advantage over most plant-based proteins in supporting muscle mass. Qualitative studies suggest that emphasizing both the health benefits and palatability of plant-based protein sources is key to promoting dietary changes in older adults. In older adults with obesity, it is challenging to combine energy restriction with higher protein intake, especially when protein sources are plant-based. To prevent and treat sarcopenic obesity in older adults and support planetary health, a shift toward more plant-based protein sources is required, while ensuring sufficient protein quantity and quality to preserve muscle health during weight loss.

This review aims to (1) provide an overview of research investigating the relationship between body composition, specifically fat free mass (FFM) and fat mass (FM), appetite, and energy intake (EI) and (2) to investigate potential mechanisms underlying these relationships, with a focus on ageing. Appetite and EI are influenced by complex, multifactorial pathways involving physiological, psychological, environmental, social, and cultural factors. Early research investigating the association of body composition with appetite and EI focused on FM, however the role of FFM in appetite control is gaining increasing attention. Studies have shown that FFM is positively associated with EI in younger populations including infants, adolescents and adults. In contrast, FM appears to have no association or a weak inverse association with appetite/EI. However, research in older adults is limited and the underlying mechanisms are not fully understood. It has been suggested that one way in which FFM may influence appetite and EI is by impacting resting metabolic rate (RMR). FFM, which includes metabolically active tissues including skeletal muscle and organs, represents the largest determinant of RMR and therefore may influence appetite and EI by ensuring the energetic requirements of crucial tissue-organs and metabolic processes are reached. Given that declines in FFM and RMR are common with ageing, they may be possible targets for interventions aimed at improving appetite and EI. While current evidence in older adults supports a positive association between FFM and appetite, further longitudinal studies are needed to explore this relationship in different contexts, along with the underlying mechanisms.

Phenotypic plasticity refers to the capacity of an organism’s phenotype to vary in response to changes in environmental conditions, without any change in the individual genotype. Sea urchins (Echinoidea) are well-known for their morphological and behavioural plasticity in response to changing habitats or trophic environments. Phenotypic plasticity has been little studied in directly developing species, in which low levels of phenotypic plasticity are usually expected as a consequence of high levels of genetic differentiation among populations and local genetic adaptation. In the present work, we report a significant plasticity in the direct-developing and brooding sub-Antarctic species Ctenocidaris (Eurocidaris) nutrix (Echinoidea, Cidaridae) through morphological and trophic analyses of gut contents and δ13C and δ15N isotopic compositions. Molecular data (COI mtDNA) confirm that the different phenotypes of C. nutrix, the short-spined C. nutrix nutrix and the long-spined C. nutrix longispina, are a single species restricted to sub-Antarctic waters. As formerly demonstrated in broadcasting echinoid species, morphological plasticity appears to be mainly linked to depth and swell exposure, specimens from exposed and shallow sites showing shorter spines and larger apical systems compared to specimens from sheltered or deep sites. Significant differences in the diet and trophic niche of the different phenotypes suggest that prey type and food diversity may also be a factor promoting distinct phenotypic responses, both in the feeding behaviour and morphology of echinoids.

Two research branches in evolutionary psychology can make similar predictions about treatment expectations in contexts of conflict of interest, where, for those involved, costs and benefits are at stake. Recalibrational Theory of Anger suggests that evolved psychological mechanisms operate at the cognitive level and regulate human behavior. The Dark Triad Personality posits that traits of Machiavellianism, Narcissism, and Psychopathy confer adaptive advantages, leading individuals to prioritize their interests over those of others. This study aimed to replicate the results of Sell et al. (2017) in a Brazilian sample (Replication Analysis) and investigated whether dark triad traits predict the magnitude of anger in conflict-of-interest situations (Extension Analysis). Replication Analysis consistently replicated previous findings, with effect sizes from moderate to large magnitudes. Extension Analysis revealed that only Narcissism was a significant predictor when victims were intentionally targeted by offenders. While the Recalibrational Theory of Anger predictions were largely confirmed, the dark triad personality traits, except for Narcissism, were generally poor predictors of anger magnitude. The results suggest that the universality of the information processing is robust and is little influenced by antisocial personality characteristics.

Avian schistosomatids are blood flukes parasitizing a wide spectrum of aquatic birds. However, its research in the Neotropics is ongoing with several putative new taxa pending description. Although waterfowl represent the most important avian hosts for these flukes, only a small proportion of these birds have been assessed for schistosomatids. This study aimed to describe avian schistosomatids from two native ducks from the Southern Cone of South America. A total of 24 Chiloe wigeon (Mareca sibilatrix) and three Cinnamon teals (Spatula cyanoptera) from different localities in Chile and Argentina were dissected to retrieve schistosomatids. The retrieved worms were described through an integrative approach considering morphology (staining and SEM) and molecular tools (PCR: COI, 28S rRNA genes). The new schistosomatid: Trichobilharzia kulfu sp. nov. was recovered from the viscera of Chiloe wigeon. It was closely related to other undescribed Trichobilharzia taxa from the United States, also from Mareca ducks. The new species was morphologically and molecularly different from other Trichobilharzia species, and it was included in the clade Q. In addition, SEM imaging proved to be an important tool to describe unnoticed traits on the tegument of worms. This new species represents the second Trichobilharzia taxon from the Neotropics described through an integrative approach. Furthermore, the Cinnamon teals harboured Trichobilharzia querquedulae. Considering there are several avian schistosomatids described only through morphological or molecular tools, there is a clear need to include a comprehensive approach in the description of avian schistosomatids, considering the remarkable richness of schistosomatids in Neotropics.

The phenomenon of insect emergence represents a transfer of mass and energy from aquatic to terrestrial systems and is a critical part of ecosystem connectivity and functioning. Traditional methods of studying insect emergence rely on the capture of insects as they emerge and on morphological identification with taxonomic keys. This can be both time consuming and impact study populations, obstacles that can be removed with DNA obtained from biological remnants. The present proof-of-concept study investigated the potential of using exuviae collected from the water surface as a DNA source. Emergence trap samples and insect exuviae were collected from a pond and a small creek. Sample types were generally not statistically distinguishable, but the exuviae samples identified more orders containing amphibiotic insects and a higher level of diversity within these orders than the trap samples did. This higher level of diversity seen in exuviae samples may be due to limitations of emergence traps, including that they alter environmental variables in their collection area. We demonstrated that identification of emerging aquatic insects through metabarcoding of exuviae is a useful method for the study of insect emergence and could be used for biodiversity assessments and studies on emergence times and to better understand ecosystem connectivity.