Search Results (93)

Background: Preventing mobility-related loss of independence (LoI) is a critical public health priority. While the drivers of LoI are complex, this study examines how personal, social, and environmental factors influence these outcomes to identify actionable preventive targets. We applied the International Classification of Functioning, Disability, and Health (ICF) framework to examine these pathways across racial and ethnic groups. Methods: Using 2023 National Health and Aging Trends Study (NHATS) data (N = 7106), we conducted path analyses among non-Hispanic (NH) White, NH Black, and Hispanic older adults. We assessed associations between health conditions, body function, physical performance, social participation, and environmental factors. Results: The ICF-based model explained 36.6–38.2% of LoI variance. While physical performance was the strongest direct predictor of independence across all groups, indirect pathways varied. Social participation restrictions are associated with higher LoI score among NH White and Black adults. For Hispanic adults, limited English proficiency functioned as a key environmental variable negatively associated with body function and physical performance. Additionally, shared living arrangements among NH Black participants were negatively associated with physical performance. By gender, only NH White females exhibited associations with better physical and social outcomes. Conclusions: Pathways to LoI are associated with group-specific structural factors. To effectively prevent functional decline, healthcare policies should move beyond generic services toward culturally responsive interventions. Prioritizing targeted lifestyle behaviors—specifically social engagement for NH Black populations and linguistic accessibility for Hispanic adults—may help reduce health inequities and proactively preserve independence. Full article

Wenchang chicken, a premium indigenous yellow-feathered broiler in China, faces production constraints due to high feed costs and soybean meal dependence. Black soldier fly larvae meal (BSFLM) is a promising alternative protein source, but its effects on Wenchang chickens are largely unknown. This study evaluated the effects of dietary BSFLM on growth performance, meat quality, intestinal health, and cecal microbiota. A total of 192 fifty-day-old female Wenchang chickens were randomly assigned to diets with 0%, 5%, 10%, or 15% full-fat BSFLM for 42 days. The 15% BSFLM inclusion increased final body weight (p < 0.05) while reducing the feed conversion ratio (p < 0.01) and feed cost per kg gain (p < 0.001). Regarding meat quality, 15% BSFLM enhanced redness (a*) and reduced shear force, 48 h drip loss, and cooking loss (p < 0.05). It also elevated antioxidant enzyme activities, upregulated Nrf2–Keap1, improved intestinal villus architecture and tight junction proteins, and reduced serum diamine oxidase (p < 0.05). Cecal microbiota underwent distinct restructuring, with dose-dependent proliferation of beneficial taxa. Overall, BSFLM exerts beneficial effects on the feed efficiency, meat quality, and intestinal health of Wenchang chickens, and the 15% inclusion level achieved relatively better comprehensive outcomes. This study provides a scientific reference for insect protein utilization and contributes to sustainable high-quality Wenchang chicken production. Full article

The appearance and spread of the image of the bicorporate sphinx in Scythia of 4th century BC can be regarded as an example of selective borrowing from ancient iconography. In the Greek world, this type is encountered rarely, but it gained considerable currency among the Scythians of the Northern Black Sea region. Its spread coincides with the period of expansion of the fantastic bestiary among the Scythians and the increasing complexity of the funerary rite of the Scythian elite. The predominance of finds in female burials indicates that this image was part of the circle of signs associated specifically with women’s high social status. The doubling of the body enhanced the image’s visual expressiveness and protective nature. More complex interpretations of the worldview are not supported by the sources and cannot be considered proven. Full article

Broodiness is a natural behavior whereby female birds stop laying eggs to sit on and hatch them. This behavior is regulated through genetic, hormonal, and environmental factors. The Taihe Black-Boned Silky Fowl (TBSF), a Chinese traditional domestic breed, exhibits a strong brooding tendency; however, the molecular mechanisms underlying this trait remain unclear. In this study, we performed an integrated multi-omics analysis to characterize differences between two groups of TBSF hens: 8 individuals undergoing 30 days of active brooding (BR30) and 8 individuals in the normal laying egg stage (NB), selected from a total group of 230 hens. We combined 16S rRNA sequencing, untargeted metabolomics, and hepatic transcriptome sequencing, with statistical analyses including QIIME 1.9.1, OPLS-DA (VIP > 1), Student’s t-test (p ≤ 0.05), and DESeq2 (|log₂FC| ≥ 1, FDR < 0.05) for differentially expressed genes (DEGs), respectively, and Pearson’s correlation analysis for multi-omics integration. Phenotypically, brooder hens showed significantly reduced feed intake, body weight, and main digestive tissue indices, alongside altered liver and blood biochemical parameters. Hepatic transcriptome analysis identified 1582 DEGs between groups, enriched in pathways related to fatty acid oxidation and the amino acid degradation pathway. In addition, 16S rRNA sequencing revealed distinct gut microbial community structures: the NB group was enriched in Bacilliota and Pseudomonadota, while the BR30 group was enriched in Spirochaetota and Synergistota. Metabolomic profiling identified a total of 143 differential metabolites, which were enriched in lipid and amino acid metabolites, including alpha-linolenic acid and pyruvate metabolites. Multi-omics correlation analysis revealed tight associations between gut microbial taxa, circulating metabolites, and hepatic gene expression. Specifically, beneficial lipid metabolites, including phospholipids, lysophosphatidylcholines, and sphingomyelins, were positively correlated with Synergistes and the Christensenellaceae R-7, as well as with key hepatic lipid metabolism genes FABP1, LPL, and FADS2. In summary, this study reveals that the gut–liver axis plays a critical part in the modulation of energy metabolism during broodiness, and further highlights new insights into metabolic targets that could optimize reproductive behavior and enhance poultry production. Full article

Background: Alcohol-associated fatty liver disease (AFLD) is a major public health concern and remains one of the leading causes of chronic liver disease in the United States. Understanding the interplay between obesity, metabolic dysfunction, and lifestyle factors may help identify populations at increased risk for AFLD. Methods: This cross-sectional study utilized data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) collected between 2013–2018. AFLD was operationally defined using elevated liver enzyme levels combined with risky alcohol consumption. Metabolic obesity phenotypes (MOPs) were characterized by combining body mass index categories with either metabolic health status or metabolic syndrome (MS). Results: The weighted prevalence of AFLD was 14% (95%CI: 12–16%). AFLD prevalence was significantly higher among males than females (17% vs. 10% respectively, p < 0.0001), and among Hispanics compared to Non-Hispanic Black participants (20% vs. 9% respectively, p < 0.0001). Compared with metabolically healthy normal-weight individuals, obese participants with MS demonstrated the strongest association overall AFLD association (adjusted PR: 6.73; 95% CI: 4.51–10.05). Furthermore, obese males with MS showed the highest odds of AFLD under both MOP schemes (MOP 1: OR: 8.19; 95% CI: 4.41–15.23; MOP 2: OR: 10.92; 95% CI: 6.86–17.37). Conclusions: Individuals with obesity and metabolic dysfunction demonstrated significantly higher AFLD prevalence compared with metabolically healthy normal-weight individuals. MOPs incorporating MS demonstrated stronger associations with AFLD than classifications based on metabolic health status alone. These findings support the importance of screening strategies that address both obesity and metabolic dysfunction in addition to alcohol use to better identify high-risk populations. Full article

Seasonal body mass fluctuations in mammals reflect fundamental trade-offs between ecological constraints and reproductive effort, yet few studies have simultaneously linked these dynamic changes with activity budgets in high-altitude primates inhabiting extreme-temperature environments. We examined the effects of environmental stress and mating effort on body mass dynamics in black-and-white snub-nosed monkeys (Rhinopithecus bieti). Using monthly non-invasive monitoring over a full annual cycle, we obtained 464 body mass records from free-ranging adults (127 male records, 337 female records). Both sexes showed marked seasonal variation: body mass peaked in spring and autumn, declined moderately in winter (males: −7.4%, females: −2.9%), and dropped more sharply during the mating season (males: −11.1%, females: −12.9%). Male mass loss was positively correlated with the number of mates. Seasonal shifts in activity budgets accompanied these patterns: in summer, males increased movement and females increased both movement and social interaction, while both sexes reduced resting; in winter, both sexes increased feeding time, with females additionally reducing social activities. These findings reveal two distinct phases of body mass loss. Body mass decline was more pronounced during the mating season than in winter, a pattern that may be associated with higher energetic costs related to reproductive activity. Our study demonstrates how high-altitude primates balance survival and reproduction through flexible energy allocation, offering key insights into their seasonal energy allocation resilience in provisioned high-altitude habitats. Full article

Internalized Weight Bias (IWB) is consistently associated with poor body image, elevated depression, and diminished self-esteem. However, very little research has examined how additional psychological constructs may indirectly influence the association between IWB and these outcomes. This investigation examined whether IWB was associated with body image, depression, and self-esteem among individuals with overweight and obesity indirectly through body shame, experiential avoidance, and self-compassion. The current sample included 403 participants, with slightly over half the participants (51%) identifying as a female with an average age of 48.3 (SD = 16.9, range 18 to 84), and an average BMI of 33.1 (SD = 7.5, range 25 to 68). Participants were recruited through a Qualtrics research panel that was reflective of the United States population on variables of education, geographic location, income, and biological sex. All participants were aged 18+ and had a BMI ≥ 25. To maximize racial/ethnic diversity, the current sample contained three equally represented self-identified racial/ethnic groups: Black non-Hispanic or Latino/a (N = 140), Hispanic or Latino/a (N = 133), and White non-Hispanic or Latino/a (N = 130). Results showed a significant indirect effect of IWB on psychological and body image outcomes through body shame, experiential avoidance, and self-compassion. Future longitudinal research examining the contexts in which body shame, experiential avoidance, and self-compassion may act as mediators will be important to further develop an understanding of IWB. Full article

This article analyzes how twentieth- and twenty-first-century Afro-Colombian women poets from the Pacific region challenge and reframe the feminization of the land and the naturalization of the Black female body within colonial and Eurocentric epistemologies. Drawing on a framework that conceptualizes body, territory, spirituality, and community as an interdependent continuum, the article conducts close textual analysis to demonstrate how these poets construct territory and the Black female body as sentient sites. These sites are simultaneously shaped by historical violence, forced displacement, extractive economies, and racialized gender constructs, while preserving ancestral knowledge and collective memory. The findings show that Valencia Córdoba develops the body–territory through metaphor and anaphora as a generative space; Grueso Romero deploys orality and the sea as transatlantic archives of ancestry and identity; and Truque articulates urban displacement as an ontological rupture that affects memory and Black subjectivity. Ultimately, the article advances the concept of body–territory as a decolonial aesthetic and analytical tool through which Afro-Colombian women’s poetry articulates environmental justice, gendered racialization, and forms of resistance within the Afrodiasporic diaspora. Full article

Sexual dimorphism in morphological traits is widespread across animals and can result from differing life-history strategies, sex-specific competition, and ecological interactions influenced by habitat structure. For epifaunal organisms such as amphipods, habitat complexity mediates access to food, mate encounters, and refuge. This study investigates sex-related variation in body size and gnathopod 2 ratio (gnathopod 2 length/body length) in two amphipod species, Ampithoe ramondi and Caprella acanthifera, across four benthic habitats: rhodolith beds, macroalgae-dominated reefs, seagrass meadows, and black coral forests. A. ramondi occurred in all habitats except black coral forests, with males larger than females only in macroalgae-dominated reefs and exhibiting higher gnathopod ratios, increasing across macroalgae-dominated reefs, seagrass meadows and rhodolith beds. C. acanthifera was found in macroalgae-dominated reefs and black coral forests, with males larger on average but no significant habitat-related variation in dimorphism. These results indicate that sexual dimorphism patterns are species-specific, shaped by habitat-specific ecological pressures and life-history strategies. Expanding such analyses to more taxa and with balanced sampling across habitats and environmental gradients will offer deeper insight into how natural and sexual selection interact and inform how these dynamics may shift under changing climate regimes. Full article

Background. Cardiometabolic diseases (CMDs) have become a major health concern among adults living with HIV (ALWH) as antiretroviral therapy (ART) extends life expectancy. Metabolic syndrome (MetS)—a cluster of abdominal obesity, hypertension, hyperglycemia, hypertriglyceridemia, and hypoalphalipoproteinemia—is a key predictor of CMD risk. Despite high HIV prevalence in Panama, data on MetS among ALWH are scarce. Thus, the Colón C3 Study aimed to estimate the prevalence of MetS and its criteria in a large cohort of ALWH in Colón, Panama. Methods. Between April–December 2024, 659 ALWH aged ≥18 years were enrolled at the province’s sole ART Clinic (78.1% of active patients). Participants completed a computer-assisted survey on demographics and social determinants of health (SDoH), underwent anthropometry and body composition assessment, and provided ≥8 h fasting blood samples for glucose, lipid profiles, HbA1c, and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP). MetS was defined using NCEP-R ATP-III criteria, and analyses were stratified by sex. Results. Mean age was 43.9 (range 18–79) years; 55% were female, and 51% identified as Black/Afro-Caribbean. The overall prevalence of MetS was 38.6% (binomial 95% CI 34.5%, 42.9%), exceeding pooled estimates for ALWH in the Americas (30.4%). Among individual criteria, hypoalphalipoproteinemia (59.6%) and hypertension (52.6%) were most prevalent, followed by abdominal obesity (45.2%), hyperglycemia (33.5%), and hypertriglyceridemia (22.5%). Women exhibited significantly higher body fat mass and BMI than men. Mean hsCRP was 7.2 mg/L, indicating persistent inflammation despite virologic suppression. Socioeconomic vulnerabilities, food insecurity (30%), and housing instability (>40%) were common. Conclusions. Findings reveal a substantial cardiometabolic burden among ALWH in Colón and underscore the need for integrated HIV–CMD care models, earlier screening, and natal sex–responsive interventions. The results provide foundational evidence for improving long-term, equitable cardiometabolic outcomes in HIV care across Panama and the broader Latin American region. Full article

Background/Objectives: Chemically induced hepatotoxicity is widely used in experimental research to model liver disease pathophysiology and to support preclinical studies. Thioacetamide (TAA) is a well-established hepatotoxic agent in conventional laboratory rodents; however, its effects in synanthropic rats—characterized by genetic heterogeneity and chronic environmental exposure—remain poorly defined. This study aimed to establish and characterize a preclinical model of TAA-induced hepatotoxicity in synanthropic rats and to assess its relevance for experimental liver disease research. Methods: Female synanthropic rats representing four phenotypic variants (albino, mottled, black, and brown; total n = 132) were housed under controlled conditions and assigned to control or TAA-treated groups. TAA was administered intraperitoneally at doses ranging from 200 to 300 mg/kg. Clinical parameters, including body weight and vital signs, were periodically monitored. Hematological profiles and serum biochemical markers of liver function were analyzed. Hepatic injury was evaluated by histopathological examination using hematoxylin–eosin staining. Statistical analyses were performed using R software, with p ≤ 0.05 considered statistically significant. Results: TAA-treated rats developed consistent clinical manifestations of hepatotoxicity, including progressive weight loss and reduced activity. Biochemical analyses revealed significant increases in serum transaminases, gamma-glutamyl transferase, and alkaline phosphatase, accompanied by alterations in hematological parameters. Histological evaluation demonstrated dose-dependent liver injury characterized by centrilobular necrosis, inflammatory infiltration, hepatocellular degeneration, and architectural disruption across all synanthropic rat variants. Conclusions: Synanthropic rats exhibit reproducible biochemical, hematological, and histopathological features of TAA-induced liver injury comparable to those reported in conventional laboratory strains. This model represents a robust preclinical approach for studying chemically induced hepatotoxicity and may provide enhanced translational relevance due to its genetic and environmental heterogeneity. Full article

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of age, sex, and dietary supplementation with resveratrol and defatted black soldier fly (Hermetiaconfirmedillucens) larvae meal (BSF) on the carcass traits, meat quality, and lipid profile in Manchurian Golden quail. A total of 180 birds were examined: 90 young quail at 35 days of age before the onset of laying and 90 older quail at 128 days of age during the laying period, with both sexes represented. The birds were assigned to three dietary treatments: a commercial basal diet, the same basal diet supplemented with 250 mg/kg of resveratrol, and a diet including 10% BSF. The carcass composition, meat physicochemical properties, lipid profile, and nutritional quality indices were analyzed. Older quail exhibited higher body, carcass, and organ weights and greater internal fat deposition, whereas younger quail showed more intense breast meat color and higher ash and cholesterol contents. Females generally demonstrated leaner carcasses and more favorable lipid profiles than males. Dietary BSF supplementation increased body weight and the intramuscular fat content but negatively influenced fatty acid indices, whereas resveratrol supplementation enhanced polyunsaturated fatty acid levels and the PUFA/SFA ratio (p < 0.001), despite an associated increase in meat cholesterol. Meat from older quail was tougher but showed healthier lipid characteristics, including higher (p < 0.001) PUFA proportions, lower (p < 0.001) atherogenic index (AI) and thrombogenic index (TI) values, and more favorable (p < 0.001) hypocholesterolemic/hypercholesterolemic fatty acid ratio (H/h) and health-promoting index (HPI) values. Overall, slaughtering dual-purpose quail after three months of laying did not compromise meat nutritional quality and may even enhance certain health-related attributes. Full article

The whiting, Merlangius merlangus, is a key cold-temperate demersal species in the Black Sea, yet information on its essential habitats and demographic structure remains limited for effective regional management. This study combined fishery-independent bottom trawl surveys with in situ hydrographic observations to identify autumn hotspots of recruits and adults along the southern Black Sea and to assess their relationships with environmental gradients. A stratified random survey (10–125 m) was conducted in autumn 2024, with data collected from 66 hauls. The population showed a strong female bias, with females comprising 67.9% of individuals (F:M = 2.12:1), significantly deviating from a 1:1 sex ratio. Length–weight relationships indicated positive allometric growth in females (b = 3.16), isometric growth in males (b = 3.03), and overall positive allometry for the combined population (b = 3.15). The relative condition factor (Kn) was close to unity (1.01 ± 0.10), suggesting stable body condition during the survey period. Generalized Additive Models with a Tweedie distribution revealed that depth–temperature interactions were the primary drivers of distribution for both recruits and adults, explaining 74.7% and 69.5% of deviance, respectively. Recruits concentrated at 40–75 m within 10–15 °C, while adults extended beyond 100 m, associated with the upper Cold Intermediate Layer. These findings highlight hydrographically dynamic nursery and feeding habitats, underscoring the need for adaptive, habitat-based spatial management of this shared Black Sea stock. Full article

This study aimed to elucidate the genetic basis of body-size-related traits in Wanyue Black pigs, including body length, chest circumference, forearm circumference, and hip circumference. Phenotypic data were collected from 139 four-month-old female pigs, and genotyping was performed using a 50K SNP array. After stringent quality control and genotype imputation, approximately 4,697,453 high-quality autosomal variants were retained for subsequent genome-wide association study (GWAS), transcriptome-wide association study (TWAS), and phenome-wide association study (PheWAS). The GWAS identified four genome-wide significant loci, including rs343276492 and rs321308815. TWAS results revealed that the expression level of PTH2R was significantly associated with pituitary-related traits. In addition, selection signal analysis identified multiple genomic regions related to growth, development, and environmental adaptability, which were significantly enriched in pathways such as circadian rhythm regulation and the MAPK signaling pathway. These pathways play critical roles in growth regulation and adaptive evolution in Wanyue Black pigs. Collectively, this study provides valuable candidate genes and potential molecular markers for the genetic improvement and breeding of Wanyue Black pigs. Full article

In this paper, three new species of Aphelinus (Hymenoptera: Aphelinidae), Aphelinus jinshanensis Wang & Huang, sp.n., Aphelinus albimaculatus Wang & Huang, sp.n. and Aphelinus varius Wang & Huang, sp.n. are described and illustrated. Additionally, the japonicus group of Aphelinus is reviewed. The japonicus group is differentiated from all the known groups of these three subgenera by having a 3-segmented flagellum in the male. It is characterized by the following combination of features: antenna 6-segmented in the female, and 5-segmented in the male; body yellow, partly dark brown to black; the numerous setae on mid-lobe not arranged in symmetry; ovipositor short, and hypopygium not reaching to the apex of the gaster. Aphelinus varius Wang & Huang, sp.n. described here represents the second species assigned to the japonicus group. An identification key to the species of this group is provided. The relationships among these three new species are analyzed using a maximum likelihood phylogenetic tree based on cox1 sequences. While the evolutionary relationships of some species or groups remain uncertain due to weak statistical support for the relevant branches. Full article