Soils are among the most biodiverse ecosystems on the planet, home to staggering amounts of small organisms. Many of these organisms are not known to science. This biodiversity 'dark matter' remains largely unexplored because identifying small soil organisms requires either specialized taxonomic expertise or expensive molecular methods, creating a throughput bottleneck that restricts ecosystem-scale monitoring. To explore this dark matter, we developed a high-throughput digital phenotyping approach using multispectral flow cytometry to create digital 'fingerprints' of soil organisms. Analyzing 2318 organisms spanning nematodes, collembola, mites, and tardigrades, we show that these digital fingerprints distinguish taxonomic groups with high accuracy and capture phylogenetic signal that explains 91% of variance in DNA barcode relationships. Machine learning alignment enables us to assess genetic similarity based solely on digital fingerprints, allowing prediction of relationships without sequencing. Smart sampling strategies guided by these projections achieve 6-fold improvements in species discovery efficiency compared to traditional approaches, with advantages that compound as sampling increases. Our smart sampling approach has applications across domains and provides a scalable pathway for rapid biodiversity assessment with immediate applications in agriculture, conservation, and ecosystem monitoring.

The responses underlying heightened sensitivity of young populations to deoxynivalenol (DON) toxicity remain uncharacterized in translational murine models. This study aimed to fill this gap by providing the first systematic, multi-organ (intestine, liver, and kidney) comparison of DON toxicity, contrasting the responses of prepubertal and adult mice. Prepubertal (21-day-old) and adult (65-day-old) Swiss mice (n = 10/group) were fed control or 10 mg/kg DON-contaminated diets for 15 or 28 days, respectively. Growth performance was monitored, and intestine, liver, and kidney were subsequently collected for histopathological, morphometric, and biochemical analyses. DON induced a severe, acute weight gain reduction (∼59.6%) in prepubertal mice, with no effect on adults or systemic biochemical profiles. DON toxicity was highly organ-specific: the prepubertal intestine mounted an adaptive response, coupling oxidative damage with compensatory antioxidant production and enterocyte hypertrophy, but without structural lesions. In contrast, the liver and kidney sustained direct histopathological damage in both age groups. However, their biochemical responses diverged: the liver showed a young-specific inflammatory signal, whereas the kidney remained biochemically silent despite the damage it sustained. This multi-organ comparison in mice shows that DON toxicity is age- and organ-specific, demonstrating that at the exposure dose used, prepubertal mice exhibit more pronounced toxic responses.

Microplastics (MPs) are pervasive marine contaminants, yet Mediterranean-scale assessments remain constrained by fragmented spatial coverage, inconsistent metrics, and limited integration between observations and transport processes. Here, we combine a harmonised systematic review of MP concentrations in surface waters and fish with basin-scale Lagrangian particle tracking to resolve distribution patterns, connectivity, and exposure pathways across Mediterranean Geographical Sub-Areas (GSAs). From 591 screened records (2012-2026), 108 empirical studies met strict inclusion criteria. Concentrations were standardised to items m[-3] for surface waters and items individual[-1] for fish, enabling direct GSA-level comparisons. The mean Mediterranean surface-water concentration was 2.12 ± 10.52 items m[-3], with pronounced hotspots in the Levant, Sardinia West and Cyprus Island (GSAs 27, 11.1, and 25, respectively), and a maximum concentration of 324.10 items m[-3] observed in the Levantine basin. MP ingestion was widespread across 90 species and three taxa identified at genus level, yet no clear spatial coupling was observed between water and fish contamination, indicating that biological exposure cannot be inferred from local surface concentrations alone. To interpret these patterns, we simulated MP transport using OpenDrift forced by Copernicus Marine reanalysis (2005-2020), releasing 579,960 particles tracked for four years. Simulations show net accumulation in southeastern basin GSAs, frequent coastal interaction (58.5% beaching/contact), and slightly stronger connectivity among water hotspots (33.4%) than between water and fish hotspots (21.2%). By integrating harmonised observations with process-based modelling, this study provides the first basin-scale assessment linking MP transport dynamics to biological exposure in the Mediterranean Sea.

Breast cancer is one of the leading causes of death among women worldwide, and its occurrence is shaped by both nonmodifiable factors (such as age and genetics) and modifiable factors, among which diet plays a central role. This review addresses the role of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) in the prevention, development, and treatment of breast cancer, highlighting their capacity to modulate inflammatory processes and impact mammographic density. Evidence indicates a negative association between n-3 PUFAs intake and breast cancer risk, whereas the role of n-6 PUFAs in disease development remains poorly elucidated. N-3 PUFAs supplementation has been shown to improve patient's quality of life by alleviating treatment-related side effects, such as aromatase inhibitors-induced musculoskeletal pain, and by reducing systemic inflammation. However, responses vary among individuals, emphasizing the need to personalize dietary strategies by considering factors such as body mass index and nutritional status. Although current evidence reinforces the importance of incorporating n-3 PUFAs and regulating n-6 PUFAs intake, further research is needed to optimize dosage and supplementation duration and to assess their long-term impact on breast cancer prevention and treatment.

This study investigates the vulnerabilities that emerge in Circular Business Ecosystems (CBE) and their impact on ecosystem resilience. CBEs, characterized by collaborative networks of interdependent actors, are increasingly recognized as strategic approaches for achieving circular value propositions. However, these ecosystems are exposed to perturbations that can undermine their effectiveness and resilience. Drawing on a four-year qualitative, multiple-case study involving 19 firms across two distinct CBEs, this research adopts a vulnerability lens and socioecological and economic perspectives to resilience to explore how vulnerabilities in material flows, actor relationships, and governance structures impact resilience. The findings reveal that perturbations such as material dependency, power imbalances, lack of transparency, and fragmented governance can reduce adaptive capacity, leading to unintended consequences in CBEs. These vulnerabilities (the structural conditions of exposure and sensitivity) undermine flexibility, redundancy, and visibility, constraining the ecosystem's resilience (the ability to adapt, collaborate, innovate, and respond to external shocks). This study contributes to the literature by conceptualizing these vulnerabilities and their interactions with resilience, providing insights for strengthening adaptive capacity and the long-term sustainability of circular ecosystems.

Background Biliary tract carcinoma (BTC) is underreported. This study describes the clinical characteristics and survival outcomes of BTC patients at six institutions in Colombia. Methods This is an observational, retrospective, multicenter, and real-life study of BTC patients. Baseline demographics, clinical characteristics, and treatment patterns were collected. A Kaplan-Meier analysis was used to estimate overall survival (OS), event-free survival (EFS), and progression-free survival (PFS). Multivariable Cox proportional hazards regression analyses for OS were performed in the overall cohort and in patients who received first-line treatment. Results A total of 214 BTC patients were included of which 136 were women (63.6%). Gallbladder carcinoma accounted for n=102 (47.7%), extrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma for n=59 (27.5%), and intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma for n=53 (24.8%). Radical surgery was performed in 127 (59.3%) patients, 34 (26.8%) of whom remained relapse-free. First-line treatment for advanced disease was given to 116 patients (54.2%). Gemcitabine alone or in combination was used in 102 (87.9%) patients. The median EFS and OS were 16.4 months (95%CI: 12.3-20.6) and 21.5 months (95%CI: 14.2-28.8), respectively. Among patients initially diagnosed with metastatic disease, the median OS was 7.9 months (95%CI: 6.9-8.9). In 55 patients treated with gemcitabine-cisplatin as first-line therapy, the median OS was 9.6 months (95%CI: 5.5-13.7). In multivariable analysis, Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status ≥2 and CA 19-9 >100U/mL were independently associated with worse OS. Conclusions In Colombia, patients with BTC face a poor prognosis, even in the early stages. Survival with gemcitabine-cisplatin for advanced disease is lower than that reported in clinical trials. These real-world data inform expectations for physicians and patients in Colombia.

This article outlines applications of the Nova food classification system in policies aimed at reducing the share of ultraprocessed food (UPF) in population diets. Such policies are lagging far behind the growing scientific and public attention to UPFs and the mounting evidence of their harms, reflecting industry opposition and institutional inertia but also valid scientific critiques and policy concerns. We examine how Nova and the UPF concept can inform and improve dietary guidance, dietary monitoring and target-setting, food regulation, and sustainable food system transitions. We position UPF-based policies as complementary to, rather than in competition with, existing policies aimed at addressing dietary nutrient imbalances, offering a constructive way forward to enhance the promotion of healthy diets and facilitate the transition to healthier and sustainable food systems. (Am J Public Health. 2026;116(7):932-939. https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.2026.308509).

Global contamination of aquatic ecosystems by synthetic microparticles has raised increasing concern, yet studies on their ingestion by freshwater invertebrates remain limited. Benthic macroinvertebrates, highly exposed to this kind of contamination, play a key role in aquatic food webs and nutrient cycling. This study investigated the ingestion of synthetic microparticles by benthic macroinvertebrates in the middle Tietê River basin, widely recognized as one of the most polluted rivers in Brazil. Samples were collected from the main river, a marginal lagoon, and a tributary under less human pressure. Contamination was expressive. A total of 129 synthetic microparticles were identified, from 0.02 to 1.78 particles per individual (mean of 0.5), between 7.14 and 900 particles per g of wet tissue. Size the mean values were 1.02 mm (main river), 0.81 mm (lagoon), and 0.64 mm (tributary). The presence of microplastics (polyester and polypropylene) was confirmed; however, cellulose-based fibers accounted for 90.7% of all identified synthetic microparticles. Ingestion rates did not differ significantly among environments, despite noticeable water-quality and hydrodynamics differences, suggesting that factors beyond local pollution levels may influence ingestion patterns. The filter-feeding bivalve Corbicula fluminea showed the highest ingestion values. Results provide the first evidence of synthetic microparticles ingestion by benthic macroinvertebrates in the Tietê River basin and establish an important baseline for future biomonitoring and risk assessment in Neotropical freshwater ecosystems.