Gobierno de La Rioja

Moult, breeding, and migration are the three major life‐history events in the annual cycle of birds. All are energetically demanding processes that rarely overlap. In large raptors such as the Egyptian vulture Neophron percnopterus , completing a full moult may take more than one year, requiring birds to balance this process with other life‐cycle events. We analysed 740 moult cards from across the species' distribution, including migratory, sedentary and mixed subpopulations, to test predictions about trade‐offs between the physiological demands of migration and moult. Juveniles began moulting in January–February of their second calendar year and continued ‘year‐round' until their fifth calendar year. Adults, however, suspended moult from the months preceding spring migration until the late breeding phase. Subadults from the Canary Islands started moulting earlier and completed it faster than those from western Europe, while adults from western Europe initiated moult later than adults from the Canary Islands, India, and Oman. Sedentary subpopulations, particularly that from the Canary Islands, showed a greater moult extent and replaced more primaries annually than migratory and mixed subpopulations, whereas the wintering subpopulation of southwestern Spain (Extremadura) exhibited the smallest moult extent. Moult symmetry decreased from the second plumage onwards and differed between the Canary Islands and Oman subpopulations. Geographic differences in moulting patterns likely arise from population‐specific life‐history trade‐offs, reflecting local adaptations or responses to environmental constraints. These patterns highlight the influence of migratory strategy on moult progression and suggest that sedentary lifestyles may allow more extensive feather renewal in long‐lived raptors.

The lack of experimental structures for the majority of protein-protein complexes has motivated the development of a variety of strategies for the structural modeling of protein complexes, such as computational docking, in active development for the last decades, and the more recent artificial intelligence (AI)-based ground-breaking methodologies. Among the existing computational docking methods, Python docking (pyDock) has shown competitive predictive rates and high robustness over the years. However, the field has dramatically changed with the appearance of artificial intelligence (AI)-based methods, like AlphaFold. While structure prediction of individual proteins is virtually solved by this program, the focus is now on how to improve the prediction of challenging cases like antibody-antigen complexes, multiprotein complexes, weak interactions, or highly flexible interacting proteins. Successful strategies are based on the generation of more diverse sets of models and the integration with other "classical" approaches that facilitate the identification of the correct models. Here, we will show in practical terms how to combine the structural modeling capabilities of AlphaFold with the energy-based scoring function in pyDock to improve structural predictions in challenging protein-protein complexes.

Abstract Herbivory can affect the soil microbiome, creating legacies that affect plant resistance, but how these effects vary by feeding guild and the plant traits involved remain underexplored. We tested how soil legacies created by a leaf‐chewing caterpillar ( Spodoptera exigua ) and a sap‐feeding aphid ( Aphis gossypii ) influence resistance in Baccharis salicifolia by evaluating changes in plant traits and soil microbial diversity. We conditioned soil with three herbivory treatments on B. salicifolia : caterpillar herbivory, aphid herbivory or control (no herbivory). Then, we grew new plants in sterile soil inoculated with 10% conditioned soil from each treatment and conducted resistance bioassays, measured plant nutritional and defence traits and analysed microbial diversity. Caterpillar, but not aphid herbivory, created legacies that affected resistance to both herbivores in opposite directions: plants in caterpillar‐conditioned soil had 16% smaller aphid colonies than plants in control soil, and a 76% increase in caterpillar performance relative to aphid‐conditioned soil, suggesting guild‐specific trade‐offs in resistance. These plants also showed a 12% higher carbon‐to‐nitrogen ratio than plants in control soil, mediating resistance to the aphid but not to the caterpillar. Herbivory did not affect microbial taxonomic diversity, suggesting shifts in microbiome biomass or function underlie the observed effects. Our findings highlight that herbivory‐induced soil legacies are guild‐specific and can alter plant resistance via trait‐mediated pathways, underscoring the importance of considering herbivore identity when evaluating above–below‐ground feedbacks. Read the free Plain Language Summary for this article on the Journal blog.

BackgroundDespite a lack of evidence relating to effectiveness and safety, the use of apps in the field of mental health is increasing due to their ease of use and accessibility. The aim of the EvalDepApps project is to develop and validate an assessment tool for evaluating depression management apps based on scientific evidence, expert judgement and end-user needs.ObjectiveThe purpose of this study was to determine the most relevant criteria for evaluating apps intended to manage depression through consensus-based assessment.MethodsA total of 43 individuals were invited to participate in an online modified Delphi study of 51 criteria identified from the literature. In Round 1, participants rated criteria according to relevance and three levels of consensus were defined: high level when ≥80% of respondents scored the criterion at 5 or 6; medium when 60%–79% of respondents scored the criterion at 5 or 6 and low when <60% of respondents scored the criterion at 5 or 6. In Round 2, participants were asked to re-rate criteria that had achieved the medium level of consensus in Round 1 under the same parameters. Comments by participants were collected and analysed. The final assessment list consisted of those criteria that had attained the maximum consensus in either round.FindingsThe response rate was 59.0% (26/43) in Round 1 and 53.4% (23/43) in Round 2. In Round 1, 24 criteria (47.1%) attained the maximum level of consensus, 20 (39.2%) the medium level and 7 (13.7%) the lowest level. In Round 2, 4 out of 20 criteria (20.0%) attained the maximum consensus. Participant comments reinforced the relevance of the selected criteria. The final list consisted of 28 criteria, the majority relating to Safety and Privacy and Clinical Effectiveness (25.0% each), followed by Usability and Functionality (17.9%).ConclusionsBy prioritising criteria relating to data safety and clinical effectiveness, participants in this study emphasised that the assessment of apps for depression management must take both these aspects into full consideration. Despite some limitations of the study (eg, lack of participant sociodemographic data and its implications for generalisation, not face-to-face inter-round), the results of this study will enable the EvalDepApps project to develop an assessment tool for depression management apps that incorporates the most relevant criteria.Clinical implicationsEvalDepApps will support healthcare professionals and users in identifying safe, effective and user-friendly depression management apps.

Agriculture 4.0 represents a huge opportunity for the transformation of agrifood sectors. However, its adoption (and diffusion) in real-world farming contexts faces multiple challenges. This study focuses on greenhouse farming within the Mediterranean basin. It aims to assess the needs of actors involved in the uptake of Agriculture 4.0 and define enabling conditions to support achieving these needs, focusing on the introduction of an innovative decision support system in real-world greenhouses for tomato production. A qualitative and comparative approach is implemented, using participatory data collection methods with cross-disciplinary experts from four case studies across the Mediterranean Basin. Data are collected through one-to-one open discussions, supported using context and SWOT analyses to stimulate reflection and recall. The findings highlight the need to improve digital literacy among farmers and advisors, build trust through tailored education conditions and mentorship, and support young farmers with financial incentives and training. Market dynamics are relevant as well, pinpointing the need for stronger product images and increasing consumer awareness through certification and labelling. Great interest and technology potential emerges from the possibility to enable (partial) remote work thereby benefiting a work-life balance. Simplifying bureaucratic processes and enhancing policy support for cooperation and farmer unions are also essential for encouraging farmers to adopt digital technology.

<title>Abstract</title> Purpose Ageing is associated with a progressive decline in muscle mass and function, which can lead to frailty and a loss of independence. Combining exercise with nutritional supplementation may help to mitigate these effects. Therefore, this study investigated the impact of six weeks of multicomponent training combined with citrulline malate supplementation on the physical function, quality of life and biochemical parameters of older women. Methods A randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled pilot trial was conducted with thirty-three community-dwelling women aged 65 years or over. Participants were assigned to a multicomponent training programme (three days per week) and received either 3 g per day of citrulline malate or a placebo. Assessments were conducted before and after the intervention, including tests of physical performance (6MWT, sit-to-stand, SPPB), blood biomarkers (vitamin D, glucose, CK, hormones), and perceived quality of life (WHOQOL-BREF). Results While most of the differences between groups were not statistically significant, the citrulline group demonstrated clinically relevant improvements in sit-to-stand performance (<italic>p</italic> = 0.023; δ = 1.38), 6MWT distance (+ 61 m), SPPB score (δ = 1.05) and serum vitamin D levels (+ 3.82 ng/mL). Trends towards better metabolic and hormonal responses were also observed. Quality of life improved primarily in the physical and environmental domains. Conclusions Short-term supplementation with citrulline malate, combined with structured exercise, may provide functional and biochemical advantages for older women, supported by plausible physiological mechanisms. Although further research is required, these results suggest that citrulline could be useful in preventing functional decline and frailty in ageing women when used alongside exercise. Trial registration: retrospectively registered. NCT ID not yet assigned