Introduction Male hypogonadism, including age-related and functional forms, is characterized by insufficient testosterone production often associated with obesity and metabolic comorbidities. Testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) increases serum testosterone but suppresses spermatogenesis and may cause adverse effects. Selective estrogen receptor modulators (SERMs), such as clomiphene citrate, have emerged as an alternative a...

Coal is a major global energy resource, but its extraction raises significant environmental and health concerns. Mining activities release large amounts of particulate matter, including nanoparticles (NPs), into the environment. These NPs are hazardous due to their content of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), metals, oxides, and other compounds capable of disrupting cellular and molecular processes. This study evaluated...

Aligned with the Green Deal strategy to reduce the impacts of climate change on the agri-food sector, this study assessed the potential of a commercial biostimulant based on Ascophyllum nodosum extract to improve olive tolerance to drought. Potted plants of Olea europaea (cultivars Arbequina and Galega) were pre-treated with the extract or water. One group was maintained at 100% field capacity and another under water-deficit (...

Chemical defenses produced by lichens represent a yet underexplored force shaping trophic interactions beyond direct consumer deterrence. In termites, dietary intake of such compounds may extend their effects to gut-associated microbial consortia, with consequences for host physiology and colony performance. However, the extent to which lichen-derived metabolites influence microorganisms in insect hosts remains poorly understo...

Aim We investigate the distribution of dispersal modes — endozoochory (via animal ingestion), synzoochory (via animal seed accumulation) and anemochory (via wind)—and seed mass of woody plants across Brazilian ecosystems, testing whether their relative abundance in local plant communities could be predicted by climate, edaphic factors and dispersal agents (e.g., the main vectors moving seeds). We expected climate to be the mai...

The Amazon rainforest is a key component of the Earth system, regulating regional climate, sustaining high biodiversity and carbon stocks. However, it is threatened by climate and land‐use changes. In recent decades, the region has experienced intensified droughts and heatwaves, trends expected to worsen under future warming. In this study, we assess how the timing, length, and spatial distribution of the dry season across the...

Aims Ethyl ferulate (EF) may offer novel benefits in hypertension. We investigated the contribution of autonomic receptors to EF-induced effects in female Wistar and SHR. Methods Anesthetized females received EF intravenously at 7.5, 15, or 30 mg/kg. Autonomic involvement was evaluated using pretreatment with atropine, atenolol, or hexamethonium. MAP and HR were continuously monitored. Results EF induced rapid and pronounced r...

Wildfires represent a powerful driver of tropical forest degradation across human-modified landscapes. Here, we investigated the impacts of wildfires on the functional and taxonomic dimensions of tree assemblages into old-growth, once-burned and twice-burned forest stands, covering 6 ha in the eastern Amazon. Tree assemblages were examined via a large set of functional attributes relative to wood density, bark thickness, verti...

In southeastern Brazil, capybaras ( Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris ) are main hosts of the ticks Amblyomma dubitatum and Amblyomma sculptum ; the latter has great medical importance for being the main vector of Rickettsia rickettsii , the agent of Brazilian spotted fever (BSF). This study aimed to quantify ticks in areas invaded and not invaded by exotic plants ( Hedychium coronarium , Cenchrus purpureus or Megathyrsus maximus ) wi...