Background: Natal dispersal, the distance between site of birth and site of first breeding, has a fundamental role in population dynamics and species' responses to environmental changes. Population density is considered a key driver of natal dispersal. However, few studies have been able to examine densities at both the natal and the settlement site, which is critical for understanding the role of density in dispersal.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFEarly-life conditions can have long-term fitness consequences. However, it is still unclear what optimal rearing conditions are, especially for long-lived carnivores. A more diverse diet ('balanced diet') might optimize nutrient availability and allow young to make experiences with a larger diversity of prey, whereas a narrow diet breadth ('specialized diet') might result in overall higher energy net gain.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFObjectives: Vitamin D insufficiency (blood 25-hydroxyvitamin D <50 nmol/L) is a global health problem. Vitamin D food fortification might be a solution, but knowledge is sparse on which food matrices yield the highest bioavailability. The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of different food matrices including complex formations with whey proteins on the human bioavailability of vitamin D.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFUrban areas provide breeding habitats for many species. However, animals raised in urban environments face challenges such as altered food availability and quality, pollution and pathogen assemblages. These challenges can affect physiological processes such as immune function and antioxidant defences which are important for fitness.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFHybrid core-shell nanodiamond-gold nanoparticles were synthesized and characterized as a novel multifunctional material with tunable and tailored properties for multifunctional biomedical applications. The combination of nanostructured gold and nanodiamond properties afford new options for optical labeling, imaging, sensing, and drug delivery, as well as targeted treatment. ND@Au core-shell nanoparticles composed of nanodiamond (ND) core doped with Si vacancies (SiV) and Au shell were synthesized and characterized in terms of their biomedical applications.
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