Use of waste frying oil and coconut pulp for the production, isolation, and characterization of a new lipase from Moesziomyces aphidis.

Lipases comprise the third most commercialized group of enzymes worldwide and those of microbial origin are sought for their multiple advantages. Agro-industrial waste can be an alternative culture medium for producing lipases, reducing production costs and the improper disposal of waste frying oil (WFO). This study aimed to produce yeast lipases through submerged fermentation (SF) using domestic edible oil waste as inducer and alternative culture medium. The optimal culture conditions, most effective inducer, and purification method for a new lipase from Moesziomyces aphidis BRT57 were identified. Yeast was cultured in medium containing green coconut pulp and WFO waste for 72 h. The maximum production of lipases in SF occurred in a culture medium containing WFO and yeast extract at 48 and 72 h of incubation, with enzyme activities of 8.88 and 11.39 U mL-1, respectively. The lipase was isolated through ultrafiltration followed by size exclusion chromatography, achieving a 50.46 % recovery rate. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to report the production and purification of lipases from M. aphidis, demonstrating the value of frying oil as inducer and alternative medium for SF, contributing to the production of fatty acids for biodiesel from food waste.

Perception of one's social environment and loneliness: results of the nationally representative "Old age in Germany (D80+)" study.

OBJECTIVES: To examine the association between perception of one's social environment (in terms of residential attachment and neighborhood trust) and loneliness among the oldest old and whether these associations differ by living arrangement. METHODS: We used data from the nationally representative "Old Age in Germany (D80+)" study that included individuals residing in private households and institutionalized settings. The analytic sample was 9,621 individuals (average age: 85.5 years, SD: 4.1 years; 62% female). Data collection took place from November 2020 to April 2021. Multiple linear regressions were conducted with adjustment for relevant covariates. RESULTS: Higher residential attachment (ß=-0.02, p < .05) and higher neighborhood trust (ß=-0.12, p < .001) were associated with less loneliness. The latter association was moderated by living arrangement (ß=-0.09, p = .04) such that the association between neighborhood trust and loneliness was stronger among individuals living in institutionalized settings compared to individuals in private households. CONCLUSION: Greater residential attachment and neighborhood trust, particularly among individuals living in institutionalized settings, are associated with less loneliness among the oldest old. Finding ways to improve perceived attachment and trust may assist in avoiding loneliness among older individuals.

An unconventional strategy for purifying recombinant SARS-CoV-2 spike protein.

The soluble domain of the trimeric SARS-CoV-2 spike protein is a promising candidate for a COVID-19 vaccine. Purification of this protein from mammalian cell culture supernatant using conventional resin-based chromatography is challenging as its large size (∼550 kDa) restricts its access and mobility within the pores of the resin particles. This reduces binding capacity and process robustness very significantly as extremely low flow rates need to be used during purification. Convection-based ion-exchange membrane chromatography has been found to be suitable in this respect. However, the high ionic strength of mammalian cell culture supernatant makes it difficult to bind this protein on charged membranes without dilution with a suitable buffer. An unconventional strategy involving size-exclusion chromatography as the first step, followed by cation exchange membrane chromatography as the second step is proposed in this paper. In the size exclusion chromatography step, the spike protein is excluded from the pores and can therefore be isolated in the void volume fraction. This step removes small molecule impurities and also serves as a desalting and buffer exchange step, making the partially purified material suitable for the cation exchange membrane chromatography step. The proposed process is variant-independent, fast and scalable and addresses some of the challenges associated with the currently used purification methods.

Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder symptoms and bullying victimization from childhood to adolescence - A within-person cross-lagged approach.

Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and subclinical symptoms of hyperactivity-impulsivity and inattentiveness coincide with an increased risk of peer victimization. What remains unclear are the developmental dynamics of these associations. In a sample drawn from two Norwegian birth cohorts (n = 872; 49.94 % girls), assessed biennially from age 6 to age 14, reciprocal relations between ADHD symptoms and victimization were examined while controlling for symptoms of anxiety and depression. ADHD symptoms were assessed through clinical interviews with parents, whereas victimization was reported by teachers using questionnaires. Random-intercept cross-lagged panel modeling revealed a consistent reciprocal within-person effect of increased ADHD symptoms on victimization, and vice versa. Analyses of subdimensions of ADHD projected a consistent cross-lagged bidirectional relationship between victimization and inattentiveness symptoms only, whereas no such reciprocity was found for hyperactivity-impulsivity symptoms. Results did not differ by gender. Findings suggest that the social context may constitute a vulnerability factor in the etiology of the inattentive subtype of ADHD, and at the same time, that inattentiveness symptoms pose a risk for becoming victimized.

The texture of potato mashes is impacted by blanching induced changes in their extracellular starch fractions.

The texture of potato mash significantly influences consumer satisfaction. We here investigated the impact of blanching and different methods thereof on the texture and extractable extracellular fractions (EEFs) of potato mash when extracted with water or with dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) to seek determining factors of potato mash texture. Mashes prepared from potatoes blanched in 2.04 mM CaCl2 (CaB-M) exhibited hardness (24.9 N) and stickiness (1.0 N·s) readings intermediate to those from potatoes that were not blanched (NB-M, 19.2 N and 1.2 N·s), or blanched in deionized water (WaB-M, 30.5 N and 0.6 N·s), which aligned with their levels of intact cells. Starch was the main constituent (57.2 % - 64.4 %, w/w) in all EEFs and more starch was present in (1) NB-M and (2) the DMSO extracts. The chain length distributions of DMSO-extracted extracellular starch (DEES) revealed that the amylopectin content increased in the order WaB-M (46.3 %), CaB-M (55.1 %), and NB-M (76.6 %), which was attributed to more intracellular amylopectin being released to the extracellular phase of mashes. The relative contents of shorter chain amylose (degree of polymerization 110-1000) and the DEES yield were significantly correlated to the hardness while the yield of DEEFs was positively correlated with the stickiness.

Interrogating the effectiveness of service engagement for underserved populations in complex health and social care systems: towards an equitable engagement strategy.

There are increased sector-wide efforts within health and social care systems to engage those with lived experience in service design, delivery, and monitoring - aiming to secure more equitable health outcomes. However, critical knowledge gaps persist around how national whole-system engagement strategies can account for the challenges experienced by populations that encounter exclusion within complex multi-layered systems. This includes a failure to delineate shared challenges across groups, and to develop transferable cross-group frameworks to assist sector-wide change. There is, therefore, a danger that those groups already least heard will be collectively left behind. With a view to informing a more inclusive engagement strategy in Ireland, this national study aims to investigate multi-level (policy and strategic, operational, on-the-ground services, individual) shared challenges impacting engagement for five populations who have been identified as underserved groups in a complex health and social care system, including: (1) those who misuse drugs and alcohol, (2) those who are experiencing homelessness, (3) those experiencing mental health, (4) migrants and those of minority ethnicies, and (5) Irish Travellers. Adopting a mixed-methods approach which draws on an evidence-informed multistakeholder perspective, this study employs data from: focus groups and life-course interviews with lived-experience populations (n=136), five focus groups (n=39) and a national on-line survey (n=320) with population-specific services providers; and national-level stakeholder interviews (n=9). Two cross-group participatory consultative forums with lived-experience and provider participants (n=28) were used to co-produce priority action areas based on study findings. This article presents findings on shared challenges in engaging these groups around leadership and commitment, implementation and action, population capacities, trust, and representation, stigma, and discrimination. Derived from these challenges, six development areas are presented to advance an inclusive equitable engagement approach in Ireland. These comprise: 1) balancing top-down prioritisation, and bottom-up direction; 2) sustaining multi-level, multi-form implementation; 3) measuring effectiveness and action; 4) embedding inclusive equitable engagement; 5) trust as a prerequisite, and outcome; and 6) an equalising, agency empowering agenda.

Multistage Linkage Internal Exclusion External Electrolyte Tactic Unlocks Extreme Fast Charge Lithium Metal Batteries.

Lithium metal batteries are booming because of their inherent preponderance, but a negative electric field from concentration dipolarization and slow solid-phase transfer at the electrode interface become blocking modules for extreme fast charging. Achieving an anion-rich solvation shell with a high dielectric constant (ε) is a feasible strategy to bootstrap an interface microenvironment for mass-transport reaction, but it is still an uncultivated field. Herein, the superposition, including the donor number values, the high ε, and the spatial potential resistance, are complementarily considered; we propose a low-cost electrolyte with an internal excluding external tactic to answer the above issue. Explanatorily, an optimized solvation shell follows the cascading exclusion relationship of nitrate ion (NO3-) → tetraglyme → ethylene carbonate → dimethyl carbonate. And the culminated bilayer structure establishes ideal conditions for Li+ transfer-reaction kinetics, of which an anion-rich internal shell facilitates solid-phase transport and a high-ε external shell slashes the negative electric field.

Exosomes isolation from bovine serum: qualitative and quantitative comparison between ultracentrifugation, combination ultracentrifugation and size exclusion chromatography, and exoEasy methods.

Exosomes have been extensively studied as disease biomarker in humans, given their role in transporting bioactive molecules. However, despite the great potential of exosomes as noninvasive diagnostic markers and therapeutic nanocarriers for bovine diseases, few studies have been conducted on bovine exosome. Thus, this study aimed to quantitatively and qualitatively compare three isolation methods to identify a suitable method for bovine serum. Exosomes were isolated using ultracentrifugation alone (UC), a combination of ultracentrifugation and size exclusion chromatography (US), or membrane affinity-based exoEasy kit (EE). Isolated particles were evaluated using a range of complementary techniques. Transmission electron microscopy showed that all three isolation methods resulted in particles with a cup-shaped morphology. The particle concentration measured by nanoparticle trafficking analyzer of US was lower compared to those of UC and EE method. As a result of immunoblotting, exosome markers including TSG101, CD81, and HSP70 were detected in US particles, while in UC and EE, only TSG101 expression was confirmed. Particles isolated from UC and EE showed a contamination with the blood protein albumin, whereas particles from US did not show albumin contamination. In addition, to evaluate the possibility of using exosomes as biomarkers, the profiles of the small RNA in the exosomes were compared using the bioanalyzer 2100. As a result, in the EE method, the band of small RNA (25-200 nt) was most prominent, and in the US methods, a distinct band was observed in the small RNA range. Collectively, the purity of exosomes without non-exosomal contamination was highest in the US method. However, for the detection of small RNA, the EE method was found to be the most suitable. Therefore, the results suggest that the optimal isolation method varies depending on the specific purpose of exosome isolation.

The effects of social exclusion on distributive fairness judgements and cooperative behaviour.

In this article, we investigate how being socially excluded (vs. included) affects people's distributive fairness judgements and their willingness to cooperate with others in subsequent interactions. For this purpose, we conducted three experiments in which we assessed individual differences in having experienced being socially excluded (Experiment 1, N = 164), and manipulated social exclusion (Experiment 2, N = 120; Experiment 3, N = 492). We studied how this impacted fairness judgements of three different outcome distributions (disadvantageous inequality, advantageous inequality, and equality) both within-participants (Experiments 1 and 2) and between-participants (Experiment 3). To assess behavioural consequences, we then also assessed participants' cooperation in a social dilemma game. Across the three experiments, we consistently found that social exclusion impacted fairness judgements. Compared to inclusion, excluded participants judged disadvantageous inequality as more unfair and advantageous inequality as less unfair. Moreover, compared to socially included participants, socially excluded participants were more willing to cooperate after experiencing advantageous rather than disadvantageous inequality, and feelings of acceptance served as a mediator in these associations.

Does long-term radiation exposure in Chornobyl impact the reproductive structures of Nuphar lutea (Linné) Smith?

The 1986 Chornobyl Nuclear Power Plant accident caused radioactive contamination of water bodies within the Pripyat River floodplain, resulting in the accumulation of radionuclides by macrophytes, which are fundamental species in water ecosystems. Yellow water lily Nuphar lutea (L.) Smith., a macrophyte playing a significant role in the formation of vegetation cover in aquatic ecosystems, is commonly considered as a bioindicator of water pollution. In this study, we investigate the potential of N. lutea as an indicator of radionuclide contamination in water bodies, particularly through changes in its reproductive structures, such as pollen viability, morphology of pollen grains, seeds, and fruits. Our findings reveal that pollen viability remains stable at total absorbed dose rates below 14.4 µGy/h, with only 1-4% of sterile grains. However, beyond this threshold the percentage of sterile grains increases nearly fivefold, pointing to high internal plant exposure to 90Sr. A similar trend was observed in the allometry and size of pollen grains, where small and flattened grains are formed in the reservoir with the highest external radiation dose rate (≥14.4 µGy/h). On the other hand, while morphometric parameters of fruits are influenced by radiation, their variation appears to be the result of a combination of physicochemical factors and the trophic status of a water body. Our research highlights the adverse impact of long-term radiation exposure on the male reproductive system of N. lutea and shows the potential of using the pollen grains sterility as an indicators of heavily radionuclide-contaminated water bodies. Additionally, we observed gradual changes in a pollen allometric length-to-width coefficient as the radiation dose level increases.

Task-dependent functional connectivity changes in response to varying levels of social support.

BACKGROUND: Having social support improves one's health outcomes and self-esteem, and buffers the negative impact of stressors. Previous studies have explored the association between social support and brain activity, but evidence from task-dependent functional connectivity is still limited. AIMS: We aimed to explore how gradually decreasing levels of social support influence task-dependent functional connectivity across several major neural networks. METHOD: We designed a social support task and recruited 72 young adults from real-life social groups. Of the four members in each group, one healthy participant (18 participants in total) completed the functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) scan. The fMRI task included three phases with varying levels of social support: high-support phase, fair phase and low-support phase. Functional connectivity changes according to three phases were examined by generalised psychophysiological interaction analysis. RESULTS: The results of the analysis demonstrated that participants losing expected support showed increased connectivity among salience network, default mood network and frontoparietal network nodes during the fair phase compared with the high-support phase. During the low-support phase, participants showed increased connectivity among only salience network nodes compared with the high-support phase. CONCLUSIONS: The results indicate that the loss of support was perceived as a threat signal and induced widespread increased functional connectivity within brain networks. The observation of significant functional connectivity changes between fair and high-support phases suggests that even a small loss of social support from close ones leads to major changes in brain function.

Progress in mass spectrometry approaches to profiling protein-protein interactions in the studies of the innate immune system.

Understanding protein-protein interactions (PPIs) is pivotal for deciphering the intricacies of biological processes. Dysregulation of PPIs underlies a spectrum of diseases, including cancer, neurodegenerative disorders, and autoimmune conditions, highlighting the imperative of investigating these interactions for therapeutic advancements. This review delves into the realm of mass spectrometry-based techniques for elucidating PPIs and their profound implications in biological research. Mass spectrometry in the PPI research field not only facilitates the evaluation of protein-protein interaction modulators but also discovers unclear molecular mechanisms and sheds light on both on- and off-target effects, thus aiding in drug development. Our discussion navigates through six pivotal techniques: affinity purification mass spectrometry (AP-MS), proximity labeling mass spectrometry (PL-MS), cross-linking mass spectrometry (XL-MS), size exclusion chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (SEC-MS), limited proteolysis-coupled mass spectrometry (LiP-MS), and thermal proteome profiling (TPP).

The hallmarks of cancer immune evasion.

According to the widely accepted "three Es" model, the host immune system eliminates malignant cell precursors and contains microscopic neoplasms in a dynamic equilibrium, preventing cancer outgrowth until neoplastic cells acquire genetic or epigenetic alterations that enable immune escape. This immunoevasive phenotype originates from various mechanisms that can be classified under a novel "three Cs" conceptual framework: (1) camouflage, which hides cancer cells from immune recognition, (2) coercion, which directly or indirectly interferes with immune effector cells, and (3) cytoprotection, which shields malignant cells from immune cytotoxicity. Blocking the ability of neoplastic cells to evade the host immune system is crucial for increasing the efficacy of modern immunotherapy and conventional therapeutic strategies that ultimately activate anticancer immunosurveillance. Here, we review key hallmarks of cancer immune evasion under the "three Cs" framework and discuss promising strategies targeting such immunoevasive mechanisms.

Laboratory Anomalies in the Basic Metabolic Panel: Core Curriculum 2025.

Laboratory testing plays an integral part in medical decision making. However, laboratory results can sometimes vary significantly, leading to anomalous outcomes that are not consistent with the clinical picture. These anomalies can occur even in the best of laboratories simply because the total testing process includes elements that are not totally under the laboratory's control. For example, variations in patient preparation and sample collection procedures, as can happen at physician offices or patients receiving intravenous fluids, are major contributors to these anomalies. Therefore, physicians must remain aware of the causes of these anomalies so they can consider them when interpreting laboratory results and help implement solutions to mitigate them at their respective institutions. This Core Curriculum examines several instances where an understanding of preanalytical, analytical, and postanalytical variation is essential for detecting anomalies and providing proper patient care.

Who is Getting the Message? Sociodemographic Factors and Gambling Behavior Associated with Awareness of the Swedish National Self-Exclusion Registry Spelpaus.se.

Awareness and utilization of health interventions can be influenced by sociodemographic factors. These factors play a role in information processing, particularly regarding health messaging. The aim of this study is to analyze how different sociodemographic factors and gambling behaviors are associated with awareness of a (Swedish) gambling self-exclusion register. The study used data from the Swedish longitudinal gambling study (Swelogs) and analyzed n = 6720 participants from a stratified random sample of the Swedish population aged 18-84 years. Logistic regressions were conducted to analyze associations between sociodemographic characteristics, gambling behavior and awareness. Males with middle (OR = 1.70, 95% CI = 1.32-2.19) and high income (OR = 1.58, 95% CI = 1.19-2.09) and females with high (OR = 1.35, 95% CI = 1.03-1.76) and middle-level education (OR = 1.35, CI = 1.04-1.76), had higher awareness of Spelpaus.se. Online gamblers with problematic gambling behavior were three times (OR = 3.69, 95% CI = 2.15-6.37) more likely to be aware than non-gamblers. Online gamblers born in Sweden were twice (OR = 1.95, 95% CI = 1.19-3.19) as likely to be aware compared to those born outside of Europe. Males with high level of awareness had higher PGSI scores compared to women. Education could increase awareness of potential health risks and opportunities for intervention, particularly among women. Future interventions should be tailored to cater to the specific needs of individuals with lower levels of awareness, to facilitate enhancing their awareness and ultimately promoting a more equitable utilization of self-exclusion measures.

Intersectionality and Caregiving: The Exclusion Experience and Coping Resources of Immigrant Women Caring for a Family Member With Severe Mental Illness.

Intersectionality has become a central analytical framework in the study of exclusion and empowerment experiences among women from marginalized communities. However, the relevance of intersectionality to informal caregiving in mental healthcare has hardly been explored to date. The purpose of the current study is to examine the exclusion experiences and coping resources of immigrant women caring for a family member with a severe mental illness (SMI) through the lens of intersectionality theory. Semi-structured in-depth interviews were conducted with 26 informal female immigrant caregivers from the former Soviet Union residing in Israel. The interviews were analyzed using a qualitative content approach. The findings revealed that the participants experienced stigma and exclusion in several intersecting categories: economic marginalization of immigrant single mothers, ethnic and gender-based stigma of Russian-speaking women, gender-based domestic violence, and mental health stigma by professionals. The participants' coping resources included spirituality and religious faith, support groups, and social activism. The study provides insights into the burdens and rewards experienced by female immigrant caregivers of family members with SMI through the lens of intersectionality theory. Implications for adapting services to the contextual characteristics of female immigrant caregivers and minimizing intersectional stigma and inequities in informal healthcare are discussed.

DAB2 + macrophages support FAP + fibroblasts in shaping tumor barrier and inducing poor clinical outcomes in liver cancer.

Background: Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) are the key components of the immune barrier in liver cancer. Therefore, gaining a deeper understanding of the heterogeneity and intercellular communication of CAFs holds utmost importance in boosting immunotherapy effectiveness and improving clinical outcomes. Methods: A comprehensive analysis by combing single-cell, bulk, and spatial transcriptome profiling with multiplexed immunofluorescence was conducted to unravel the complexities of CAFs in liver cancer. Results: Through an integrated approach involving 235 liver cancer scRNA-seq samples encompassing over 1.2 million cells, we found that CAFs were particularly increased in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC). FAP + fibroblasts were identified as the dominant subtype of CAFs, and which were mainly involved in extracellular matrix organization and angiogenesis. These CAFs were enriched in the tumor boundary of HCC, but diffusely scattered within ICC. The DAB2 + and SPP1 + tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) reinforce the function of FAP + CAFs through signals such as TGF-ß, PDGF, and ADM. Notably, the interaction between DAB2 + TAMs and FAP + CAFs promoted the formation of immune barrier and correlated with poorer patient survival, non-response to immunotherapy in HCC. High FAP and DAB2 immunohistochemical scores predicted shorter survival and higher serum AFP concentration in a local clinical cohort of 90 HCC patients. Furthermore, this communication pattern might be applicable to other solid malignancies as well. Conclusions: The interaction between DAB2 + TAMs and FAP + CAFs appears crucial in shaping the immune barrier. Strategies aimed at disrupting this communication or inhibiting the functions of FAP + CAFs could potentially enhance immunotherapy effectiveness and improve clinical outcomes.

Phenotypic and spatial heterogeneity of CD8+ tumour infiltrating lymphocytes.

CD8+ T cells are the workhorses executing adaptive anti-tumour response, and targets of various cancer immunotherapies. Latest advances have unearthed the sheer heterogeneity of CD8+ tumour infiltrating lymphocytes, and made it increasingly clear that the bulk of the endogenous and therapeutically induced tumour-suppressive momentum hinges on a particular selection of CD8+ T cells with advantageous attributes, namely the memory and stem-like exhausted subsets. A scrutiny of the contemporary perception of CD8+ T cells in cancer and the subgroups of interest along with the factors arbitrating their infiltration contextures, presented herein, may serve as the groundwork for future endeavours to probe further into the regulatory networks underlying their differentiation and migration, and optimise T cell-based immunotherapies accordingly.

Here Comes Revenge: Peer Victimization Relates to Neural and Behavioral Responses to Social Exclusion.

The aim of this study was to examine whether repeated victimization relates to differential processing of social exclusion experiences. It was hypothesized that experiences of repeated victimization would modulate neural processing of social exclusion in the insula, anterior cingulate cortex, and lateral prefrontal cortex. Furthermore, we hypothesized that repeated victimization relates positively to intentions to punish excluders. Exploratively, associations between neural processing and intentions to punish others were examined. The sample consisted of children with known victimization in the past two years (n = 82 (behavioral) / n = 73 (fMRI), 49.4% girls, Mage = 10.6). The participants played Cyberball, an online ball-tossing game, which was manipulated so that in the first block participants were equally included and in the second block they were excluded from play. Victimization was not related to neural activation during social exclusion, although there were indications that victimization may be related to increased insula activation during explicit exclusion. Behaviorally, repeated victimization was related to more intention to punish excluders. Neural activation during social exclusion did not predict intentions to punish excluders, but results tentatively suggested that increased insula activation during social exclusion may be related to increased intentions to punish. Together, these results provide a replication of earlier Cyberball studies and point toward differential processing of social exclusion by children who are victimized.

Trophic cascades regulate arthropods density and plant damage across forest strata.

Research Highlight: Sivault, E., Kollross, J., Jorge, L., Finnie, S., Diez Mendez, D., Fernandez Garzon, S., Maraia, H., Lenc, J., Libra, M., Masashi, M., Nakaji, T., Nakamura, M., Sreekar, R., Sam, L., Abe, T., Weiss, M., & Sam, K. (2024). Insectivorous birds and bats outperform ants in the top-down regulation of arthropods across strata of a Japanese temperate forest. Journal of Animal Ecology. https://doi.org/10.1111/1365-2656.14146. Top-down predators exert strong effects on prey populations. Theoretical and empirical studies investigating the cascading effects of predators on biodiversity dynamics and ecosystem functionality have been central to advancing ecology and conservation biology. Yet, how intraguild predation and niche overlap drive the strength and direction of trophic cascades across forest strata is still barely understood. In a study published in this issue, Sivault et al. (2024) investigated the impacts of excluding vertebrate (birds and bats) and invertebrate (ants) predators on arthropod herbivores and plant damage in understory and canopy forest strata. The study finds that birds and bats (but not ants) have negative impacts on herbivore density, which, in turn, benefits plants by reducing leaf damage. Additionally, the effects of vertebrate predators are similar across strata. The authors also show that herbivore density and herbivory are greater in the understory compared to the canopy strata. Sivault et al. (2024) demonstrate that intraguild predation and niche overlap dictate the strength and direction of trophic cascades in forest ecosystems. In addition, these findings shed new light on forest ecology and conservation, especially considering the potential negative effects of climate change on top predators.