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The existence of cancer stem cells (CSCs) in various tumors has become increasingly clear in addition to their prominent role in therapy resistance, metastasis, and recurrence. For early diagnosis, disease progression monitoring, and targeting, there is a high demand for clinical-grade methods for quantitative measurement of CSCs from patient samples. Despite years of active research, standard measurement of CSCs has not yet reached clinical settings, especially in the case of solid tumors. This is because detecting this plastic heterogeneous population of cells is not straightforward. This review summarizes various techniques, highlighting their benefits and limitations in detecting CSCs from patient samples. In addition, methods designed to detect CSCs based on secreted and niche-associated signaling factors are reviewed. Spatial and single-cell methods for analyzing patient tumor tissues and noninvasive techniques such as liquid biopsy and in vivo imaging are discussed. Additionally, methods recently established in laboratories, preclinical studies, and clinical assays are covered. Finally, we discuss the characteristics of an ideal method as we look toward the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Anhedonia, a core symptom of depression, has been defined as the loss of pleasure or lack of reactivity to pleasurable stimuli. Considering the relevance of alpha asymmetry to MDD and anhedonia, we explored the effect of dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) stimulation on frontal and posterior EEG alpha asymmetry (FAA and PAA, respectively), in this exploratory investigation. 61 participants randomly received sham (n = 11), bilateral (BS; n = 25), or unilateral stimulation (US; n = 25) of the DLPFC. The Snaith-Hamilton Pleasure Scale (SHAPS) was administered. FAA and PAA were calculated by subtracting the natural log-transformed alpha power of the right (F8 or T6) from that of the left (F7 or T5) EEG channel. Furthermore, alpha peak was defined as the frequency where alpha power was at its maximum. BS and US both reduced anhedonia symptoms in the active compared to the sham group. Even non-responders in the BS group showed a decreased anhedonia. Interestingly in the BS group, only the patients who showed a right-lateralized FAA or PAA at baseline showed a reduction in anhedonia. However, in the US group, only patients with left-lateralized FAA or right-lateralized PAA showed a decrease in anhedonia. PAA at baseline predicted symptoms post treatment. Furthermore, a significant positive correlation between baseline alpha peak values and SHAPS scores post treatment were found in the BS group. PAA was a better predictor of anhedonia and reduction of depressive symptoms in both groups. BS may produce larger effects with regard to anhedonia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) remain a significant global health challenge, leading to substantial morbidity and mortality. Despite recent advancements in CVD management, pharmaceutical treatments often suffer from poor pharmacokinetics and high toxicity. With the rapid progress of modern molecular biology and immunology, however, single-chain fragment variable (scFv) molecule engineering has emerged as a promising theranostic tool to offer specificity and versatility in targeting CVD-related antigens. To represent the latest development on the potential of scFv in the context of CVDs, this review summarized the new mechanism of action and applications as therapeutic, as well as diagnostic agents. Furthermore, the advantages of scFv, including its small size, ease of modification, and ability to be engineered for enhanced affinity and specificity, are also described. Finally, such challenges as immunogenicity, stability, and scalability, alongside strategies to overcome these hurdles, are deeply scrutinized to provide safer and more effective strategies for the diagnosis and treatment of the incurable CVDs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Campylobacter spp. is a major source of global gastrointestinal infections. Their enteric infections are linked to the consumption of undercooked poultry products, contaminated milk and water, and the handling of wild animals and birds. The detection of Campylobacter spp. in water and food samples mainly depends on culture-based techniques. Public Health England (PHE), the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and the International Standard Organization (ISO) have standardized Campylobacter spp. isolation and enumeration procedures for food and water samples, which involve the usage of selective agar media and enrichment broth. Different types of selective plating and enrichment media have been prepared for Campylobacter spp. detection and assessment during regular food surveillance and food poisoning. To date, culture media remains the standard option for microbiological food analysis and has been approved by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA), Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), and World Health Organization (WHO). This review discusses the standard microbiological protocols for Campylobacter spp. isolation and enumeration in food and water and evaluates detection media (pre-enrichment, selective enrichment, and selective plating) for their rational applications. Moreover, it also elaborates on the advantages and disadvantages of recent chromogenic culture media in Campylobacter spp.-oriented food surveillance. This review also highlights the challenges of culture-based techniques, future developments, and alternative methods for Campylobacter spp. detection in food and water samples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Salmonella enterica non-typhoidal is a major contributor to diarrheal diseases, with over 2600 serovars identified across diverse environments. In Mexico, serovars Newport and Anatum have shown a marked increase, especially in foodborne disease, posing a public health problem. We conducted a cross-sectional study from 2021 to 2023 using active epidemiological surveillance to assess contamination in ground beef and pork at butcher shops nationwide. It involved isolation, phenotypic antimicrobial resistance, comparative genomics, spatial distribution, antimicrobial-resistance genes, and pangenome analysis. A total of 402 non-typhoidal S. enterica strains were isolated, including 59 Newport and 50 Anatum. After curating for redundancy, 45 Newport and 32 Anatum strains remained. We found that 75% of Newport strains exhibited multidrug resistance (MDR), compared to 25% of Anatum strains. Salmonella Newport also showed a broader distribution and stronger antibiotic-resistance capacity, particularly due to genes such as mphA and ramA. Our pangenome analysis showed a predominance of cell maintenance and survival-process genes in the accessory genome of both serotypes. Considering unique genes, Salmonella Anatum and Newport showed a notorious abundance of genes with functions related to replication, recombination, and repair. The substantial rise of Anatum and Newport strains in meat samples for human consumption presents an epidemiological alert, highlighting the critical need for stringent surveillance programs to mitigate human and ecosystem health risks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Organ-on-a-chip (OOC) devices mimic human organs, which can be used for many different applications, including drug development, environmental toxicology, disease models, and physiological assessment. Image data acquisition and analysis from these chips are crucial for advancing research in the field. In this study, we propose a label-free morphology imaging platform compatible with the small airway-on-a-chip system. By integrating deep learning and image recognition techniques, we aim to analyze the differentiability of human small airway epithelial cells (HSAECs). Utilizing cell imaging on day 3 of culture, our approach accurately predicts the differentiability of HSAECs after 4 weeks of incubation. This breakthrough significantly enhances the efficiency and stability of establishing small airway-on-a-chip models. To further enhance our analysis capabilities, we have developed a customized MATLAB program capable of automatically processing ciliated cell beating images and calculating the beating frequency. This program enables continuous monitoring of ciliary beating activity. Additionally, we have introduced an automated fluorescent particle tracking system to evaluate the integrity of mucociliary clearance and validate the accuracy of our deep learning predictions. The integration of deep learning, label-free imaging, and advanced image analysis techniques represents a significant advancement in the fields of drug testing and physiological assessment. This innovative approach offers unprecedented insights into the functioning of the small airway epithelium, empowering researchers with a powerful tool to study respiratory physiology and develop targeted interventions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study addresses a research gap by examining the attitudes and interest of young Polish consumers in new foods containing insects. The results of the survey, which are presented in this article, were obtained as part of an inter-university project conducted at five Polish higher education institutions (N = 1063). The survey was conducted using the indirect interview method via an online platform (CAWI). This study aimed to assess attitudes, behaviours and intentions to purchasing insect foods, as well as factors influencing the selection of new foods containing insects and product preferences for such foods. The analysis revealed no statistically significant differentiation in consumer behaviour and declared intentions towards insect foods based on gender or place of residence (p > 0.001). Our results revealed correlations between the level of neophobia and negative attitudes among young consumers towards insect products, albeit weak in nature. The exploratory factor analysis suggested that the assessment of factors influencing the purchase of insect products may be based on a small number of dimensions, which were not found to be correlated, as follows: "Health and Environmental Concern", "Organoleptic Attributes" and "Circumstantial Influences". [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To evaluate the effects of mussel meal, as a sustainable ingredient for fish feed, on the growth, health status, proximate composition, and fatty acid profile of gilthead seabream, mussel meal was included in commercial feed formulations. Sunflower oil (2%) was used as a binding agent. Four groups of gilthead seabream were fed either with control feed (commercial feed, commercial feed and sunflower oil) or mussel-meal-supplemented formulations (commercial feed, sunflower oil, and 2.5 or 5% mussel meal) for six weeks. In this experiment, a total of 180 specimens of gilthead seabream juveniles were included. The initial weight and length of the gilthead seabream specimens were, on average, 13.04 g and 9.57 cm, respectively. The average temperature of the seawater ranged between 25 and 26 °C during the experiment. The results of this study indicated a higher relative weight gain and a slightly lower feed conversion ratio in the control group fed with commercial feed, probably because of macronutrient imbalances introduced by the addition of mussel meal and sunflower oil. The groups fed with mussel-supplemented diets had a slightly lower crude protein content compared to the group fed with a commercial diet. The addition of sunflower oil and mussel meal decreased the saturated fatty acid content while increasing the monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fatty acid content compared to the control group. However, the high content of DHA and EPA in the mussel meal resulted in a proportional increase of these fatty acids in the muscle tissue of gilthead seabream, although the overall effect was not statistically significant. The findings of this study suggest that mussel meal is a promising source of protein and lipids for sustainable fish feed production, but under the experimental setup, mussel meal did not act as an attractant for increasing fish feed intake during the summer conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) asscociated hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is becoming a growing concern in global healthcare. The early-life gut microbiota plays a crucial role in maintaining healthy. However, the impact of early-life gut microbiota dysbiosis on the advancement of MASLD-HCC remains inadequately understood. Methods: In the present study, we investigated the role of early-life gut microbiota in the development of MASLD-HCC in streptozotocin and high-fat diet (STZ-HFD) induced mouse model. We recorded the body weight and lifespan, and dynamically monitored the level of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), triglyceride (TG), total cholesterol (T-CHO) and blood glucose in the serum monthly. In addition, we examined various immune cells present in the liver, such as T cells, B cells, NK cells, NKT cells, αβT cells, γδT cells, macrophage and MDSC cells by flow cytometry and conducted liquid chromatography mass spectrometry (LC–MS) based analysis on liver tissue from control and early-life antibiotic exposure mice (early-Abx) MASLD-HCC mice. Results: We found that early-Abx mice suffered from more severe tumor burden and further confirmed that hepatocytes and immune cells were all disturbed. Importantly, early-life antibiotic exposure alters the liver metabolic profiling especially glycerophospholipids and lipid accumulation. Furthermore, mice exposed to antibiotics in early-life showed disturbances in glucose metabolism and developed insulin resistance. Conclusions: Collectively, our findings revealed that early-life antibiotic exposure accelerated the progression of MASLD-HCC by impairing the hepatocytes, immune homeostasis and metabolites persistently, highlighting the importance of the early-life microbiota in the development of MASLD-HCC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates the nutritional composition and bioactive properties of Palmaria palmata (dulse), Ascophyllum nodosum (knotted wrack), and Chondrus crispus (Irish moss). Understanding the nutritional values of these seaweeds is very important due to their potential health benefits, especially their antioxidant properties and cytotoxic activities, which point to their ability to inhibit cancer cell proliferation. Comprehensive analyses were conducted to assess protein content, amino acid composition, mineral profile, fatty acids, polyphenols, total carotenoids, antioxidant activity, and cytotoxicity against cervical (HeLa), and colon (HCT-116) cell lines. P. palmata exhibited the highest protein content, while C. crispus was richest in calcium, iron, manganese, and zinc. Amino acid analysis revealed C. crispus as being particularly high in essential and non-essential amino acids, including alanine, glutamic acid, and glycine. A. nodosum and C. crispus were rich in polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), notably eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). A. nodosum showed the highest total carotenoid content. Polyphenol analysis highlighted the presence of compounds such as p-coumaric acid, gallic acid, and p-hydroxybenzoic acid across the species. Both the ethanolic and hexane A. nodosum extracts demonstrated the strongest antioxidant potential in DPPH• and ABTS+ assays. The cytotoxicity evaluation revealed high anticancer activity of A. nodosum and C. crispus hexane extract against HeLa and HCT-116, though it employed cell cycle arrest and apoptosis. A. nodosum hexane extract exhibited moderate selective anticancer activity against HCT-116. These findings underscore the nutritional diversity and potential health benefits of these macroalgae (seaweed) species, suggesting their suitability as functional foods or supplements, offering diverse nutritional and therapeutic benefits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Recent high-throughput technologies such as transcriptomics, proteomics, and metabolomics have allowed progress in understanding biological systems at different levels of detail. Even so, it is necessary to integrate multiple omics data sets to achieve a comprehensive understanding of the subject under study. In this article, we review the methods used for integrating transcriptomics, proteomics, and metabolomics data and summarize them in three approaches: combined omics integration, correlation-based integration strategies, and machine learning integrative approaches. Our goal is to showcase the uses and limitations of each approach, allowing researchers to choose the more appropriate tool for each scenario to extract a comprehensive view of a biological system. With the advent of high-throughput technologies, the field of omics has made significant strides in characterizing biological systems at various levels of complexity. Transcriptomics, proteomics, and metabolomics are the three most widely used omics technologies, each providing unique insights into different layers of a biological system. However, analyzing each omics data set separately may not provide a comprehensive understanding of the subject under study. Therefore, integrating multi-omics data has become increasingly important in bioinformatics research. In this article, we review strategies for integrating transcriptomics, proteomics, and metabolomics data, including co-expression analysis, metabolite–gene networks, constraint-based models, pathway enrichment analysis, and interactome analysis. We discuss combined omics integration approaches, correlation-based strategies, and machine learning techniques that utilize one or more types of omics data. By presenting these methods, we aim to provide researchers with a better understanding of how to integrate omics data to gain a more comprehensive view of a biological system, facilitating the identification of complex patterns and interactions that might be missed by single-omics analyses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Structural colors based on metasurfaces outperform traditional pigments and dyes in terms of nonfading, high spatial resolution, and high stability, usually incorporating active materials for tunability. Liquid crystals (LCs) are suitable for tunable structural color design due to their large birefringence and fast modulation by external stimuli. However, most LC‐integrated structural colors focus on tailoring the polarization angle of incident light to generate two colors and their mixing. Herein, a scheme of full‐color generation based on a plasmonic metasurface integrated with LCs utilizing the combination of the polarization angle rotation effect of the twisted‐nematic LCs and the refractive index modulation through the realignment of the LCs near the metasurface is demonstrated. Based on the proposed structural color method, full‐color generation of a record color gamut of 60.7% standard Red Green Blue region, equivalent to 43% National Television Standards Committee area, in the LC‐integrated metasurface, has been numerically realized by tuning the bias voltage of the LCs in reflection. The achieved color gamut is nearly 4 times wider than the previously reported result. The proposed active full‐color generation metasurface shows great potential in applications for low‐power reflective color display, anticounterfeiting, and optical encoding. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although edible insects (EIs) are encouraged as a sustainable source of protein, their consumption is not as generalised as other types of food that are internationally accepted. While in some regions of the world, EIs are part of the gastronomic and cultural traditions, in other regions, people are not so receptive to this type of food, and some people even express some disgust towards it. Hence, this research focused on the habits of the participants regarding the consumption of insects as well as their perceptions about EIs being or not a part of the local culture or gastronomic patrimony. A questionnaire survey was implemented in fourteen countries (Brazil, Croatia, Greece, Latvia, Lebanon, Lithuania, Mexico, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Serbia, Slovenia, Spain, and Turkey), and globally, 7222 adult participants responded to the questionnaire. SPSS software (version 28) was used to process the data and carry out chi-square tests and Factor Analyses (FA). The obtained results showed significant differences between countries for all the questions included in the survey, either those regarding the habits of the participants or their opinions about the facts linked with EI tradition or cultural aspects. It was found that participants from Mexico consume EIs more than in all other countries and that strong motivations that would lead to consumption among those who do not consume include curiosity and food shortage. The solution obtained with FA considering the ten statements of the scale consisted of two factors: F1—Culture and Tradition of EIs (α = 0.675) and F2—Acceptance of EIs (α = 0.614). In conclusion, the consumption of EIs and the perceptions of people are highly variable according to geographic location and cultural environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

New technologies for more effective microbiological assays are being adopted by the food industry to intervene more rapidly in its production chain. The aim of this study was to evaluate the alternative methods of TEMPO® CAM and real-time PCR (rtPCR) Biotecon® in comparison with the ISO 10272-2:2017 reference method for Campylobacter spp. quantification in turkey meat, aiming to validate a quick and easily replicable method in these meat matrices. A total of 416 samples were analyzed over a one-year period. The TEMPO® methodology showed inadequate performance with a significant difference (p < 0.05) compared with the reference methodology; therefore, its use was not recommended for turkey meat matrices. However, the performance of the rtPCR Biotecon® methodology showed adequate performance with no significant difference (p > 0.05), and its use was recommended in turkey meat matrices. The study was limited to exclusive research in turkey meat matrices, and expansion of the research into other matrices is recommended to verify whether the behavior of alternative methodologies is similar. The findings of this study illustrate the necessity for a thorough and comprehensive evaluation during the implementation of alternative methodologies that may potentially supplant conventional approaches. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: HIV-related stigma has significant adverse impacts on people living with HIV/AIDS, such as psychological distress, decreased quality of life, a reluctance to get screened and treated, and a reluctance to disclose their status due to fear of stereotypes or rejection. Objectives: To determine the pooled prevalence and factors associated with HIV-related perceived stigma and internalized stigma among people living with HIV/AIDS in Africa. Methods: Articles that assessed the prevalence and associated factors of HIV-related perceived stigma and internalized stigma were reviewed. PubMed, EMBASE, Google Scholar, African Journal Online, CINAHL, and Science Direct were the databases used to search the primary studies. The data was extracted through a Microsoft Excel spreadsheet and exported to STATA version 14 for further analysis. The I2 test was applied to test heterogeneity, whereas Egger's test and funnel plot were used to check publication bias. Results: In this study, the total sample size was 28,355 (for perceived stigma) and 22,732 (for internalized stigma). The overall pooled prevalence of HIV-related perceived stigma and internalized stigma was determined to be 41.23% and 35.68%, respectively. Based on the subgroup analysis results, the highest pooled prevalence of perceived stigma was observed in Nigeria (50.04%), followed by Ethiopia (41.72%), while the highest prevalence of internalized stigma was observed in Ethiopia (56.13%), followed by Cameroon (44.66%). Females (OR = 1.63: 1.31, 2.02) and rural dwellers (OR = 1.93: 1.36, 2.74) had more odds of experiencing HIV-related perceived stigma. Conclusion and recommendation: This study concluded that four in ten and more than one-third of people living with HIV/AIDS suffered from perceived and internalized stigma. Thus, special considerations must be given to women and rural dwellers. It is recommended to implement multi-level interventions and foster empowerment and support for individuals living with HIV. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biocides are used to control microorganisms across different applications, but emerging resistance may pose risks for those applications. Resistance to biocides has commonly been studied using adaptive laboratory evolution (ALE) experiments with growth at subinhibitory concentrations linked to serial subculturing. It has been shown recently that Escherichia coli adapts to repeated lethal stress imposed by the biocide benzalkonium chloride (BAC) by increased survival (i.e., tolerance) and not by evolving the ability to grow at increased concentrations (i.e., resistance). Here, we investigate the contributions of evolution for tolerance as opposed to resistance for the outcome of ALE experiments with E. coli exposed to BAC. We find that BAC concentrations close to the half maximal effective concentration (EC50, 4.36 μg mL−1) show initial killing (~40%) before the population resumes growth. This indicates that cells face a two‐fold selection pressure: for increased survival and for increased growth. To disentangle the effects of both selection pressures, we conducted two ALE experiments: (i) one with initial killing and continued stress close to the EC50 during growth and (ii) another with initial killing and no stress during growth. Phenotypic characterization of adapted populations showed that growth at higher BAC concentrations was only selected for when BAC was present during growth. Whole genome sequencing revealed distinct differences in mutated genes across treatments. Treatments selecting for survival‐only led to mutations in genes for metabolic regulation (cyaA) and cellular structure (flagella fliJ), while treatments selecting for growth and survival led to mutations in genes related to stress response (hslO and tufA). Our results demonstrate that serial subculture ALE experiments with an antimicrobial at subinhibitory concentrations can select for increased growth and survival. This finding has implications for the design of ALE experiments to assess resistance risks of antimicrobials in different scenarios such as disinfection, preservation, and environmental pollution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica infections critically affect cattle health, producing high rates of morbidity and mortality in calves and reducing the performance of adult cows. Some European countries implemented surveillance and control programs decades ago, but in Italy, there is no national control program for dairy cows. This study describes an outbreak of Salmonella Bredeney in a dairy herd and the consequent control strategies applied. Control strategies included sample collection visits to the farm in order to identify the prevalence of Salmonella spp. and assess biosecurity levels. In this outbreak, there was a higher prevalence in calves and this condition was associated with poor biosecurity practices. Subsequently, the practitioner and farmer were provided with a health management plan to reduce the prevalence and control the outbreak. During the follow-up period, monitoring and testing revealed repeated negative results, indicating adequate control over the outbreak. The procedures undertaken in this project made it possible to collect useful data for the definition of measures for the management of outbreaks of salmonellosis in dairy cows. Salmonellosis in dairy cattle represents an increasing problem for both animal and public health. Nevertheless, in Italy, there is no control plan in place on dairy farms. The aim of this study was to describe a Salmonella Bredeney outbreak that occurred on a dairy farm and the measures that were adopted to control the outbreak. Management consisted in identifying the spread of infection and assessing the environmental contamination of Salmonella spp. and the associated risk factors. After the farm visit, laboratory investigations showed that 48% of rectal swabs collected from calves and 33% of environmental samples were positive for S. Bredeney, and a poor biosecurity level was detected. The farmer and practitioner were provided with a health management plan to control the spread of Salmonella spp., followed by a monitoring period and a follow-up visit in which all samples resulted negative. The results demonstrated the efficacy of indirect prophylaxis measures in reducing the circulation of Salmonella spp., leading to the extinction of the outbreak. Collaboration with farmers, practitioners, and public health veterinarians and the introduction of measures reported in the health management plan constitute a possible model for the management of Salmonella spp. outbreaks in dairy herds, even in complex farm situations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many ecological systems dominated by stochastic dynamics can produce complex time series that inherently limit forecast accuracy. The 'intrinsic predictability' of these systems can be approximated by a time series complexity metric called weighted permutation entropy (WPE). While WPE is a useful metric to gauge forecast performance prior to model building, it is sensitive to noise and may be biased depending on the length of the time series. Here, we introduce a simple randomized permutation test (rWPE) to assess whether a time series is intrinsically more predictable than white noise.We apply rWPE to both simulated and empirical data to assess its performance and usefulness. To do this, we simulate population dynamics under various scenarios, including a linear trend, chaotic, periodic and equilibrium dynamics. We further test this approach with observed abundance time series for 932 species across four orders of animals from the Global Population Dynamics Database. Finally, using Adélie (Pygoscelis adeliae) and emperor penguin (Aptenodytes forsteri) time series as case studies, we demonstrate the application of rWPE to multiple populations for a single species.We show that rWPE can determine whether a system is significantly more predictable than white noise, even with time series as short as 10 years that show an apparent trend under biologically realistic stochasticity levels. Additionally, rWPE has statistical power close to 100% when time series are at least 30 time steps long and show chaotic or periodic dynamics. Power decreases to ~10% under equilibrium dynamics, irrespective of time series length. Among four classes of animal taxa, mammals have the highest relative frequency (28%) of time series that are both longer than 30 time steps and indistinguishable from white noise in terms of complexity, followed by insects (16%), birds (16%) and bony fishes (11%).rWPE is a straightforward and useful method widely applicable to any time series, including short ones. By informing forecasters of the inherent limitations to a system's predictability, it can guide a modeller's expectations for forecast performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]