Search Results (1,735)

This study examines the spatio-temporal evolution of precipitation in the State of Guanajuato, Mexico, from 1981 to 2016 by analyzing monthly series from 65 meteorological stations. A rigorous data quality protocol was implemented, selecting stations with more than 30 years of continuous data and less than 10% missing values. Multiple Imputation by Chained Equations (MICE) with Predictive Mean Matching was applied to handle missing data, preserving the statistical properties of the time series as validated by Kolmogorov–Smirnov tests ($p=1.000$ for all stations). Homogeneity was assessed using Pettitt, SNHT, Buishand, and von Neumann tests, classifying 60 stations (93.8%) as useful, 3 (4.7%) as doubtful, and 2 (3.1%) as suspicious for monthly analysis. Breakpoints were predominantly clustered around periods of instrumental changes (2000–2003 and 2011–2014), underscoring the necessity of homogenization prior to trend analysis. The Trend-Free Pre-Whitening Mann–Kendall (TFPW-MK) test was applied to account for significant first-order autocorrelation (${\rho }_1>0.3$) present in all series. The analysis revealed no statistically significant monotonic trends in monthly precipitation at any of the 65 stations ($\alpha =0.05$). While 75.4% of the stations showed slight non-significant increasing tendencies (Kendall’s $\tau$ range: 0.0016 to 0.0520) and 24.6% showed non-significant decreasing tendencies ($\tau$ range: −0.0377 to −0.0008), Sen’s slope estimates were negligible (range: −0.0029 to 0.0111 mm/year) and statistically indistinguishable from zero. No discernible spatial patterns or correlation between trend magnitude and altitude ($\rho =-0.022$, $p>0.05$) were found, indicating region-wide precipitation stability during the study period. The integration of advanced imputation, multi-test homogenization, and robust trend detection provides a comprehensive framework for hydroclimatic analysis in semi-arid regions. These findings suggest that Guanajuato’s severe water crisis cannot be attributed to declining precipitation but rather to anthropogenic factors, primarily unsustainable groundwater extraction for agriculture. Full article

Background: Q fever is a zoonotic disease caused by the intracellular bacterium Coxiella (C.) burnetii. In ruminants, it mainly leads to reproductive disorders. In humans, transmission typically occurs through direct contact with infected animals or inhalation of contaminated aerosols. Although it is a notifiable disease in the European Union for both humans and certain animal species, the actual incidence is likely underestimated due to the non-specific nature of clinical symptoms. Domestic ruminants are considered the main reservoirs of C. burnetii, placing farmers and veterinarians at increased occupational risk of infection. Objectives: This study aimed to assess the risk of Q fever infection in northern Italy by comparing the seroprevalence rates between professionally exposed individuals and not professionally exposed people. Methods: A total of 209 serum samples were analysed: 117 from exposed professionals (veterinarians, biologists, agronomists, laboratory technicians) and 92 from professionally unexposed people (control group). Serum samples were tested with a commercial enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay to detect the presence of IgG against C. burnetii. Positive and doubtful samples were further investigated with a commercial immunofluorescence assay for detection of IgM and IgG. Epidemiological data were also collected to explore potential risk factors. Results: In total, 10 of the 117 exposed individuals tested positive, yielding a seroprevalence of 8.6%, while only 1 of the 92 control subjects tested positive (1.1%). These findings indicate a significantly higher occupational risk of C. burnetii infection among exposed professionals compared to the general population. Conclusions: The results highlight the need for preventive measures and surveillance in at-risk occupational groups. Full article

This exploratory study analyzes how ordinary citizens from seven European countries perceive and construct the meaning and legitimacy of responsible entrepreneurship. Drawing on a qualitative and social constructionist approach, 104 open-ended interviews were conducted, eliciting participants’ narratives and metaphors about the purpose of business, the figure of the entrepreneur, and the ethical challenges of entrepreneurship. The analysis reveals that most citizens associate entrepreneurship with “growth,” “prosperity,” and positive societal impact, but also express skepticism regarding the authenticity of sustainability claims. Metaphors and narratives show a broad spectrum of public imaginaries: positive images (“captain,” “gardener”) reinforce legitimacy, while negative or ambivalent metaphors signal doubt, ethical tension, or perceived opportunism. The study demonstrates that legitimacy is shaped not only by economic or institutional factors, but by symbolic narratives and ethical expectations rooted in civic discourse. These findings underscore the need for greater public dialogue in defining responsible entrepreneurship and highlight the value of integrating citizens’ voices in entrepreneurship research, policy, and practice. Full article

The genus Sclerodermus Latreille (Hymenoptera: Bethylidae) comprises over 80 species of ectoparasitoids of insect pests in forests, agricultural environments, and stored products with a cosmopolitan distribution. Despite its growing significance in biological control, behavioral ecology, and public health, the taxonomy of the genus remains poorly resolved. This is largely due to morphological reduction and simplification among species, outdated or incomplete original descriptions, and limited access to type material. A particularly problematic case is Sclerodermus cereicollis Kieffer, originally described from two geographically disjunct populations: Giglio Island (Italy, Palaearctic) and Annobón Island (Equatorial Guinea, Afrotropical). The syntype series includes morphologically divergent specimens, casting doubt on their conspecificity. In this study, we redescribe S. cereicollis based on both the original syntypes and newly collected material from Italy. A lectotype is designated to stabilize the nomenclature, and we provide the first molecular data for the species to assess genetic cohesion among populations. Comparative morphological and molecular analyses reveal that the Afrotropical syntypes represent a distinct, previously undescribed species. Accordingly, we describe Sclerodermus annobonensis Masini, Colombo & Azevedo sp. nov., designating a holotype. This study refines species boundaries within Sclerodermus and highlights the value of integrative taxonomy, combining historical and contemporary data, in resolving persistent systematic ambiguities in morphologically conservative taxa. Full article

Pregnant and postpartum people (PPPs) face heightened risk for HIV acquisition, yet depression and trauma-related symptoms can undermine adherence to pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP). To inform the development of a brief mental health-focused adherence intervention, we explored the impacts of depression and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms on PrEP use among PPPs in Cape Town, South Africa. Twenty-eight PPPs with elevated symptoms of depression and/or PTSD and recent PrEP adherence challenges completed qualitative interviews. Six antenatal providers were also interviewed. Thematic analysis revealed three key findings with subthemes that deepen exploration of each theme: (1) depression and PTSD symptoms contributed to missed PrEP doses or late pickups by increasing doubt about PrEP efficacy, amplifying pill burden, intensifying avoidance and withdrawal (e.g., hypersomnia and disengagement from providers), and disrupting memory through rumination and emotional overload; (2) most PPPs preferred support from professional counselors, while a minority preferred informal support; and (3) intervention design considerations included aligning patient and provider goals, selecting between individual or group formats, and addressing integration barriers such as staffing and space constraints. Providers affirmed the need for embedded mental health support. Intervention strategies that increase PrEP knowledge and motivation while targeting emotional withdrawal, fatigue, and cognitive overload may improve adherence and reduce HIV risk in this population. Full article

The Riemann-Liuoville fractional integrals are the simplest and most popular operators of the classical fractional calculus. But their variants, the Erdélyi-Kober operators of fractional integration, have many more applications due to the freedom to choose the additional (three) parameters. We introduce and study a generalization of the Erdélyi-Kober and Riemann-Liuoville fractional integrals, where the elementary kernel function is replaced by a suitably chosen $I_{1,1}^{1,0}$-function. The I-functions introduced by Rathie in 1997 are generalized hypergeometric functions extending the Fox H-functions and the Meijer G-functions. Note that till recently this new class of special functions has not been popular because of their too complicated structure involving fractional powers of the Gamma functions and their multi-valued behavior. However, the I-functions happened to arise not only for the needs of statistical physics, but also since they included important special functions in mathematics that were not covered by the H- and G-functions. In our previous works, as Kiryakova and Paneva-Konovska, we have shown the relations of such functions, among which are the Mittag-Leffler and Le Roy type, their multi-index variants, and others related to fractional calculus, to the I-functions. Here, we propose a new theory of generalization of the Erdélyi-Kober fractional integrals, based on the use of an I-function as a kernel. This will serve next as a base to extend our generalized multi-order fractional calculus with operators involving $I_{m,m}^{m,0}$. In this paper, we also evaluate the images under these new generalized fractional integrals of special functions of very general form. Finally, in the Conclusion section, we comment on some earlier discussions on the relations between fractal geometry and fractional calculus, nowadays already without any doubts. Full article

The development of software applications using multiple programming languages has increased in recent years, as it allows the selection of the most suitable language and runtime for each component of the system and the integration of third-party libraries. However, this practice involves complexity and error proneness, due to the absence of an adequate system for the interoperability of multiple programming languages. Developers are compelled to resort to workarounds, such as library reimplementation or language-specific wrappers, which are often dependent on C as the common denominator for interoperability. These challenges render the use of multiple programming languages a burdensome and demanding task that necessitates highly skilled developers for implementation, debugging, and maintenance, and raise doubts about the benefits of interoperability. To overcome these challenges, we propose MetaFFI, introducing a fully in-process, plugin-oriented, runtime-independent architecture based on a minimal C abstraction layer. It provides deep binding without relying on a shared object model, virtual machine bytecode, or manual glue code. This architecture is scalable (O(n) integration for n languages) and supports true polymorphic function and object invocation across languages. MetaFFI is based on leveraging FFI and embedding mechanisms, which minimize restrictions on language selection while still enabling full-duplex binding and deep integration. This is achieved by exploiting the less restrictive shallow binding mechanisms (e.g., Foreign Function Interface) to offer deep binding features (e.g., object creation, methods, fields). MetaFFI provides a runtime-independent framework to load and xcall (Cross-Call) foreign entities (e.g., getters, functions, objects). MetaFFI uses Common Data Types (CDTs) to pass parameters and return values, including objects and complex types, and even cross-language callbacks and dynamic calling conventions for optimization. The indirect interoperability approach of MetaFFI has the significant advantage of requiring only $2n$ mechanisms to support n languages, compared to direct interoperability approaches that need $n^2$ mechanisms. We developed and tested a proof of concept tool interoperating three languages (Go, Python, and Java), on Windows and Ubuntu. To evaluate the approach and the tool, we conducted a user study, with promising results. The MetaFFI framework is available as open source software, including its full source code and installers, to facilitate adoption and collaboration across academic and industrial communities. Full article

Consumer demands for fresh and minimally processed liquid foods that support disease prevention and promote health emphasize the need for innovative processing technologies that ensure microbiological safety and preserve bioactive compounds. In addition, consumers are becoming more concerned about the presence of chemical additives in liquid foods. Non-thermal processing technologies, including high-pressure processing, high-pressure homogenization, pulsed electric field, pulsed magnetic field, high-pressure carbon dioxide, ultrasound treatment, radiation processing, ozone processing, cold plasma, and membrane processing, offer excellent prospects for the application in liquid foods. The given technologies aim to retain bioactive properties, deactivate enzymatic activity, and destroy microorganisms, thereby extending the shelf life of liquid foods. Thus, this current review, without a doubt, could be valuable to the liquid food industries and the scientific world by offering great insight into the latest developments in the use of innovative non-thermal processing technologies, which can be employed for shelf life extension and the retention of bioactive compounds in liquid foods. This paper also discusses the challenges faced by the liquid food industry that need to be addressed in future studies. Full article

Introduction: The application of information and communication tools in healthcare is becoming increasingly widespread and is obtaining promising results. However, their use by informal caregivers is not adequately elucidated. Objective: The aim was to analyze the opinions, perceptions, and attitudes of informal caregivers of stroke patients concerning the use of Stroke-CareApp (Version 1), a smartphone application (app) designed exclusively for this population. Methods: A qualitative study was conducted using a phenomenological approach. Five caregivers used Stroke-CareApp, an app designed as a meeting place for peers, with information about the disease and access to healthcare professionals. Results: The discourses obtained from the interviews were analyzed, and the resulting codes were divided into eight categories: impact on the caregiver, coping with caregiving, involvement in caregiving, steps toward recovery in the absence of the caregiver, relevance for the caregiver, facilitating factors for the use of the app, source of consultation when in doubt and reliability of the information, and limitations in the use of the app. Conclusions: Although caregivers consider the app a beneficial intervention for them, it is important to note that it is a complementary alternative to other interventions, and one must be patient and perseverant during the initial months to achieve optimal adherence. Full article

Timber construction is increasingly promoted in Chile as a route to low-carbon, energy-efficient housing, yet public acceptance remains decisive for its diffusion. This study reports the first large-scale perception survey of timber buildings in Greater Concepción (N = 200) and contrasts key results with an earlier identical survey in Valdivia. Concepción residents strongly recognise timber’s thermal comfort attributes and associate wood housing with lower winter heating demand, a perception markedly stronger than in Valdivia. Conversely, 73% of Concepción respondents believe timber homes burn easily, but a majority also accept that modern engineering can mitigate this risk, indicating scope for targeted technical communication. Environmental perceptions are more ambivalent: although respondents value wood’s renewable origin, 42% doubt that timber construction reduces climate change, and many equate it with deforestation, echoing controversies around Chile’s plantation model. Cluster analysis reveals a techno-optimist subgroup coupling enthusiasm for energy savings with confidence in fire-safety innovations, suggesting a strategic constituency for demonstration projects. By situating end-user attitudes within national decarbonisation goals, this paper argues that region-specific outreach—emphasising verified energy-efficiency gains, certified sustainable forestry and visible fire-safety performance—can convert passive approval into active demand and accelerate Chile’s transition to a net-zero housing stock. Full article

Background/Objectives: The extension of euthanasia and physician-assisted suicide to individuals with mental disorders presents a profound ethical, clinical, and legal challenge. While increasingly accepted in some jurisdictions, their application in psychiatric contexts—particularly in cases of depression—raises concerns about diagnostic precision, therapeutic adequacy, and the validity of informed consent. This study examines two controversial Belgian cases to explore the complexities of euthanasia for psychological suffering. Methods: A qualitative case analysis was conducted through a qualitative analysis of publicly available media sources. The cases were examined through clinical, psychoanalytic, and medico-legal lenses to assess diagnostic clarity, treatment history, and ethical considerations. No access to official medical records was available. Case Presentation: The first case involved a young woman whose depressive symptoms were reportedly linked to trauma from a terrorist attack. The second concerned a middle-aged woman convicted of infanticide and later diagnosed with Major Depression. Discussion: In both cases, euthanasia was granted on the grounds of “irreversible psychological suffering.” However, the absence of detailed clinical documentation, potential unresolved trauma, and lack of psychodynamic assessment raised doubts about the robustness of the evaluations and the validity of informed consent. Conclusions: These findings highlight the need for a more rigorous, multidisciplinary, and ethically grounded approach to psychiatric euthanasia. This study underscores the importance of precise diagnostic criteria, comprehensive treatment histories, and deeper exploration of unconscious and existential motivations. Safeguarding clinical integrity and ethical standards is essential in end-of-life decisions involving mental illness. Full article

Reproductive infertility is characterized by the inability to achieve pregnancy after a year or more of unprotected sexual intercourse. This review highlights the significant impact of exposure to both types of heavy metals (essential and non-essential) on the reproductive performance of various species, particularly humans. Heavy metals present a high atomic density and weight, including lead, mercury, cadmium, nickel, chromium, and arsenic, and are delivered into the environment through natural and human activities, posing a threat to ecological systems and human reproductive health. These heavy metals have the potential for bioaccumulation and can adversely affect male fertility and sperm quality due to their role in disrupting endocrine functions, altering hormone levels responsible for sperm production, and inducing oxidative stress. The elevated production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) exceeds the capability of antioxidants and can lead to the alteration of sperm quality. Seminal fluid contains antioxidants like vitamin C, vitamin E, zinc, and selenium to counteract the impacts of ROS and also to preserve the sperm function. This review aims also to explore the impact of heavy metals on sperm quality and their relationship with antioxidant imbalance and ROS. The exposure to heavy metals whether through occupational or environmental means increases the production of ROS and therefore leads to an imbalance of antioxidants production. All these factors have no doubt an impact on male reproductive health. Full article

Wittgenstein’s philosophy has influenced the philosophy of religion quite considerably. This is hardly due to his rather few remarks on religion. Instead, Wittgenstein’s influence seems to be connected to a certain, without doubt common, interpretation of his later philosophy, mainly of Philosophical Investigations. I speak about one interpretation because in my view the purportedly different interpretations of the sense in which certain key-concepts in the Philosophical Investigations are supposed to be fruitful for understanding religious language, in fact have a common, unacknowledged presupposition: that Wittgenstein’s account of language rotates around the quite traditional, philosophical concepts of subjectivity and objectivity. In the interpretations at stake, these concepts form the backdrop of questions about what “can” intelligibly be assessed by an individual and what “has to be” accounted for in “our” common language. There are discussions in the Philosophical Investigations that do give rise to such questions. However, what I take to be the main direction in Wittgenstein’s later philosophy is the movement away from the concepts of subjectivity and objectivity. Most clearly, this is visible in the second volume of Last Writings on the Philosophy of Psychology, where Wittgenstein dissolves the idea of the inscrutable inner of the other. As I will show, these remarks are in tension both with the views that his followers, such as Peter Winch, put forth and with his own remarks on religion in Culture and Value. Full article

Background and Objectives: Minimally invasive distal metatarsal osteotomy (DMMO) has established itself as an effective surgical technique for the treatment of metatarsalgia, notable for its reduced postoperative pain and faster recovery. However, doubts remain regarding the frequency and nature of postoperative complications. The objective of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to evaluate the incidence of the most frequent complications associated with the DMMO technique, including prolonged edema, delayed bone healing, transfer metatarsalgia, floating toe, and persistent pain. Materials and Methods: A systematic review was conducted following the PRISMA 2020 guidelines, with the protocol registered in the PROSPERO database (CRD420251067666). Searches were conducted in the PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science databases, including clinical studies published between 2010 and 2025. The inclusion criteria covered studies in adults treated with DMMO and reporting postoperative complications. The methodological quality assessment was performed using Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) tools according to the design of each study. Random-effects models were used for the meta-analyses, assessing heterogeneity using the I² statistic. Results: Fifteen studies with a total sample of more than 493 patients were included. Prolonged edema was the most common complication (30.91%), followed by delayed bone healing (14.9%), transfer metatarsalgia (12.73%), floating toe (10.45%), and persistent pain (8.5%). Less frequent complications included nonunion, infections, necrosis, and bone misalignments. The combined incidence of floating toe was 40% (I² = 0%), while prolonged edema showed considerable heterogeneity (I² = 88.3%). The overall quality of the evidence was considered moderate to low, mainly due to the predominance of observational studies. Conclusions: The DMMO technique represents a minimally invasive surgical option with generally favorable results. However, some complications, such as prolonged edema and floating toe, have a significant incidence. The methodological variability between studies highlights the need for standardized protocols and higher-quality prospective studies to establish the safety profile of this technique more accurately. Full article

Lord Byron’s life and poetic works have inspired musical compositions across genres even during his lifetime. The English author’s fictional characters and themes impressed nineteenth-century European composers, especially since his Byronic heroes were often conflated with their creators’ own melancholy and revolutionary personas. In contrast to Byron-inspired songs and operas, instrumental programme music has raised doubts towards a direct correlation with its poetic sources. While epigraphs help direct listeners to specific ideas, their absence has prompted dismissals of intermedial relationships, even those proposed by the composers themselves. This essay explores major connections between Hector Berlioz’s Harold in Italy, a Symphony in Four Parts with Viola Obbligato (premiered 1834), and Byron’s semi-autobiographical narrative poem Childe Harold’s Pilgrimage: A Romaunt (published 1812–1818). Although Berlioz’s titles and memoirs partially identify Byron’s Childe Harold as his inspiration, other references, including his visits to the Abruzzi mountains, his fascination with Italian folk music, his reuse of earlier material, and his reflections on brigands and solitude, have fuelled ongoing debates about the work’s programmatic content. Combining historical-biographical research, melopoetics, and musical semiotics, this essay clarifies how indefinite elements were transmitted from poetic source to musical target. Particular focus is placed on the “Harold theme”, which functions as a Byronic microcosm: a structural, thematic, and gestural condensation of Byron’s poem into music. Observing the interactions between microcosmic motifs and macrocosmic forms in Berlioz’s symphony and their poetic analogues, this study offers a new reading of how Byron’s legacy is encoded in musical terms. Full article