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Biology and management of sarcoptic mange in wild Caprinae populations.
No full textSarcoptic mange is a cosmopolitan disease affecting the skin of domestic and wild mammalian species and humans as well. In Eurasia, sarcoptidosis (also known as sarcoptic mange or scabies) affects mountain ungulates (Caprinae) among other wild hosts, and epizootic outbreaks induce variable mortality rates. This fact, coupled with the important ecological and socio-economic values of such mammalian hosts, resulted in many research projects being focused on addressing ecological, physiological, behavioural, genetic, and pathological effects of the disease.
Nevertheless, information about management of sarcoptic mange in free-ranging populations is scarce and scattered, with contradictory results and a lack of consensus on basic aspects of the disease.
In this review, we summarise knowledge on the effects of sarcoptic mange in wild Caprinae, at individual, pathological and population epidemiological levels, as well as on the current tools and management strategies for its detection, diagnosis, prevention, and control.
Disease spread in naïve populations is ca. 6 km year−1, and the mortality rate can be >95%. Tools for monitoring the disease include visual diagnosis, photographic traps, trained dogs, thermography, immunodiagnostics, molecular tools, radiocollars, and epidemiological modelling. Options for management include eradication, control, and prevention of the disease; biosecurity and prevention of spread to humans can be achieved by careful hygiene methods.
Sarcoptic mange is a natural, biological factor controlling host population numbers and dynamics in Caprinae, so goals and strategies for its management in wild populations must be set accordingly.
Specific management programmes for preventing and controlling sarcoptic mange in wild Caprinae populations must be based on reliable epidemiological data. More research is needed to provide evidence-based policies. The efficacy and safety of various management approaches remain to be tested experimentally.Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad (Gobierno de España), a través de los proyectos:
CGL2012-40043-C02-01; CGL2012-40043-C02-02; y
CGL2016-80543-P
Edición de cartas latinas del humanista Pedro de Valencia: "A Juan Moreto" (segunda carta: estudio introductorio, edición y traducción) y "A Paulo V" (estudio introductorio, edición y traducción), pp. 527-569.
Full text linkEstudio introductorio, edición y traducción de dos cartas latinas del humanista español Pedro de Valencia, dirigidas respectivamente a Juan Moreto y al papa Pablo V
New insights on active geodynamics of Iberia and northwestern Africa from seismic stress and geodetic strain-rate fields
Full text linkThe convergence between Eurasia and Africa during Alpine orogeny drives complex geodynamic processes, involving multiple crustal blocks. In the Atlantic-Mediterranean transition zone, the geodynamics is controlled by the two main plates, the former Iberian microplate and the Alboran Domain. Nowadays, these crustal domains, composed of continental and oceanic crust of varying ages, show distinct deformation behaviors under the current regional stress regime. Through analysis of an enhanced earthquake focal mechanism catalog and updated GNSS velocity field, we constrained the crustal stress–strain fields with unprecedented resolution. Three key findings emerged. First, the different crustal blocks interacting in the region determine the stress–strain fields along the plate boundary, allowing us to define four sectors: Atlantic, Gibraltar, Alboran, and Algero-Balearic. Second, in the Atlantic sector, stresses are directly transferred between Africa and Eurasia, while westward they are absorbed by the thinned continental crust of the Alboran Domain and the continental margins of the Gibraltar Arc and Tell Cordillera. This framework, combined with the oblique Eurasia-Africa convergence relative to the Southwestern Iberian margin, could facilitate the clockwise rotation of Iberia. Finally, intraplate regions with low horizontal strain-rates still show tectonic activity influenced by regional compression and other geodynamic processes driven by vertical stresses. This study highlights the value of combined grid-based stress and strain-rate field analysis for understanding geodynamic processes in complex plate boundary regions.This work has been supported by the IT-1678/22 research group of the Basque Government and RNM-148 and RNM-370 research groups of Junta de Andalucía; and PID2022-136678NB-I00 financed by MICIU/AEI 10.13039/501100011033 and FEDER, UE; and by Grant G2HOTSPOTS (PID2021-122142OBI00) from the AEI/10.13039/501100011033/UnionEuropeaNextGenerationEU/PRTR. A.M.T. is supported by the postdoctoral contract funded by the “Departamento de Educación del Gobierno Vasco” (Spain) (POS_2023_1_0001). Open Access funding provided by University of Basque Country
InGaN Photovoltaic Converters: Processing Approaches for High-Power Optical Transmission
No full textThis work explores the processing of InGaN semiconductors as high-power optical transmission (HPOT) photovoltaic converters (OPCs). Current HPOT systems present limitations in efficiency and power density, primarily due to materials with low band gaps, such as GaAs, with significant losses at high irradiances due to series resistance issues. InGaN offers a promising alternative for overcoming these limitations. However, there is a lack of studies and experimental results about this material for HPOT. This work reviews the state-of-the-art in OPCs, highlighting the potential of InGaN to outperform conventional technologies. Growth techniques, doping strategies and fabrication methods of InGaN-based OPCs are investigated. The work examines Molecular Beam Epitaxy (MBE) and Metalorganic Vapor Phase Epitaxy (MOVPE) as growth techniques, emphasizing the advantages of MBE, particularly when combined with metal modulated epitaxy (MME), for producing high-quality InGaN films. The challenges associated with p-type doping in InGaN and the methods to address them are discussed. Furthermore, the study analyses crucial steps including wafer and substrate preparation, metallic contact formation, anti-reflective coating deposition and cutting. Novel advancements that improve control and precision and enhance device performance are presented. Additionally, a flowchart for InGaN-based OPCs fabrication is proposed, prioritizing high efficiency and power density conversion. This guides the process from substrate preparation to the final device, incorporating techniques like MME growth, GaN substrates with buffer layers and stealth dicing. This research aims to advance understanding and development of InGaN semiconductors for HPOT, addressing limitations and exploring the technology’s potential to revolutionize power transmission in the 21st century
Determinants of Foreign Direct Investment in the Services Sector: Evidence from Spain (1996–2023)
Full text linkThe services sector is the primary recipient of foreign direct investment (FDI)
in developed countries, yet research on FDI in this sector, especially in Spain from
1996 to 2023, remains limited. This study aims to identify key localization factors
influencing FDI, such as market size, human capital, sector competitiveness, and
agglomeration effects. By applying ridge regression to quarterly data, the study provides
policy recommendations and a streamlined econometric model that links FDI
in services to market size, service trade, and human capital, thereby contributing
valuable insights to the literature. The services sector is the primary recipient of
foreign direct investment (FDI) in developed countries. Despite the abundance of
studies on FDI in the industrial sector, research on FDI in the services sector remains
sparse. Our goal is to identify some of the localization factors influencing FDI in
the services sector in Spain during the period 1996-2023, a top global destination for
such investments, for which there is a notable lack of prior literature. The findings
of this study highlight several key factors: market size, human capital, international
competitiveness of the sector, and agglomeration effect. Our methodology involves
applying ridge regression to quarterly data to address issues of heteroscedasticity in
the residuals and autocorrelation. This article offers economic policy recommendations
to enhance FDI in the services sector and makes a substantial contribution to
the existing literature by presenting a streamlined econometric model that explains
the determinants of FD
Is an exact backside irradiance modelling essential for bifacial PV systems?
No full textBackside irradiance modelling for photovoltaic (PV) modules is not simple and straightforward as it highly depends on the situation of an actual system. In addition, the irradiance conditions can change from one side of a PV system to the other due to the reflections from the ground or surroundings. Currently, all available models are based on analytical methods. Here, we present a new empirical model for backside irradiance for fixed PV systems modelled by a Gaussian function on the backside irradiance share and compare the results with an analytical model. Furthermore, we have applied different backside irradiance calculations to a PV performance rating model and compared the results. Our calculations, verified with the data from three different locations in Europe, have shown that for common PV systems, where the backside irradiance share is relatively low, annual PV performance calculations can be performed with a fixed backside irradiance share value.The Authors acknowledge the financial support of the Slovenian Research Agency (Research Programme P2-0415). This work has been possible also thanks to the project “Demo_BI-FV: Development of Advanced Models for the characterization of bifacial photovoltaic systems (PID2021-124161OB-I00)” funded by the Spanish Ministry of Science and the State Innovation Agency within the European Regional Development Fund (MCIN/AEI/10.13039/501100011033/FEDER, UE)
Engineering graphics applied to the assembly process of a single-cylinder high-pressure steam engine with Corliss valve gear
Full text linkThis paper presents a detailed description of the assembly process for the different components of a historical invention, specifically a high-pressure single-cylinder steam engine with a Corliss valve gear designed by Arnold Throp, as published in the «Model Engineer» magazine in 1982 and whose original plans were reproduced by Julius de Waal in 2018. Autodesk Inventor Professional 2024 was employed to create a coherent and functional 3D CAD model that incorporates all components described in the reproduced plans. However, challenges arose due to missing dimensions in the available plans and certain inconsistencies, necessitating the formulation of hypotheses regarding the geometries of some elements and the estimation of their dimensions. Additionally, a series of dimensional, geometric, and kinematic constraints (degrees of freedom) were applied to ensure a proper assembly without component overlaps. Furthermore, a limitation was encountered when using Autodesk Inventor Professional for assembling the invention: the software does not take into account for the deformation of components made of elastomeric materials such as the drive belt. Finally, once the 3D CAD model was obtained, graphical documentation of the invention was produced (including assembly plans and detailed perspectives), and a simulation of the invention’s operation was conducted, resulting in a virtual recreation of the steam engine. This has provided new insights that facilitate a more comprehensive understanding of the invention and its dissemination to the wider community.The research presented in this work was made possible thanks to a collaboration grant with the Department of Engineering Graphics, Design and Projects of the University of Jaen, obtained in the 2024 call of the Ministry of Education, Vocational Training and Sports of the Government of Spain
Enhanced thermal models of photovoltaic modules by electrical operating conditions dependency
No full textThe increasing penetration of photovoltaic (PV) systems poses challenges to the reliability and adequacy of power systems. To support grid stability, PV systems must evolve to be capable of providing frequency regulation and reserve services—including not only down frequency reserve but also up reserve. This latter service requires PV modules to operate away from their maximum power point (MPP), a condition that requires an enhancement in PV module thermal behavior assessment. Consequently, there is a growing need for advanced thermal models that account for electrical operating conditions to ensure accurate temperature prediction under all operating scenarios. While traditional thermal models primarily depend on meteorological inputs, they typically neglect the Electrical Operating Status (EOS). Overlooking this issue can lead to significant prediction errors—up to 5–7 ◦C—especially during operation away from MPP. The proposed investigation developed an enhanced thermal model incorporating EOS dependency by including the ratio of measured current to the calculated current at MPP as an additional input. Two cases of the Faiman and Sandia models were optimized using Genetic Algorithm, Particle Swarm Optimization, non-linear least squares, and polynomial regression. Optimization is performed using three identical PV systems operating under reference EOS conditions: open circuit, short circuit, and MPP. Results demonstrate that EOS-integrated models significantly improve temperature prediction accuracy. The EOS sensitive models achieved prediction errors as low as 0.1–1.13 % and R2 values above 0.91, outperforming traditional models that exhibited errors from 2 to 29 %. These findings support the need for EOSaware thermal modelling in modern PV system design and operationThis work has been supported by the Italian National Ph.D. in Photovoltaics, CURRICULUM C: Monitoring and Diagnosis has been received (CUP: D42B22001610006). Also, supported by MUR, Italy funds in the frame of PRIN 2020 “A Holistic Monitoring and Diagnostic Tool for Photovoltaic Generators (HOTSPHOT)” project (CUP: E63C2001116000) and Grant TED2021-131137B-I00 “Aportaci´on a la Transici´on Ecol´ogica en el sector Industrial a trav´es del Autoconsumo Fotovoltaico” funded by MICIU/AEI/10.13039/501100011033 and European Union Next Generation EU/PRTR
Effects of an on-line campaign by the World Health Organization to prevent the spread of disinformation in social networks
Full text linkThe pervasive spread of false information, whether intentional (disinformation) or believed to be true (misinformation), poses significant risks in areas like politics, the environment, and public health. Despite fact-checking efforts, the rapid dissemination of falsehoods often outpaces these measures. Researchers have thus explored prebunking strategies based on inoculation theory. This theory posits that raising awareness of the issue, along with providing controlled exposure to small doses of manipulated information, can bolster mental defenses against persuasion. This research evaluated a WHO campaign using this approach to tackle disinformation. The study involved 243 participants divided into experimental and control groups, exposed to simulated social media posts—half using common disinformation tactics and half not. Both groups received a pre-intervention block of 12 items (6 manipulated, 6 unmanipulated), followed by an online campaign: the experimental group received an anti-disinformation campaign, while the control group received a campaign on healthy habits. A post-intervention block with 12 new items was then presented. Participants evaluated the truthfulness, willingness to share, intention to verify, and the novelty of the information before and after the intervention. Results showed that the experimental group, post-intervention, perceived information as less truthful and novel, showed increased intent to verify it, and decreased willingness to share it. This suggests that the campaign effectively raised awareness and skepticism about misinformation, though it did not significantly enhance participants' ability to recognize persuasive techniques in online content. In conclusion, passive inoculation campaigns can generate protective responses against disinformation but may not necessarily improve skills in identifying manipulative tactics
Torrefaction as a new Post-Composting strategy to obtain stabilized organic amendments with liming potential
Full text linkIntensive agricultural and livestock production generates large volumes of by-products, and managing these
wastes while maintaining soil fertility remains a major challenge. Composting provides a sustainable solution,
but the process is often slow and produces heterogeneous material, particularly when feedstocks are complex,
such as olive mill pomace (OMP). This study investigates a combined strategy of OMP partial composting followed
by torrefaction (1 h, 275 ◦C) to produce a homogenized and stabilized organic amendment (thermocompost).
The effects of thermal treatment at different composting stages were evaluated using Fourier transform
infrared (FTIR) and fluorescence spectroscopies, together with key physicochemical and agronomic indicators.
Torrefaction reduced the C/N ratio and water-soluble carbon while preserving the cation exchange capacity (CEC
≈ 150 cmol(+) kg-1) developed during composting, with potassium as the predominant exchangeable base.
Thermocompost exhibited elevated pH ( 11.0) and high lime potential, linked to carboxylate formation and
carbon dioxide fixation in the form of carbonates, indicating suitability for acidic soil remediation. The material
was non-phytotoxic, highly humified, and resistant to biological degradation, even after biofortification with
vermicompost tea. These results demonstrate that combining partial composting with torrefaction enhances both
the stability and agronomic performance of organic amendments, allows valorization of immature or suboptimal
composts, and can reduce the time required to obtain high-quality soil conditioners. This approach is particularly
relevant for compost batches that have not reached full maturity or have been poorly processed, providing a practical
pathway to improve their agronomic properties and suitability for acidic soils