University of Córdoba

In the last decades deliberative mini-publics (DMPs) have gained significant attention as tools to reform and complement representative democracies, with many governments adopting them. Political representatives, though cautious about power dynamics, seem moderately supportive of extending these procedures. However, little is known about how this predisposition is affected by the institutional design of these procedures and how this might affect their adoption. This paper addresses this gap by presenting results from a conjoint experiment in France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, and Poland. The study, involving 716 representatives, examines how different attributes of deliberative procedures influence decisions to fund their adoption at the local and European levels. Findings show that the binding nature of DMPs is less important than composition characteristics, such as involving representatives in deliberations with citizens and organized civil society. Differences in preferences between local and European levels suggest awareness of challenges in scaling up DMPs.

Overfishing and by-catch (the unintentional capture of non-target species or sizes) represent two of the greatest threats to marine populations. Modelling and predicting the trends of species captured during fishing could provide a tool with which to prioritise species and conservation actions. These aims are especially important in the case of sharks, since these species are targeted by the global shark fin trade and also unintentionally caught as by-catch by many fisheries. In this study we describe the by-catch of sharks in the traditional continental Ecuadorian fishery, with the specific aims to: (1) evaluate the temporal changes in the catch of the most common shark species from 2008 to 2018 in Ecuadorian coastal waters and (2) determine the changes in the total catch and size composition of these species. Shark by-catch in the Eastern Pacific Ocean (EPO) was evaluated by observers from longline fisheries, whose target catch comprises large pelagic fish (albacore, marlins or mahi mahi). In this context, sharks are true by-catches, as they are unintentionally captured and not targeted by the longline fisheries. We evaluated the six most frequently fished species of sharks in the EPO (Prionace glauca, Alopias pelagicus, Alopias superciliosus, Sphyrna zygaena, Carcharhinus falciformes and Isurus oxirynchus), including the sizes and quantify of catch by number. The average size (± standard deviation) of these species was 209.3 ± 8.5, 274.6 ± 13.6, 296.2 ± 7.9, 197.2 ± 26.8, 184.2 ± 8.3 and 168.3 ± 11.1 cm, respectively. The results show a decline in the size of the captured shark species across years, which is particularly dramatic in the case of vulnerable species such as S. zygaena. A shift in fishing activity toward the Central-Eastern Tropical Pacific Ocean was also observed. The status of these six shark species should be considered in the design of future management measures in the area, including the protected sanctuary of Galapagos, where most of the recent catches are concentrated.

Silicon (Si) is the most promising anode material for Li‐ion batteries; yet, it suffers from large volume expansion of up to 300% and dynamic solid electrolyte interface (SEI) formation, resulting in rapid capacity decay and low cycle life. In this work, the surface of Si nanoparticles (SiNPs) with three different functional vinyl compounds, i.e., 4‐vinylpyridine, 1‐vinyl‐2‐pyrrolidinone, and acrylic acid, has been altered using a scalable hydrosilylation approach. Physical characterization reveals that the functional groups are covalently bound to the surface of the SiNPs and are extended for a few nanometers. The surface‐functionalized SiNPs overcome pulverization and unstable SEI formation, achieving a long life of 300 galvanostatic charge‐discharge (GCD) cycles at 200 mA g⁻¹. Particularly, 4‐vinylpyridine functionalized SiNPs (Si‐4VP) achieved an exceptional initial capacity of >3000 mAh g⁻¹. Such promising electrochemical performance is attributable to higher diffusion rates, resulting in a higher diffusive charge storage nature, as confirmed by kinetic studies. The findings conclusively demonstrate that controlled surface functionalization of SiNPs on the particle level is a scalable approach that results in exceptionally high capacity and long cycling stability of the Si anode in Li‐ion batteries.

Climate change, marked by prolonged periods of extreme summer drought coupled with heat, presents a significant challenge for chestnut forests. Genomic insight into drought tolerance in Castanea sativa is essential for enhancing the adaptation of this species to climate change. However, progress in this area has been hindered by the lack of a genome reference. To address this limitation, we developed a comprehensive drought tolerance gene atlas by leveraging publicly available databases and the high homology between the Quercus and Castanea genera. Candidate genes were identified through a mapping approach using short‐read sequence databases and validated via Sanger sequencing. Our method enabled the successful reconstruction of coding sequences and the identification of genetic variability in C. sativa. Two genes encoding an oleosin‐like protein and a two‐component response regulator exhibited significant sequence differences, suggesting their involvement in adaptive stress responses. These genes emerge as promising targets for future research and potential genetic markers for drought tolerance. The resulting gene atlas provides valuable insights into drought tolerance and supports the development of molecular markers for more targeted and effective conservation and breeding strategies.

Purpose of Review Hymenoptera venom allergy (HVA) is a potentially life-threatening condition mainly caused by stings from bees and wasps, that may lead to systemic reactions and, thus, affect the quality of life of our patients. The purpose of this review is to provide an overview of the literature relating to venom allergy. Recent Findings Diagnosis relies on clinical history, skin testing, and specific IgE, with molecular diagnostics helping in species differentiation. Risk factors include age, male sex, high exposure, and mast cell disease. Local and systemic reactions vary in severity, with venom immunotherapy being the only available curative treatment, which improves both physical symptoms and quality of life. Accurate identification of the culprit insect is crucial for targeted treatment. Life-threatening HVA can be a challenge for allergists. A continuous updating of knowledge on allergically relevant species and on their venoms and allergens is needed to find diagnostic procedures and treat the allergic population.

Background and aims Soil microbial communities are vital for ecosystem function and biodiversity, yet their composition and drivers in Mediterranean agroforestry systems remain underexplored. This study characterizes soil fungal and oomycete communities in the rhizosphere of Quercus ilex L. across Spanish dehesa grasslands. Methods High-throughput sequencing was used to assess how climate, soil properties, and tree health influence microbial alpha and beta diversity, as well as the functional traits of soil microbial communities. The study was conducted in 20 dehesas across two climatically contrasting areas of in southern Spain. In each region, five plots affected by holm oak decline and five healthy plots were selected. Soil samples were collected from six trees per plot, resulting in 120 samples. Results Water availability was the main driver of microbial diversity, especially for fungi. Fungal richness increased with precipitation, while oomycete alpha diversity correlated positively with clay content. Fungal communities were environmentally structured, with saprotrophic and ectomycorrhizal taxa showing distinct responses. Oomycete composition was more influenced by species interactions and their ecological roles than abiotic factors. Tree health and microbial diversity had limited effects on Phytophthora cinnamomi occurrence. Fungi exhibited high turnover, while oomycetes showed greater nestedness. Conclusion Metabarcoding reveals distinct fungal and oomycete diversity patterns in dehesas. Fungal richness and oomycete alpha diversity are shaped by water-related variables. Fungal beta diversity reflects environmental filtering, whereas oomycetes depend on biotic interactions. High fungal turnover highlights the need to preserve heterogeneity, while oomycete nestedness indicates homogenization. Fine-scale factors warrant inclusion in future management-focused research. Graphical Abstract

The needle nematode genus Longidorus comprises approximately 194 species of polyphagous plant ectoparasites distributed worldwide, some of which serve as vectors for plant viruses. However, the high species diversity and conserved morphology of these nematodes pose significant challenges for accurate identification of species. To address this issue, we conducted an integrative taxonomic study across 264 sites in major olive-growing regions (Greece, Morocco, Italy, Portugal, and Spain) of the Mediterranean Basin, including nearby patches of natural vegetation. Herein, we describe two new species, Longidorus olearum sp. nov. and Longidorus morocciensis sp. nov., and report Longidorus oakgracilis in Portugal for the first time. We performed a comprehensive study that integrates morphological and morphometric traits with molecular data from nuclear ribosomal RNA (rRNA) genes (D2-D3 expansion segments of 28 S, ITS1, and partial 18 S) and a mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) marker, specifically the Cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI). The results of our phylogenetic analyses provided robust support for the delimitation of the newly described species, L. olearum sp. nov. and L. morocciensis sp. nov., and further clarified of three previously recognized species within the genus: L. magnus , L. oakgracilis , and L. vineacola . Phylogenetic relationships inferred from ribosomal and mitochondrial markers revealed that the majority of Longidorus species from the Mediterranean Basin clustered within subclades of Clade I. The phylogenetic placement of these species demonstrated strong congruence across lineages, corroborating previous studies on the genus. These findings contribute to a broader understanding of Longidorus biodiversity in the Mediterranean region and highlight the need for further intensive and wide-ranging nematological surveys.

Regular exercise during childhood is crucial for optimal growth. However, evidence on its long-term effects on physical fitness, inflammation and metabolic status remains limited for this period of life. To assess the longitudinal effects of a three-year basketball program on physical fitness, body composition, metabolic and inflammatory markers in prepubertal boys. Seventeen boys (8–13 years) participated in an after-school basketball program with 96 weeks of training across three academic years. At baseline and follow-up, assessments included anthropometry, body composition measured by bioimpedance, physical fitness using cardiorespiratory and strength tests, and fasting blood biomarkers. This study was registered at ClinicalTrials.gov (identifier: NCT07007624; 06/06/2025). At the end of the program, body fat remained stable, while fat free mass increased in upper and lower limbs (e.g., + 1.5 kg in lower limbs, p < 0.05). Physical fitness improved in endurance (Course Navette: +4.2 min, p < 0.01) and strength tests. Inflammatory markers showed elevations in PAI-1 (+ 86%, p < 0.05), MCP-1 (+ 23%, p < 0.01), IL-8 (+ 400%, p < 0.001), and TNF-α (+ 98%, p < 0.05), possibly reflecting increased training intensity. Long-term basketball training improved physical fitness and lean mass in prepubertal boys. However, the small sample size and absence of a control group warrant cautious interpretation and underscore the need for further research. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1038/s41598-025-22628-5.

Background Childhood obesity is a significant public health challenge, with Mediterranean countries showing high prevalence rates. While genetic factors play a role, diet and physical activity (PA) are critical modifiable influences. Emphasizing healthy dietary patterns, like the Mediterranean diet, and promoting regular PA can help mitigate obesity risk. Methods MELI-POP is a randomized controlled multi-center clinical trial in a cohort of children aged 3 to 6 years at baseline and being at obesity risk. The main objective consists on assessing the efficacy of an intervention during early childhood, considering a healthy lifestyle based on the promotion of a Mediterranean dietary pattern and regular PA, compared with a control group, on decreasing obesity incidence 5 and 10 years after the beginning of the intervention. It is expected to include 310 children, aged 3 to 6 years, having at baseline a normal weight or overweight according to the International Obesity Task Force (IOTF) criteria, and at least one parent having a body mass index > 25 kg/m². The clinical trial has two arms and is performed in Spanish Primary Health Care centers. The control group receive usual care by healthcare professionals. The intervention group receive education on Mediterranean diet and PA, combined with the provision of extra-virgin olive oil and fish, in order to be consumed at least 2 times per week. Free PA sessions with a physical education teacher are also offered for the children (3 sessions of 60 min of moderate-vigorous PA per week). The participants’ adherence to the intervention is periodically monitored. The study primarily focuses on adiposity as the main outcome, with secondary outcomes encompassing dietary intake and eating habits, physical activity and lifestyle behaviors (including extracurricular sports, screen time, and sleep duration), physical fitness, biochemical parameters (such as inflammation and cardiometabolic biomarkers, fatty acids, and oxidation), as well as microbiota, genetic, omic and metabolomic analyses. Discussion Beneficial results are expected by preventing obesity during childhood, and associated comorbidities. Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov, ID: NCT04597281. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12889-025-24351-2.

Caprine tuberculosis (TB) causes a zoonotic disease with significant economic and health implications. However, excluding some regions, goat herds are not subjected to official TB eradication programs. Implementing vaccination protocols for this species could provide a complementary and effective control strategy against TB. We assessed the protective efficacy and immune response associated with a heat-inactivated Mycobacterium bovis ( M . bovis )-based immunostimulant (HIMB) applied intramuscularly against caprine pulmonary TB on 20 kid goats (10 immunized, 10 controls) naturally exposed to M . caprae infected goats for 10 months. TB-compatible lung lesions were assessed, alongside a local immune response analysis by immunohistochemistry of cell populations (Macrophages (MΦs), neutrophils, T, and B lymphocytes) and associated immune mediators (iNOS, TNF-α, IL-1α, IL-6, IFN-γ, TGF-β, IL-4). In the control group, 60% of the animals showed TB compatible lesions, compared with 40% of the immunized animals, which also showed a 78% reduction ( p = 0.03) in the lesion severity score. Moreover, immunized animals showed a higher number of M1 MΦs ( p = 0.03), producers of iNOS, as well as a higher expression of TNFα ( p = 0.04) and IL-1α ( p = 0.03). These mediators play a key role in the activation of a Th1-type cellular immune responses effective against mycobacteria, associated with a response of T lymphocytes expressing IFNγ, whose response was increased in the immunized group ( p = 0.05). These results suggest that immunization with HIMB reduced the number and severity of TB-associated pulmonary lesions, which could be linked with an enhanced production of immune mediators with an essential role in the activation of MΦs with bactericidal functions.

The early warning of heatwaves using seasonal forecasting systems has the potential to mitigate economic losses and risk to life. Because of the limited reliability and computational expense of dynamical forecasting systems, efforts in recent years have turned to exploiting Machine Learning. Here, an inexpensive approach to forecasting summer heatwaves over Europe is developed, using an optimisation-based feature selection framework to detect a combination of variables, domains and time-lags used to skilfully predict heatwaves. The purely data-driven forecasts are shown to match, and in places outperform, the skill of the state-of-the-art dynamical multi-model products. Moreover, low skill over Scandinavia, a long-term issue common to most dynamical systems, is improved in our data-driven approach. This work also highlights that the greatest contribution to skill comes from predictors at 4-7 weeks time-lag (e.g. mid-March), and identifies predictors which can form the basis for future studies on mechanisms.

Introduction Patients with fragility fractures are two times as likely to suffer future fractures as their peers who have not suffered a fracture. In addition, 40% of those who suffer fragility fractures do not recover their level of functioning in terms of activities of daily living after 1 year. The present study aims to verify the hypothesis that a semipersonalised home-based exercise intervention may improve patients’ independence and reduce the number of hospital admissions compared with usual care for a population that suffers fragility fractures. Methods and analysis This parallel-arm single-blinded randomised-controlled trial will take place at the University of Cordoba (Spain) between September 2022 and September 2024. Patients aged >50 years old who have undergone surgery for a fragility hip fracture and who were prefracture independent (Barthel index (BI)>60) will be invited to participate. Patients will be excluded if they present a different type of fracture, mild or greater cognitive impairment or contraindication to exercise training. Patients will then be randomised into exercise or usual care group. The former will receive a daily walking appointment (number of steps to be completed inside home, interspersed with sit-to-stand movements) with the total volume increasing weekly. The latter will receive the usual care. The outcomes, collected at baseline, at the end of training (3 months) and at follow-up (6 months) by blinded operators will include the BI and number of readmissions (primary outcomes) and quality of life, exercise capacity, strength, cognitive status, bone mineral density and laboratory biomarkers (secondary outcomes). Variables related to quality of life, cognitive status, laboratory markers and densitometry will also be analysed. Ethics and dissemination The research ethics committee of the province of Cordoba approved the project (number 326; date 28 July 2021). Patients who meet the eligibility criteria will receive a patient information document and the consent form and will be encouraged to ask any questions. The proposed research respects the fundamental principles of the Declaration of Helsinki, the Council of Europe Declaration on Human Rights and Biomedicine, the UNESCO Universal Declaration on the Human Genome and Human Rights, and the Oviedo Council on Human Rights and Biomedicine. The data obtained in this study will be confidential. They will be treated by the Organic Law 3/2018, of 5 December, on the Protection of Personal Data and Guarantee of Digital Rights, keeping it strictly confidential and not accessible to unauthorised third parties, and the Regulation (EU) 2016/679 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 27 April 2016 on Data Protection (RGPD). Written informed consent will be obtained from all the participants. The study’s results will be published in peer-reviewed journals and presented at scientific congresses worldwide. The results will also be disseminated through patient advocacy group newsletters and social media platforms. Patient partners will help select the appropriate channels and develop plain-language summaries tailored to their communities’ needs. Trial registration number ClinicalTrials.gov ID: NCT04934358 (registration date: 14 June 2021).

The photochemical behavior of substituted pyridine Noxides is characterized by complex rearrangements culminating in the formation of valuable photoproducts. In this study, we employ ab initio methods to investigate the mechanistic pathways governing the transformation of pyridine N-oxides into oxaziridine-like derivatives upon photoactivation. Using the CAS(10,8)/cc-pVDZ approach with NEVPT2 corrections, we elucidate the electronic and geometric distortions associated with the S1 excited state, conical intersections, and the subsequent ground-state product formation. Our results reveal that the deactivation of the S1 excited state is driven by an out-of-plane rotation of the N-O oxygen atom, resulting in the formation of a lone pair over the nitrogen atom. Along this excited-state reaction pathway, the N-O bond undergoes significant weakening, while a C=C double bond emerges mainly on the excited state. The deactivation at the minimum-energy conical intersection leading to the ground state reveals the formation of an oxaziridine-like intermediate, which subsequently converts into a 1,2-oxazepine derivative.

Recreational hunting, especially big game trophy hunting, has a significant impact on large areas and requires specific wildlife management strategies. However, because the pursuit of maximum hunter satisfaction can jeopardize species conservation, it is crucial to identify the factors that determine recreational trophy hunter satisfaction. We investigated these factors in southern Spain by attending 21 dog-driven Iberian red deer hunts over seven hunting seasons. We collected geographic and biometric data from 556 hunted specimens and conducted 159 face-to-face surveys with hunters. Based on partial least squares path models, our findings indicate that overall satisfaction is positively related to the dimensions of achievement, appreciation, and service. Contextual variables, including hunter experience, hunting scenarios, and individual and group hunting bags, showed varying effects on these satisfaction dimensions. Management decisions significantly influenced multiple dimensions of hunter satisfaction, with potential implications for conservation in our study system and broader considerations for natural game management versus canned hunting practices.

In this work we establish a version of the Bartnik Splitting Conjecture in the context of Lorentzian length spaces. In precise terms, we show that under an appropriate timelike completeness condition, a globally hyperbolic Lorentzian length space of the form Σ×R with Σ compact splits as a metric Lorentzian product, provided it has non-negative timelike curvature bounds. This is achieved by showing that the causal boundary of that Lorentzian length space consists of a single point.

A lack of experimental data can be especially critical in new manufacturing processes. Although experimental datasets for industrial processes are reported in various research works, their lack of homogeneity complicates any fitting with conventional numerical models. Artificial Intelligence (AI) models can be an optimal alternative to extract useful information from those unconnected datasets, while generating models that can help explain the hidden patterns within datasets and interpret the predictions of the model for final users. Moreover, an AI algorithm that could be trained with limited labeled datasets would be in high demand, as it could effectively lower implementation costs. Semi-Supervised Learning (SSL) techniques might therefore be a promising solution to respond to industrial demand for the analysis of manufacturing processes. In this research, the use of SSL techniques is proposed in a case study of surface quality prediction in single point incremental forming, a promising new manufacturing technique. Datasets were extracted from the existing bibliography to generate a 234-instance dataset with 4 different industrial specifications of roughness. The best results were obtained using a semi-supervised Co-Training algorithm. Semi-supervised methods systematically improved the results obtained with the reference supervised methods, although statistical significance has not been mainly achieved due to the limited dataset size. The results obtained with the unbalanced dataset were very promising for its industrial implementation with an extended training dataset optimized for the range of process conditions of each end-user.

Spain is one of the main organic meats producing countries (sheep and beef), but these productions can be negatively affected by parasitic diseases which are influenced by environmental factors. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of the production system (conventional vs. organic) and the seasonality of sampling (cold vs. warm months) on the prevalence and parasitic burden of gastrointestinal parasites in sheep (n = 741) and cattle (n = 173). For this purpose, 10 farms in the southwest of the Iberian Peninsula (Spain and Portugal) with extensive production systems were analysed using McMaster technique in two climatic periods. The results indicate a higher prevalence and parasite burden in sheep compared to cattle (p < 0.05), with a special incidence of Eimeria spp. (73.1% vs 26%; 284.6 vs 138.6 OPG) and parasites of the order Strongylida (48.6% vs 25.4%; 95.1 vs 16.2 EPG). Organic systems showed a higher presence of Moniezia spp. (3.5% vs 1.4%), Trichuris spp. (3.9% vs 0.8%), and Dicrocoelium dendriticum (3.3% vs 0%) than conventional systems (p < 0.05). Furthermore, samples from warm months revealed a higher prevalence and parasite burden (p < 0.05), especially in the order Strongylida (60.6% vs 27.4%; 126.7 vs 32.5 EPG) and Nematodirus spp (5.6% vs 0.9%; 1.89 vs 0.22 EPG). These findings show that the type of production system and seasonality significantly influence parasite dynamics, with a more pronounced impact in organic systems during warm months.

Infective endocarditis (IE) is a life-threatening condition frequently associated with endocardial lesions known as vegetations. Detection and characterization of these lesions are critical for a proper diagnosis and management of the disease according to the current standard practice, but current human analysis techniques present severe limitations such as very basic set of measurements and high inter-operator variability. This is a retrospective observational study across 7 hospitals with 329 IE patients. An AI-based model was trained to detect vegetations in transesophageal echocardiographic (TEE) images. We measured the accuracy of the system both in terms of vegetation detection at the frame level (i.e., answering the question “is there any vegetation in this image and, if so, where is it?”) and vegetation diagnosis at the patient level (i.e., “does this patient have a vegetation?”). Two different architectures, YOLO and DETR, were evaluated within the AI-based model framework, and a comparative analysis of their performance was performed. The model exhibited strong diagnostic capability, achieving an area under the receiver-operating characteristic curve (AUROC) of 0.91 (average positive predictive value = 0.81, true positive rate = 0.83). Vegetation detection at the frame level also achieved promising performance metrics (positive predictive value = 0.83, true positive rate = 0.75). The algorithm achieved high-performance metrics detecting vegetations and identifying patients with vegetations, which can facilitate and accelerate IE diagnosis by non-expert cardiologists.

In the original publication [...]