Search Results (624)

Table olive processing comprises multiple stages in which physical, chemical, and biological hazards may occur. Although risk assessment is a core element of Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP) systems, the selection of assessment tools remains insufficiently standardized. This study compared a 4 × 4 risk matrix and Failure Mode and Effects Analysis (FMEA) for hazard evaluation in Spanish-style and Californian-style table olive processing. Hazards were assessed across 41 processing stages for Spanish-style olives and selected key stages for Californian-style olives using probability × severity in the 4 × 4 matrix and severity × occurrence × detection in FMEA. Significant hazards were further evaluated using the Codex Alimentarius decision tree to identify critical control points (CCPs) and strengthened prerequisite programs (PRPs). Both tools identified similar significant hazards, including biological hazards associated with fermentation, brine management, storage, container sealing, and heat treatment, as well as physical hazards from foreign bodies and chemical hazards related to heavy metals, pesticide residues, mycotoxins, and food-contact material migration. FMEA provided greater analytical detail through the detection parameter, whereas the 4 × 4 matrix was simpler and more practical for complex flow diagrams. Overall, both tools were suitable for HACCP-based risk assessment in table olive processing. Full article

Learning vocabulary is central to learning a second or foreign language (henceforth L2). L2 vocabulary research shows how individual differences (IDs), such as metacognitive elements, motivational factors, and strategy use, contribute to vocabulary learning and acquisition. L2 vocabulary learning that incorporates IDs is often discussed in relation to the internalized vocabulary learning process, including how L2 learners acquire vocabulary by sustaining motivation, using vocabulary learning strategies, and regulating learning processes. The associations between the IDs and vocabulary learning have often been examined within the framework of self-regulated learning (SRL). However, discussions on how SRL processes are reinforced through co-regulated or socially shared learning with others and within social contexts remain scarce. In this article, we introduce a sociocultural perspective on strategic vocabulary learning. Specifically, we discuss how the internalized processes of self-regulated vocabulary learning can be socially constructed through co-regulation and socially shared regulation. The proposed framework has the potential to provide future research agendas and instructional practices in L2 vocabulary learning and teaching. We conclude by proposing directions for future research on the socially constructed nature of strategic vocabulary learning. Full article

Reading has long been recognised as a central mechanism for second language development, particularly in English as a Foreign Language (EFL) contexts where exposure to the target language is limited. However, learners do not seem to benefit equally from comparable reading demands, suggesting that factors beyond linguistic competence influence developmental outcomes. This study examines the relationship between reading self-efficacy and English language proficiency among undergraduate students enrolled in a Degree in English Studies at a Spanish university. A cross-sectional quantitative design was employed with a sample of 141 participants and data were collected using the Reader Self-Perception Scale 2 (RSPS2) and a standardised multilevel English placement test aligned with the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR). The results revealed a statistically significant positive relationship between reading self-efficacy and language proficiency, whereas literary epistemological beliefs did not show a comparable association. Among the RSPS2 dimensions, perceived Progress and Physiological States emerged as the strongest correlates of proficiency, indicating that learners’ sense of development and emotional comfort while reading is particularly relevant to language achievement. The study argues that reading self-efficacy is related to textual exposure and language development, shaping whether learners engage with texts in sustained and productive ways. By linking learner self-perception to measurable proficiency outcomes, the study contributes empirical evidence to current discussions on affective variables in language learning and offers pedagogical implications for fostering engagement in higher education EFL contexts. Full article

While the “model minority” stereotype has been extensively studied in relation to Asian Americans, there is limited research that distinguishes these experiences by specific national origins. This paper explores the stereotypes faced by India-born scientists and engineers in the United States. They represent a significant segment of the foreign-born workforce in the U.S., accounting for one-third of this population and comprising the largest group of H-1B visa holders. Through qualitative data gathered from 40 India-born scientists and engineers employed in U.S. high-tech firms, this study examines how these individuals perceive and navigate the cultural stereotypes that shape their professional and personal lives. The paper delves into the intersections of ethnicity, nationality, and gender in shaping their experiences, challenging the characterization of Indians as “model immigrants”. Full article

Breast implants are among the most frequently used long-term implantable medical devices in aesthetic and reconstructive surgery. In addition to correcting anatomical deficits, they have significant psychosocial effects, influencing body image, self-esteem, and quality of life, particularly in patients undergoing postmastectomy reconstruction. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the historical development, biological interactions, material characteristics, and clinical outcomes of breast implants. Early reconstructive attempts using foreign materials and injectable substances were associated with severe complications, underscoring the need for safer technologies. The introduction of silicone gel implants in the 1960s marked a pivotal advancement, followed by the development of saline-filled devices and highly cohesive silicone gels with enhanced mechanical stability. Key surgical considerations, including incision type and implant placement plane (subglandular, submuscular, dual-plane, and subfascial), are discussed in relation to aesthetic outcomes and complication risk. Emphasis is placed on the implant–tissue interface and the foreign body response (FBR), a process involving protein adsorption, immune cell activation, fibrous capsule formation, and potential chronic inflammation. Persistent inflammatory stimulation, often associated with bacterial biofilm formation, contributes to capsular contracture, the most common long-term complication. Additional adverse events include implant rupture, silicone gel bleed, granulomatous reactions, infection, hematoma, implant malposition, and rare but clinically significant conditions such as breast implant-associated anaplastic large cell lymphoma (BIA-ALCL). The review also summarizes implant classification according to construction, filling material, shape, and surface topography, highlighting the influence of surface characteristics on host response and clinical outcomes. Advances in biomaterials, cohesive gel formulations, and surface engineering aim to enhance biocompatibility and long-term safety, supported by standardized mechanical and biological testing protocols. Full article

Background/Objectives: Health outcome determinants affecting Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination among the adult female population are scarce in Spain. This study aimed to describe the health outcomes and determinants of HPV vaccination in women 18–65 years attending lower genital tract outpatient clinics across regions of Spain. Methods: This was a cross-sectional, multicenter, non-interventional, descriptive, and comparative nationwide study. Sociodemographic characteristics and health outcomes included obstetric, gynecological and HPV vaccination antecedents, together with patient-reported outcomes related to HPV infection. Statistical analysis included multivariate logistic regression models. Results: Among 2004 adult women recruited, 1907 (95.2%) were eligible for analysis. Vaccine uptake was 48.8%; 81.6% among women who were ever HPV positive (adjusted OR = 2.16 [95% CI: 1.59–2.93], p < 0.001), but 65.9% among women with an active infection, which acted as a negative factor for vaccination (OR = 0.63 [0.45–0.87], p = 0.005), as did increasing age (OR = 0.92 [0.90–0.93], p < 0.001); the higher the age, the lower the adjusted likelihood of being vaccinated. HPV knowledge and adequate physician-provided information were weakly associated with vaccination likelihood. A history of conization (OR = 7.48 [5.34–10.47], p < 0.001), use of contraception (OR = 1.49 [1.13–1.96], p = 0.004), infection with high-risk or unknown-risk HPV genotypes (OR = 1.86 [1.23–2.82], p = 0.003 and OR = 1.68 [1.17–2.42], p = 0.006, respectively), and Spanish nationality (OR = 2.46 [1.68–3.61], p < 0.001) were identified as factors associated with a higher vaccination likelihood. Conclusions: This study found that HPV vaccination uptake is improvable. Previous HPV infection favored vaccination; however, active infection and increasing age acted against vaccination. HPV knowledge and adequate healthcare professional information appeared to favor vaccination, along with, most notably, a history of cervical surgery (conization), contraceptive use, or infection with high-risk or unknown-risk HPV genotypes. Spanish women had a higher likelihood of receiving HPV vaccination than foreign residents. Full article

Background: Foreign citizenship and low socioeconomic status are key determinants of health inequalities and may influence maternal and neonatal outcomes. This study aimed to assess maternal health during pregnancy and the main adverse maternal and neonatal outcomes related to labour and childbirth among women living in Trentino (Northern Italy), comparing women with Italian and foreign citizenship. Methods: A retrospective epidemiological study was conducted using data from the Birth Assistance Certificate (CedAP) database of the Autonomous Province of Trento. This study included all women who gave birth in Trentino between 2012 and 2016. Associations between citizenship and adverse outcomes were assessed using multivariable logistic regression models adjusted for potential confounders. Results: The analysis included 23,165 women, of whom 25.9% had foreign citizenship. Women with foreign citizenship showed a significantly higher risk of gestational diabetes mellitus compared with Italian women and an increased risk of extremely preterm birth (<28 weeks of gestation), particularly among women from Central and South America, Asia and Eastern Europe. Regarding labour and mode of delivery, women with foreign citizenship had a higher risk of caesarean section, especially among women from Central and South America and Africa. In terms of neonatal outcomes, infants born to women with foreign citizenship showed a higher likelihood of requiring phototherapy and admission to the neonatal intensive care unit. Conclusions: Significant differences were observed between immigrant and Italian women in both social determinants and maternal and neonatal perinatal outcomes. Identifying factors associated with adverse outcomes during pregnancy may help improve targeted maternal care and reduce health inequalities for both mothers and newborns. Full article

Background: Foreign residents in Japan faced various barriers that hindered their access to governmental COVID-19 (Coronavirus Disease 2019) support, which may have influenced their satisfaction with available services and overall well-being. However, limited evidence exists on how awareness of such support relates to satisfaction. This study examined the association between awareness of governmental COVID-19 support and satisfaction among foreign residents living in Japan. Methods: A cross-sectional online survey was conducted between September and November 2023 using a commercial online survey panel of foreign residents in Japan. Satisfaction with governmental support was assessed using a 10-point scale and dichotomized at the median. Signal detection analysis was applied to identify factors associated with higher satisfaction. Results: Among 427 respondents, 400 (93.7%) reported receiving COVID-19 vaccination. Satisfaction with government support was assessed using a 10-point scale, with a mean score of 5.8. Awareness of support was the strongest predictor of satisfaction, and length of residence was an additional determinant among those aware of support. Distinct demographic and socioeconomic patterns were observed across awareness and residence groups. Conclusions: Awareness of governmental COVID-19 support played a key role in shaping satisfaction among foreign residents, regardless of service use. Tailored, group-specific approaches considering length of residence and individual characteristics may improve access to support and enhance well-being. Full article

As the foreign direct investment (FDI)-driven catch-up model of eight Central and Eastern European (CEE-8) economies approaches its limits, strengthening the export capacity of small and medium-sized enterprises (SME) may play an important role in sustaining economic convergence within the European Union (EU). Despite deep integration into EU production networks, domestic SME participation in international trade remains limited. In this context, digitalization is increasingly seen as a factor that may reduce information, coordination, and administrative barriers associated with SME cross-border trade. This study examines how different dimensions of digitalization relate to intra-EU export performance of SMEs in the CEE-8, conceptualizing digitalization across three distinct but interacting layers: firm-level digital adoption, societal digital usage, and the institutional digital environment. Using a balanced panel dataset covering 2018–2023, the analysis employs a one-way fixed-effects estimator with wild cluster bootstrap inference to address the small-cluster setting. Results indicate that societal digital usage and digital public services for businesses are strongly and positively associated with SME intra-EU export performance. Firm-level digitalization shows a more complex pattern: internal digital tools display delayed positive associations after a maturation period, while e-commerce participation is consistently negatively associated with aggregate export volumes. Robustness checks using Driscoll-Kraay standard errors and alternative functional forms confirm the stability of the core findings. The results suggest that strengthening digital foundations and reducing cross-border digital frictions can support more effective CEE-8 SME participation in the EU Single Market. Full article

This study investigates how Climate Policy Uncertainty (CPU) influences investments in the Renewable Energy Transition (ET), a relationship widely presumed to be negative, despite the empirical literature reporting mixed and highly heterogeneous results. Using a preregistered systematic review following PRISMA guidelines, we identify seventeen peer-reviewed studies from Web of Science and Scopus. Their quantitative estimates are harmonized using Fisher z-transformations and analyzed within a meta-analytic framework. A global random-effects meta-analysis reveals a small and statistically insignificant average effect of CPU on ET-related investment outcomes, together with extremely high heterogeneity, indicating that a single pooled coefficient is not an informative universal summary. To examine whether part of this dispersion follows an interpretable pattern, we estimate an exploratory mixed-effects meta-regression based on a four-channel transmission framework derived from the reviewed literature. This model accounts for 50.4% of the between-study variance, and only the Macroeconomic channel shows a negative and statistically significant deviation from the reference category ($\beta$ = 1.0700, p = 0.0060). This result should be interpreted cautiously, however, given the small number of studies in each subgroup and the persistence of substantial residual heterogeneity. Overall, the evidence suggests that the CPU does not affect ET-related investment outcomes in a uniform way; rather, the reported relationship varies across contexts, with the strongest negative pattern appearing in studies that capture macroeconomic conditions related to the energy transition, such as foreign direct investment, trade openness, and aggregate green investment. By providing the first meta-analytic quantification of this relationship and a structured mapping of transmission mechanisms, this study offers novel empirical clarity to a fragmented literature. The policy implication is direct, and governments seeking to accelerate the energy transition must prioritize long-term credibility, regulatory stability, and macroeconomic predictability, as these are the domains through which climate policy uncertainty most severely constrains low-carbon investment. Full article

This study examines the impact of financial inclusion on income inequality across 33 provinces in Indonesia from 2015 to 2023, while controlling for human development and investment-related factors. Specifically, it investigates the effects of the Financial Inclusion Index (FII), Human Development Index (HDI), foreign investment (FI), and domestic investment (DI) on provincial income inequality. This study used balanced-panel data for each province and year. Employing a dynamic panel data approach, this study utilizes the Generalized Method of Moments (GMM) estimator to address potential endogeneity, unobserved heterogeneity, and dynamic persistence in income inequality. The empirical findings indicate that financial inclusion, as measured by the Financial Inclusion Index, has a statistically significant negative effect on income inequality, suggesting that greater access to formal financial services contributes to a more equitable income distribution. Similarly, the Human Development Index is found to reduce income inequality, highlighting the importance of human capital development in mitigating income disparities. In contrast, foreign investment and domestic investment exhibit positive and significant effects on income inequality, implying that investment inflows may disproportionately benefit higher-income groups. Overall, the results underscore a high degree of inequality in Indonesia, consistent with the lagged coefficient reaching 0.97. Therefore, inclusive policy frameworks are required to ensure that investment-driven growth is more evenly distributed across provinces. Full article

Several successive crises during the first three decades of the third millennium created the premises for a world that, after expanding international relations, entered a new reality of slowbalization or deglobalization, shaping new development paradigms for national economies. In this context, where economic activity remains highly sensitive to energy market disruptions and strategic resource constraints, nations seek new opportunities to reduce their foreign dependencies through energy diversification and a green transition. Nations are seeking strategies to leverage their advantages and moderate their weaknesses. This research evaluates the relationship between energy-related features and economic growth in a complex context, describing dependency on foreign markets. Furthermore, the study discusses the effects of a selection of variables describing the green transition (energy import dependency, energy diversification, and the share of renewable energy) on economic growth. The data covers the period between 1995 and 2024 for 25 European countries. The study uses cross-sectionally ARD (CS-ARDL) for the main empirical analysis and augmented mean group (AMG) to check the robustness of the main results. Furthermore, the method of moments quantile regression (MMQR) is employed to capture the impact more precisely across various stages of countries’ development. The findings suggest a direct relationship between employment and renewable energy adoption across all quantiles. Moreover, the negative coefficient for the energy dependency in the first quantile documents an increased sensitivity of less developed economies to energy market uncertainties. Full article

Encapsulation is a major cellular defense reaction in lepidopterans. However, in the oriental armyworm (Mythimna separata), the molecular regulators that coordinate hemocyte adhesion and multilayer capsule assembly remain poorly defined. In this study, we identified Mythimna separata encapsulation related gene 1 (MysERG1) as a novel cellular immune regulatory gene. MysERG1 transcripts were most abundant in hemocytes and were notably upregulated in adherent hemocytes as well as in samples of capsules, indicating an association with adhesion-dependent hemocyte activation. Following separation of granulocytes and plasmatocytes, MysERG1 expression was observed to be higher in adherent plasmatocytes than in adherent granulocytes. However, recombinant MysERG1 selectively increased granulocyte adhesion but did not significantly affect plasmatocyte adhesion and was specifically localized on granulocytes. Additionally, recombinant MysERG1 enhanced hemocyte aggregation on foreign surfaces, highlighting its functional role in facilitating encapsulation. Functional knockdown using double-stranded RNA significantly reduced the size of the capsules, indicating that MysERG1 is required for robust capsule formation. This study identifies MysERG1 as a novel factor involved in hemocyte cooperation during encapsulation in M. separata and presents a conceptual framework for inter-hemocyte communication mechanisms in lepidopteran cellular immunity. Full article

The study sheds light on the subtle interactions among financial development, foreign direct investment (FDI), and the quality of regulatory frameworks, with particular reference to their deep influence on renewable energy use and carbon emissions across 22 developed countries from 2002–2021. The results show an interesting tendency: Financial development and FDI will reduce reliance on renewable energy, whereas a significant increase in GDP per capita will increase reliance. Secondly, carbon emissions have a negative association with the adoption of renewable energy and financial development, though both reduce environmental quality; there is a positive relation between real gross domestic product (GDP) and energy depletion in terms of these toxic emissions. The significant role of regulatory quality as a moderator in this process is particularly striking. There is a direct correlation between financial stability and more robust regulation, resulting in reduced financial liquidity available for investing in renewable projects and restricting the free flow of clean FDI. Crucially, the paper argues that when combined with strong regulation, FDI is more likely to contribute to reductions in emissions, while FYGD, nevertheless regulated at a high level of quality, should raise emissions. Winding up, the result indicates that neither financial depth nor institutional quality, in isolation, is sufficient to deliver significant environmental improvement. Thus, it is urgent to adopt sound green finance policies and to formulate focused regulatory systems that integrate financial development and foreign direct investment with a broader sustainability agenda. Full article

Background and Clinical Significance: Needle fracture during inferior alveolar nerve block is a rare complication, but it can nevertheless result in serious complications, especially when the fragment migrates into deep anatomical spaces like the pterygomandibular region. Accurate localization and safe retrieval are vital in preventing infection, chronic pain, neurovascular injury, and long-term functional impairment. Case Presentation: We present a case of a 27-year-old patient who had a fractured needle fragment from a local anesthetic procedure retained in the left pterygomandibular space. Cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) was carried out to verify the presence of the metallic foreign body and to define its exact three-dimensional position in relation to adjacent bone and soft tissue landmarks. The approach was transoral, and the surgery was done under general anesthesia. During the surgery C-arm fluoroscopy was used to help guide localization and retrieval, along with the help of radiopaque reference markers to assist in determining the trajectory. The fragment was removed without any issue. After the surgery, the patient’s condition improved well, and he showed no signs of functional deficits. Conclusions: The management of broken needle fragments in the pterygomandibular space can be safely and effectively done using a combination of preoperative CBCT and intraoperative C-arm guidance. This technique allows for exact location determination, minimizes unnecessary dissection of the tissue, and will make the surgery safer in complicated areas. Full article