Search Results (90)

The Eastern Adriatic Sea is biogeographically complex, yet knowledge of its hydromedusae is fragmented across two centuries of uneven sampling and shifting taxonomy. This review integrates historical faunistic records (pre-1950), mid-century programmes (1950–2000), modern quantitative time series (post-2000), and citizen science observations to compile an updated checklist of 98 non-siphonophoran hydrozoan taxa. Records are synthesised across eight sub-regions, although the most continuous research has focused on the Northern Adriatic and the open South Adriatic. The clearest long-term signal is in the Northern Adriatic, where diversity collapsed by >60% from the 1960s to the 1980s, largely through the loss of meroplanktonic taxa with benthic polyp stages under eutrophication-driven hypoxia. Since 2000, oligotrophication coincides with a partial recovery, marked by the re-emergence of meroplankton and episodic intrusions of oceanic holoplankton (including Trachymedusae) linked to circulation regimes (BiOS). For the open South Adriatic, bathymetric distributions and diel vertical migration patterns are synthesised to characterise a persistent offshore core. Taxonomic updates and information on non-indigenous and bloom-forming taxa are provided. Methodological biases and gaps, especially polyp-stage ecology and spatial sampling voids, are highlighted, and routine DNA barcoding is recommended. The checklist provides a baseline for tracking change in a shifting ecosystem. Full article

Since the mid-20th century, the landscapes of Mediterranean mountain regions have undergone a significant transformation, linked to the socioeconomic changes caused by the opening up of these regions to the market economy. This prompted a rural exodus, the abandoning of farmland and the reduction in livestock, so activating various reforestation processes. In parallel, the “green revolution” promoted the modernization of agrifood systems, so contributing to the decline of traditional ways of farming in mountain areas. The farms on which traditional polyculture and agroforestry are still carried out today are important agrobiodiversity reserves. In this research, we monitor the dynamics of land use and cover and the changes in the structure of the agrifood landscapes on the southern slopes of Sierra Nevada (Spain) by comparing maps from 1956, 1984, 2007 and 2020. The results reveal a sharp decline in cultivated land, from 39.19% to 21.54%, and an expansion of natural covers, especially Mediterranean forest, driven by the abandonment of farmland and reforestation policies. Today, the landscape is composed of a more fragmented, less cohesive mosaic of agroecosystems. These changes indicate a reduction in agrobiodiversity at a landscape level, in line with the tendency observed at farm level in the study area. Full article

Fractured fairy tales are adaptive retellings of traditional stories that employ humor, irony, and narrative innovation to transform established meanings. As a distinctive literary genre, these works combine entertainment with subversion, reshaping familiar plots, characters, and morals to engage readers in both imaginative and critical reflection. The genre gained prominence in the mid-twentieth century, when classic tales began to be rewritten to reflect modern cultural values and shifting audience expectations. Through techniques such as parody, reversal, and alternative endings, fractured fairy tales challenge inherited norms while offering renewed interpretive possibilities. Beyond their literary appeal, they have been recognized for their pedagogical importance: their familiarity lowers barriers to reading, while their inventive variations foster creativity, analytical reasoning, and language development. Collectively, these attributes affirm fractured fairy tales as a genre of lasting significance, uniting artistic reinterpretation with educational relevance in ways that continue to enrich both literary and literacy learning. Full article

Background/Objectives: Gastroschisis is a congenital abdominal wall defect characterized by herniation of bowel loops without a covering membrane and typically located to the right of the umbilical cord. Although contemporary management is well established, its historical study development has not been comprehensively synthesized. This review examines the chronological evolution of focus of interest in gastroschisis and highlights how research priorities shifted across eras, shaping current anatomical understanding, diagnostic strategies, and surgical management. Methods: A structured literature search was performed in PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus. Studies in English, Spanish, Turkish, and Arabic were included. Titles, abstracts, and full texts were screened independently. Eligible publications addressed historical descriptions, differentiation from omphalocele, advancements in imaging, surgical techniques, or experimental modeling. Results: Sixty-eight studies met the inclusion criteria. Early reports from the sixteenth to eighteenth centuries provided descriptive accounts without distinguishing gastroschisis from omphalocele. The nineteenth century introduced the term “gastroschisis,” and definitive clinical differentiation was achieved in the mid twentieth century. Surgical innovation progressed from primary closure in the 1940s to the development of preformed and spring-loaded silos, which improved physiologic tolerance and survival. Animal models clarified mechanisms of bowel injury, including the effects of amniotic exposure and delayed maturation of interstitial cells of Cajal. Advances in ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging facilitated prenatal risk stratification and shifted research attention toward predicting complex gastroschisis and optimizing perinatal planning. Conclusions: The historical trajectory of studies about gastroschisis demonstrates a coherent pattern in which developments in anatomical definition, surgical innovation, and mechanistic research sequentially enabled modern prenatal diagnostic and prognostic strategies. Recognizing these temporal shifts provides important context for current practice and highlights opportunities to improve prenatal markers of bowel compromise and refine individualized postnatal care. Full article

Cannabis sativa L. has been cultivated for millennia as a source of food and fibre. Increasing demand for functional foods has renewed interest in C. sativa seeds (hempseeds), which are rich in essential fatty acids and amino acids. However, a near-global moratorium on C. sativa cultivation and research throughout most of the 20th century has delayed crop improvement using modern breeding approaches. As a result, genetic loci contributing to key agronomic traits, including with respect to maximizing yield as a seed crop, remain largely unknown. In this study, a feminized segregating F₂ mapping population, derived from a tall parent with spacious inflorescences and large seeds and a short-stature parent with compact inflorescences and small seeds, was phenotyped for key seed and agronomic traits related to yield. A mid-density Single Nucleotide Polymorphism (SNP) genotyping panel was used to generate a genetic linkage map of 291.5 cM with 455 SNPs. Quantitative Trait Locus (QTL) mapping identified major loci for hundred-seed weight—qHSW3, 26.59 percent variance explained (PVE), seed volume—qSV1, 33.24 PVE, and plant height—qPH9, 46.99 PVE. Our results provide novel target regions, associated molecular markers, and candidate genes for future breeding efforts to improve C. sativa. Full article

Glaucoma is recognized as the second leading cause of blindness globally and a primary cause of irreversible blindness, estimated to affect over 80 million patients worldwide, including 4.5 million in the United States. Though the disease is multifactorial, the primary cause is elevated intraocular pressure (IOP), which damages the optic nerve fibers that connect the eye to the brain, thus interfering with the quality of vision. Current treatments have evolved, which consist of medications, laser therapies, and surgical interventions such as filtering procedures, glaucoma drainage devices (GDDs), and current innovations of minimally invasive glaucoma surgeries (MIGS). This paper aims to discuss the history and evolution of the design and biomaterials employed in GDDs and MIGS. Through a comprehensive review of the literature, we trace the development of these devices from early concepts to modern implants, highlighting advancements in materials science and surgical integration. This historical analysis, ranging from the mid-19th century, reveals a trend towards enhanced biocompatibility, improved efficiency in IOP reduction, and reduced complications. We conclude that the ongoing evolution of GDDs and MIGS underscores a persistent commitment to advancing patient care in glaucoma, paving the way for future device innovations and therapeutic trends to treat glaucoma. Full article

Fotis Kontoglou (1895–1965) was a prominent Greek painter and writer, known primarily for revitalizing byzantine painting in the 20th century and being one of the first artist-conservators in Greece active at this period. The current study represents the first systematic attempt to examine seven (7) icons (i.e., ecclesiastical panel paintings) attributed to Kontoglou, currently located in two famous monasteries in Laconia, Greece. The research utilized exclusively non-destructive analytical techniques, namely digital optical microscopy, UV-induced visible fluorescence photography (UVIVF), and portable X-ray fluorescence (p-XRF) spectroscopy, to identify the materials—particularly pigments—employed in the corresponding paintings. The results are interpreted under the light of Kontoglou’s own writings on painting, in particular his “Ekphrasis” painting manual. Preliminary assessments of surface morphology and state of preservation were achieved through macroscopic and microscopic probing, as well as through inspection under ultraviolet light, while further analysis was performed using portable X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy. The results confirm the employment of both traditional and modern synthetic inorganic components, while comparisons with the pigments listed in Kontoglou’s “Ekphrasis” painting manual suggest his persistent use of a rather limited palette of pigments. Nevertheless, despite the fact that the paintings were executed in a small period of time (1954–1956), data revealed notable differentiation between the studied icons, which probably indicates procurement of materials from various sources. Given the scarcity of technical investigations of modern (20th century) paintings, this study is relevant and reveals some interesting hints, which may pertain to the trends of the mid-20th century Greek paint market, like, e.g., the rather limited distribution of Ti-white. Additionally, the current findings contribute considerably towards understanding Kontoglou’s artistic methods during a highly creative period and can be utilized to support future conservation efforts. Ultimately, the current preliminary study sheds light on some methodological aspects of the pertinent research and assists towards establishing a detailed protocol for future studies. Full article

Shipping containers are vital to the transportation industry due to their cost-effectiveness and compatibility with intermodal systems. With the significant increase in container usage since the mid-20th century, manual tracking at port terminals has become inefficient and prone to errors. Recent advancements in Deep Learning for object detection have introduced Computer Vision as a solution for automating this process. However, challenges such as low-quality images, varying font sizes & illumination, and environmental conditions hinder recognition accuracy. This study explores various architectures and proposes a Container Code Localization Network (CCLN), utilizing ResNet and UNet for code identification, and a Container Code Recognition Network (CCRN), which combines Convolutional Neural Networks with Long Short-Term Memory to convert the image text into a machine-readable format. By enhancing existing shipping container localization and recognition datasets with additional images, our models exhibited improved generalization capabilities on other datasets, such as Syntext, for text recognition. Experimental results demonstrate that our system achieves $97.93\%$ accuracy at $64.11$ frames per second under challenging conditions such as varying font sizes, illumination, tilt, and depth, effectively simulating real port terminal environments. The proposed solution promises to enhance workflow efficiency and productivity in container handling processes, making it highly applicable in modern port operations. Full article

This paper critically explores Kṛṣṇanāṭṭam, a Sanskrit ritual dance-theater tradition from Kerala, as a product of socio-political and religious transformations in early modern South India. Conceived in the mid-17th century by the Zamorin King Mānavēda, author of the Sanskrit text Kṛṣṇagīti, Kṛṣṇanāṭṭam was both a devotional offering to Lord Kṛṣṇa and a strategic expression of ritual sovereignty. Rooted in Kṛṣṇa bhakti (devotion), the tradition reflects how religious performance was mobilized to assert political legitimacy, particularly amid rivalry with regional powers such as Travancore. The Guruvayur Sri Krishna Temple, situated in the Malabar region of northern Kerala and central to the performance of Kṛṣṇanāṭṭam, emerged as a vital sacred space where royal patronage, ritual authority, and caste hierarchy intersected. The performance’s exclusivity restricted to Hindu audiences within temple premises reinforced patterns of spatial control and caste-based exclusion. Institutional support codified the tradition, sustaining it across generations within a narrow sociocultural framework. With the decline of Zamorin rule and the onset of colonialism, Kṛṣṇanāṭṭam faced structural disruptions. Colonial interventions in temple administration, landholding, and religious patronage weakened its ritual foundations. Guruvayur’s transformation into a public devotional center reflected wider shifts in ritual ecology and sacred geography under colonial modernity. In both the colonial and postcolonial periods, Kṛṣṇanāṭṭam struggled to survive, nearly facing extinction before its revival under the Guruvayur temple’s custodianship. By examining Kṛṣṇa devotion, royal ambition, caste dynamics, and colonial transformation, this paper offers a critical lens on Kerala’s evolving religious and cultural landscapes. Full article

Reusing existing buildings is a valid response to the architectural challenge associated with addressing climate change and can aid the regeneration of the historic built environment. This demands sensitive architectural conservation strategies that improve thermal comfort, indoor environmental quality, and energy efficiency. In addition, energy retrofit solutions that balance performance improvements with the conservation of cultural and architectural values are needed to achieve higher performance while preserving cultural heritage, architectural features, and identity. Energy retrofits of post-war, mid-20th-century buildings pose particular challenges, including low ceiling heights, full-height windows, external decorative components, and other structural aspects, as these features hinder thermal upgrades. Concrete buildings from this period are frequently demolished due to limited guidance on effective retrofit methods. This study explores the most effective energy retrofit strategies for balancing energy efficiency with conservation requirements in such buildings, and assesses the risks associated with condensation and thermal bridging arising from internal insulation strategies. This paper examines internal insulation as a retrofit solution, where external insulation is not feasible. Internal wall insulation (IWI) reduces overall heat loss but concentrates thermal transfer at uninsulated junctions, thereby increasing the risk of condensation. In the simulated case, a relatively thin, short strip of slab insulation, combined with wall insulation, significantly reduced condensation and mould risk, suggesting a potential solution for mid-century building types. The analysis shows that applying insulation asymmetrically worsens conditions on the uninsulated side. Full-height window replacement, coupled with internal slab insulation, results in the most significant improvement; however, slab insulation alone can mitigate condensation risks where window replacement is not permitted. Findings highlight that partial insulation at balconies, parapets, and roof junctions is minimally effective, reinforcing the importance of integrated internal strategies for successful retrofits. Full article

The fog in Padua, Italy, is the result of a complex interplay between local climate, pollution and synoptic-scale meteorological conditions. The modern definition of “fog” was adopted by the World Meteorological Organization, founded in 1950. Prior to that, no precise visibility threshold had been established, and early meteorological observers recorded its occurrence based on subjective criteria. The meteorological observations made in Padua since the mid-18th century include sky conditions and fog, but the distinction between fog and mist was undefined, making it difficult to compare records from different observers. Caution is therefore needed when analyzing fog occurrence to distinguish the climate signal from observational artifacts. For instance, at the Specola Observatory in Padua from 1773 to 1913, the fog that appeared only on the horizon—but not at the zenith—was often disregarded, since vertical visibility was crucial for astronomical observations. Starting from 1920, other manned stations began providing systematic fog records, which have continued to the present. The aim of this study is to reconstruct the occurrence of fog in Padua since the late 18th century. As available datasets —observational and instrumental—partly overlap in time, and data from nearby locations are available, it is possible to assess their mutual consistency, to evaluate the reliability of historical visual observations, and to investigate fog variability and trend over time. Full article

In mid-2023, United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres warned that almost 80 years following the end of World War Two, “the global financial architecture is outdated, dysfunctional, and unjust. It is no longer capable of meeting the needs of the 21st-century world: a multipolar world characterized by deeply integrated economies and financial markets. But also marked by geopolitical tensions and growing systemic risks.” Further, the Secretary-General cautioned that “the current global financial system exacerbates inequalities, denying the poorest countries the credit and debt support they need and deserve”. We address the question: How does the transfer of modern technologies improve the economic development of impoverished nations? In this paper we demonstrate that rapid technological change is a double-edged sword—bringing significant productivity gains and economic progress while also causing profound societal disruptions and posing a threat of political instability in parts of the world. Nevertheless, we believe that a rapid and sustained transfer of these technologies holds great promise for the rapid development of today’s less developed nations. Full article

Since the mid-twentieth century, a profound reconfiguration of the epistemic ground of ‘art’ itself—aesthetic theory—has taken place. This review examines how modern logic and the inseparability of the modernity/coloniality pair have impacted aesthetic thought, revisiting traditional aesthetics through the concept of a decolonial aisthesis. Methodologically, it mobilises a bibliographic review of decolonial thought in dialogue with feminist theory and undertakes a case-based analysis of Grada Kilomba’s exhibition Poetic Disobediences (2019). This review also forms part of a larger research project on decolonial aisthesis, feminisms, and performance art, with results disseminated in various contexts. Distinctively, it foregrounds Kilomba’s installation The Dictionary (2019) as a central case study, emphasising how it dismantles the grammar of “healing” through language and performance and exploring its implications through the lens of Latina and Black feminisms. The results highlight the need to critically rethink aesthetics: if aesthetics is a modern and thus colonial construct, it must be unlearned and reimagined from within. The review concludes that poetic and epistemic disobedience emerge as insurgent gestures capable of destabilising coloniality in art, pointing not to the abolition of aesthetics, but to its decolonial reconceptualisation as a theoretical and methodological horizon. Full article

The study aims to recover, interpret, and analyze the daily meteorological observations made in Venice by Tommaso Temanza from 1751 to 1769. These records are relevant because they provide direct information about the climate of the Little Ice Age. Temanza used a barometer, an air thermometer of Amontons’ type, and an additional mercury thermometer, i.e., Réaumur’s thermometer. These early instruments are presented and discussed in this study. The barometer readings needed standard corrections, which were unknown at that time. The scale of the air thermometer was arbitrary, and temperatures were measured in inches of mercury. For the Amontons thermometer, Temanza missed the calibration points and used a particular scale with the zero-point in the middle of the range. He gave two contradictory explanations for this choice, both of which are discussed in this paper. In the 18th century, the use of a singular value to represent the average temperature, called “Temperate”, was promoted by Michieli du Crest in Geneva and Toaldo in Padua. This work reconstructs the unknown scale, using contemporary observations by Giovanni Poleni and Giuseppe Toaldo in Padua (30 km west of Venice) and snowfall reported in the weather notes to determine the temperature point at 0 °C. A discussion is made about the calibration, validation, and conversion of readings from the original to modern units of pressure and temperature, i.e., hPa and °C, respectively. The recovered record of Venice is presented in comparison with Padua, Bologna, and Milan. The paper provides and analyzes the new dataset, and improves knowledge about the climate, history of science, instruments, and observations made in the mid-18th century. Full article

Over 150 years, pathology has transformed remarkably, from the humble beginnings of microscopic tissue examination to today’s revolutionary advancements in digital pathology and artificial intelligence (AI) applications. This review briefly retraces the evolution of microscopes and highlights breakthroughs in complementary tools and techniques that laid the foundation for modern surgical pathology, recently expanded into a new dimension with digital pathology. Digital pathology marked a pivotal turning point by addressing the longstanding limitations of conventional microscopy, paving the way for AI integration. AI now revolutionizes pathology workflows, offering unprecedented opportunities for automated diagnostics, enhanced precision, accelerated research, and advanced medical education. Despite widespread consensus on AI as complementary to pathologists, rare studies critically explore the feasibility of a fully autonomous, pathologist-independent diagnostic workflow. Given the rapid advancement of AI, it is timely to examine whether mature AI systems might realistically achieve diagnostic autonomy. Thus, this review uniquely addresses this gap by evaluating the feasibility, limitations, and implications of a disruptive, pathologist-free diagnostic model. This exploration raises critical questions about the evolving role of pathologists in an era increasingly defined by automation. Can pathologists adapt to emerging trends, maintain their central role in patient care, and leverage AI effectively, or will their traditional roles inevitably diminish? Could the continued advancement of AI eventually prompt a return of pathologists to their initial mid-19th century role as scientist scholars, removed from frontline diagnostics? Ultimately, we assess whether AI can independently sustain diagnostic accuracy and decision making without pathologist oversight. Full article