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Recently, in the mainstream media and cognitive science research, there has been a tendency not only to compare beliefs in conspiracy theories with clinical delusions but also to label as delusional various non-clinical beliefs that are considered epistemically problematic. Sam Wilkinson proposed that when we call a belief delusional, we express our common-sense epistemic disapproval for a belief that we do not share. In this respect, it is part of Wilkinson’s proposal that the attribution of delusional character to beliefs plays an expressive rather than a descriptive role. The implication is that calling certain beliefs delusional is not mediated by the fact that those beliefs satisfy certain conditions, and the expression of disapproval cannot be further unpacked. In this article, we accept that calling beliefs ‘delusional’ is a way of expressing disapproval, but we resist the idea that the reasons for disapproval cannot be further unpacked. We propose that a belief is called ‘delusional’ when it is considered (1) implausible, in the sense that it has no appearance of truth because it is in tension with existing beliefs, and (2) unshakable, in the sense that it is not usually abandoned under the pressure of counterarguments or counterevidence. Although other features of the beliefs also shed light on why we call them delusional, we will focus on implausibility and unshakeability as epistemic criteria for the delusional character of beliefs.

With the exception of some general typifications, the content of delusions is not usually approached with the depth it deserves. One of the reasons for this may be the clinical predominance that form has over delusional content, both for its description and for the development of possible treatments. The gender dimension of delusions is usually reduced to their structural implications: certain measurable and observable differences between cis-gender men and women. In the present essay my aim will be to explore the content of delusions in the framework of the symbolic scope of gender norms. Arguing for a continuum between our ordinary beliefs and delusional beliefs, I will argue that there is reason to suppose that cis-heteronormative values, which involve recognizing ourselves as either male or female, are constitutive of our experiences, including delusional ones. From the perspective of the second person I will propose to reconceptualize listening to the delusional narrative by strategically using such values to develop a shared belief space. I will characterize delirium, both in structure and content, as an indicator of possible conflicts regarding the second-person relationships that the person experiencing it has with significant others. I will argue that the clinical revaluation of the delusional content makes sense for the reciprocal recognition between the listener and the narrator of the delusional experience.

In this paper, I look into the debate about the status of addiction as a disease. Although addiction is widely regarded as a disease, several authors have put forward reasons for agnosticism or skepticism about the appropriateness of the disease label. Any attempt to address this issue directly is complicated by its relationship to several other contentious issues, both on the side of theories of addiction and on the side of theories of disease. My primary aim in this paper is to identify the major points of contention. My secondary aim is to offer a limited defense of the disease view. The crux of the debate is whether addiction is aptly pictured as the result of psychological dysfunction. The main hurdle for the psychological dysfunction claim is that we currently lack a relatively unified account of the behavioral trait that most strongly suggests dysfunctional processes: the loss of expectable ability to control behavior. I argue that there is a sense in which the dysfunction claim may be warranted even in the absence of a unified causal account. However, this requires assumptions that are to some extent controversial, most notably, the impaired control view of addiction and the acceptability of dysfunction-talk based on personal- level behavioral traits.

In our present article, we first offer a critical review of the pragmatic conception of science and how this doctrine has evolved to the present day. Secondly, we propose to examine the model-target relationship whose epistemic value has been questioned by some advocates of the pragmatic view. One of the main goals of the paper is to show that including the model-target relationship in some particular context —for example in the inferential view of models—, is not at all incompatible with the pragmatic conception. On the other hand, we examine the relationship between pragmatism and fictionalism in the context of model building. Regarding this issue, we reject the position we have called full fictionalism and assume a deflationary attitude, a narrow fictionalism that admits only one class of non-realistic components of a model: those that refer to no existing entities.

Robert Brandom’s theory of discursive practice regards all linguistic activity as taking place within a social normative framework. The normative structure of this framework is described by means of an ideal model of linguistic game: the game of giving and asking for reasons. The main elements of this model account for the fundamental relations that characterise linguistic practice: responsibility and authority. Although the semantic development of the theory is inferentialist and hence deflationist about truth, it is useful to use this concept to distinguish an elementary precondition for discursive practice. On the basis of this conceptual expedient, it is possible to analyse the transformation of such practice induced by the emergence of social networking services with particular rules and the speech production through the use of artificial intelligence in the context of those media. Thus, the aim of this paper is to outline the general features of the transformation in the normative vocabulary of Brandom’s communication model in order to achieve a better understanding of the phenomenon and to suggest possible consequences for discursive practice.

In Slurs and Expressivity (2021), Orlando and Saab compile a series of works which addresses slurs from different semantic-pragmatic perspectives. The book is highly relevant given the centrality of this topic in contemporary philosophy of language and linguistics. From reading it, anyone interested in recent debates on this issue can immerse herself in a vast recollection of analysis, which, at the same time, allows her to appreciate its complexity and the semantic and pragmatic components involved. In this paper, I offer a critical study regarding inherent aspects of slurs that, according to some contributions in this volume, remain undetermined in the semantics. To do so, I explore some cases in which these underspecifications can lead to undesired interpretations and argue that we need to enrich the semantics.

Background: Arabidopsis thaliana is the most widely used plant organism as a study model, due to its short life cycle and small genome. Among the most used accessions, the Columbia (Col-0) ecotype is widely used for molecular and genetic research, however the physiological response of this model plant to abiotic factors is relatively unknown. Objective: Given its relevance in studying gene functionality, it is essential to understand its physiology and morphology under individual stress conditions: water deficit stress (WDS), thermal shock (50 °C for 2 hours), and under the combined effect of both stress types (WDS + 50 °C for 2 hours). Methodology: 75-day-old A. thaliana Col-0 plants were used for the 3 stress treatments: 14d of WDS, 50 °C/2 h, and 14d WDS + 50 °C/2 h. The survival percentage, water potential, electrolyte leakage, PSII status, and gas exchange were evaluated. Results: A. thaliana plants exhibited susceptibility to prolonged levels of stress, demonstrating different physiological mechanisms to cope with individual and combined stresses. The analysis of the photochemical state of PSII indicated that Arabidopsis is more vulnerable to the 50 °C/2 h stress and to the combined WDS + 50 °C/2 h stress, than to water deficit stress. The WDS + 50 °C/2 h treatment caused greater membrane damage, more negative water potential, and lower gas exchange compared to the individual stress. Implications: This system is proposed for future molecular analyses involving the overexpression of cloned transcription factor genes from tolerant species, with the aim of extrapolating these findings to commercially relevant crops. Conclusion: The differential response observed under different types of stress in this model plant, may facilitate the elucidation of underlying molecular mechanisms, which should be a central focus in future research aiming to increase resilience to climate change factors in commercially important agricultural crops.

Background. Surakarta is a city in Central Java, Indonesia with great potential for exploration in the field of urban ethnobotany. This research was conducted at Gede Harjonagoro Market, or locally called Pasar Gede, one of Surakarta's earliest and largest traditional markets. It is also a location where locals and visitors can find various plant-based cuisines. Objective. To ethnobotanically study the variety of all plant-based foodstuff traded in Pasar Gede Harjonagoro. Methodology. Data was collected from December 2022 till July 2023 in Pasar Gede, Surakarta City, Central Java Province, Indonesia, using in-depth and semi-structured interviews with traders. The data analysis was conducted using both qualitative and quantitative methods, employing an ethnobotany approach. Taxonomic identification was conducted at the Biology Laboratory of Universitas Muhammadiyah Surakarta. Results. A total of 155 species from 47 families of edible plants was identified. The edible plants were classified into four distinct categories: staple foods (source of carbohydrate), fruits, vegetables, and spices. The majority of plants originate locally and are primarily cultivated. Implications. The findings of this study suggest that the diverse and cosmopolitan character of Surakarta has resulted in a greater need for a broader selection of food options. As a result, the majority of edible plants are grown and sourced from the surrounding satellite region of Surakarta. Conclusion. This demonstrates the lingering influence of the Sunanate heritage and the large variety of species demonstrates the cosmopolitan nature of Surakarta culture. 

Background. Los hongos entomopatógenos representan una alternativa sostenible para reducir las poblaciones del psílido asiático de los cítricos Diaphorina citri, el cual actúa como vector del patógeno Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus, responsable del Huanglongbing (HLB) en los cítricos. Objetivo. Identificar morfotaxonómica y molecular a hongos entomopatógenos endófitos en lima persa, para ser usados en el control biológico de D. citri Veracruz. Metodología. El estudio se realizó en cultivo de lima persa Citrus latifolia en el distrito Martínez de la Torre, Veracruz, el muestreo fue dirigido en árboles que tenían adultos D. citri miconizados, en ramas con brotes tiernos y foliolos maduros. Los hongos fueron aislados, purificados e identificados de forma morfológica y morfométrica, y corroborados por biología molecular, mediante la amplificación del ADN y secuenciación de la región intergénica ITS. En condiciones de invernadero, las cepas fueron inoculadas mediante el método de inundación de conidios en la parte basal de tallos y sistema radicular de las plantas de lima persa, en cada tratamiento se liberaron 100 ninfas del segundo estadio de D. citri para evaluar el porcentaje de miconización y su establecimiento endófito de las cepas fúngicas. Resultados. La morfología taxonómica de las estructuras reproductivas de las especies de hongos identificados y comparadas con las secuencias reportadas en el Gen Bank, dio alta identidad con los hongos entomopatógenos endófitos Acrodontium crateriforme, Hirsutella citriformis, Isaria fumosorosea, Metharizium anisopliae, Trichoderma harzanium, para la cepa A. crateriforme es la primera vez que se encontró miconizando a D. citri de forma natural. Implicaciones. Estos hallazgos indican nuevas áreas de estudio relacionadas con los hongos entomopatógenos endófitos como agentes de control biológico, que pueden influir en la regulación de las poblaciones del psílido asiático, para reducir la incidencia de la propagación del HLB en las zonas citrícolas. Conclusiones. Se identificaron a las cepas A. crateriforme con un porcentaje de mortandad del 90%, M. anisopliae con el 85%, H. citriformis con el 68%, I. fumosorosea 65% y T. harzianum con 50%, tuvieron un comportamiento entomopatógeno endófito, y se demostró que las cinco cepas colonizaron los árboles de lima persa por el método de inundación de conidios directa en la base del tallo y raíces, momificaron a adultos del psílido de los cítricos en condiciones de invernadero.

Background: The growing global population and food security challenges demand sustainable solutions. In rural communities, goat farming is essential but faces high costs and limitations in animal feed. Hydroponic green forage (HGF) is emerging as an efficient and sustainable alternative, providing high digestibility and key nutrients for ruminants. Objective: To evaluate the effect of corn HGF supplementation on the hematological and productive parameters of pregnant goats and their progeny. Methodology: The study was conducted on an agroecological farm in Coatepec, Veracruz, with 20 pregnant goats assigned to two groups: G1 (HGF) and G2 (commercial concentrate). The HGF was produced in a greenhouse following strict germination and irrigation protocols, harvested at 12 days. The goats were managed under controlled conditions. Hematological parameters (red and white blood cell counts) and productive parameters (birth weight, weaning weight, and daily weight gain) were analyzed. Data were subjected to ANOVA and Tukey HSD test (P≤ 0.05). Results: Goats fed with HGF showed significantly higher levels of erythrocytes (P< 0.03), hematocrit (P< 0.02), and hemoglobin (P< 0.01). Their offspring achieved greater weaning weights (P< 0.002) and daily weight gains (P< 0.004). No significant differences were observed in birth weight or body condition. Goats in the concentrate group exhibited lower metabolic balance and greater susceptibility to nutritional deficiencies. Implications: Corn HGF is a sustainable strategy to improve metabolic and productive parameters in goat farming, highlighting its utility in agroecological systems and its capacity to optimize local resources. The long-term benefits in productivity and animal health justify the initial investment in infrastructure. Conclusions: HGF proved to be an efficient option for critical stages such as gestation and lactation, offering nutritional advantages that surpass those of commercial concentrates.