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Research on the Leave No One Behind principle of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) within the context of the Agenda 2030 is currently prevalent; however, research on monitoring child poverty at the sub-national (local) level is still limited. This paper addresses this gap by examining indicators developed for monitoring the phenomenon at different territorial levels (global, European, and national) and assessing their territorial transposition locally, using the city of Cadiz, Spain, as a case study. Interviews with local stakeholders reveal that despite the availability and access to related indicators and data, relevant actors must enhance their efforts to utilize such indicators effectively. Based on desktop research and qualitative analysis, the paper delivers recommendations for improving local monitoring of child poverty in Europe and inducing policy changes. This knowledge can inform targeted interventions, policy formulation, and resource allocation to tackle child poverty and promote equitable and inclusive societies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper delves into the challenges faced by scientists to effectively communicate regarding photoprotection and skin cancer as a result of the pervasive, harmful effects of disinforming messages. In order to do so, the Spanish population's understanding of photoprotection and skin cancer is examined. This paper is as an extension of the COMUNICANCER initiative, the ultimate goal of which is to establish protocols for producing and disseminating accurate content that raises the awareness of skin cancer-related dangers, as well as transferring knowledge on health prevention. Therefore, we have monitored the prevalence of misinformation and lack of information regarding sun photoprotection in Spain, aiming to reflect, ultimately, on the added difficulties faced by the scholarly community to disseminate accurate content in today's communication environment, which has become even more complex due to the distorting influence of disinformation. Employing a quantitative methodology, the research involved a comprehensive analysis of 2498 Spanish-language tweets related to skin cancer and photoprotection collected between August 2021 and August 2022. The study proves that scientists face a social media landscape, particularly on X/Twitter, where there is not only a lack of comprehensive information on the various dimensions of skin cancer, its prevention, and treatment, but which also serves as a breeding ground for the dissemination of inaccurate and misleading information regarding sun-related health risks and preventive measures. This leads to an urgent need to develop strategies aimed at fostering comprehensive and accurate information dissemination, especially regarding health information, due to the critical effect this can have on people and public health systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the diverse multiethnic setting of colonial New Spain, women faced challenges in separating themselves from marriages they considered unendurable. The Catholic Church, which exercised hegemony over definitions of marriage in the colony, controlled access to permanent, formal separation or "ecclesiastical divorce", while secular courts offered shorter-term separations generally aimed at reunifying couples. Outside of these options, flight, concealment, and bigamy, or "self-divorce," offered the only recourse for women seeking to leave an untenable relationship. While it is well known that few women sought (and even fewer were granted) ecclesiastical divorce, it is clear that many women sought separation through formal and informal means. Using ecclesiastical petitions for divorce, this paper investigates the experience of deposit (depósito) for New Spain's separated women. Deposit was likely a primary goal of women's divorce petitions. Moreover, the hegemony of marriage was less complete in reality than in ideology; the number of single women in the colony is now known to be vast, and their networks substantial. Building on Bird's and Megged's insights on separation and singleness, this paper argues that studying deposit reveals a custom that offered women of all classes a substantial degree of respite and agency in separation, particularly in the early colony, when institutional options were less formalized. Sometimes, depósito permitted lengthy separations that blurred into permanency, while at other times it served as a crucial safety valve. Nonetheless, the practice was a contested terrain on which husbands also sought to exercise power and control. Deposit, therefore, was a highly ambivalent form of "separation" in Latin America. This was undoubtedly true both in the early-colonial period and thereafter, but as colonial society matured and institutional deposit became more possible and common, men's power was enhanced. Studying the practice before the late seventeenth century therefore reveals some of the ways that early colonial societal flux authorized female agency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this paper is to analyze the evolution of bank liquidity regulations, considering the global regulatory framework applicable to financial institutions, from the beginning of the banking and liquidity crisis in 2007–2008 to the present. The new liquidity requirements under Basel III regulations are defined. An analysis is made of the recent evolution of credit institutions in Spain from different banking prisms to determine how the new banking regulation and supervision, following the start of supervisory powers by the European Central Bank at the end of 2014, has affected them. The methodology applied has been firstly the literature review, followed by a compilation and analysis of the financial and statistical evidence available on the main Spanish financial institutions, from the European Central Bank and the Bank of Spain, as well as information published by other agencies and the financial institutions themselves. It concludes with a reflection and analysis of the outlook for the sector once the most recent impacts, derived from COVID-19, and the supply crisis with the rise in global inflation and the increase in interest rates have been overcome. It can be stated that credit institutions in Spain have significantly improved their liquidity position over the last 15 years. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Currently, the transmission system operators (TSOs) from Portugal and Spain do not procure a frequency containment reserve (FCR) through market mechanisms. In this context, a virtual power plant (VPP) that aggregates sources, such as wind and solar power and hydrogen electrolyzers (HEs), would benefit from future participation in this ancillary service market. The methodology proposed in this paper allows for quantifying the revenues of a VPP that aggregates wind and solar power and HEs, considering the opportunity costs of these units when reserving power for FCR participation. The results were produced using real data from past FCR market sessions. Using market data from 2022, a VPP that aggregates half of the HEs and is expected to be connected in the country by 2025 will have revenues over EUR 800k, of which EUR 90k will be HEs revenues. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the context of public administrations after COVID-19, this paper formulates and validates a digital model of tutoring (e-tutoring) for small and medium enterprises (SMEs) by public administrations or PAs to help the former reduce their risks to fold in their first few years of existence and with the support of private professionals (economists, accountants, business advisors, managers, etc.). The model draws on ideas about relational administration (RA), a concept that is yet to be fully exploited or assessed in the literature. Several hypotheses derived from the model are formulated and tested using a polytomic-nominal logistic regression. A questionnaire was sent to and returned by 236 small and medium entrepreneurs in Spain facing insolvency proceedings to identify main reasons for business failure and if or how they would accept online tutoring from private professionals associated with PAs. Findings suggest that SM entrepreneurs agree with receiving selected forms of tutoring, requiring public administrations to enhance capabilities for joint information provision and decision making through the use of information and communication technologies or ICTs. These findings have important implications for the potential restructuring of public administrations, their collaborations with professionals, and the future co-design and implementation of e-government services by PAs [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sideritis royoi is found in the rocky limestone habitats of the Port Massif (southern Catalonia, Spain). The species was first collected by the local botanist Lluís de Torres in the late part of the 20th century, but the specimens have remained unidentified positively in herbaria for over 40 years. Sideritis royoi likely belongs to section Sideritis subsection Hyssopifoliae and shows some morphological affinities with the relatively widespread South European species S. hyssopifolia L., but it differs from this species because it has subspinescent upper leaves, the main surfaces of its leaves are glabrous or glabrescent, the main abaxial surface of its bracts is without eglandular hairs, and due to the fact that it has shorter inflorescences. Weaker similarities have also been observed with some species belonging to S. subsection Fruticulosae Obón & D.Rivera. In this paper, a description for the new orophilous species is provided, along with a detailed illustration, field photographs, and a comparison with closely related species. We include an assessment of its conservation status and a dichotomous key for the identification of all the species of Sideritis subsection Hyssopifoliae. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In Spain, irrigated agriculture is the most water-intensive sector, consuming around of 80% of water resources. Moreover, irrigation water distribution systems are the infrastructure by which one-third of water resource losses take place. Monitoring and controlling operations in irrigation canals are essential for mitigating leakages and water waste in operational actions. On the other hand, energy consumption by agriculture is around 5% of usage in developed countries and even higher in undeveloped countries. Although it is a small part of the total energy supply for a country, energy waste reduces the competitiveness of the agriculture sector, which continually reduces profit margins in an economic sector with very low profit margins already. The tool developed in this paper aims to increase the efficiency of water and energy management in the agricultural sector and is included in an overall control diagram for scheduled irrigation management. This tool, the optimal pumping flow (OPF algorithm), optimizes the pumping flow from the irrigation canal to the irrigation reservoir in terms of water level at the canal and reservoir, crop flow demand, system constraints, and energy prices. Regarding the results, the OPF algorithm can calculate the optimum pumping operations, being able to optimize water resource usage and energy expenses by ensuring that the water level at reservoirs remains within a specified range and that pump flow never exceeds a threshold. Further, it allows for the management of pump operations outside of peak hours. On the other hand, the OPF algorithm is also integrated into the overall control diagram in a second test. Here, the OPF algorithm collaborates with a control canal algorithm such as the GoRoSo algorithm to optimize canal gates and pump operations, respectively. In this scenario, OPF reduces cumulative energy expenses by 58% compared to the scenario where the pump station operates only when the reservoir water level is below a certain threshold. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The sustainable development of mining processes requires a deep knowledge of the effectiveness of mining equipment and is quite complex to analyze due to the intrinsic characteristics of the mining industry. In this regard, its measurement and control can lead to appropriate management, improving the mining processes' efficiency, increasing safety levels, and reducing environmental impacts. This paper developed a new methodology to study the effectiveness of equipment in mining processes, researching the impacts of process management, process control, operating conditions, operational mining schedule, and maintenance programs on the effectiveness of drilling rig fleets using two actual coal mines located in the northwest of Spain and data collected over 10 years. Thus, a new method, called Overall Mining Equipment Effectiveness (OMEE), was developed, verifying its appropriateness and flexibility to analyze the effectiveness of mining equipment by examining the availability rate, utilization rate, and productivity index. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Research on university education and its role in developing personality traits essential to achieving success in entrepreneurship is required because of the significance of entrepreneurship for advancements in the economic, social, technological, and environmental spheres. Additionally, the value of a university education in shaping an individual's personality, and the necessity of emphasizing entrepreneurship in higher education for students to achieve real success, should be a priority in our society. Therefore, the aim of this paper is to explore how university education influences personality traits that are key to success in entrepreneurship in Spain. To achieve this objective, a qualitative methodology based on the study of 11 cases has been adopted. The results allow us to conclude that university education has a decisive influence on the development of the personality traits that integrally determine entrepreneurial success as the culmination of the final stage of the maturation process; however, a university education is not fundamental to the development of these traits. Nevertheless, entrepreneurs emphasized that the personality traits analyzed need to be reinforced explicitly in university education since they effectively positively impact the success of entrepreneurial initiatives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Spanish government is a strong advocate of reducing CO2 emissions and has made a clear commitment to the implementation of renewable energies. As reflected in Spain's National Energy and Climate Plan (NECP), its objective is to double the current capacity of pumped hydropower storage (PHS) plants by 2030. Therefore, the study presented here is both current and forward-looking. This paper presents the results of the analysis of the technical potential of installing floating photovoltaic (FPV) plants at 25 PHS plants in Spain, i.e., the total capacity of Spanish hydropower plants. The study was conducted using various assessment indicators: the global horizontal irradiance ratio, electrical efficiency ratio, area required ratio, pumping area ratio, volume ratio of water pumped per day, and achievable power ratio. In summary, the following conclusions can be drawn: (i) The global horizontal irradiance ratio indicates whether a FPV plant is economically viable. From this point of view, the Aguayo PHS plant and the Tanes PHS plant are not suitable, as this ratio is very low; (ii) the compliance with the electrical efficiency ratio is flexible, and all hydropower plants meet this criterion; (iii) maximising the use of the assigned grid connection capacity is one of the goals sought by electrical companies when implementing FPV plants at existing PHS plants. The following hydropower plants are not suitable for the implementation of an FPV plant in view of the following: La Muela I, La Muela II, Aguayo, Sallente, Aldeadavila II, Moralets, Guillena, Bolarque II, Montamara, and IP; (iv) if the aim is energy storage, the following hydropower plants are not suitable for the implementation of an FPV plant: the La Muela I, La Muela II, Tajo de la Encantada, Aguayo, Sallente, Aldeadavila II, Conso, Moralets, Guillena, Bolarque II, Tanes, Montamara, Soutelo, Bao-Puente Bibey, Santiago de Jares, IP, and Urdiceto; (v) if the aim is to expand an FPV plant already installed at a PHS plant, the following hydropower plants do not meet this criterion: the La Muela I, La Muela II, Aguayo, Sallente, Aldeadavila, Moralets, Guillena, Bolarque II, Montamara, and IP. There are only eight hydropower plants that meet conditions (i), (iii) and (iv): the Villarino, Torrejon, Valparaiso, Gabriel y Galan, Guijo de Granadilla, Pintado, and Gobantes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Unwanted pregnancies are considered a public health problem that affects women's mental health and quality of life. The aim of this paper was to access university students' understanding and behaviours regarding unwanted pregnancies and identify their needs to prevent them. Qualitative descriptive design was used, and 13 semi-structured interviews were carried out. Women between 18 and 20 years old participated. They discussed a lack of training for themselves, their partners, and their families, their desire to have access to non-in-person health care resources, and their belief that contraception was expensive. Emotional aspects were relevant, affecting the way communication is established with those close to them and with health professionals. Despite the existence of access to sexual health resources, the findings show the existence of needs related to the prevention of unwanted pregnancies. The findings are presented grouping the main identified needs as "related to capability", "related to opportunity", and "related to motivation". Among the aspects to consider when designing interventions to prevent unwanted pregnancies are the feelings shown by these women, the inclusion of couples and family members in educational programs, and access to non-face-to-face health resources and less expensive contraceptive methods. Interventions for social support and understanding of women are necessary both to prevent unwanted pregnancies and to support adolescents with unwanted pregnancies by avoiding criminalization or blame. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Combined Heat and Power (CHP) has been identified by the EU as a powerful resource capable of making substantial contributions to energy savings and reducing GHG emissions. Spain's effort to promote CHP has been prolific since the 1980s. In this regard, there have been various Laws, Royal Decrees (RDs) and European Union (EU) Directives addressed to reach the national objectives set for the CHP sector. Despite these attempts, the evolution and growth of installed CHP capacity has been irregular, compared to other technologies. Likewise, the academic treatment of the Spanish CHP evolution has not deserved the same attention as other technologies such as wind, photovoltaic and thermal solar systems. As a result, this article is aimed at providing a comprehensive overview of the regulatory frameworks applied to the Spanish CHP sector and analysing the reasons behind the variable evolution of the installed CHP capacity. The study covers the legislative context from 1980 to 2020, describing the evolution during both the pre-liberalization and liberalization periods, highlighting the modifications in economic policies that affected self-producers and the so-called Special Regime (SR) for CHP, and examining the challenges faced during the cost containment measures that followed. The manuscript finds and explains the connection between the regulatory framework and the evolution of installed CHP capacity in Spain. Likewise, the connection between the industrial situation and the promotion of CHP, as well as the influence of the Spanish Electricity Sector (SES)'s liberalization on the CHP sector are also pointed out. The paper intends to provide valuable insights for CHP experts and policymakers by showcasing the importance of aligning regulatory measures with the objectives of energy efficiency. It also serves as a reference for countries in various stages of promoting CHP, and provides evidence for the importance of stable energy-policy control mechanisms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The dry Mediterranean climate (BShs) is the European region with the highest number of hours of sunshine per year. The high annual solar radiation makes sun shading devices necessary to comply with current energy efficiency standards. However, these standards do not sufficiently consider their effect on the indoor lighting comfort of buildings. The objective is to qualitatively and quantitatively determine how movable sun shading devices jointly influence the energy efficiency, thermal comfort and lighting comfort of buildings in BShs climate. The scientific novelty of the work consists of demonstrating the limitations of the sun shading systems commonly used in southeastern Spain and determining the optimal technical solution in this climate to simultaneously improve thermal and lighting comfort. This research comparatively studies the influence of various movable sun shading systems on the daylighting and thermal performance of an educational building. This study conducted on-site measurements, user surveys and computer simulations to study how to improve the thermal and lighting performances of the building. This work demonstrates that interior solar shading provides little improvement in thermal comfort and reduces the cooling demand by only 25%. External movable sun shading improves thermal comfort and reduces the cooling demand by more than 60%, but only adjustable blinds or awnings achieve adequate and homogeneous illuminance values as they diffuse daylight. The paper concludes that energy efficiency standards should be modified to ensure adequate lighting comfort in buildings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The provision of public services, mostly by local governments, has been widely analyzed in the scientific literature. The relevance of these services has generated an incipient demand for information on the part of citizens, which makes it necessary for the bodies responsible for their provision to present adequate levels of transparency. In this context, digitalization is a crucial tool for providing information to citizens and, therefore, contributing to improving the levels of transparency of those organizations that provide public services. Among these, the drinking water supply service stands out, which is crucial for well-being and sustainable progress, and whose analysis is of vital importance, especially in countries such as Spain affected by factors such as climate change and urbanization. In this way, the aim of this paper is to analyze the degree of transparency of the companies providing water supply services in Spain, as well as their degree of digitalization. To this end, a relationship will be established between the Transparency Index of Public Enterprises (INDEP) and the Strategic Project for Economic Recovery and Transformation (PERTE), which measure the degree of transparency and digitalization, respectively. This relationship will be established for a sample of 59 companies responsible for water supply. The main results derived from this study show a wide margin for improvement on the part of the companies analyzed, both in terms of transparency and digitalization, as the vast majority of these companies show a medium–low degree of compliance in both aspects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although celestial sources emitting in the few tens of GeV up to a few TeV are being investigated by imaging atmospheric Čerenkov telescope arrays such as H.E.S.S., MAGIC, and VERITAS, at higher energies, up to PeV, more suitable instrumentation is required to detect ultra-high-energy photons, such as extensive air shower arrays, as HAWC, LHAASO, Tibet AS- γ. The Italian National Institute for Astrophysics has recently become the leader of an international project, the ASTRI Mini-Array, with the aim of installing and operating an array of nine dual-mirror Čerenkov telescopes at the Observatorio del Teide in Spain starting in 2025. The ASTRI Mini-Array is expected to span a wide range of energies (1–200 TeV), with a large field of view (about 10 degrees) and an angular and energy resolution of ∼3 arcmin and ∼10 %, respectively. The first four years of operations will be dedicated to the exploitation of Core Science, with a small and selected number of pointings with the goal of addressing some of the fundamental questions on the origin of cosmic rays, cosmology, and fundamental physics, the time-domain astrophysics and non γ -ray studies (e.g., stellar intensity interferometry and direct measurements of cosmic rays). Subsequently, four more years will be dedicated to Observatory Science, open to the scientific community through the submission of observational proposals selected on a competitive basis. In this paper, I will review the Core Science topics and provide examples of possible Observatory Science cases, taking into account the synergies with current and upcoming observational facilities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper explores the effectiveness of cross-border cooperation programmes between Spain and Portugal, focusing on their impact and outcomes in Portuguese regions. Drawing on a comprehensive analysis of the programmes, the study examines the socio-economic dynamics in border regions, including job creation, population trends, and investment patterns. The research employs a mixed-methods approach, combining qualitative and quantitative data analysis. We argue that the cross-border territorial cooperation between Spain and Portugal has played a significant role in fostering regional development and addressing common challenges. While the concerted efforts have shown positive results in terms of economic growth and employment, they have not been sufficient to reverse the regressive demographic trends. Thus, it is essential to strengthen cooperation mechanisms, invest in human capital, and foster innovation so that the two countries can work together to create sustainable and inclusive development across their shared border regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), which is the United Nations body for assessing the science related to climate change, has recently recognized the natural carbonation process as a way of carbon offsetting with mortar and concrete. Accordingly, this activity could be recognized as a carbon removal process for which certification should be granted. The aim of the certification of carbon removal is to promote the development of adequate and efficient new carbon removal processes. Therefore, the main objective of this study is to provide reliable results on carbon dioxide uptake by cement-based materials in Spain. Yearly, greenhouse gas emissions are reported to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) by each country, and the natural carbonation should be added up to the carbon accounting. Therefore, natural carbonation should be included in the IPCC Guidelines for National Greenhouse Gas Inventories, and such accounting information should be made available promptly to the national regulatory authorities. This paper provides the results of carbon dioxide uptake by Spanish cement-based materials from 1990 to 2020 by using an easy method of estimating the net carbon dioxide emissions (simplified method) considering the carbon dioxide released by the calcination during clinker production (process emissions). The outcome of this study reveals that there was 93,556,000 tons of carbon dioxide uptake by the mortar and concrete manufactured in Spain from 1990 to 2020. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The increasing demand for energy-efficient and sustainable solutions in the building sector has driven the need for innovative approaches that integrate renewable energy sources and advanced control systems. This paper presents an integrated energy management solution for solar-powered smart buildings, combining a multifaceted physical system with advanced IoT- and cloud-based control systems. The physical system includes a heat pump, photovoltaics, solar thermal panels, and an innovative low-enthalpy radiant wall and ceiling, providing self-sufficient heating and cooling. The control system makes use of advanced IoT and communication engineering technologies, using Modbus, HTTP, and MQTT protocols for seamless interconnectivity, monitoring, and remote management. The successful implementation of this solution in an average-sized model house in Paris and a deep energy retrofit of a semidetached single-family house in Oviedo, northern Spain, demonstrates increased energy efficiency, improved thermal comfort, and reduced environmental impact compared with conventional alternatives. This study illustrates the potential of integrating solar energy, IoT, and communication technologies into smart buildings, contributing to the global effort to reduce the environmental impact of the building sector. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Currently, there is a wide diversity of project-based learning instructional designs presented as "STEAM projects". However, it is essential to evaluate if all these STEAM projects align their learning objectives and activities with the intended STEAM competences. This paper aims to characterize the impact of the STEAM educational approach through the analysis of contemporary STEAM projects implemented in five Spanish secondary schools from a curricular perspective based on STEM practices. A dataset comprising 46 secondary school STEAM projects implemented in Spain was evaluated using STEM project-based learningrubric, considering 21 evaluation criteria. The findings reveal an imbalance in the sophistication of STEAM projects concerning Science and Technology disciplinary-linked criteria and meta-disciplinary-linked criteria within this framework. These results enable the mapping and highlighting of the fact that not all STEAM projects equally serve their intended educational purposes or integrate all their features with the same level of sophistication. Curriculum organizations from different secondary school levels are also pointing out notable differences regarding how they address STEM competence. Acknowledging these differences and challenges in further initiatives of STEAM PBL instructional designs could support their design. By identifying areas of improvement, educators can optimize the impact of these projects on fostering STEAM competences among students. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Educational systems have the common objective of coordinating efforts to improve students' communicative competence and facilitate the development of their oral and written language skills for personal, social, academic, and professional purposes. The work on communicative competence from a school perspective has various antecedents in the international educational context. In Spain, the improvement of students' linguistic communication competence in all the languages spoken in the schools (mother languages and second languages) has been addressed through different initiatives, among which the SLP (School Language Project) programme, better known in Spanish as Proyecto Lingüístico de Centro (PLC), which has been implemented in the Autonomous Community of Andalusia since the 2013–2014 academic year, stands out. The aim of this paper is to examine the opinions of the teacher coordinators involved in the implementation of SLP in their schools as well as their perceptions about the impact of external factors in the process and, lastly, to highlight the main implications emerging from this global vision for the implementation of interdisciplinary projects to improve LCC (Linguistic Communication Competence) schools. This study is based on the feedback provided by the coordinators of the SLP initiative in Andalusian institutions over five academic years. The findings have been studied utilising a qualitative methodology and assessed using the Atlas Ti 6.0 software, then grouped into five diverse categories. The results indicate that, despite the programme's strengths, specific improvement measures are necessary in both external and internal aspects related to SLP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

New territorial units resulting from urban sprawl processes constitute a major challenge for territorial planning. The aim of this paper is to analyze periurban spaces, focusing on the delimitation and characterization of the urban units arising from urban sprawl processes. The delimitation derives from fractal analysis, where urbanized space is used to detect the limits of the units. The characterization starts with the calculation of eight different indicators, using Geographic Information Systems tools. PCA is used to obtain different dimensions of the urban sprawl phenomenon. Finally, a cluster analysis has been applied to establish a typology of territorial units and facilitate the comparative analysis. The methodology is applied to a case study, the metropolitan area of Valencia. Results show six groups of urbanized spaces, which present different types of urban sprawl structures with different necessities. This applied research can be useful for the spatial planning of the periurban spaces, insofar as it allows the identification of supra-municipal or infra-municipal areas, where it will be possible to improve infrastructures, facilities, or green infrastructure, to empower secondary urban nuclei and to create new inter-municipal cooperation and governance formulas. In addition, the results can constitute a non-administrative territorial basis for the calculation of land occupation indicators that are often used as thresholds for the creation of new residential spaces in regulatory planning documents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper compiles the data regarding the first occurrence of Oithona davisae and O. atlantica in NW Spain, which is supported by morphological and molecular analysis. Additionally, we investigated the seasonal dynamics of the invasive O. davisae, revealing that its abundance is conditioned by upwelling-downwelling patterns in the Rías Baixas of Galicia. Temperature was the most correlated factor, with higher abundances in upwelling relaxation-downwelling events. More studies in long-term zooplankton dynamics and molecular analysis are needed to determine if O. davisae is displacing other native species of the same genus, such as O. atlantica, in Galician waters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper aims to analyse the individual perceptions of belonging to social networks among migrants living in northern Spain, exploring various dimensions such as perceived inclusion and life satisfaction. A quantitative analysis was employed with data collected through a survey of 373 migrants from different ethnic backgrounds. The findings indicate that (1) women have higher levels of perceived satisfaction with their life and social networks; (2) young migrants have higher levels of friendship networks; (3) the highest levels of perceived inclusion were found among Central Europeans, followed by individuals from Latin America, Asia, Africa and, finally, Eastern Europe; and (4) each social network under analysis was positively correlated with perceived inclusion and satisfaction with life. In summary, the results emphasise that a greater presence of networks is associated with higher levels of perceived inclusion and life satisfaction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent decades, youth unemployment has been the focus of attention of international and community bodies in the area of social rights. Specifically, there is a need to promote attitudes and skills to access employment, decent work, and entrepreneurship. The measures implemented have not been effective. In 2023, Spain had the highest youth unemployment rate in the European Union (29.6%). An improvement in the level and quality of education and training of young people would reduce their level of unemployment. Entrepreneurship education is, therefore, a necessary value in the society of the 21st century since it is a tool for the development and growth of the younger population. In the entrepreneurship education model proposed in this study for adolescents, we focus on the capacities of self-efficacy and personal initiative as precursors of entrepreneurial behavior. This paper analyzes the differences between the mean values of the variables before and after the implementation of the educational program and the influence or correlation between the variables. The main results are threefold: (i) the educational program implemented improves the mean values of the two variables analyzed; (ii) self-efficacy exerts a positive or direct influence on personal initiative, and (iii) the educational program improves or reinforces the positive influence of self-efficacy on personal initiative. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

(1) Background: This systematic review presents an overview of psychological interventions in suicide published between 2013 and 2023 in Spain and Japan, sparked by Spain's alarming recent increase in suicide rates and the potential exemplar of Japan's reduction efforts. (2) Methods: Following the PRISMA checklist, the databases Web of Science, Scopus, PubMed, and PsycInfo were searched using the terms [("suicide" OR "suicidal behavior" OR "suicidal attempt" OR "suicidal thought" OR "suicidal intention") AND ("prevention" OR "intervention" OR "psychosocial treatment" OR "Dialectical Behavior Therapy" OR "Cognitive Therapy" OR "psychotherap*")] AND [("Spain" OR "Spanish") OR ("Japan" OR "Japanese")]. We included articles published in peer-reviewed academic journals, written in English, Spanish, and Japanese between 2013 and 2023 that presented, designed, implemented, or assessed psychological interventions focused on suicidal behavior. (3) Results: 46 studies were included, concerning prevention, treatment, and training interventions. The risk of bias was low in both Spanish and Japanese studies, despite the lack of randomization of the samples. We identified common characteristics, such as psychoeducation and coping skills. Assertive case management was only highlighted in Japan, making an emphasis on active patient involvement in his/her care plan. (4) Conclusions: The findings will help professionals to incorporate into their interventions broader, more comprehensive approaches to consider more interpersonal components. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

(1) Background: The role of the nurse case manager is unknown to the population. The main objective is to analyze the existing differences within the national territory in order to make known the situation in Spain with a view to the recognition of its functions and the creation of the professional profile in an equal manner. (2) Methods: A scoping review was conducted in order to achieve the main aim. Selected articles were subjected to a critical reading, and the levels of evidence and grades of recommendation of the Joanna Briggs Institute were verified. The search field was limited to the last ten years. (3) Results: Case management models are heterogeneous in different autonomous communities in Spain. Case nurse management is qualified for high-complexity patients, follow up on chronic patients, and coordinate health assistance. (4) Conclusions: It concludes that nursing's role is crucial in the field of case management, being required in the follow-up of chronic patients of high complexity. Despite the proven health benefits, efficacy, and efficiency of case management, there are many heterogeneous models that coexist in Spain. This involves a restriction in the development of a nursing career because of the lack of a definition of its functions and competences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: In recent decades, myopia has turned into a public health issue across the world. Between 1993 and 2016, the percentage of myopes increased from 10.4% to 34.2%. This study aims to analyze the myopia prevalence in Spanish children from five to seven years old over the last five years and to predict the rate of myopia in Spain by 2030. Methods: The sample consisted of children aged between 5 and 7, who underwent an optometric examination consisting of the measurement of visual acuity (VA) and determination of objective and subjective refraction. The cut-off points to define refractive error are established by the spherical equivalent (SE) value: hyperopia for an SE over or equal to +0.50 D; myopia for an SE under or equal to −0.50 D; and emmetropia when the SE is between −0.50 D and +0.50 D. Results: The myopia rate in Spanish children aged between five and seven was 19%. Myopia prevalence progressively increased as children grew up (p ≤ 0.001). It is estimated that, in the year 2030, the rate of myopia will be 30.2% [CI: 25.3–35.0], of which 81.9% [CI: 78.3–85.3] will have low myopia, 10.0% [CI: 7.2–12.8] moderate myopia, and 7.3% [CI: 4.9–9.7] high myopia. Conclusions: Nineteen percent of Spanish children between five and seven are myopes. In 2030, is expected that 30.2% of Spanish children between 5 and 7 years of age will be myopes. These estimations will support eye care professionals in recommending that children spend more time outdoors to prevent the onset of myopia and the use of methods to control myopia to avoid reaching these figures of high myopia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

(1) Background: Healthy aging is the process of developing and maintaining functional capacity and optimizing involvement in order to improve one's quality of life as people age. This study aimed to encourage healthy aging in people with cognitive impairment, as well as a control group, via the use of the Nintendo Switch combined with occupational therapy sessions, aiming to improve gross and fine motor skills, functionality, quality of life, and cognitive status. (2) Methods: A randomized clinical trial was undertaken. The sample was randomized using the OxMar software program Attribution 4.0 International, facilitating the division into a control group (CG), who received conventional occupational therapy sessions, and an experimental group (EG), who received therapy incorporating the Nintendo Switch, in addition to conventional occupational therapy sessions. The intervention period with the Nintendo Switch lasted for 8 weeks. (3) Results: Thirty-two participants were included in the study. Significant differences were found in the vast majority of the variables analyzed, which shows an improvement following the intervention; these improvements were mainly observed in measures of skill and the perception of quality of life. (4) Conclusions: An eight-week intervention with the Nintendo Switch alongside conventional occupational therapy helps to maintain cognitive status and functional independence. Following 8 weeks of intervention with the Nintendo Switch, improvements in gross motor dexterity, fine motor dexterity, and quality of life were observed in older people with cognitive impairment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pelvic floor dysfunction comprises various disorders, including urinary incontinence, fecal incontinence, pelvic organ prolapse, and chronic pelvic pain. This study aimed to evaluate health-related quality of life (HRQoL), anxiety, depression, sleep disturbance, and sexual functioning in women with pelvic floor dysfunction of colorectal etiology compared with control women. Patients were recruited from a specialized colorectal unit and controls were selected from among the patients' friends and relatives. Sociodemographic and clinical data were collected. Pelvic floor dysfunction distress and impact, HRQoL, depression, anxiety, insomnia, and sexual functioning were assessed using the following validated questionnaires: Short-Form Pelvic Floor Distress Inventory (PFDI-20), Short Form Pelvic Floor Impact Questionnaire (PFIQ-7), 36-Item Short-Form Health Survey (SF-36), Beck Depression Inventory II (BDI-II), Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI), Insomnia Severity Index (ISI), and Changes in Sexual Functioning Scale (CSFQ). Statistical analyses included Welch's t-test, Fisher's exact test, and Spearman's correlation coefficients. Eighty-four patients and 57 controls were included. Compared with controls, patients were more likely to be obese or overweight, have had higher numbers of deliveries, more vaginal deliveries, more frequent use of forceps, and have had more associated comorbidities, mainly in the urinary, neurological, and psychiatric domains. As expected, patients scored significantly higher than controls on both the PFDI-20 and PFIQ-7 and their respective sub-scales, with the highest mean values in the patient group on the sub-scales related to the colorectal–anal domain. QoL, depression, anxiety, insomnia, and sexual functioning were significantly worse in patients than in controls (p < 0.0001 in every case). In patients, PFIQ-7 scores correlated significantly with HRQoL (p < 0.001 for the physical component and p < 0.01 for the mental component), depression (p < 0.001), anxiety (p < 0.001), insomnia (p < 0.05), and sexual functioning scores (p < 0.05). Colorectal pelvic floor dysfunction had a markedly deleterious impact on the HRQoL, depression, anxiety, sleep disturbance, and sexual functioning of patients. It is concluded that colorectal pelvic floor dysfunction exerts a considerable burden on patients' lives. Addressing these issues in clinical settings could significantly improve patients' well-being. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The well-being of people is a key aspect of the field of psychology. Hence, it is important to analyse the variables that are related to life satisfaction and happiness as perceived by individuals and that, therefore, increase their overall well-being. The main objective of this study was to analyse the predictive capacity of emotional intelligence and perceived social support on both the level of life satisfaction and perceived happiness. A total of 380 psychology students completed the Trait Meta Mood Scale, the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support, the Satisfaction with Life Scale, and the Subjective Happiness Scale. The results show that both emotional intelligence and social support are related to and predictive of subjective happiness and life satisfaction. The importance of developing the components of emotional intelligence and promoting an adequate social network in young people is highlighted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study explores the complexities of cost behavior in the textile industry, conducting a comparative analysis between firms in the Nordic countries and Spain. Our main goal is to examine how distinct economic and corporate governance models impact the cost management strategies of textile firms. Utilizing a panel dataset from the Orbis database covering the years 2017 to 2022, we reveal significant differences in cost stickiness between these regions. Notably, Nordic textile firms demonstrate a stronger tendency toward cost stickiness compared to their Spanish counterparts. This difference is largely attributed to the Nordic textile firms' more cautious approach to adjusting costs in response to decreases in revenue, potentially motivated by a commitment to sustainability, eco-friendly technologies, and long-term business success. Our analysis not only highlights the complex interaction between the global challenges confronting the textile sector and the unique economic and governance environments but also maps out how these elements shape cost management strategies. By offering insights to both academics and practitioners, this study advocates for a comprehensive cost management approach, capable of navigating demand volatilities and strategic complexities faced by textile firms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A hydrochemical and mineral study of groundwaters and damaged rocks from the Tíscar and Larva fault zones (Betic Cordillera, Iberian Peninsula) was carried out in order to (a) describe the physical and chemical properties of the groundwaters; (b) recognize significant locations with deep-origin fluids related to active tectonics; (c) and to describe the water–rock interaction and the neoformation of clay mineral processes and their importance in the seismicity of the faults. A sampling campaign was completed between November 2012 and November 2013, during which data were obtained from 23 different groundwater sites in the fault areas. Two main groups of waters were distinguished: (a) Ca2+-Mg2+-HCO3− facies characterized by poor conductivity and salinity; and (b) saline waters (up to 30 meq/L) rich in Ca2+-Mg2+-SO4-Cl− and with an elevated conductivity (frequently > 1000 μS/cm). In addition, a minor group of saline and warm waters (T > 16.5 °C) was found to be Na+-rich and show moderately high B values (>0.33 ppm), and which mig ht be hosted in aquifers deeper than the two main groups. This group of deep-origin waters is oversaturated in clay minerals and is in equilibrium for Ca-Mg carbonate minerals. X-ray diffraction and scanning and transmission electron microscopy data corroborate the crystallization forecast of authigenic smectite, which appears as thin films coating carbonate fragments. The origin of smectite is related to the fragile strain and thermal–fluid–mineral interactions in fault rocks. Smectite could lubricate carbonate rocks, which favor creep deformation versus seismic slip. This work provides locations where groundwater physico-chemical properties and composition suggest tectonic fault activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Social networks and official statistics have become vital sources of information in times of health emergencies. The ability to monitor and profile social sentiment is essential for understanding public perception and response in the context of public health crises, such as the one resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic. This study will explore how social sentiment monitoring and profiling can be conducted using information from social networks and official statistics, and how this combination of data can offer a more complete picture of social dynamics in times of emergency, providing a valuable tool for understanding public perception and guiding a public health response. To this end, a three-layer architecture based on Big Data and Artificial Intelligence is presented: the first layer focuses mainly on collecting, storing, and governing the necessary data such as social media and official statistics; in the second layer, the representation models and machine learning necessary for knowledge generation are built, and in the third layer the previously generated knowledge is adapted for better understanding by crisis managers through visualization techniques among others. Based on this architecture, a KDD (Knowledge Discovery in Databases) framework is implemented using methodological tools such as sentiment analysis, fuzzy 2-tuple linguistic models and time series prediction with the Prophet model. As a practical demonstration of the proposed model, we use tweets as data source (from the social network X, formerly known as Twitter) generated during the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown period in Spain, which are processed to identify the overall sentiment using sentiment analysis techniques and fuzzy linguistic variables, and combined with official statistical indicators for prediction, visualizing the results through dashboards. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The experience of menstruation is often associated with negative connotations and gender stereotypes, which results in making it invisible. This research aimed to explore the perceptions, beliefs, and knowledge of young Spanish women regarding the menstrual cycle and menstruation and their impact on their lives. The study delves into their understanding, menstrual management practices, the types of menstrual products employed, and their experiences related to menstrual health. Qualitative methodology was used with discussion groups as a data collection technique. The participants comprised 45 young Spanish women, aged between 18 and 23, hailing from both rural and urban areas. The majority were university students, with some engaged in part-time work, and one participant working full-time. While many experienced menstrual pain ranging from mild to debilitating, a normalization of this pain often led them to forego seeking specialist assistance. Disposable menstrual products (DMPs) are the most used by participants, despite limited awareness of their absorption capacity. Regarding reusable menstrual products (RMPs), menstrual cup users emphasized comfort but expressed a need for proper training. Negative menstruation experiences could evoke fear and difficulties, underscoring the importance of providing comprehensive menstrual health education encompassing both theoretical and practical components. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This document analyzes a survey conducted in three geographical areas in Spain, focusing on centers for individuals with cerebral palsy (CP). The study aims to determine the adherence rate to recommended physical activity guidelines, assess if there is a decline in interest in physical activity over time, identify the stage at which this decline occurs, and explore potential mechanisms, tools, or strategies to sustain long-term engagement in regular physical activity for this population. The 36-item questionnaire comprises multiple-choice, open-ended, and Likert scale-type questions. Data were collected on physical activity frequency and duration, daily living activities, and demographics. Statistical analysis identified patterns and relationships between variables. Findings reveal that only a 17.6% meets the World Health Organization (WHO) recommendations regarding regular physical activity (RPA), decreasing in frequency or number of days a week, (3.7 d/w to 2.9 d/w; p < 0.01) and duration (50.5 min/d to 45.2 min/d; p < 0.001) with age, especially for those with higher Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS) mobility levels. Obesity slightly correlates with session duration (ρ = −0.207; p < 0.05), not mobility limitations. Gender has no significant impact on mobility, communication, or physical activity, while age affects variables such as body mass index (BMI) and engagement (p < 0.01). A substantial proportion follows regular physical activities based on health professionals' advice, with interest decreasing with age. To improve adherence, focusing on sports-oriented goals, group sessions, and games is recommended. These findings emphasize the importance of personalized programs, particularly for older individuals and those with greater mobility limitations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to describe a local community expert's perspective on the identification of and access to children's health assets and to gather proposals to promote children's health and well-being within their community. The health asset approach is essential for health promotion, and there is evidence of its benefits to individuals' or communities' health when this approach is observed. Children's health assets are gaining increasing interest, but the literature that captures the perception of professionals working with children is scarce. Qualitative research designed with Delphi methodology was carried out with the participation of 25 professionals working in a neighbourhood with children and families. The participants stated that this neighbourhood was a good environment for the healthy and happy growth of children but pointed out that there were inequities. They emphasised the importance of economic and physical security and feeling loved. The absolute best aspects of the neighbourhood according to these experts were its support networks, mutual help, educational and health services, and green spaces, and the most deficient aspects were the possibility of a hopeful future and emotional support within the family unit. Poverty and/or the scarcity of economic resources were identified as the main barriers to accessing health assets. Special difficulties in access to health for migrant and Roma children were also identified. The panel of experts made concrete action proposals. It was recommended to support resources and services that already exist in their community. The experts prioritised work with families, education, working in conjunction with vulnerable groups, community participation, and networking. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article highlights the complexity of taxation surrounding cryptocurrency transactions due to the lack of uniform regulation, creating uncertainty for both taxpayers and tax authorities. After determining the tax obligations of individuals in taxation, a survey has been conducted to assess the level of knowledge and compliance with tax obligations related to cryptocurrencies. The survey, in which 103 people participated, reveals the confusion and errors that prevail in perceptions of the tax obligations for cryptocurrencies, particularly in transactions such as swapping and staking in personal income tax. This results in almost half of the respondents (49.5%) not declaring any of their operations with cryptocurrencies. The reasons for this include the fact that the majority of respondents (66%) find the regulation of cryptocurrencies in Spain confusing and difficult to understand. Additionally, 87.4% believe that tax agencies should provide more information and resources on the taxation of cryptocurrencies and digital assets, and that there should be clearer and more comprehensive regulation. However, it should be noted that 41.7% also consider that tax regulation discourages investment in cryptocurrencies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The production of biohydrogen with negative CO2 emissions through the steam methane reforming of biomethane, coupled with carbon capture and storage, represents a promising technology, particularly for industries that are difficult to electrify. In spite of the maturity of this technology, which is currently employed in the production of grey and blue hydrogen, a detailed cost model that considers the entire supply chain is lacking in the literature. This study addresses this gap by applying correlations derived from actual facilities producing grey and blue hydrogen to calculate the CAPEX, while exploring various feedstock combinations for biogas generation to assess the OPEX. The analysis also includes logistic aspects, such as decentralised biogas production and the transportation and storage of CO2. The levelized cost of golden hydrogen is estimated to range from EUR 1.84 to 2.88/kg, compared to EUR 1.47/kg for grey hydrogen and EUR 1.93/kg for blue hydrogen, assuming a natural gas cost of EUR 25/MWh and excluding the CO2 tax. This range increases to between 3.84 and 2.92, with a natural gas cost of EUR 40/MWh with the inclusion of the CO2 tax. A comparison with conventional green hydrogen is performed, highlighting both prices and potential, thereby offering valuable information for decision-making. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Wolbachia bacteria occur naturally as symbionts of many insect species and are responsible for various phenomena that modify the hosts' reproductive biology. Among them, cytoplasmic incompatibility (CI) refers to the sterility of eggs produced by crosses between infected males and females that are uninfected or infected by a non-compatible strain of these bacteria. CI can be exploited for vector control by establishing an opportune Wolbachia infection in a laboratory population of a target insect species and then releasing the infected males into the environment as sterilizing agents. In the present work, a suitable Wolbachia strain was introduced into a Spanish population of the Asian tiger mosquito, Aedes albopictus, through hybridization with the laboratory line, ARwP, already tested as an efficient control tool against this vector. The obtained hybrids were compared with the ARwP to ascertain the effects derived from transferring the infection to a different Ae. albopictus population. No significant differences between lines were found regarding survival, female fecundity, and egg fertility. Importantly, the eggs produced by crosses between males of the hybrid lines and unmodified wild females were 99.9% sterile. This result encourages further studies to explore the feasibility of a Wolbachia-based control program against the Asian tiger mosquito in Spain. The emergence of insecticide resistance in arbovirus vectors is putting the focus on the development of new strategies for control. In this regard, the exploitation of Wolbachia endosymbionts is receiving increasing attention due to its demonstrated effectiveness in reducing the vectorial capacity of Aedes mosquitoes. Here, we describe the establishment of a naïve Wolbachia infection in a wild Aedes albopictus population of eastern Spain through a hybridization approach to obtain males capable of sterilizing wild females. The obtained lines were compared with the Wolbachia donor, Ae. albopictus ARwP, previously artificially infected with Wolbachia wPip, regarding immature and adult survival, female fecundity, egg fertility, and level of induced sterility. Our results did not show significant differences between lines in any of the biological parameters analyzed, indicating the full suitability of the hybrids to be used as a control tool against Ae. albopictus. In particular, hybrid males induced 99.9% sterility in the eggs of wild females without the need for any preliminary treatment. Being harmless to non-target organisms and the environment, the use of this bacterium for the control of Ae. albopictus deserves further exploration. This is especially relevant in areas such as eastern Spain, where this mosquito species has recently spread and may represent a serious threat due to its competence as a vector for dengue, chikungunya, and Zika viruses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The variety of types that appear in kidney stones makes it necessary to describe them to try to understand their formation. The crystalline phases recognized in stones are classified according to their chemical composition. For this reason, a study using X-ray microdiffraction, Raman spectroscopy, SEM/EDX analysis, and cathodoluminescence (CL) is recommended, to identify their composition. In the present study, this was carried out on kidney stones collected from surgeries in hospitals from Spain. The samples were collected in two representative urban centers: one from a large city, Madrid; the other with a mostly rural population, in order to contrast the possible compositions of the kidney stones. In large cities, struvite appears more frequently, although calcium oxalates are very common in both areas. An attempt was made to provide a guide to the most frequent phases, accompanied by four analysis methods that make their identification possible. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Fever stands out as the predominant clinical indicator in infancy. Pediatricians encounter fever routinely in their daily practice, playing a crucial role in their interactions with children and families. Objective: The aim is to examine pediatricians' viewpoints, understanding, and approaches regarding childhood fever in two healthcare settings: pediatric hospitalization (emergency and inpatient ward) and primary care. Methods: A qualitative study was conducted using an ethnomethodological approach. Pediatricians working in the specified pediatric settings participated in in-depth interviews where theoretical clinical cases were presented for analysis. Results: Following the examination of the discourses, the codes were organized into eight categories: Understanding of fever, Significance ascribed to fever, Therapeutic strategies, Engagement with the evidence, Family apprehensions regarding fever, Influence of the COVID-19 Pandemic, Inter- and intra-professional relationships, and Suggestions for change: Conclusions: Pediatricians acknowledge the importance of addressing discomfort in the treatment of fever, but express challenges in implementing these recommendations. Pediatricians in inpatient settings emphasize the need for enhanced parental education from primary care, while those in primary care recognize the potential for improvement. Inpatient pediatricians are open to implementing changes in their daily practices, particularly concerning the administration of antipyretics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rabies, a viral disease spread by infected animal bites that causes encephalitis in humans and other mammals, is a neglected infectious disease present on all continents except Antarctica. Spain has been free of terrestrial rabies since 1978. However, due to its geographical situation, it represents a bridge for imported cases from an endemic continent such as Africa to Europe. Rabies vaccination in dogs is an essential preventive tool against this zoonosis. The aim of this study was to determine the state of the immune response against rabies virus in dogs in Spain and to demonstrate whether several factors that have been previously related to the influence of the seroprevalence of this species are involved here. The seroconversion level of this zoonotic virus was assessed in a total of 1060 animals. Indirect ELISA was used to obtain data for statistical analysis to evaluate the studied variables. Working under the concept of One Health, this study provides relevant information to be taken into consideration not only to prevent re-emergence in countries free of this disease but also for prevention and control in endemic countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fluid inclusions in stalagmites are becoming increasingly important for paleoclimate research. Within this framework, noble gas thermometry, based on noble gases dissolved in water from fluid inclusions, provides quantitative estimations of cave air paleotemperature. Two major issues of Noble Gas Temperature (NGT) determination on speleothems are (1) the potential lack of enough water for the analysis and (2) the presence of trapped gas not dissolved in water that can be released during the analysis from biphasic or all-gas fluid inclusions, as its contribution to the bulk noble gas signal can hinder NGT results. Although the step-crushing method helps to reduce the second issue, it also decreases the amount of water available for the calculations. In order to obtain reliable NGT results with low uncertainties, a major challenge is still to reach a balance between sufficient water for analysis and a small amount of "atmospheric" gas. The difficulty is that the extraction process cannot be standardized since it strongly depends on the type of sample. The objective of this work is to investigate how the characteristics of the speleothem can determine the adequacy of the extraction process. For this purpose, we consider a stalagmite from a Mediterranean cave that consists of columnar elongated calcite and contains a significant quantity of fluid inclusions, which suggests good potential for NGT analysis. Results, however, were poorly satisfactory. Trying to understand the source of the problems, an integrated study of petrography and petrophysical features was performed. The samples were found to be different depending on the stage of coalescence of crystals and thus separated into "open" and "closed" fabrics. Classic petrographic analysis and non-destructive (nuclear magnetic resonance) techniques were used to characterize the type and amount of fluid inclusions present in both types of fabrics. The study indicates that the closed fabric (total coalescence of calcite crystals) has most water trapped in water-filled, small intracrystalline fluid inclusions that usually contain very little gas. This fabric is very suitable for NGT determination, but since the amount of water is quite small, the sample should be crushed in only one step with a large number of beats to break all the inclusions. In contrast, samples with open fabric (partial coalescence of calcite crystals) contain a higher amount of water and, also, gas-filled large intercrystalline fluid inclusions. For this fabric, step-crushing of the sample is necessary. However, the low amount of water left for the second and third crushings could lead to flawed NGT results. Thus, we suggest modifying the method to get rid of part of the gas in the first crushing while leaving enough water for the following steps. This work shows the importance of characterizing speleothems and fluid inclusions, including their petrography and petrophysical characteristics, before starting NGT analysis, allowing the selection of the most favorable samples and the customization of the step-crushing procedure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Planning a well-structured urban green infrastructure (UGI) is essential for cities to counteract the impacts of climate change. Soil carbon and air temperature differences between open and plant-covered sites were used as proxies of carbon sequestration (CS) and temperature regulation (TR) to evaluate the current conditions of UGI in Zaragoza, a medium-sized city in northeastern Spain. Alternative scenarios were constructed, after a stakeholder consultation, at both city and municipal (city plus peri-urban zone) scales, extrapolating the highest values of CS and TR to two groups of UGI types grouped based on the state of their ecological functioning. We employed analysis of variance to compare mean values of CS and TR across diverse scenarios at both city and municipality scales. Statistically significant differences were found in city-scale and municipality-scale scenarios for both CS and TR. Multiplying CS by area did not show significant variation in city scale. Significant differences were found when multiplying TR by area at both scales, with exceptions in certain scenario combinations. These results suggest favoring the restoration of UGI sites in peri-urban zones (such as forests and steppe zones) to increase CS and those in densely urbanized zones (such as urban parks) to provide TR benefits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Interdisciplinary STEM and STEAM education gives us the opportunity for training students to achieve all educational objectives in a sustainable development framework. Land in a rural area is a scenario with a range of educational resources for the development of STEM and STEAM projects to train students to interact with the rural environment. The possibilities of the land in order to prepare students for the needs of today's world are linked and sensitized to the environment. In this article, we will offer contemporary examples of STEM and STEAM projects that have been carried out in Latin America. These projects are being developed in which young people establish links with their environment, territory, and the local environment surrounding them. We must look carefully at projects and works in which students' ties to their land and environment are valued through the STEM and STEAM education necessary today. In this scenario, a comparison has been made between the projects in Latin American countries and Spain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rock-inhabiting fungi (RIF) are usually extremely tolerant or extremophilic, as they can survive on natural and artificial rocks despite being exposed to stressful conditions. RIF have serious negative effects on the appearance and cohesion of rocky substrates, causing the alteration and decomposition of building materials, but also on human and animal health, as they can act as opportunistic pathogens. Their identification is therefore of great importance, especially in urban areas. In the present study, culturing techniques for isolating fungi, and a polyphasic taxonomic approach to their identification, were used to assess the diversity of micromycetes that darken the surfaces of buildings in various villages and cities in Tarragona Province (Spain). Sixty-four species of RIF belonging to forty-one genera were identified, including a new genus (Coccodomyces) and the following six new fungal species: Coccodomyces pleiosporus, Exophiala caementiphila, Exophiala multiformis, Neocatenulostroma spinulosum, Neodevriesia longicatenispora, and Paradevriesia holothallica. Thus, we have established that building materials are ecological niches where a high biodiversity of RIF can develop. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Predicting the levels of a pollutant in a given area is an open problem, mainly because historical data are typically available at certain locations, where monitoring stations are located, but not at all locations in the area. This work presents an approach based on developing predictions at each of the points where an immission station is available; in this case, based on shallow Artificial Neural Networks, ANNs, and then using a simple geostatistical interpolation algorithm (Inverse Distance Weighted, IDW), a pollutant map is constructed over the entire study area, thus providing predictions at each point in the plane. The ANN models are designed to make 1 h ahead and 4 h ahead predictions, using an autoregressive scheme as inputs (in the case of 4 h ahead as a jumping strategy). The results are then compared using the Friedman and Bonferroni tests to select the best model at each location, and predictions are made with all the best models. In general, to the 1 h ahead prediction models, the optimal models typically have fewer neurons and require minimal historical data. For instance, the best model in Algeciras has an R of almost 0.89 and consists of 1 hidden neuron and 3 to 5 lags, similar to Colegio Los Barrios. In the case of 4h ahead prediction, Colegio Carteya station shows the best model, with an R of almost 0.89 and a MSE of less than 240, including 5 hidden neurons and different lags from the past. The results are sufficiently adequate, especially in the case of predictions 4 h into the future. The aim is to integrate the models into a tool for citizens and administrations to make decisions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study is to determine the differences between the size parameter findings, comparing the results of a muffle during a 12-h sand-drying process with those of a microwave, because the effectiveness of sand drying with a microwave has not previously been studied. To achieve the best outcomes and assess any inaccuracies, a technique was established. Several power levels and durations were used in the tests. Furthermore, as the median particle size (D50) affects the porosity of sand, samples from three beaches in the south of Spain with varying sand sizes were used in this study. When drying for at least 5 min, the error findings for D50 are less than 3.5%, which is perfectly acceptable for beach nourishment purposes. Regarding power, 462 watts was the optimal power; a lower power, approximately 300 watts, did not completely dry the material, even after nearly 15 min. Furthermore, errors in the sorting (σ) parameter were negligible. It is essential to implement the following recommendations in microwave drying methods: the use of a light and wide container for the sand, interruptions during drying, and a minimum duration of 5 min. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Suicide is a serious public health problem, with a global mortality rate of 1.4% of all deaths worldwide and the leading cause of unnatural death in Spain. Clinical simulation has proven to be a beneficial tool in training nursing students. Such experiences allow them to develop cognitive and affective skills that are fundamental for the detection of warning signs and the use of interventions in cases of people who want to take their own lives. Working in a mental health environment can be difficult for nursing students; therefore, the purpose of this study was to explore the perceptions of nursing students on the approach, management, and intervention of suicidal crisis through clinical mental health simulation. Methods: qualitative descriptive phenomenological study through focus groups and reflective narratives in a sample of 45 students. A thematic analysis was performed using ATLAS-ti. Results: After the analysis, three themes were obtained: (a) management and handling of emotions, (b) identification of suicide motives, and (c) intervention in suicidal crisis. Discussion: Clinical simulation in mental health allows students to exercise clinical judgment reasoning, detect warning signs for a better treatment approach, and provide tools for effective intervention and management of patient care. The results of this study indicate that nursing students face challenges in approaching mental health clinical simulation due to a lack of prior exposure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]