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Sustainable restoration process is one of the biggest challenges for public and private decision makers in the Cultural Heritage sector. Currently, sustainability assessment methods are well established tools to quantitatively determine their environmental (LCA), economic (LCC) and social (SLCA) impacts from products/service across the entire value chain. Nevertheless, while these life cycle methods are widely applied in many industries and service sectors, they still are at its infancy in the restoration work of Cultural Heritage. The main goal of this paper is to define and build a general framework including all impact indicators related to the restoration work processes to apply experimentally, and for the first time, all the sustainability assessment dimensions together within the Cultural Heritage sector. The ISO 14040 standard under guidelines published by the UNEP/SETAC Life Cycle Initiative has been used as an assessment tool. Then, a CH-LCM Model framework based on a previous work from the author is applied to the real case concerning the restoration of the fortress of Uncastillo (Spain). The data collected from the real case concerning the restoration of the fortress of Uncastillo (Spain) have allowed us to reach two objectives: firstly, to validate the model empirically and, secondly, to identify successful managerial practices for the decision makers. In this respect, the paper shows that the life cycle approach can be considered an effective method for improving innovative managerial practices towards the sustainability, preservation and restoration of Cultural Heritage by assessing the environmental impact, the financial and economic feasibility and the implementation of an engagement strategy for the stakeholders. Finally, we have pointed out a set of valuable recommendations for future actions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study contributes to research on integrated and sustainability reporting at higher-education institutions in the context of voluntary reporting by focusing on an innovative Spanish university. It examines the developments for the implementation of sustainability and integrated reporting at this university by critically analysing what, why, who and how the new models of reporting have been implemented. The paper provides a case study using documentary analysis and qualitative data based on semi-structured interviews. The results show that the report is mainly focused on social and sustainability values and can not be considered an integrated report that connects all the capitals creating value. The key driver has been stakeholders' interests, represented by the university's social council, aiming at increasing competitiveness and achieve third mission objectives. The paper contributes by pointing out the challenges and principal issues of the process of implementation. An important issue for successful implementation is introducing it as a managerial and accountability tool, and linking it to the organisation's strategic objectives. This can be used for learning processes at other universities that want to follow this path. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many studies uphold market orientation as a key factor in creating and sustaining a firm's competitive advantage. This research aims to explore this topic further by including within the model the concept of green innovation. In particular, this paper empirically tests the mediating role of green innovation performance in the relationship between market orientation and organizational performance. This study relies on a sample of 145 firms belonging to the Spanish automotive components manufacturing sector. The results obtained by applying Partial Least Squares (PLS) path-modeling, a variance-based structural equations modeling technique, reveal that market orientation exerts a direct impact on organizational performance. Subsequently, we observe how the green innovation performance construct partially mediates the market orientation-organizational performance link. The paper brings some theoretical conclusions and implications for research and practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper explores the upsurge in young people's activism across Europe by drawing on three ethnographic studies of feminist and LGBT activism. The studies include a feminist organisation, UK Feminista, in a stable liberal democracy, the Feministes Indignades in post-fascist Spain, and the LGBT movement in post-communist Estonia. The paper argues that feminist identities, both individual and collective, are critical to the feminist and LGBT movements studied; that affect, both positive and negative, contributes to processes of mobilisation and identity formation; and that, while social media are an important element of repertoires of action in all three cases, the forms of action engaged in draw on a range of cultural resources, many of which derive from earlier cycles of protest. It pays particular attention to the ‘coming out’ stories of activists, the transformation of fear and shame into anger and pride which is central both to transforming individual identities and creating collective identities, and how these processes differ in the three case studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Picasso created his most famous painting, Guernica , in just over three weeks in 1937 after the bombing of the little town of Guernica, located in the Basque region, during the Spanish Civil War. Thousands of innocent people were injured or killed. In its sharp lines, its confusion and its distorted shapes, Guernica shows the suffering and pain of war. Rather than using color, especially vivid reds, Picasso used only black and white paint as symbols of death, mourning and tragedy. He believed that brighter colors might distract the viewer from the agony of the scene. In Guernica , most of the figures have open mouths; hear them shouting, groaning or screaming. The aim of this paper and its relevance to public relations is to examine whether and how visual communication can publicize and frame a military event, the character of military leaders, and warfare as a generic aspect of democratic self-governance. This paper proposes that rhetorical, discursive art can contribute impact to public relations efforts, by focusing attention, making issues public, and making informative, framing, and democratizing statements. Even more important is the ability of art to express moral outrage, especially when giving voice to muted interests. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The knowledge of the soil variability is essential for its hydrologic characterization, for irrigation management and planning and especially for water movement modeling. Nevertheless, the scarcity of soil information in Spain precludes its use in irrigation management and, particularly, in the on-going irrigation modernization process. The Violada Irrigation District (VID) comprises 5234 ha and is located in a semi-arid gypsum-rich region in northeast Spain. VID has been under flood irrigation since the mid-20th Century and has been modernized recently to sprinkler irrigation. Since the early 1980s water balances in VID have been based on average soil properties and bulk irrigation data. The current irrigation system provides detailed irrigation data at plot level, thus allowing for performing distributed balances (in hydrologic homogenous zones) that require detailed or semi-detailed soil information in the form of a soil map. The objective of this two-part study is to define homogeneous zones in relation to hydrological properties relevant for irrigation management, first defining the soil variability within the VID and then analyzing the soils hydrologic and salinity features (in a companion paper). The specific objectives of this paper were (i) to draw the VID semi-detailed soil map; (ii) to explain the variability of soil properties; and (iii) to map the main soil characteristics related to irrigation management. Thirty four soil pits, located on all the different geomorphological areas, were opened and described. Samples were taken from all the horizons and analyzed for chemical and physical properties. The limits of soil units were drawn with the aid of 32 additional auger holes, the data from 72 pits opened during the irrigation transformation works, and all the previous soil information available. Finally the soils were classified down to family level. The main soil formation processes in VID were carbonation and gypsification. Thirteen soil units were defined, included in five soil subgroups and six particle size families. “Fine” particle sizes were dominant along the gypsum-rich valley bottoms. Coarser textures were found on the heights and showed higher CaCO 3 equivalent content and no presence of gypsum accumulations. A priori, the main limitation for irrigation in the valley soils was the limited drainage (due to fine textures and reduced slope) while in the highland soils it might be constrained by their low retention capacity. The high gypsum and carbonate content of the VID soils may prevent the development of infiltration problems. The soil properties map in this work will be the basis for a companion paper delineating the hydrologic properties of the soils, the basis for improved soil water balances. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The relationship between innovation and economic development has been extensively analyzed, highlighting how the national environment influences business innovation dynamics. In this context, the concept of the Triple Helix is introduced, identifying universities, firms, and governments as the main drivers of innovation development. The main objective of this paper is to deepen the understanding of the impact that cooperation and coopetition between these actors have on innovation dynamics. To achieve this, we compare two EU countries, focusing on product innovation following the Schumpeterian idea that economic development is driven by the introduction of new products. Data from 31,105 Spanish and 8224 Portuguese firms from the Community Innovation Survey (CIS) 2018 were analyzed. The results confirm that these collaborative dynamics have a positive impact on product innovation. Furthermore, human resource management is shown to be a fundamental aspect in driving innovation processes within an organization. The national context has positioned itself as a determining factor in innovation dynamics. In particular, in this study, Portuguese companies demonstrate a greater positive impact of innovation in human resources on product innovation compared to Spanish companies. The strength of this research lies in the comparative framework established between the two countries, allowing for the detection of the influence of governments, universities, and other agents in the collaborative processes that drive innovation dynamics in companies. The model proposed in this research could be extended to compare other countries, helping to explain the relationship between innovation levels and the influence of the country effect on their economic development. • This research suggests that collaborative R&D improves HRM and product innovation, crucial aspects for company success. • The study compares Spain and Portugal, showing geographic location affects innovation differently in each country, • The article highlights the crucial role of universities and governments in innovation , following the Triple Helix model. • The concept of coopetition is key to fostering innovation and the efficient use of resources. • The study advocates for open, collaborative innovation models over traditional, isolated internal processes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper explores the dynamic nature of complementarities between technological and organizational innovation at firms. Using Spanish panel data of manufacturing firms (PITEC) over the period 2008–2016, it investigates how the formation and ending of the joint adoption of these two core types of innovation is associated with firm performance. We observe clear evidence that some sequential as well as simultaneous strategy switches towards combining technological and organizational novelties are associated with significant performance premia at firms. Our findings point out the crucial role of technological innovation in these complementarities. In the case of giving up the adoption of new elements of the complementarity bundle of innovation types, the critical disadvantage for the firm is related to dropping the adoption of technological innovation. Giving up adoption of new organizational innovation while keeping the adoption of new technological innovation appears to have no negative effect, on average, on firm performance. Our findings suggest significant coordination failures at firms attempting to introduce both core types of innovation in tandem. For many firms, the retention of the joint adoption of technological and organizational innovation over time is a costly and hard-to-maintain choice and not necessarily the one with the highest performance benefits. • Sequential and simultaneous strategy switches creating synergy between technological and organizational innovations boost firm performance. • Giving up elements of the complementarity bundle affects firm performance. • Significant role of technological innovation in these complementarities [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Adaptation of port infrastructures to climate change and sea level rise effects is highlighted as a key field among transportation systems' lines of action for adaptation, given their highly exposed location in coastal areas and position as critical nodes in logistic chains and local, regional and national economies. The present work proposes an adaptation assessment framework that, based on a high-resolution compound climate risk assessment, identifies the main threats that climate change may pose to port performance, defines a set of optimized adaptation measures and characterizes constraints for implementation, and finally evaluates the applicability and effectiveness of these measures under diverse climate scenarios and different time frames. The framework is applied in a study case located in the northern coast of Spain. It is shown that the proposed methodology enables port managers and planners to develop tailor-fitted adaptation plans, providing tools to make them coherent with actual and future uncertain climate conditions. • The paper develops a novel framework to prepare climate change adaptation plans for port and coastal infrastructures. • It identifies the main needs and limitations for adaptation of port infrastructures based on a compound CC risk assessment. • It identifies and optimizes a set of adaptation measures, considering measure combinations, based on risk-reduction criteria. • It assesses the adaptation options' effectiveness in reducing climate risk for different scenarios and time horizons. • The framework has been applied and validated for a case study located on the Atlantic coast in Spain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The lockdown of March and April 2020 declared by Spanish authorities in the Valencian Region to bending the Covid-19 curve, caused a drastic reduction of the economic activity and a severe limitation of mobility. People were asked to stay at home as much as possible. Education and administrative centers, as well as restaurants, theaters, sport arenas, etc., were closed. Work at conventional workplaces was prohibited for people who could tele-work, and students were compelled to attend classes on-line. Such limitation of mobility and spending so many time at home, could affect the wellbeing of people. The objective of the present paper is to present a study on the differences on wellbeing according to the mobility of respondents during the lockdown. Information from 1,827 individuals regarding the satisfaction of the basic psychological needs (Autonomy, Competence and Relatedness) and Positive and Negative affect were collected through and web-survey during the first lockdown of the Covid-19 pandemic, together with mobility data and sociodemographic characteristics. Mann-Whitney U tests, Confirmatory Factor Analyses and Structural Equation models are used to find out differences in the wellbeing of people according to their mobility characteristics during the first lockdown, and how these mobility characteristics are associated to the psychological variables studied. Mobility of people during the first lockdown reduced drastically, especially the youngest ones, and the main travel mode was walking. In general, the youngest participants in this research and females present lower values of the psychological wellbeing variables during the lockdown. A very low or very high degree of mobility is also associated to discomfort, although the more time spent traveling the better people feel. Those who walked more are related to lower values of wellbeing. Some lessons are learned to improve transport and mobility planning during a pandemic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Research into migration and social networks has suggested that migrants are relationally more vulnerable than non-migrants, especially those in endogamous couples. However, non-probability samples and lack of data about partners' networks have often impeded rigorous testing. This paper analyses the influence of migration and mixedness (unions between two persons from different geographical origins) on some compositional and structural measures of the core discussion networks of the adult population in Spain, paying special attention to the partner's role. Data from the 2013 Spanish General Social Survey (SGSS) were used. A graph census shows the predominance of complete graphs both for endogamous and exogamous couples, but more clearly in the case of natives. Multivariate models prove that, in general, Spaniards in mixed unions seem less partner-dependent, whereas endogamous immigrants seem the most affected by the effects of the geographical mobility on relational vulnerability. • Core networks tend to be complete graphs, especially for native population. • Endogamous immigrants have greater partner's exclusive multiplexity than natives. • Core discussion networks of the endogamous native couples are denser. • The partner in the endogamous natives' core networks has the highest centrality. • Spaniards in mixed couples have the largest proportion of independent confidants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper proposes the first application of a split-range control technique on a concentrating solar collector to improve an absorption plant production. Solar absorption plants have solar power availability in phase with cooling demand under design conditions. Thus, it is a powerful cooling technology in the context of renewable energy and energy efficiency. These plants need control systems to cope with solar irradiance intermittency, reject irradiation disturbances, manage fossil fuels backup systems and dump closed-loop thermal-hydraulic oscillations. In this work, control techniques are proposed and simulated in an absorption plant in Spain. The plant consists of a concentrating Fresnel solar collector connected to an absorption chiller. The objectives are to operate with 100% renewable solar energy and avoid safety defocus events while reducing temperature oscillations and control actuators effort. Firstly, the current available plant controllers are defined, then two modifications are proposed. The first modification is a split-range controller capable of manipulating both flow and defocus of the Fresnel collector, the second modification is a PI controller to substitute the original chiller on-off controller. The results compare, through validated models, the different control systems and indicate that using both proposed controllers reduces 94% of the sum of actuators effort and 43% of the integral of absolute set-point tracking error compared to the plant's factory pre-set controllers. The suggested controllers increase 66% of energy production and 63% of exergy production. Besides, the split-range technique can be extended to any concentrating solar collector control. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Changes in productivity of small and large firms of automotive industry are analyzed. • The 2008-09 crisis impacted on productivity by reducing technological progress. • The consequences of the crisis were more severe for SMEs. • Suitable policies may be based on environmental regulation, incentive schemes and support to R&D investments. This paper analyzes the changes in productivity of small and large firms operating in the automotive industry in France, Italy and Spain, occurred during the pre-crisis (2001-2008) and post-crisis (2009-2014) periods. To this aim, the Malmquist index as a measure of total factor productivity (TFP) variation is computed, by using the non-parametric technique DEA, integrated by a bootstrap technique proposed by Simar and Wilson (1999). The analysis allows distinguishing among different possible sources of TFP changes, i.e. pure technical efficiency change, scale efficiency change and technological change. The latter comes up to be the main channel through which the global crisis negatively impacted on productivity, presumably by hampering the primary engines of technological change, i.e. research, innovation and investment through reduced availability of financial resources for SMEs, worsened perspectives for firm growth and greater concentration in selected geographical areas of investments by parent companies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Information and Communication Technologies provide valuable opportunities for companies to expand their business. In this sense, the availability of a multilingual corporate website can be of great help when it comes to reach international targets at a reduced cost. This is especially relevant in countries with remarkable tourism flows and foreign population, which is the case of Spain. The aim of this paper is to analyze the web presence and the multilingual dissemination of their corporate information of small and medium-sized companies (SMEs) from the tourist sector located in Andalusia (Spain). To meet this objective, a sample of 160 SMEs has been analyzed. A frequency analysis has been carried out as well as decision trees, the latter in order to identify drivers for influencing companies for having a website and its subsequent translation. Results show that, although around 70% of the companies had a corporate website, less than 40% of them translated their content and, if they do it, they mostly offered only one translated version of the webpage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cities are making significant efforts to implement the Internet of Things (IoT) paradigm, in which sensors collect data from heterogeneous sources, and advanced software systems can provide an accurate city context. Most initiatives focus on improving the quality of life through energy-efficient buildings, waste management, or reducing traffic congestion. One of the main applications of IoT is smart tourism. This concept focuses on using Information and Communication Technologies to give visitors better experiences without interfering with the city's daily life. This paper studies related concepts and related works in smart tourism, sustainability, and IoT, identifying challenges and literature gaps. Finally, we provide a brief analysis of the real case study of the mountainous Alpujarra region in Spain based on its specific characteristics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The paper reviews the challenges and needs for Regulatory Bodies and TSOs concerning the licensing process of thermohydraulic system codes, and the methodologies and calculations where they are used. • One important way for assessing the validity, quality, consistency, and conclusions of licensee assessments is for regulators and Technical Support Organizations (TSO) alike to resort to independent analysis. • BEPU methodologies, scaling methods, and tools for quantitative V&V of TH codes and application models are important topics in the field. • Additionally, the paper reviews new and advanced methodologies mainly related to Risk-Informed Regulations, where simulation codes must be used. • Integrated Safety Margin Assessment within RIR, RI Tech Specs, Extended BEPU, Verification of Accident Management Guidelines (AMGs), and Incident Analyses are some possible applications. • Some recommendations are made, outlining possible future R&D directions for new advanced methods and tools. • Another recommendation of the paper is to explore the application of proposed risk-informed advanced methods to new designs currently under development (e.g., small modular reactors). Simulation codes are essential tools in Nuclear Safety. Calculations are needed to assess the safety of nuclear power plants and to verify compliance with safety requirements. Nuclear regulatory bodies must assess the codes, the methodologies for their use, and the calculations performed with them by licensees in support of their safety analyses. One important way for assessing the validity, quality, consistency, and conclusions of licensee assessments is for regulators and Technical Support Organizations (TSO) alike to resort to independent analysis, including detailed TH calculations. This regulatory task requires high technical expertise and capabilities, such as the ones needed for the development of simulation codes and computerized diagnostic tools specific for regulatory assessment. These tools are not to have the same focus and scope as their industry counterparts, since the objective is shifted from design (for the licensees) to verification of safety requirements. (for regulators/TSOs). This paper has been written by members of the technical staff of Spain's Nuclear Safety Council, with a double purpose: - To review challenges and needs for Regulatory Bodies concerning the licensing processes where thermohydraulic system codes and related methodologies and calculations are involved. - To review new and advanced methodologies, mainly related to Risk-Informed Regulations, where TH simulation codes are used. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper aims to develop a decision tool for planning offshore wind farm locations, combining multi-criteria decision analysis and geographic information systems. This method considers several technological, environmental, social, and economic criteria. The criteria are used as evaluation factors and constraints to rank the identified potential locations through an Analytic Hierarchy Process. During the evaluation of the available areas, a pairwise comparison is used in which a group of experts determines the weights. Sensitivity and consensus analyses evaluate the results robustness. The methodology is developed for a case study in the Atlantic coastal areas of Portugal, Spain, and France. The results show the potential of this tool to support the planners in the designation of regions for floating wind farm development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The strongest economic crisis ever known, started in 2008, destroyed much of the social achievements. Although the European Union had to deal with this situation by designing common policies, the member states have handled this crisis in many different ways. Nevertheless, not all the countries had the same possibilities for manage their economic policies inside a common currency area. These states involved in the EuroZone have faced some restrictions due to their belonging to a currency area, so they have had to design alternative economic policies to the monetary one. The main objective of this paper is to assess the acceptance of the restrictive policies on public health expenses due to economic crisis and the implemented economic policy, from the point of view of citizens. This paper hypothesized that this acceptance or not depends on citizens perception of adequate use of the public health care system. A survey was conducted among the main social actors involved on healthcare system: the general population and health professionals. And for testing the hypotheses a means comparison ( t -test and ANOVA) and Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) has been developed using data from that survey. Outcomes from those econometric exercises show a general disagreement with the cuts in health expenses, but in a level very related with citizen’s perceptions of overuse of public health services. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Countries worldwide have set national targets for energy production from renewable sources. Yet, while many governments are committed to more renewable energy, obtaining permission to site installations is becoming increasingly difficult. With large tracts of land for renewables becoming intensely contested, countries seeking to meet their renewables targets are directing attention also towards tapping the potential in the urban environment through smaller-scale facilities. These entail other challenges, and countries are seeking ways to overcome them. The focus of this paper is on one, still evolving, type of renewable energy technology: small-scale wind turbines (SSWT). The paper presents a review of current but limited international academic knowledge on the land-regulation aspects of siting SSWT in countries that already have experience with such installations, including the USA, UK and New Zealand. The paper also reports on a comparative analysis of the land-related regulations and practices in two selected Mediterranean jurisdictions – Spain (Catalonia) and Israel. The approach of this study is exploratory, relying on analysis of legal and policy documents complemented by field work through in-depth interviews with key-stakeholders in both jurisdictions. The overall aim of this study is to examine different approaches of planning systems to new technologies. The findings show that despite their shared objective factors, the two jurisdictions have adopted almost opposite approach to regulating SSWTs. The findings, therefore, suggest that the incorporation of an unknown technology within the city requires a change of mindset both among the officials and among the city residents. A more effective regulatory framework might therefore entails a combination of strategic thinking, an experimental approach and the capacity to learn from cross-national comparative experiences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this paper is to review the literature focused on the energy/electricity-growth nexus, highlighting how the focus has shifted from aggregated energy/electricity consumption towards specific energy sources. Moreover, it aims to shed light on the relationships between different energy/electricity sources and economic growth. Empirically, the paper focuses on the analysis of interactions between electricity generation in Spain under both the Special Regime ( SR ) and the Ordinary Regime ( OR ), and their relationship with economic activity. Data for Spain is studied for a time span from January 2003 to January 2016. The Toda-Yamamoto causality test is carried out to check for causality relationships. Additionally, both short- and long-run effects are assessed by using the ARDL bounds test approach. Overall, the results reveal high internal consistency when comparing the ARDL results with the causality analysis. The substitution effect was detected between OR and SR. However, the negative effect of the SR on economic activity deserves special attention by energy policymakers. This paper argues that the main challenge of renewable sources for policymakers is their cost-effectiveness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper describes the construction and analysis of a disaggregated input-output model and its extension to a social accounting matrix (SAM) for the Spanish economy in 2013. Our focus is the specific disaggregation of the electricity industry into the generating, transmission, distribution and marketing businesses, which were decoupled in 1997 under legislation prohibiting any single company from conducting more than one of them. The multi-sectoral framework also allows disaggregation of electricity generating by production technologies (wind, nuclear, conventional thermal, hydropower, solar and other technologies). To the best of our knowledge, this is the first paper in which this information is presented in a multi-sectoral framework for the Spanish economy, which is enormously dependent on the electricity industry. The structural analysis reveals the industry's role in Spain and the importance of its activities. None of the electricity generating businesses is a Rasmussen key sector, and generating and distribution are both capital-intensive activities. Meanwhile, conventional thermal and hydropower generating together make up more than 50% of total output in value terms, while nuclear power accounts for only around 7%. Finally, imports and exports of electricity are small, and almost all demand is covered by domestic production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper uses directional distance function DDF in order to analyze a group of environmental performance indicators (EPIs) in doing so, selecting desired and undesired inputs and outputs and taking as variables the analyze of glass, paper, cardboard, light packaging and other waste. In a second phase an analysis is generated with five socioeconomic factors (Built for this paper); population density, tourism, the economic activity of the municipality, the economic level per inhabitant and education. As a result, we are able to observe the influence and effects of ecoefficiency on urban waste management (EUWM) in 143 Spanish municipalities. The result panel data is generated via a “Tobit Model” regression analysis showing that tourism and education are the significant independent variables in model. The study shows that a local administration does not need to have a high economic level or be highly populated to reach a good level of eco-efficiency. It is not the money that causes a level of eco-efficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The transportation sector is characterized by a high consumption of fossil fuels and a strong environmental impact. Promoting electric vehicles is an alternative to reduce and limit them move towards the sustainability of the automobile sector. In a short period of time, world car manufacturers have built, marketed and sold a million electric vehicles, and a million drivers got used to these new low carbon advanced technologies. Comparatively, this figure represents approximately the average annual sales of conventional vehicles in Spain. The main problem is the battery autonomy, since its maximum range does not exceed 250 km, a restriction that limits the trip. Spain belongs to the group of countries which have longest trip average around 80 km. Then the problem is how to understand electric mobility, for that the types and modes of charging, the types of electric vehicles, and the available charging systems all interact with one another in the charging systems for electric vehicles, which will be specifically analysed. Alternative charging methods are also presented, and the agents involved in the charging process in accordance with applicable regulations are identified. The objective of this article is to analyse the charging of electric vehicles in Spain and to assess the current situation to be able to propose potential improvements or implementation strategies. This paper determines that it is necessary to develop public policies for a structured implementation of charging stations in public places and in common-use areas within large shared spaces, such as parking areas and residential areas in order to improve electric mobility in Spain. This paper also illustrates the need to legislate standards for charging electric vehicles to maximize their implementation in Spain, with the goal of implementing electric vehicles on a larger scale and ultimately allowing society to benefit from the advantages of this technology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since the first paper on the subject was published in 2002, the tourism-led growth hypothesis (TLGH) has constituted one of the most predominant topics in tourism literature. Spain is a leading country in the tourism industry and one where this hypothesis has been tested with several studies confirming the relationship between Spain's tourism development and its economic growth. However, the existing studies for Spain do not take into account recent turbulences such as the Global Financial and Economic Crisis and the Arab Spring uprisings that have shocked tourism markets. This paper re-examines the TLGH for the Spanish case in the light of these events in order to investigate the robustness of the relationship between tourism and economic growth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present paper proposes a new and intuitive model to evaluate the utilitarian e-service quality on textile and fashion B2C websites in Spain. The relevant variables to include into this model have been validated through an in-depth literature review and a reliability study based on an empirical investigation. Among the several methodologies used to develop the model, the paper proves that fuzzy inference systems (FIS) have numerous advantages. The following are particularly relevant: the ease to manage non-linear behaviours and the intuitive way of incorporating knowledge to evaluate B2C websites. This knowledge can stem both: from the expert know-how or from the evaluation of consumer satisfaction on these websites. The knowledge is made explicit through if-then rules which work with linguistic-type concepts −agreed upon by experts, closer to the human reasoning mode. Finally, the usefulness of the proposed model and the defined FIS suitability to evaluate the model are shown. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper provides a constructive critique of Corrine Cash's paper “Good governance and strong political will: Are they enough for transformation?”, published in volume 58 of Land Use Policy in 2016. By focusing on how intra-sector dynamics influence land use policies in conflicts revolving around urban sprawl, this paper aims to complement and, to some extent, widen the analytic lens deployed by Cash. The examination of the Spanish wine sector and its lack of zoning policies confirms Cash's argument about the need to go beyond discourses of ‘good governance’ and ‘strong political will’ to understand the dynamics underpinning real spatial processes. However, this exploration underscores the need to add layers of complexity to land use analyses, showing the relevance of intra-sector conflict and logics. In complicating any simplistic reduction of urban sprawl conflicts to rural–urban oppositions, the paper ultimately calls for a more dynamic and multiscalar planning theory to address complex governance issues. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper shows the procedure performed to validate the migration equation and the migration parameters’ values presented in a previous paper (Legarda et al., 2011) regarding the migration of 137 Cs in Spanish mainland soils. In this paper, this model validation has been carried out checking experimentally obtained activity concentration values against those predicted by the model. This experimental data come from the measured vertical activity profiles of 8 new sampling points which are located in northern Spain. Before testing predicted values of the model, the uncertainty of those values has been assessed with the appropriate uncertainty analysis. Once establishing the uncertainty of the model, both activity concentration values, experimental versus model predicted ones, have been compared. Model validation has been performed analyzing its accuracy, studying it as a whole and also at different depth intervals. As a result, this model has been validated as a tool to predict 137 Cs behaviour in a Mediterranean environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • The thematic have been studied by increasing the extension and occurrence of fires. • A total of 530 papers related to fire are published from 1984 to 2020. • Publication rates have particularly increased since 2007. • Scientists from USA and Spain have made the most significant contributions. • More specific research needs to be done on how fires affect soil mineralogy and microbiology. As wildfires have increased and become more frequent in recent years, researchers area focusing on how wildfires affect ecosystem resilience, which has serious implications for the recovery and protection of native forests and plantations. Most physicochemical and biological soil properties, including soil surface mineralogical composition, can be severely impacted by fires. However, no attempt has been made from a bibliometric point of view to provide a comprehensive picture of the research status on fire effects in mineralogy and nutrient stocks. Using the VOSviewer software, this study aims to evaluate fire effects on mineralogy and nutrients (FMN), the thematic evolution and determine the most relevant trends based on the intellectual structure of the knowledge built up in this research field. The methodology is divided into two stages: (i) Data Collection, and (ii) Bibliometric Analysis and Data Mining (Performance Analysis and Science Mapping). A detailed bibliometric analysis was performed on 530 Web of Science (WOS) articles indexes from1984 to 2020. Overall, the results show that Forest Ecology and Management is the leading journal in the field. The top three countries hosting core research centers for this topic are the United States, Spain, and France. Certini G. was the author with more citations (1395) in one paper and Johnson, D. had the most published papers (19) with a total of 549 citations. Currently, the hotspots of fire issues mainly include soil nutrients (e.g. nitrogen, phosphorus, carbon, and calcium); in addition to the selected keywords, wildfires co-occur more frequently with disturbances and terms such as soils, water quality, boreal forests , and stream. In conclusion, 530 articles written by 1822 authors and their research displayed in 211 journals from universities and research centers in 60 countries demonstrate the growing interest in the field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• We study drivers' and cyclists' perceived safety in cyclist-overtaking maneuvers. • Bayesian ordinal logistic regression can model and predict perceived safety. • Drivers' perceived safety depends on the presence and timing of oncoming traffic. • Cyclists' perceived safety depends on lateral clearance and overtaking speed. • Perceived safety depends on the highest collision risk specific to each road user. Drivers overtaking cyclists on rural roads are a safety concern, as drivers need to handle the interaction with the cyclist and possibly an oncoming vehicle. Improving the maneuver's outcome requires an understanding of not only the objective, measurable safety metrics, but also the subjective, perceived safety of each road user. Previous research has shown that the perceived safety of the cyclist is most at risk at the passing moment, when driver and cyclist are closest to each other. However, to develop safety measures, it is necessary to know how both road users perceive safety, by understanding the factors that influence their perceptions during the overtaking maneuver. This study measured the perceived safety of drivers in a test-track experiment in Sweden and the perceived safety of cyclists in a field test in Spain. For both drivers and cyclists, we developed Bayesian ordinal logistic regression models of perceived safety scores that take as input objective safety metrics representing the different crash risks at the passing moment. Our results show that while drivers' perceived safety decreases when there is an oncoming vehicle with a low time-to-collision, cyclists' perceived safety is reduced by a small lateral clearance and a high overtaking speed. Although our datasets are heterogeneous and limited, our results are in line with previous research. In addition, the Bayesian models presented in this paper are novel and may be improved in future studies once more naturalistic data become available. We discuss how our models may support infrastructure development and regulation, policymaking, driver coaching, the development of active safety systems, and automated driving by providing a possible method for predicting perceived safety. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Both the traditional taxi and ridesourcing market provide similar on-demand door-to-door transportation services from the users' viewpoint, although operate under different legal and regulatory frameworks. Ridesourcing has experienced notable growth in urban mobility in the last few years since it gives a convenient, on-demand door-to-door service, provides app-based real-time information about the trip, and offers flexible prices that vary according to the level of supply and demand at each moment. This new actor in urban mobility directly competes with taxis, a more regulated mode that has traditionally provided door-to-door trips. While competition between taxi and ridesourcing has generated great controversy in the public debate, little attention has been paid to the users' viewpoint. Additionally, most of the scientific literature on travel behavior and ridesourcing focus on specific characteristics of these services, while scarce efforts have been devoted to study users' choices and preferences towards ridesourcing vs. its main competitor, taxi services. To bridge this gap, this paper investigates the main factors (individual sociodemographic, mobility-related characteristics, psychological attitudes, etc.) determining individuals' choices between ridesourcing and traditional taxis. To that end, a Generalized Structural Equation Model (GSEM) is carried out, based on the information collected from a survey campaign conducted in Spain. The results show that, from a behavioral perspective, people opened to technological innovation and with liberal thought (in the sense of being favorable to market openness) tend to use ridesourcing services more often than taxis. Our results also suggest a higher tendency to use ridesourcing among women, young people, and people using hailing services for leisure, recreational or social purposes. Interestingly, individuals having already used both taxi and ridesourcing in Spain, tend to rate higher the quality-of-service performance (driver and/or vehicle fleet) provided by ridesourcing compared to taxis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Covid-19 pandemic has increased the unemployment issue and accelerated the digital transformation. Real-time data specific to ongoing revolution in applied economic analysis are increasingly demanded to anticipate changes in unemployment to improve decision-making. The aim of this paper is to test whether unemployment rate forecasts based on Google Trends data improve the predictions based only on macroeconomic indicators published with a longer time lag. The research has been carried out at the national level for Spain and Portugal, and the main novelty is the analysis of unemployment rate forecasts at the regional level for Spain using dynamic panel data models to implement the best policies to reduce unemployment. The keywords unemployment and job offers have been used in each language. The results obtained demonstrate the capacity of Google Trends data associated with unemployment to improve the predictions of unemployment rates in Spanish regions. Moreover, predictions based on Google Trends data at national level in Spain and Portugal are significantly more accurate than those based on autoregressive models for both countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A recent literature documents a secular increase in the sales-weighted average markup in the United States, a phenomenon that was driven by large and productive firms at the top of the profit distribution. Using rich administrative balance-sheet data, this paper documents the behaviour of markups in Spain before, during, and in the aftermath of the Great Recession. We show that markups rose during the financial crisis. Unlike in the U.S., these dynamics were driven by small and unproductive firms following an increase in their average costs due to a high and increasing share of fixed costs, especially overhead labour expenses. Despite the rise in markups, profit rates fell, especially amongst smaller firms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Immigrants in rural areas and immigrant employment in the agricultural sector have been studied from a variety of perspectives. However, we currently lack a bird's-eye view of these two phenomena covering all EU member states through time. This paper tackles that gap, first by describing the main features of immigrant settlement and economic integration in rural areas in the EU. Second, it offers an EU-wide overview of immigrants' integration in the agricultural sector. Then, it investigates empirically the degree to which the different characteristics of agricultural production in two member states – Italy and Spain – are associated with a migrant presence in the area. The study finds that, in the context of a shrinking agricultural labour force, the share of migrant workers in that sector in several regions is increasing over time. Migrants living in rural areas are more likely to be unemployed and face economic hardship than locals. Migrants employed in agriculture are, also, more likely to work in elementary occupations and temporary jobs. Finally, the case studies on Italy and Spain demonstrate that the relative size of the migrant population is related to the typology of agricultural land use and to the labour intensity and seasonality of cultivation. • Immigrants in rural areas tend to fare worse compared to the local population and to migrants living in cities and towns. • In the agricultural sector, migrant workers have steadily increased their share of total employment over time. • Migrants are more likely to work in elementary occupations, to be employees, and to have temporary forms of recruitment than locals. • In Italy and Spain migrants in rural areas tend settle where intensive agricultural production, a high degree of temporary employment prevails. • Quantitative analyses based on official stastistics face challenges in terms of under-representing the real number of migrants in agriculture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present paper deals with the historical evolution of the northern Bay of Cádiz (SW Spain) between the last eustatic maximum (6.5 ka BP) and the present day, by means of a series of independent proxies. The zone is constituted by the tidal estuary of the Guadalete River, filled with saltmarsh sediments during the late Holocene, due to the sheltering of the zone by a confining outer sandy barrier. The northern border of the Bay records an urban settlement of Phoenician Age (first millennium BC), Doña Blanca. A detailed survey was made in the contact between the Phoenician city and the saltmarshes in order to detect other possible urban structures related to the morphological and sedimentary evolution of this environment during historical times. Two campaigns with GPR Stream-X array were carried out as well as aerial imaging and topographic survey with UAV. In parallel, a total of 8 boreholes were made in different parts of the saltmarshes, including radiocarbon dating of selected samples for estimating sedimentation rates in the saltmarshes. Results obtained by georadar prospection and UAV survey revealed the presence of a second urban settlement on the marginal sedimentary plain, very probably installed upon a sandy fluvial island of the Guadelete River. The urban remains, of Punic Age, are partly covered by clay sediments due to the subsequent evolution of these saltmarshes, where sedimentation rates of up to nearly 2.4 mm/yr have been estimated for environments close to fluvial and/or tidal channels and hence more affected by sediment aggradation during flooding episodes. In recent times, river regulation by dams and the artificial desiccation and cropping of the saltmarshes have interrupted the natural trend of the area towards sedimentary silting up. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper we estimate the impact of higher early preschool access on offending behavior later in time, exploiting a nationwide public preschool expansion that took place in Spain over the 1990s. This is the first study providing evidence on the relationship between preschool and crime using a large-scale, universal-access program rather than targeted initiatives reserved for disadvantaged children. Our identification strategy relies on the staggered implementation of the Spanish preschool expansion across regions and birth cohorts. We link the education data to a unique administrative crime dataset recording the offenses committed in the region of Catalonia over the period 2009–2014. On average, a 1 percentage point increase in preschool access among the age 0–3 population yields 1.6% fewer crime actions during youth and young adulthood. Larger effects on impulsive-crime categories provide suggestive evidence for non-cognitive-skills improvements being important drivers of our results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Food systems have become a privileged sphere for explaining the past and present of peoples, and, analysed in their various dimensions, for thinking about the future. In a world of such extraordinary food disparity, it is necessary to ask what this reveals about current societies and what uncertainties and opportunities it entails. This commentary examines some paradoxes related to the global food system. When we consider where it is heading, multiple questions arise, for while this is apparently more productive than ever, it far from guarantees an inclusive, healthy and sustainable food supply for all. If, as is widely maintained, current food production is sufficient to feed the entire world population, we need to ask why food insecurity persists and, at the same time, why emerging diseases such as obesity have become a health problem on a global scale. Focusing on these growing trends in Spain, we discuss how they are linked to this system, their complex nature and possible ways of dealing with them. The findings show how some of the positive trends engendered by the industrial food system, such as the progressive democratisation of food access and the reduction of social differences in food consumption, are now in retreat. The diagnosis we have presented on the increase in food insecurity and obesity alludes to profound changes in environments and lifestyles, but also to the social inequality produced by the impact of austerity policies. The paper postulates the need to transform structural factors in order to reverse these trends. Analytical synthesis with socioeconomic and epidemiological data in SpainSource: Author's own elaboration [Display omitted] •Positive trends engendered by global food system are currently in retreat in Spain. •Key drivers for explaining the increase in food insecurity and obesity are discussed. •Precarisation and social inequality condition eating practices and health. •Socioeconomic crisis and policies inhibit a more inclusive, healthy and sustainable food system. • Complex and contextualized social diagnosis is needed to enable reversal of both trends. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Finding an optimal bidding strategy for a wind farm in the electricity market is not straightforward due to the wind variability. This issue is becoming more relevant as renewable plants are more exposed to market signals. Considering the characteristics of the European markets, operators must submit the energy bidding between 12 and 36 h ahead the actual delivery time. This bidding can be adjusted later in any session of the intraday markets, but sometimes this is not enough to reduce significantly the deviation risk. This paper presents a practical application of a method to analytically calculate the optimal bidding of a wind power plant, based on the maximisation of the income function. The results show that, given the characteristics of the deviation markets in Spain, the optimal bidding strategy depends essentially on the deviation of the system. The proposed technique has been tested and validated in a real application by considering actual data for energy production and forecasts for an operating wind farm in Spain, as well as real market deviations and prices provided by the Spanish system and market operators; analysing the advantages of the proposed optimal bidding strategy over the most plausible option, based on bidding the forecasted energy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Breast cancer is one of the most frequent malignancies. The aim of the article is to analyse the cost-utility ratio and budgetary impact of talazoparib treatment for patients with locally advanced or metastatic gBRCA + breast cancer from the perspective of the Spanish National Health System. Analyses were based on the EMBRACA clinical trial and the model was constructed according to " partitioned survival analysis ". Two scenarios were considered in order to compare talazoparib with the alternatives of capecitabine, vinorelbine and eribulin: 1. Chemotherapy in patients pre-treated with anthracyclines/taxanes and, 2. A second- and subsequent-line treatment option. Treatment types following relapse were recorded in the mentioned clinical trial. The effectiveness measure used was quality-adjusted life years (QALY). The average health cost of patients treated at 43 months with talazoparib was 84,360.86€, whilst current treatment costs were 26,683.90€. The effectiveness of talazoparib was 1.93 years of survival (1.09 QALY) relative to 1.58 years (0.83 QALY) in the treatment group. The incremental cost-utility ratio was 252,420.04€/QALY. This represents the additional cost required to earn an additional QALY when changing from regular treatment to talazoparib. Regarding budgetary impact, the number of patients susceptible to receiving treatment with between 94 and 202 talazoparib was estimated, according to scenario and likelihood. The 3-year cost difference was between 6.9 and 9 million euros. The economic evaluation conducted shows an elevated incremental cost-utility ratio and budgetary impact. Taking these results into account, the price of talazoparib would have to be lower than that taken as a reference to reach the cost-utility thresholds. • As far as the authors know, this paper is the first economic evaluation of iPARP in advanced/metastatic breast cancer. • Talazoparib does not extend the median survival time compared to capecitabine, vinorelbine and eribulin. • As for low survival improvement of talazoparib, it should be used with caution in patients with breast cancer BRCA mutation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As socio-ecological systems, coastal wetlands constitute great economic, cultural, recreational and environmental value. However, due to rapid urbanisation and intensification of agricultural activities, these hybrid systems are continuously degraded, generating several ecological and social problems. This paper aims to deepen how agriculture-nature interactions and actor behaviour affect coastal wetlands' management while conditioning decision-making processes. El Hondo Natural Park (Alicante, Spain) is the selected case study in which 15 key stakeholders from the public administration, the rural community, and the civil society are selected. Data were collected between April and June 2018 through semi-structured interviews and analysed following the Grounded Theory principles and by computer-assisted qualitative and mixed methods data software, MAXQDA®. Results revealed how the rural community and civil society members agree on El Hondo Natural Park's cultural function, conceived as a mechanism to preserve local identity, protecting traditional agricultural practices and rural heritage. However, El Hondo Natural Park's origin and management generated discussion, including topics such as the natural park' declaration, public investment, and participation in decision-making processes (especially due to the lack of transparency and information). Furthermore, main challenges have been identified: farmers' survival, water scarcity and water quality standards, and social recognition and promotion of the natural park. Researchers and relevant authorities can use obtained results to customize their interventions based on previous and well-structured knowledge of how socio-ecological systems are perceived and which past or new conflicts generate frustration among confronted stakeholders' demands. • Coastal wetlands are continuously degraded, generating several ecological and social problems. • El Hondo Natural Park preserve local identity, agriculture and rural heritage. • Agriculture and environment coexistence in socio-ecological systems can be achieved. • Public investment without ensuring end-users participation could generate conflicts. • Comprehension and collaboration overcome frustration and promote trust. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In a previous paper, we proposed the construction of a new seawater intake in order to reduce the temperature range of the feed water, and a pilot plant for testing three types of low energy and high rejection membranes comparing performance and quality in a seawater reverse osmosis (SWRO) plant in the southeast of Spain. The results of the elements are shown. The conclusions of the study may serve as a tool for the decision‐making processes related to membrane replacement and retrofit projects whose designs were based on new high-efficiency membrane configurations in the plant. The selection of the element will be determined regarding the performance and energy costs of the pilot test. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper aims to carry out an integrated Life Cycle Assessment to evaluate the environmental performance of retrofitting an existing first-generation ethanol plant for sustainable aviation fuel production. Two scenarios are defined, considering: (i) the incorporation of an alcohol-to-jet conversion pathway into a current bioethanol plant in Spain to produce synthetic paraffinic kerosene with aromatics biofuel, and (ii) the operation of two different plants, namely, an existing bioethanol production facility and a new-build ATJ plant. Results indicate that the global warming impact associated with the retrofitting of the bioethanol facility is 44.15 gCO 2eq per MJ of final fuels produced. The main GHG impact is associated with the operation of both the cogeneration system (∼42 %) and the natural gas boilers (∼25 %) to cover the heat and power requirements of the bioethanol facility. Findings concerning the climate change impact of the new-build ATJ plant exhibit analogous behavior; the GHG impact is estimated at 44.53 gCO 2eq /MJ fuels. Future electricity supply mixes with high shares of renewables could lead to substantially lower GHG emissions (up to 61 %) in aviation fuel production, as compared to conventional jet fuels. The replacement of natural gas with sustainable alternatives could further decrease the global warming impact up to 97 %. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With increasing volatility in natural gas markets and the need for residential heat, research for alternative thermal systems based on green hydrogen-based fuels is necessary. Massive implementation of hydrogen in the current fleet presents a challenge for the decarbonisation of conventional thermal processes. This paper presents the integration of green methanol from a seasonal thermochemical energy storage system (TCES) coupled with district heating networks (DHN). It allows for a solar-based storage and low-temperature heat generation from the exothermic discharge reaction. The system uses concentrated solar thermal energy to decompose methanol into syngas at moderate temperatures (<315 °C), reducing GHG emissions from combustion to meet residential heat. Its potential is assessed through an analysis of 458 rural municipalities in Spain, achieving a substitution of 3.1 % of the natural gas demand. The system allows the production of green fuels from syngas using an open-loop approach, offering new market pathways in primary sector. In a closed-loop configuration, roundtrip efficiencies exceeding 60 % and chemical conversion efficiencies exceeding 70 % are reached, resulting in a global efficiency of 12 % for the DHN and methanol-TCES. The results show a levelized cost of stored energy highly competitive with other storage systems (<200€/MWh), given its simplicity. • A novel district heating network integration with methanol TCES is proposed. • Round-trip above 65 % and an overall efficiency of 11.6 % were achieved. • Analysis of presented DH-TCES in 499 rural municipalities in Spain. • Competitive levelized storage price values of €150/MWh was obtained. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Effectively utilizing low-grade thermal energy is a promising approach to mitigating greenhouse gas emissions while reducing the burden on centralized power grids. Current thermoacoustic heat pumps and power generators face challenges such as high onset temperature differentials and low performance. This paper addresses these challenges by introducing a gas-liquid resonator into a thermoacoustic combined heat and power systems to recover low-grade thermal energy in residential buildings. Through Sage modeling and calculations, the internal characteristics of the proposed system and its output performance under different operating conditions are explored. At a heating temperature of 350 °C, the system can generate 6.4 kW of output thermal power, 0.9 kW of electricity, and overall exergy efficiency is 79.3 %. Combining neural network models with case studies conducted in Spain and Finland, the system can annually save 5.6 MWh and 20.7 MWh in fuel energy, reduce emissions of 1374 kg and 5180 kg of carbon dioxide, and save a total cost of €611 and €2324, respectively. Furthermore, comparisons with other emerging micro-CHP systems highlight the efficiency of the proposed system. These results indicate the high potential of thermoacoustic combined heat and power systems in recovering low-grade thermal energy and achieving energy savings and emission reductions. • Introducing an innovative thermoacoustic micro-CHP system. • Achieving an exergy efficiency of 79.3 % under standard operating conditions. • One system can annually reduce household CO 2 emissions by 5180 kg. • Ideal for households, balancing lower output levels for both heat and electricity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines the process of policy framing and narrative construction in the context of energy exclusion. Through qualitative analysis of case studies of collective, systematic, and recurrent electricity disconnections at the neighbourhood level in Spain, the study identifies two policy framings, the 'criminalisation' and the 'degradation' framing, in the process of building the phenomenon of energy exclusion as a policy problem. Highlighting the central role of problem construction in policy development, the research shows how this stage shapes the whole policy trajectory, not only determining the character of the problem but also how to solve it. The research uses textual material collected through in-depth qualitative interviews, news and press, and policy documents to critically analyse the framing process and narrative construction. The results show how conflicting interpretations of a policy situation can lead to different policy messages and the influence of structural elements, such as the dominant electricity model, in reinforcing these interpretations. • Unpacks energy exclusion through policy framing and narrative analysis. • Identifies key factors and policy frames in energy exclusion cases. • Demonstrates how problem construction shapes policy trajectories. • Analyses diverse relevant actors' perspectives on systematic disconnections. • Links conflicting scenario interpretations to varied policy outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents the results of an extensive experimental campaign related to the use of Coal Mining Waste Geomaterials (CMWGs) as recycled constituents (fine and coarse aggregates) in Ordinary Portland Cement mortars and concretes. To this purpose, a reference mix and other mixes with different percentages of replacement of natural aggregates by CMWGs, up to 40% by volume, were investigated. CMWGs came from different providers: Central Mining Institute (GIG), POLTEGOR, both in Poland, and SUBTERRA in Spain and tests were performed at two different laboratories working on similar, but not identical, compositions. This represents a novelty in the literature, generally focusing on one single-source waste and single-lab results. The physical and mechanical properties of all the mixes were evaluated and correlated with respect to the percentage of replacement of natural aggregates by CMWGs. While the presence of CMWGs, likely because of their grain size distribution, reduced the porosity of mortars (decrease of 9.5 and 20.4% for 10 and 20% of replacement respectively) and concretes (70% reduction for concretes with 10% of fines and 30% of coarse aggregates replaced by CMWGs), the mechanical properties decreased when natural aggregates were replaced with CMWGs, likely because of the reduced strength of the CMWGs aggregates. This decrease was found to be roughly proportional to the percentage of replacement of aggregates (for instance, a 12–23% reduction of flexural strength in mortars with 25% replacement of sand and, a decrease of 25% in concretes for a 25% replacement of fine and coarse aggregates); nonetheless the concrete performance remained in the range of applicability for several civil engineering applications without affecting their functionality. In conclusion, the replacement of natural aggregates by CMWGs has resulted an interesting option for real applications providing an added value to the implementation of circular economy concepts in the management and up-cycling of coal mine tailings and CMWGs. • Recycling Coal Mine Waste Geomaterials as partial replacement of fine and coarse aggregates in concrete is feasible.. • Complementarity and coherence of results from two different labs with aggregates from three sources validate the methodology. • Thin section analysis provides insight into microstructural reasons of macroscopic properties highlighting the interaction of CMWGs with cement paste. • Reduction in compressive strength induced by weaker CMWG aggregates does not jeopardize the possibility of producing concrete still retaining values of compressive strength fit for several structural applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Heating up of photovoltaic modules during operation results in a significant power output reduction. This effect is especially relevant in regions with the highest photovoltaic potential, where irradiance and ambient temperature are particularly high. In this paper, a novel low enthalpy geothermal cooling system that improves the efficiency of a commercial solar module is described and experimentally validated. Two heat exchangers, one attached to the backside of the module, and another introduced inside a 15 m deep borehole, are connected in a closed circuit. A water-based coolant is pumped through the system, evacuating the excess heat from the module, and dissipating it underground in a clean and efficient manner, without additional water consumption after filling the system. The performance of the cooling system was experimentally tested by implementing it, for the first time, in a single-axis solar tracking isolated photovoltaic facility. Extensive tests were carried out in Spain, between September 2021 and August 2022 under a wide variety of environmental conditions. The efficiency improvement system has demonstrated its technical feasibility over a one-year period, showing a peak net efficiency improvement up to 13.4 %. Moreover, a positive net efficiency improvement has been demonstrated all year long, even during the winter months. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Solar PV technologies have been expanding rapidly, and the installed power has increased, especially in the last decade. Their inclusion in university buildings arises as a key factor for sustainable transition in cities, since they have an important potential as case studies for urban experimentation positive effects on students and other stakeholders. This paper proposes a method to determine the availability for installing solar PV in universities' rooftops, considering simulation and cartography data, together with a final experimental validation stage. Unavailable areas for each rooftop are determined, including obstacles, the inner use of the rooftop and shadowed areas. Finally, the method verifies the technical suitability for all the proposed scenarios and applies an economic-environmental multicriteria evaluation to select the most suitable one. The methodology is validated in the Universitat Politècnica de València Vera-Campus. In total, 88913 m2 of the rooftops are suitable for solar PV incorporation, representing 48 % of the total surface. 52 % of the solar PV installable capacity takes place in surfaces which can incorporate more than 100 kW, 20.6 % between 50 and 100 kW and 27.4 % less than 50 kW. Finally, the multicriteria evaluation proved that the scenario with all the possible installations is the most suitable one. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wind power is one of the most important renewable energy sources worldwide. However, integrating these technologies in electricity markets faces challenges due to the intermittent wind speed, resulting in potential imbalances within power grids and subsequent inefficiencies. Traditional approaches for modeling the uncertainty simulate fixed wind power values in operational and planning models, which work well for the short term but are inadequate for medium-term decision-making due to lower forecasting accuracy and the inability to differentiate the imbalance risk faced in each simulated value. This paper proposes a novel methodology for incorporating wind energy imbalance risk into medium-term generation planning models. For this, we first simulate realistic wind power scenarios and perform a fitting distribution process to characterize the hourly wind power behavior. Then, we model the imbalance risk using quadratic-uncertainty cost functions for each simulated value. Subsequently, we conduct a temporal aggregation to reduce the computational burden, preserving the conceptual framework of the imbalance risk modeling. Finally, we propose a medium-term generation planning model that includes the imbalance risk model and the temporal aggregation strategy. Our approach is evaluated in a real-size case study formed by Spain, Portugal, and France's electricity markets, demonstrating accurate wind power imbalance risk modeling and lowered planning costs. • A new methodology to include wind energy imbalance risk in generation planning models. • Introducing a fitting process for modeling the distribution asymmetries of wind power. • Proposing a temporal aggregation method for efficient imbalance risk modeling. • The methodology is validated in Spanish, Portuguese, and French electricity markets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper compares the performance of conventional and organic fruit farms in Spain, using a set of base indicators to assess their economic and environmental performance on a per hectare basis. Composite indicators are also calculated to measure the overall economic and environmental performance of both production systems. Comparisons are made using propensity score matching to minimize the non-randomization biases caused by structural differences between the samples of conventional (n = 552) and organic (n = 127) fruit farms sourced from the Spanish Farm Accountancy Data Network (RECAN). The results based on per hectare metrics point to modest changes in the performance of farms that converted to organic farming. This is mainly because most converted farms were former conventional farms characterized by lower profitability and less intensive input use, consequently minimizing the effects of the conversion process. Nevertheless, the conversion outcomes exhibit a degree of variability depending on the specific type of fruit production. Economic gains are only discernible in the case of nut farms, whereas fruit and tropical fruit farms tend to yield the most favorable results per hectare from an environmental perspective. • Changes in per hectare performance are assessed when fruit farms convert to organic. • A complete set of economic and environmental base and composite indicators is used. • A matching procedure is implemented to obtain unbiased difference estimators. • Small changes are found in the per hectare performance of farms after conversion. • Mixed results depending on the type of fruit production subsector considered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The coastal sedimentary record of Galicia (NW Spain) is important to study sea-level oscillations during the Late Quaternary. The alluvial deposits preserved in the Ria de Coruña and Ria de Arousa are remnants of fluvial valleys flooded by the sea during the successive Pleistocene and Holocene transgressions. A first chronological study by Optical Stimulated Luminescence (OSL)- revealed a fast-component dominated, but dim OSL signal emitted by quartz from this area. Equivalent dose distributions, as obtained with the Analyst software, yielded large overdispersion values, which were negatively correlated to the potassium concentration in the sediment, thus suggesting the influence of beta dose rate heterogeneities. Nevertheless, for most samples many aliquots were considered in saturation, leading to a palaeodose and age underestimation – regardless of the model choice for age calculation. In this paper, we present new analyses using the open-source R package BayLum, as the so-called saturated aliquots may be incorporated in age calculation. Thus, we test this model performance and more commonly used models in retrieving large doses. Then, we discuss the implications for age calculation for these continental sediments formed during the Late Pleistocene. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]