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We conducted a study with introductory and upper-division level physics students in a Mexican and a Spanish university to learn how students recognize the main characteristics of the electric field in three of its more widely used representations, namely, algebraic notation, vector field plot, and electric field lines, and how the students do conversions of them. The students' abilities to recognize the three representations of the electric field and do conversions gave insight into their understanding of this concept. We used the "theory of registers of semiotic representations" as a framework to analyze the data. Our results showed that the direction of the conversion is an essential factor in determining the students' success in performing conversions of electrical field representations. We found close synergy between the vector field plot and the algebraic notation of the electric field. However, we found that the conversions that involve electric field lines do not present synergy. The electric field lines representation is especially difficult for students, both as a "source" and as a "target" representation, specifically, the interpretation and representation of the magnitude of the field through the density of field lines. We recommend that teachers and researchers of electricity and magnetism be more conscious of the difficulties that some conversion tasks may present to their students. We specifically invite instructors to be attentive to how they approach the representation of electric field lines and be explicit when performing conversions that involve electric field lines.

The learning of solving multi-step problems is a relevant aim in chemical education for engineering students. In these questions, after analyzing initial data, a complex reasoning and an elaborated mathematical procedure is needed to achieve the correct numerical answer. However, many students are able to effectively use algorithms even with a lack of meaningful understanding of involved chemical concepts. This paper reports the application of some collaborative actions in order to induce a complete acquisition of problem solving skills. The studied approaches, performed inside and outside the classroom, are classified in low-collaborative and high-collaborative activities, depending on the relative participation of instructor/students in their development. The critical description of the proposed methodology and the produced outcomes are exposed. The contribution of each major reasoning mode (model, rule or case based) employed in these activities is analyzed. Also, the perception of students is evaluated on the basis on the data provided by direct observation and a specific survey with Likert-scale and open-ended questions. The results indicate that the changes of teaching to a more conceptual orientation lead a deeper understanding, minimizing misconceptions or a rote learning.

This paper presents the development and evaluation of an in-class intervention based on persona cards, an accessibility kit created to introduce users with diverse needs to postsecondary students and motivate them to adopt accessibility guidelines. The cards created include 16 profiles of users with visual, hearing, motor, cognitive, and multiple impairments. To assess the effect of the intervention on the students' knowledge about accessibility, five in-class interventions with 134 students were conducted in the USA and in Spain. The intervention aimed at encouraging the discussion about how future designers can make interactive solutions more accessible for users with diverse needs. To assess the acceptability of the intervention materials among instructors, an online survey was utilized, and 30 respondents rated the usefulness, impact, ease of use, and their willingness to adopt the cards. They also provided suggestions to facilitate adoption. The statistical analysis of the results using Mann–Whitney tests indicates that the usage of personas during the intervention had a positive effect, improving the students' understanding about accessibility. Instructors who responded to the survey considered the persona cards to be easy to use, diverse, and useful. The intervention increased the students' interest and motivation to apply accessibility principles in their work practices and employ universal design in their lives. Also, instructors reported a positive acceptance regarding the adoption of the cards in their technology-related courses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: This study analyzes retailer attitude towards animal welfare in Spain, and how this attitude has changed over recent years (2006–2011). Retailers were concerned about animal welfare issues but a declining trend is observed recently, probably due to the financial crisis. The concern about animal welfare was affected by sex, with women retailers expressing a more positive attitude towards animal welfare issues than men. Retailers, based on their experience, perceive a low level of willingness to pay more for welfare friendly products (WFP) on behalf of their customers. This fact is reflected in the sales of the WFP, which declined from 2006 to 2011. The main reason for consumers to buy WFP, according to retailer perception, is organoleptic quality, with improved welfare being second. The results obtained provide a pessimistic picture in relation to the current market positioning of WFP, which is probably a consequence of market contraction. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The article focuses on the impact that the growth of the service sector has had on the economic growth of the Spanish regions. Thus, the study tries to define regional groupings in order to identify different modalities of regional growth. As a result of the cluster analysis, we propose the groupings and analyse the beta-convergence in per capita GDP and in terms of the degree of tertiarization in the Spanish regions. Taking these groups as our starting point, a data panel model with fixed effects is applied and the study concludes that mainly capital stock and capital productivity in market services explain to a great extent the growth in per capita GDP in the Spanish regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, the use of HVAC systems and non-HVAC control measures to reduce virus-laden bioaerosol exposure in a highly occupied indoor space is investigated. A simulation tool was used to model the fate and transport of bioaerosols in an indoor space in the hotel industry (bar or pub) with three types of HVAC system (central air handling system (CAHS), dedicated outdoor air system (DOAS), and wall unit system (WUS)). Non-HVAC control measures such as portable air cleaners (PAC) and local exhaust fans were considered. Occupant exposure was evaluated for 1 μm bioaerosols, which transport SARS-CoV-2, for 3 h/day of continuous source and exposure. The combined effects of ventilation (400 l/s of outdoor air), recirculated air filtration (90% efficacy), and a PAC with a capacity up to 900 m3/h mitigated the (normalized) integrated exposure of the occupant by 0.66 to 0.51 (CAHS) and 0.43 to 0.36 (DOAS). In the case of WUS, the normalized integrated exposure was reduced by up to 0.2 when the PAC with a capacity of up to 900 m3/h was used. The corresponding electricity consumed increased by 297.4 kWh/year (CAHS) and 482.7 kWh/year (DOAS), while for the WUS it increased by 197.1 kWh/year. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Analyzes the research and publications on the history of Spanish public libraries (defined as free libraries run by public administration) covering the period beginning with the birth and development of public reading centres in the eighteenth century up to the present day. Three groups of researchers are identified: first, professional librarians, characterized by their erudition; secondly, general interest historians and historians of education, who began to apply the 'scientific' method and the systematic use of primary sources; and thirdly, university lecturers in the area of library and information science, whose work in the library history field has attained a certain maturity. The article concludes by highlighting the need to delve deeper into these studies and form research groups to that end. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Long-distance transport in the global swine industry is more the rule than the exception. We tested the impact on the rates of temperature change and air enthalpy on the stress response and muscle pH in pigs subjected to long-distance travel from Spain to Portugal performed in the summer and winter. We found that winter journeys are more adverse for the animals because during the journey, abrupt variations in rates of temperature change and air enthalpy caused a marked physiological stress response and effects on the meat pH after 45 min. These results indicate the need to develop new environmental control strategies that mitigate abrupt temperature changes during travel to attenuate the biological cost of such long-distance transport on the animals. Current legislation in the European Union places limits on live pig transport according to outside temperature, but less is known about the effects of sudden changes in the thermal microenvironment in trailers, particularly during long-distance transport. In this study, we measured the temperature and relative humidity inside livestock vehicles carrying 1920 Spanish finisher pigs (live weight 100 kg and 240 animals per journey) during eight long-distance (>15 h) commercial journeys to slaughter from northern Spain to Portugal in the summer and winter. Here, we report the rate of change in the air temperature (°C × min−1) and air enthalpies in the transport vehicle (kg water kg dry air-1). At sticking, blood samples were taken for to measure cortisol, glucose, and creatine kinase (CK) as stress response indicators, and the meat pH after 45 min and the pH after 24 h were also determined. The rate of change in the air temperature and enthalpy was higher inside the livestock vehicle during the winter months and was positively related with higher cortisol and glucose levels and lower pH after 45 min (p < 0.05). It is proposed that the rate of temperature change and air enthalpy represent useful integrated indices of thermal stress for pigs during transport. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Temperament is a key issue in beef cattle production systems, as it defines the responses of animals to human handling and to potentially challenging or fear-eliciting situations. However, little is known about how farmers define or assess temperament. Focus group discussions were carried out in order to analyze the perceptions of farmers regarding a series of temperament traits of animals, focusing on the Pyrenean cattle breed. Farmers described animal temperament using several adjectives such as "strong", "aggressive", "nervous", "fearful", "brave", or "smart", which account for their integrative vision of this concept. They reported a differential long-term development of the temperament of cows and bulls and mentioned that external features are not reliable indicators of temperament as compared with animal behavior. Sensory acuity, such as sight, hearing, and smell, were thought to be related to temperament. The results of this study are useful to better understand the decisions of farmers about cattle buying, selling, or culling, and their perspective about temperament should be considered in the research and design of genetic improvement schemes. Understanding temperament is an important part of cattle production since undesirable temperament may cause serious problems associated with aggression, maternal care, and human safety. However, little is known about how farmers define or assess temperament, especially in autochthonous cattle breeds. The aim of this study was to explore perceptions of farmers about the temperament of the Pyrenean cattle breed with special attention to beef cow-calf systems in Spain. The methodology used to obtain the information was focus group discussions (FGD). Farmers defined temperament as a behavioural response to challenging situations imposed by human handling. Specific terms used were related to active or passive reactions to fear (e.g., "strong", "aggressive", "nervous", "fearful"). The speed of response to stimuli was also important. Female temperament was thought to become more docile with age while bull temperament was more variable. Maternal aggressiveness was highlighted as a potential human safety problem, but also desirable in an extensively bred animal who may need to defend calves against predators. Anatomical characteristics were seen as unreliable predictors of temperament, while behavioural indicators were more widely used, such as "alertness", which was a general trait of the breed, and "gaze", which, when associated with an alert expression, suggests a potential threat. Sensory acuity, such as sight and smell, were thought to be related with temperament in some FGDs but there was no overall agreement as to whether different behavioural responses were due to differences in sensory acuity. The results from the study could be useful during training programs or in the development of new genetic selection schemes and evaluation protocols involving cattle temperament. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Until now, there has not been a compilation of data concerning the reuse of treated effluent in Spain. Since January 2005 and at the request of the Ministry of Environment and Rural and Marine Affairs, the Hydrology Research Center (CEH) of CEDEX has been preparing a Database with information regarding the reuse activities in every Autonomous Community. This information compiles the types and characteristics of regeneration treatments adopted for various uses and the places where regenerated water is being used. In addition, it includes regenerated treatment under construction and future projects as well, which have been gathered together from different sources such as River Basin District Management or Autonomous Communities Reuse Programs. This whole laborious job is composed of four main parts: Database design, fieldwork collection of data, checking and storage of data and to make easier the management of data and connection of this database with a Geographic Information System (GIS). This basic information is essential to develop the State Water Reuse Plan that is currently being written in Spain. This paper shows the main results of the Database and a proposal of regeneration treatments to meet legal requirements in Spain, where a general estimated cost of investment and operation are included. The majority of costs presented are based on real Spanish regeneration plants although there are prototype processes in which costs have been calculated with additional references and using the knowledge of the authors and operators. “State of the reuse of treated effluent in Spain” is an internal report based on the RDB data and delivered by CEDEX to the Ministry of the Environmental last year. It gives an overview of the status of water reuse in Spain by Basin Departments and Autonomous Communities. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The aim of this cross-cultural survey conducted in a developed country (Spain, n = 1455) and an emerging country (Mexico, n = 833), was to analyse how meat consumers perceive farm animal welfare and how these perceptions and attitudes can be convergent or divergent. The intercultural comparison shows that animal welfare is a convergent value between Mexicans and Spaniards. However, the importance of animal welfare for consumers varies according to sociodemographic variables such as gender, rural or urban origin, educational level and age. The motivations of consumers in both countries to build this convergence around the overall importance on farm animal welfare are divergent. For Spaniards, animal welfare seems to be a legal, administrative, and verifiable reality that must be profitable to society. In contrast, for Mexican consumers, animal welfare is still an aspirational ideal. Despite this, such divergences may end up building large consensus that are transformed into a stable added value of the market for meat products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]