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The more-than-human turn in early childhood education has highlighted the relevance of children's intra-actions with their environment, as well as the multiple ways in which worlds and literacies emerge in them. The rejection of representationalism as the single source of knowledge leads to the consideration of affect, embodiment, memories, sound and movement as ways of knowing. The ways in which they manifest in a school context deserve close attention to the tiny details of literacy events. Our research presents a diffractive reading of an event in a school classroom, aiming to understand human and more-than-human intra-actions in this context, the re-configurations of time, space and matter, and the ways in which children articulate entanglements with texts and bodies. We focus on the intra-actions of a seven-year old child with a photo of his favourite videogame and the ways in which affect and memory emerge. The child's sounds and movements, the researcher, the photo and the space become entangled to re-configure time, space and matter. Our analysis provides an insight into an event often occurring in schools. We offer some clues to understand it as part of the language and literacy practices of children, and pose the necessity of reconsidering the usual concept of literacy in school.

The concept of assemblage, drawing on the posthuman theorisations of Deleuze and Guattari, delineates a dynamic and new materialist approach to an event. In this approach, desires, material agency and (de)(re)territorialisation emerge as key concepts, and open ways to understand the school classroom in early childhood as a territory where lines of flight challenge the boundaries of normative education. This paper focuses on a classroom assemblage and aims to cartography the material relations between human and non-human bodies, where (de)(re)territorialisation forces are constant. We draw on diffractive ethnography in order to think-with-theory, making use of a vignette and a diagram containing its material relations. Our analysis highlights the agentic relations of matter in the assemblage, the role of desire as a dynamic force and the ever-changing flow of (de)(re)territorialisations that emerge in it. This study shows the complexity of material experience in early childhood, where desire and deterritorialisation frame creative and unexpected processes that defy the idea of education and classroom activities as linear processes controlled by adults. On the contrary, the cartography depicted in this research supports an idea of education as a space for the emergence of creative lines of flight, material relations and non-linear meaning-making.

The authors draw on posthumanism to expand Reggio Emilia's pedagogical documentation techniques through a diffractive montage. Analysis of a phenomenon involving 4- and 5-year-old children singing a lullaby in a school in Seville (Spain), considers how this diffractive montage leads to a reconfiguration of the pioneering work of Reggio Emilia. The authors also contemplate the narrative of relationships, intra-actions and literacies materialised in this posthumanist diffraction of Reggio Emilia. The diffractive montage sheds light on the new material relations in the phenomenon to enable an expansion of the relational perspective of Reggio Emilia. Throughout this process, learning/play, observer/observed and human/non-human binaries dissolve which troubles the ontological premise of humanistic research. In the diffractive montage epistemic injustice relating to childhood literacies emerges, and so does the imperative to map their multiple familiarities from a de/colonising perspective.

Objective: To evaluate cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) skills performance and retention in schoolchildren aged 8 to 12 years following instruction by their teachers and with the guidance of a school nurse using paediatric manikins. Design: Descriptive simulation trial. Method: A school nurse provided support to six schoolteachers as they taught a modified 40-minute CPR course. Pupils were shown an out-of-hospital cardiac-arrest recognition video followed by a CPR simulation using paediatric manikins. 117 schoolchildren aged 8 to 12 years received the training. Both the schoolchildren and teachers completed a survey before and afterwards. Children completed an out-of-hospital cardiac-arrest recognition test and a 1-minute CPR test 1 week later. Results: After training, schoolchildren increased their self-efficacy as rescuers (8 ± 2 vs 10 ± 2; p < 0.001). Irrespective of age differences, 74% of schoolchildren performed the entire out-of-hospital cardiac-arrest recognition sequence correctly. Children aged 11 to 12 years and 10 to 11 years performed higher quality CPR (49% and 47%, respectively) compared to 8 to 9 year olds (14%, p = 0.008 and p = 0.014). Children aged 11 to 12 years outperformed younger children aged 8 to 9 years with respect to compression depth (48 ± 6 mm vs 43 ± 5 mm, p = 0.008) Conclusion: Schoolchildren's teachers, who were guided by a nurse using paediatric manikins, taught children aged 10 to 12 years to perform high-quality CPR. We suggest integrating paediatric manikins as part of children's CPR training as feedback from successful CPR performance increases motivation and confidence to act as a rescuer as well as improves skills retention.

Social sustainability embraces literacy development as a means by which children integrate their knowledge in society and become powerful and meaningful. In this context, the development of writing among young children requires the design of new teaching strategies that allow for the multimodal repertoire brought by children into the classroom. Systemic Functional Linguistics offers tools for the analysis of children's multimodal writing, which plays an important role in their literacy development. Our research was carried out in an urban context, the participants being 12 children aged 7 to 8. Data were collected through participant observation, conversations, and the analysis of documents and products generated by the children. From them, we analysed two stories written by two girls, which showed the way in which the children created meaning by combining verbal and visual modes, and how these modes interact (intersemiosis). The performance of a literacy task in which children are able to integrate their knowledge and heritage into the classroom, may constitute an interdisciplinary tool for their participation and engagement in the school, thus leading to a more equal society. In consequence, we propose that the integration of a genre-based pedagogy in the classroom should include greater awareness in teachers of the value of pupils' multimodal assessments.

Promoted by some of the most critical sectors of the education community, the history of the Spanish pedagogical renewal (19th and 20th centuries) shows all kinds of experiences representing an innovative, committed and transformative way to understand both pedagogical processes and the school. This article shows the final results of the historical analysis of the Spanish pedagogical renewal from the late 19th century (1876) to the last years of Franco's dictatorship (1972), through the different primary education schools considered as references, both public and private. Different studies on the Spanish pedagogical renewal have been examined, as well as media from the period and the main education magazines which acted as tools of expression in each historical period. This analysis was completed with data obtained from the revision of education projects, the direct observation of several cases, and consultation with the most relevant stakeholders. In order to create an overview, this article allows for a gradual understanding of the historical development, and of the cultural, political, social and pedagogical nature of the changing processes experimented through those years.

Among the recent approaches to literacy incorporated into Literacy Studies, the concept of (im)materiality has enabled researchers to delve into the fluid and hybrid nature of contemporary literacy practices in early childhood. Our research explores the (im)materiality of literacy practices from the perspectives of space, screen mediation, artefacts and embodiment. The research focuses on the (im)material nature of the literacy practices carried out in different spaces, and its relevance in the making of meaning by children. The research method is based on an ethnographic approach. The results show the children's embodiment of their literacy practices, and the way in which they create and interact with space and make meaning from their (im)material practices. These practices raise questions about their inclusion in current literacy development in schools.

Background: Motor competence, defined as a person's ability to execute different motor skills, is directly associated with children's physical, mental, and social development and may be essential in encouraging an active lifestyle in childhood. Although health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in children has been described as an individual's subjective perception of the impact of health status on physical, psychological and social functioning, in very young children, a HRQoL parent-proxy report is needed since (pre)schoolchildren have problems expressing their feelings and understanding items on HRQoL instruments. In addition, the influence of motor competence on fitness levels has strong empirical support, so it seems reasonable to hypothesize that cardiorespiratory fitness might play a crucial role in the association between motor competence and HRQoL in children. Objectives: This study examined the association between gross motor competence (G-MC) and HRQoL in typically developing children, and whether this association between G-MC and HRQoL was mediated by cardiorespiratory fitness. Methods: An observational cross-sectional study with 1088 (pre)schoolchildren (51.84% boys, 48.16% girls) aged between 4 and 7 years (5.32 ± 0.60) belonging to 21 schools in the Spanish provinces of Cuenca and Ciudad Real were included. G-MC was evaluated using the MABC-2 battery, HRQoL was assessed using the KINDL-R questionnaire and cardiorespiratory fitness using the 20m-shuttle-run-test. Partial correlations, covariance models and mediation analyses were conducted. Results: The mean scores of HRQoL (physical well-being, self-esteem, friends, school and global score index) were significantly higher (p < 0.05) in children with higher G-MC. When cardiorespiratory fitness was added as a covariate, all the results remained unchanged (p < 0.05), except for physical well-being for the total sample as well as emotional well-being and the global score index for girls. Simple mediation analyses showed that cardiorespiratory fitness acted as a mediator between G-MC and physical well-being (Indirect Effect = 0.04 [95% CI = 0.01; 0.07]) for the total sample. For boys, it acted as a mediator between G-MC and physical well-being (Indirect Effect = 0.04 [95% CI = 0.00; 0.08]) and school (Indirect Effect = 0.05 [95% CI = 0.01; 0.09]), and, for girls, between G-MC and emotional well-being (Indirect Effect = 0.04 [95% CI = 0.01; 0.08]) and the global score index (Indirect Effect = 0.02 [95% CI = 0.00; 0.05]). Conclusions: The results of this study suggest that good G-MC levels are associated with better HRQoL, mainly in global score index of HRQoL and self-esteem, friends, and school dimensions in typically developing children. Further, cardiorespiratory fitness mediates the association between G-MC and the physical dimension of HRQoL in (pre)schoolchildren. Additionally, physical and academic dimensions are mediated by cardiorespiratory fitness for boys and the emotional and global score indices of HRQoL are mediated by cardiorespiratory fitness for girls. These findings provide scientific evidence that improving motor competence and cardiorespiratory fitness might be a practical strategy to increase HRQoL in children. Thus, families and the educational community should promote effective interventions and incorporate opportunities inside and outside school that aim to jointly improve motor competence and cardiorespiratory fitness.

Introduction: Although several studies report that the robotic approach is more costly than laparoscopy, the cost-effectiveness of robotic distal pancreatectomy (RDP) over laparoscopic distal pancreatectomy (LDP) is still an issue. This study evaluates the cost-effectiveness of the RDP and LDP approaches across several Spanish centres. Methods: This study is an observational, multicenter, national prospective study (ROBOCOSTES). For one year from 2022, all consecutive patients undergoing minimally invasive distal pancreatectomy were included, and clinical, QALY, and cost data were prospectively collected. The primary aim was to analyze the cost-effectiveness between RDP and LDP. Results: During the study period, 80 procedures from 14 Spanish centres were analyzed. LDP had a shorter operative time than the RDP approach (192.2 min vs 241.3 min, p = 0.004). RDP showed a lower conversion rate (19.5% vs 2.5%, p = 0.006) and a lower splenectomy rate (60% vs 26.5%, p = 0.004). A statistically significant difference was reported for the Comprehensive Complication Index between the two study groups, favouring the robotic approach (12.7 vs 6.1, p = 0.022). RDP was associated with increased operative costs of 1600 euros (p < 0.031), while overall cost expenses resulted in being 1070.92 Euros higher than the LDP but without a statistically significant difference (p = 0.064). The mean QALYs at 90 days after surgery for RDP (0.9534) were higher than those of LDP (0.8882) (p = 0.030). At a willingness-to-pay threshold of 20,000 and 30,000 euros, there was a 62.64% and 71.30% probability that RDP was more cost-effective than LDP, respectively. Conclusions: The RDP procedure in the Spanish healthcare system appears more cost-effective than the LDP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Research has suggested that one of the most important variables for the development of reading comprehension is the home literacy environment, composed of the literacy interface and what is known as the limiting environment. The current study investigated Spanish children's reading comprehension in relation to these two dimensions. Method: Data have been drawn from measures of reading competence and the Learning to Read Survey undertaken for the Progress in International Reading Literacy Study (PIRLS) 2016 assessment in Spain. Our secondary analysis of the PIRLS 2016 data has enabled the production of two multiple regression models from a sample of 14,595 Spanish pupils aged 9-10 years old. Results: The analyses performed have allowed us to determine the limiting environment elements that relate to the reading comprehension results. Moreover, they have highlighted the importance of the literacy interface prior to schooling. Both variables of the home literacy environment appear to be linked with the reading comprehension results taken from the PIRLS 2016 and may orientate the improvement of reading skills at home. Conclusions: Our research supports the implementation of family literacy programmes in Spain, especially for low-income families, which might enhance their literacy interaction with their children in the early stages. The promotion of family literacy programmes oriented to preschool children could improve not only emergent literacy skills but also the social value of literacy from a sociocultural perspective.

During the last decades of the nineteenth century and the first half of the twentieth, a serious concern regarding the academic credentials of musicians arose in Spain. This movement was led by Francisco Barbieri and Felipe Pedrell. Drawing on Krausism and Regenerationism, Pedrell defined the cultural background required by true artists, following an ideal of musicians that went far beyond mere skilled artisans. The aim of this paper is to describe the way this concern developed, and how it influenced the pedagogy undertaken by Enrique Granados in his Academy in Barcelona from 1901 to 1916. In addition, it explores the continuation of Granados's ideological legacy after his death. The results show the way in which the Regenerationist and Pedrellian ideals were applied and developed within the walls of the Academy. Its activity, carried out even after the Spanish Civil War, contributed to the preservation of Spain's cultural heritage.

Purpose: This paper aims to report on a case study concerning the development of sustainable energy partnerships involving engineering faculty and undergraduate students at the University of Girona, Catalonia, Spain. Design/methodology/approach: Faculty were motivated to seek partnerships with public and private entities in the local area for the purposes of realising mutually beneficial outcomes. The educational programmes of future engineers, when sustainability is considered, are analysed. Education for sustainable development has to include multidisciplinary active learning as a desirable competence. Active learning can be obtained when problems are based on real life because they are most motivating for students. Constructive alignment component is obtained because learning objectives are linked with learning activities related to the needs of public and private entities. Findings: Through the provision of technical expertise, the adoption and success of renewable energy projects was facilitated on the one hand, while final year undergraduate students benefited in terms of hands-on experience in helping to bring these projects to life, drawing on the knowledge and skills they had acquired throughout their degree programmes. These works are addressed to students by faculty members with the aim of developing and promoting renewable energies. Outcomes from partnerships surpassed expectations; not only were different benefits realised as were initially hoped for, but this success led to partnerships being sustained over time. Originality/value: Fossil fuel-based energy systems are associated with a myriad of negative environmental and social externalities. It is difficult to overstate the importance of transitioning towards alternative low carbon energy sources for climate change mitigation which are less centralised compared to the status-quo for energy security and energy independence. By actively facilitating the development of decentralised renewable energy sources in Catalonia, the projects reported herein are of significant value in social environmental and educational terms.

Although playing by ear has important benefits for the development of musicianship, one-to-one instrumental teaching has traditionally overlooked it. The current research describes the strategies applied by three woodwind teachers with their students in a Spanish music school through a multiple-case embedded study. Data were collected through multiple choice questionnaires, interviews and the observation of lessons. They were analysed according to the strategies applied, the teachers' expertise in playing by ear as performers, and the inclusion of playing by ear in their regular teaching as a result of participating in this research. The results show that the strategies of these teachers, when including some pre-designed tasks in their lessons to develop playing by ear, were influenced by the teachers' biographies and teaching styles. Ultimately, the description of these features may be useful in prospective design of teaching methods aimed at developing playing by ear in instrumental lessons.

Aim/Purpose: This research aims to describe and demonstrate the results of an intervention through educational robotics to improve the computational thinking of student teachers. Background: Educational robotics has been increasing in school classrooms for the development of computational thinking and digital competence. However, there is a lack of research on how to prepare future teachers of Kindergarten and Elementary School in the didactic use of computational thinking, as part of their necessary digital teaching competence. Methodology: Following the Design-Based Research methodology, we designed an intervention with educational robots that includes unplugged, playing, making and remixing activities. Participating in this study were 114 Spanish university students of education. Contribution: This research helps to improve the initial training of student teachers, especially in the field of educational robotics. Findings: The student teachers consider themselves digital competent, especially in the dimensions related to social and multimedia aspects, and to a lesser extent in the technological dimension. The results obtained also confirm the effectiveness of the intervention through educational robotics in the development of computational thinking of these students, especially among male students. Recommendations for Practitioners: Teacher trainers could introduce robotics following these steps: (1) initiation and unplugged activities, (2) gamified activities of initiation to the programming and test of the robots, (3) initiation activities to Scratch, and (4) design and resolution of a challenge. Recommendation for Researchers: Researchers could examine how interventions with educational robots helps to improve the computational thinking of student teachers, and thoroughly analyze gender-differences. Impact on Society: Computational thinking and robotics are one of the emerging educational trends. Despite the rise of this issue, there are still few investigations that systematize and collect evidence in this regard. This study allows to visualize an educational intervention that favors the development of the computational thinking of student teachers. Future Research: Researchers could evaluate not only the computational thinking of student teachers, but also their didactics, their ability to teach or create didactic activities to develop computational thinking in their future students.

Objective: To identify the most relevant clinical characteristics of the nursing diagnosis frail elderly syndrome (FES) in hospitalized patients aged 65 or older and analyze their impact on 9‐month mortality and hospital readmission. Methods: A prospective and prognostic accuracy study was conducted in patients aged 65 or older, who were admitted to hospital more than 24 h. A consecutive convenience sampling process was used. Assessment included defining characteristics (DCs) of FES, clinical fraility scale (CFS), frail scale (FS), and 9‐month mortality and hospital readmission. Statistical tests were used to verify associations between variables. Binary logistic regression analysis and area under the curve were used, to identify significant predictors for the outcomes and evaluate the prognostic accuracy of the DCs. Findings: This study involved 150 patients. CFS scored 65 patients (43.3%, confidence interval 95% 35.2% a 51.6) as frail and proved a prognostic value of mortality at 9 month from pre‐frail state (p = 0.020). The mean number of DCs for FES nursing diagnosis was 6.35 (SD = 3.14). Validated tools for measuring frailty were associated with all DCs, excepting nutritional imbalance: below body needs. The hospital readmission during the following 9 months was only statistically related to memory impairment (p = 0.07). Conclusion: Clinical frailty scale showed good results as a predictor of mortality. The study suggests exploring including it, in clinical manifestations of elderly frail syndrome. This study found that only memory impairment defining characteristic was predictive of hospital readmission. Further research should identify other relevant and prognostic clinical manifestations. Implication for nursing practice: These findings highlight the importance of being vigilant on cognitive decline during hospital admissions. The most prevalent and determinant DCs identified in this study indicate that clinical should focus on preserving functional and mental abilities as well as mobility. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Featured Application: The implementation of targeted interventions focusing on specific cognitive domains affected by depression and cognitive impairment, ultimately enhancing the overall cognitive health and well-being of older adults. This study examined the cognitive performance of older adults aged 60 and above using the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) test and DigiMoCA, a digital tool for cognitive screening administered by means of a smart speaker, to investigate whether the additional variables utilised by DigiMoCA allow for the identification of significant differences between individuals with depressive symptoms and those with mild cognitive impairment, which are not detected using the original MoCA test. A total of 73 senior adults located in Northwestern Spain, 22 male and 51 female, participated in this study. Subjects were divided into four groups based on the presence of depressive symptoms and mild cognitive impairment, with the aim of analysing the results of each dimension of the MoCA and DigiMoCA tests and assessing the additional insights provided by the digital administration tool. The results indicate significant differences among groups. Individuals with depressive symptoms exhibited poorer performance in forward number span, attention, and clock drawing compared to healthy controls. Furthermore, individuals with depressive symptoms and mild cognitive impairment exhibited significantly worse memory and orientation compared to those with cognitive impairment alone. Correlations revealed that a greater severity of depressive symptoms was associated with poorer performance across cognitive domains, including visuospatial skills, attention, language, memory, and phonemic verbal fluency. This study also illustrated how the exploitation of additional variables systematically captured by digital instruments, such as completion times or response delays to individual interactions, may facilitate the early identification of cognitive and depressive conditions, providing initial evidence about the importance of integrating advanced digital tools in cognitive assessment to inspire the development of more effective, personalised interventions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The use of e-learning for on-the-job training has grown exponentially in the last decade due to it being accepted by people in charge of businesses. Few papers have explored virtual training from the workers' standpoint, that is, the perception they have about the different training methodologies (face-to-face vs. virtual) and the attitudes they have towards on-the-job learning. Training, in this context, is an investment for both the two participating agents: businesses and workers. It seems logical that knowing the perceptions and attitudes shown by the targets of the training is, at least, as important as knowing the advantages for the companies. To analyse workers' perceptions and attitudes we conducted an online survey of 2,000 employees of the leading European savings bank, CaixaBank (http://www.caixabank.com/index_en.html), on training habits, perceptions, motivations, and disincentives of undertaking face-to-face or online instruction. The results reveal that workers perceive e-learning as a more flexible and up-to-date training methodology. On the other hand, face-to-face training continues to be perceived as a more motivating methodology compared to virtuality and with better explanations from the course trainers. As regards motivations given by the workers when it comes to training, there are three main groups of attitudes: those which are more affective and social, those which reveal poor adaptability or fear of the new training requirements, and, finally, those linked to the knowledge society. Such results state that while the benefits of distance methodology can be clearly identified from the company's point of view (i.e., as a flexible and efficient methodology to develop the employees' skills and knowledge), from the employees' standpoint, the advantages of virtual training are not so clear and depend to a great extent on their attitude towards the use of virtuality. (Contains 10 tables, 1 figure and 2 endnotes.)

Background: Mental health literacy (MHL) is especially important for young people, but comprehensive studies on MHL in adolescents are limited, with no nationwide studies in Spain. This research aims to study MHL among Spanish adolescents and its relationship with sociodemographic factors. Methods: An exploratory study is carried out using stratified random sampling in Spanish adolescents (N = 1000), aged 12–16 years and balanced in terms of gender, age and territorial distribution. Data collection took place in October and November 2023 through online surveys using the CAWI methodology. Sociodemographic variables, contact with mental health and the Spanish version of the Mental Health Literacy Questionnaire (MHLq-E), a self-administered instrument of 32 Likert-type items (1–5) that assesses the dimensions of help-seeking skills, knowledge about causes and symptoms, and stigma, were evaluated. Descriptive and multivariate analyses of variance (MANOVA) were conducted. Results: In general, adequate levels of literacy were observed, although some aspects related to help-seeking towards teachers, stigmatising attitudes towards people of low economic status and knowledge of severe mental health problems could be improved. The results show contact with previous mental health problems as a key variable for stigma and knowledge about symptomatology together with age. Likewise, gender and family educational level were found to be related to the ability to seek professional help. Conclusion: This study provides information on levels of MHL among Spanish adolescents and highlights significant socio-demographic variables. These findings pave the way for interventions aimed at improving adolescents' understanding, attitudes and skills to manage mental health problems, making possible to adapt content and focus on specific groups, thus increasing its effectiveness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using a representative longitudinal sample of emerging adults aged 18 to 24 in Spain, we apply a relational lens to the association between social media and mental health. We explore how, beyond time in social media, mental health is influenced by three distinct motivations for social media use: communication (interacting with others), surveillance (finding out what others are doing), and escapism (evading uncomfortable thoughts). Next, we explore the role of relational satisfaction with family and friends in the association between social media use and mental health. We find negative reinforcement patterns (reverse causation) between non-relational motivations in the use of social media (escapism), internalizing psychopathological symptoms, and time in social media; that is, increasing one of them leads to higher levels of the others. We also find that satisfaction with family reduces internalizing psychopathological symptoms, and satisfaction with friends predicts a communicative use of social media. In sum, promoting healthy relationships and relational motivations in the use of social media might help prevent mental health issues among Spanish emerging adults. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Given the sensitivity of mountain biodiversity to human pressure, it is essential to quantify changes in montane biological communities and contrast them with expectations based on potential drivers of change. This need is particularly pressing for biological groups representing important but little‐studied fractions of biodiversity, such as insects. We analyze the temporal changes (between 1998 and 2015) of leaf beetle communities in an altitudinal gradient in the Sierra de Ancares (NW Spain). Our results show temporal changes in the composition of local communities, with a tendency to assemblage thermophilization, as well as a homogenization of the spatial turnover pattern, mostly driven by an increased similarity between communities at the lower and intermediate altitudes. These temporal changes in community composition and in the spatial structure of biodiversity were associated with upward shifts of the upper altitudinal limit of warm‐adapted species and with downward shifts of the lower altitudinal limit of cold‐adapted species. While this upward shift is consistent with expectations of climate change effects, the observed downward shift suggests a land‐use change effect. Our results point to the joint effect of multiple factors (climate and land‐use change) behind temporal changes of these leaf beetle communities, which result in compositional reorganization and biotic homogenization, rather than a mere coherent displacement toward higher altitudes. More generally, we show that understanding temporal change of biodiversity requires assessing multiple community‐level metrics (e.g., variation in assemblage composition and/or changes in spatial turnover) for the detection of tendencies among the species‐specific signals (e.g., altitudinal range shifts). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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

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

Aims: The interpersonal theory of suicide (ITPS) provides a theoretical model for suicidal behaviour. It includes two interpersonal variables, thwarted belongingness (TB) and perceived burdensomeness (PB). This study tested the relationship between ITPS interpersonal variables and suicide risk (presence/absence of suicidal ideation and suicide attempts throughout life) in a clinical sample of Spanish adolescents. We also assessed the potential mediation effect of these variables in the well‐established relationship between stressful life events (SLE) and suicide risk. Methods: We recruited 147 adolescents aged 11–17 from the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Outpatient Services of the Jiménez Díaz Foundation (Madrid, Spain). Different questionnaires were administered to assess suicidal behaviour and SLE (SITBI, The Stressful Life Events Scale) and to calculate proxy measures for ITPS interpersonal factors (SDQ, STAXI‐NA, CDI). Results: TB and PB significantly correlated with suicide risk. PB played a mediating role in the relationship between SLE and suicide risk: adolescents reporting SLE were more likely to enact suicide behaviours when they experienced higher PB. Patients scoring higher PB were more likely to receive more intense treatment but tended to abandon intervention promptly. Conclusions: ITPS seems useful for predicting suicide risk in an adolescent clinical sample. The results suggest an important role for PB in the SLE‐suicide risk relationship and may impact the treatment process. Our exploratory findings should be addressed in future studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

INTRODUCTION Whether men find it easier to quit smoking than women is still controversial. Different studies have reported that the efficacy of pharmacological treatments could be different between men and women. This study conducted a secondary analysis of 'Subsidized pharmacological treatment for smoking cessation by the Spanish public health system' (FTFT-AP study) to evaluate the effectiveness of a drug-funded intervention for smoking cessation by gender. METHODS A pragmatic randomized clinical trial by clusters was used. The population included smokers aged ≥18 years, smoking >10 cigarettes per day, randomly assigned to an intervention group receiving regular practice and financed pharmacological treatment, or to a control group receiving only regular practice. The main outcome was continued abstinence at 12 months, self-reported and validated with CO-oximetry. The percentage, with 95% confidence intervals, of continued abstinence was compared between both groups at 12 months postintervention, by gender and the pharmacological treatment used. Multilevel logistic regression analysis was performed. RESULTS A total of 1154 patients from 29 healthcare centers were included. The average age was 46 years (SD=11.78) and 51.7% were men. Overall, the selfreported abstinence at 12 months was 11.1% (62) in women and 15.7% (93) in men (AOR=1.4; 95% CI: 1.0--2.0), and abstinence validated by CO-oximetry was 4.6% (26) and 5.9% (35) in women and men, respectively (OR=1.3; 95% CI: 0.7-2.2). In the group of smokers receiving nicotine replacement treatment, self-reported abstinence was higher in men compared to women (29.5% vs 13.5%, OR=2.7; 95% CI: 1.3-5.8). CONCLUSIONS The effectiveness of a drug-financed intervention for smoking cessation was greater in men, who also showed better results in self-reported abstinence with nicotine replacement treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a highly infectious disease that poses a significant clinical and medical burden, as well as social disruption and economic costs, recognized by the World Health Organization as a public health issue. After several failed attempts to find preventive candidates (compounds, products, including vaccines), new alternatives might be available, one being nirsevimab, the first and only option approved for RSV prevention in neonates and infants during their first RSV season. The objective of this study was to develop a novel multi-criteria decision analysis (MCDA) framework for RSV antibody-based preventive alternatives and to use it to assess the value of nirsevimab vs. placebo as a systematic immunization approach to prevent RSV in neonates and infants during their first RSV season in Spain. Methods: Based on a pre-established model called Vaccinex, an ad-hoc MCDA framework was created to reflect relevant attributes for the assessment of current and future antibody-based preventive measures for RSV. The estimated value of nirsevimab was obtained by means of an additive linear model combining weights and scores assigned by a multidisciplinary committee of 9 experts. A retest and three sensitivity analyses were conducted. Results: Nirsevimab was evaluated through a novel framework with 26 criteria by the committee as a measure that adds value (positive final estimated value: 0.56 ± 0.11) to the current RSV scenario in Spain, by providing a high efficacy for prevention of neonates and infants. In addition, its implementation might generate cost savings in hospitalizations and to the healthcare system and increase the level of public health awareness among the general population, while reducing health inequities. Conclusions: Under a methodology with increasing use in the health field, nirsevimab has been evaluated as a measure which adds value for RSV prevention in neonates and infants during their first RSV season in Spain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is a digital divide between senior adults and the general population because of the disparity in access and usage of digital technologies, including the internet and modern devices, often stemming from factors like age, familiarity, and socioeconomic status. Yet, technology is increasingly penetrating the healthcare sector in areas such as screening, diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up. This study focuses on investigating how older adults perceive the introduction of new devices in the screening and diagnosis of cognitive impairment. For this, a perception study was carried out involving 25 senior adults, 16 women and 9 men, aged between 60 and 93 years, living in the Vigo area, Spain. First, the perception and acceptability of popular technological devices were evaluated by means of the technology acceptance model. Then, participants' perceptions about the use of smart speakers and tablets for cognitive evaluation were analyzed, both before and after interacting with such devices. Finally, the perception of their caregivers about these tools was also studied. These instruments were found to be useful and enjoyable by older adults. More specifically, smart speakers were preferred by participants over traditional tests for detecting cognitive decline. Additionally, there were no significant differences in the perception of utility, ease of use, or enjoyment between tablets and smart speakers. Participants' caregivers also reported an overall positive perception about the introduction of these new tools for cognitive assessment. In any case, the study provided evidence to support the introduction of both tablets and smart speakers to interact with older adults, and more specifically, as a means to facilitate the early detection and screening of cognitive decline. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study evaluated the factors associated with the perception of anxiety during the first wave of covid-19 in Ibero-American countries. This cross-sectional study was carried out with 5.845 participants of both sexes, over 18 years of age, and residents of four Latin American countries–Argentina (16.7%), Brazil (34.5%), Mexico (11.1%), and Peru (17.5%), and one European country–Spain (20.1%). Data were collected in 2020, between April 1st and June 30th in Spain and between July 13th and September 26th in the Latin American countries. We used an online questionnaire with sociodemographic, lifestyle, self-reported anxiety, and covid-19 related questions. The chi-square statistical test and Multivariate logistic regressions were performed to analyze the factors associated with self-reported anxiety. The presence of self-reported anxiety was found in 63.8% of the participants during the isolation period. The association occurred mainly in women (OR:1.52; CI: 1.3–1.7), those aged 18 to 29 years (OR: 1.51; CI: 1.2–1.9) and 30 to 49 years (OR: 1.56; CI: 1.3–1.9), residents of Argentina (OR: 1.55 CI: 1.2–1.9), Brazil (OR: 2.38; CI: 2.0–2.8) and Mexico (OR: 1.52; CI: 1.2–1.9), those who gained weight (OR:1.71 CI: 1.5–1.9) or lost weight (OR: 1.40; CI: 1.2–1.6), and those who reported having slept more (OR: 1.56; CI: 1.3–1.8) or less (OR: 2.89; CI: 2.5–3.4). We conclude that the prevalence of self-reported anxiety in Ibero-American countries was high during the period studied, highlighting a higher likelihood of its occurrence in Brazil, in those who began to sleep less and gained weight. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cardiovascular diseases are the leading cause of death in Spain, according to data from the National Institute of Statistics, with the lack of control of cardiovascular risk factors (CVRF) being the main contributing factor. The CVRFs of greatest clinical interest are high blood pressure (HBP), smoking, diabetes mellitus (DM2), overweight, obesity, hypercholesterolaemia, and sedentary lifestyle. The main objective of this review was to compare the prevalence of the different CVRFs according to population-based studies carried out in Spain. For this, a systematic review based on publications assessing CVRFs in the adult population and estimating their national prevalence was conducted. Pubmed and Dialnet databases were consulted, and the selected articles were analysed using the Critical Appraisal Skills Programme Español (CASPe) tool for cohort studies and the Berra et al. tool for cross-sectional studies. A total of 33 studies were obtained from the autonomous regions of Andalusia, the Canary Islands, Castilla-Leon, Castilla-La Mancha, Catalonia, Extremadura, the Balearic Islands, Madrid, Murcia, and Navarra. In all the population-based studies, there was a greater representation of women in the sample. The most prevalent CVRFs differed across the studies according to the autonomous region targeted, with dyslipidaemia, sedentary lifestyle, high blood pressure, hypercholesterolaemia, overweight, and obesity standing out. Numerous differences exist between the studies included in this review, such as the age range, the CVRFs analysed and their prevalence, and remarkable aspects such as the over-representation of the female sex in all cases. It can be concluded that, based on the presented results, the prevalence of CVRFs in Spain varies according to the autonomous region, the sex of the individual, and the studied age range. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Climate change represents a serious threat to the health of the population. Nurses are the ideal group to act on the health risks posed by climate change. However, their perception of this phenomenon is unknown, as existing studies are very scarce. An in-depth study of nurses' perceptions of climate change is needed. For this purpose, qualitative research is the best alternative. Objective: To understand nurses' perceptions of their role as health assets in relation to climate change. Methods: A qualitative study will be carried out. The sample will be selected by means of purposive sampling with a maximum variation approach and will be defined by the data saturation criterion and will include nurses from different health units and regions of Spain. Semistructured interviews will be conducted using a videoconferencing platform. The interviews will be transcribed and analysed by several researchers using the logic of a three-step thematic analysis. Discussion: The results of this study will provide for the first time a clear, in-depth, and representative picture of Spanish nurses' perceptions of climate change. This is essential for the development of concrete measures through which nurses become real health assets in the face of climate change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sherry wine is a pale-yellowish dry wine produced in Southern-Spain which features are mainly due to biological aging when the metabolism of biofilm-forming yeasts (flor yeasts) consumes ethanol (and other non-fermentable carbon sources) from a previous alcoholic fermentation, and produces volatile compounds such as acetaldehyde. To start aging and maintain the wine stability, a high alcohol content is required, which is achieved by the previous fermentation or by adding ethanol (fortification). Here, an alternative method is proposed which aims to produce a more economic, distinctive Sherry wine without fortification. For this, a flor yeast has been pre-acclimatized to glycerol consumption against ethanol, and later confined in a fungal-based immobilization system known as "microbial biocapsules", to facilitate its inoculum. Once aged, the wines produced using biocapsules and free yeasts (the conventional method) exhibited chemical differences in terms of acidity and volatile concentrations. These differences were evaluated positively by a sensory panel. Pre-acclimatization of flor yeasts to glycerol consumption was not successful but when cells were immobilized in fungal pellets, ethanol consumption was lower. We believe that immobilization of flor yeasts in microbial biocapsules is an economic technique that can be used to produce high quality differentiated Sherry wines. Key points: • Flor yeasts were immobilized in microbial biocapsules and used for Sherry winemaking. • Biocapsules decrease ethanol consumption over free flor yeast cells during winemaking. • Use of biocapsules improves Sherry wine organoleptic properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The chimeras causing the CAH-X syndrome (SCAH-X) result from recombination between CYP21A2-TNXB and their respective pseudogenes (CYP21A1P-TNXA). The clinical manifestations of this syndrome include congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH) and Ehlers–Danlos syndrome (EDS). Since SCAH-X has been recently described, the number of publications available is limited. The objective of this study was to set up a molecular approach and a screening algorithm for detecting CAH-X chimeras, determine their frequency and distribution in the Spanish population, and assess their clinical pattern of occurrence in a group of patients. A total of 186 patients were eligible for CAH-X molecular genetic testing. Testing included MLPA, heterodimer detection by capillary gel electrophoresis, and sequencing of exons 40, 41, and 43 of TNXB. A review was performed of the medical history of 20 patients from three hospitals of reference and the signs and symptoms of EDS they exhibited. In total, 78 CAH patients were carriers of CAH-X chimeras (41.9 %). Forty-six patients were carriers of CH1 (24.7 %), 24 of CH2 (12.9 %), and 8 of CH3 (4.3 %), with a heterogeneous geographical distribution. Seven (35 %) of the 20 carriers of a CAH-X chimera who underwent clinical examination experienced clinical manifestations of EDS. The impact of SCAH-X in the Spanish population was assessed by genetic testing. In the light of the clinical pattern of occurrence and significant prevalence of SCAH-X in the Spanish population, early diagnosis of this entity is essential for an appropriate follow-up of clinical manifestations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article describes the transition from a traditional instructor-centered course, based on lectures, to a student-centered course based on active learning methodologies as part of the reform of the Spanish higher education system within the European Higher Education Area (EHEA). Specifically, we describe the use of active learning methodologies to teach metabolism to students of nutrition and dietetics during the first year of their professional training in a 4-year undergraduate degree (Bachelor of Human Nutrition and Dietetics). In the new course design, the number of didactic lectures was largely reduced and complemented with a series of activities (problems/case studies, discussion workshops, self-assessment quizzes) aimed to get students actively engaged, to encourage self-learning, and to promote sustained work throughout the length of the course. The article presents quantitative data demonstrating a clear and significant improvement in students' performance when an active approach was implemented. Importantly, the improved performance was achieved without work overload. Finally, students' responses to this new teaching methodology have been very positive and overall satisfaction high. In summary, our results strongly argue in favor of the teaching model described herein. (Contains 3 tables and 4 figures.)

The first Portuguese translations of Japanese novels date from 1906 and 1909, respectively: Nami-ko (Hototogisu) by Tokutomi Kenjirō (1868–1927) and Os 47 Capitães (Iroha Bunko) by Tamenaga Shunsui (1790–1843). These novels, which mark modern Portugal–Japan literary relations, were published without any identification of their source language. Both translations appeared, however, one year after their Spanish counterparts, which in turn are based on English direct translations from Japanese (Nami-ko, 1904; The Loyal Ronins, 1880). The proximity of publication dates of the Portuguese and Spanish translations, the working languages of the Portuguese translators, and the juxtaposition of peritextual elements between the Portuguese and Spanish translations suggest that the latter may have served as the basis for importing Japanese novels into Portuguese. Framed within the external history of translation and based on a paratextual approach, this case study interrogates the pattern of double indirectness underlying the introduction of the Japanese novel in Portugal. By questioning to what extent neighbouring Spain, as a mediation system, helped shape the openness of the Portuguese literary system to Japanese literature, it will clarify the early twentieth-century relations between the Portuguese and Spanish publishing markets in terms of the influence of the latter on the former. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Companies must provide economic, environmental and social added value based on innovation strategies, design and creative thinking in a globalised and competitive world characterised by rapid change and constantly evolving technologies. In this context, this paper analyses the role of design practice in companies in the agri-food sector (i.e. what is the design component present like; what are its relevance and importance?) An exploratory, descriptive study was conducted with 30 companies in southeast (SE) Spain’s fruit/vegetable sector. The findings reveal that all the surveyed companies make financial investments in design and positively value this (7.6 out of 10), which indicates they recognise its strategic and operative importance. However, integration, training and design promotion in the agri-food sector remains somewhat limited. Most companies lack an in-house design department or design professionals as staff members and perform mainly design activities limited to the visual and communication tasks related to marketing initiatives. These results unveil opportunities for enhancing design incorporation and appreciation in the agri-food sector, which could boost its competitiveness and differentiation in the market. Finally, this study can be considered a starting point for future development in line with the horticultural sector’s theory, practice, and design management policies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The European eel (Anguilla anguilla) is a critically endangered species. The impact of environmental contamination on this species has been highlighted as contributing to the decline in recruitment. The Mar Menor hypersaline coastal lagoon (SE Spain) is one of the most productive fisheries of European eel in Europe, making it a critical habitat for species conservation. The present study aimed to provide an initial overview of the impact of organic chemical contaminants on the European eel and the potential sublethal effects of chemical pollution on pre-migrating eels in this hypersaline habitat. We investigated muscle bioaccumulation of main persistent and hazardous organic contaminants (including some current-use pesticides) and genotoxicity, neurotoxicity, and xenobiotic detoxification system responses. The findings show that lagoon eels were exposed to high levels of legacy organochlorine contaminants, recently banned pesticides (chlorpyrifos), and some emerging chemicals. Some individuals surpassed the maximum levels of CBs authorized by the European Commission for human consumption. In this species, residuals of chlorpyrifos, pendimethalin, and chlorthal dimethyl have been reported for the first time. This field study provides relevant data to stock management and human health consumption and provides the first biomarker responses in European eel under permanent hypersaline conditions. Furthermore, the high frequency of micronuclei in peripheral erythrocytes of lagoon eels indicates sublethal genotoxic effects on the organism. Overall, the European eels growing and maturing in the Mar Menor lagoon are exposed to toxic and carcinogenic chemicals. The lack of seafood safety regulations for human consumption for some legacy chemicals that were measured in high concentrations in our study requires special action. Further biomonitoring and research are recommended to protect the animal, public, and environmental health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this study was to obtain the deep subsurface structure of a saline-evaporitic formation affected by an anticlinal structure, defining the position and thickness for its future exploitation (potassium salts). To improve this knowledge, geophysical methods can be applied to establish detailed information on geological structures at depth. This work analyzes the results of a deep time domain electromagnetic (TDEM) survey acquired over the southern flank of the Barbastro-Balaguer Anticline present in the Ebro Basin in the vicinity of Graus (Huesca, Spain), that controls the geometry of the Barbastro saline-evaporitic formation, of interest from the mining point of view. A deep time domain electromagnetic system (TDEM) is used, providing a penetration capability down to 3.0 km depth. A parametric constrained inversion over a lithological known borehole (Monzón-1) is used to obtain a resistivity model and then applied to the rest of the survey points. The applied methodology contributes to improving the geological knowledge, revealing a new detailed geological structure of the Barbastro saline-evaporitic formation affected by the Barbastro-Balaguer Anticline. The survey shows that the Barbastro saline-evaporitic formation presents a structure with a ramp hanging wall and close to flat footwall, generally dipping to the SW, with a decreasing thickness from 1103 m to 601 m, in concordance with the previous accepted geological structural model. The new geophysical study provides essential data, allowing design and drilling optimization in future mining exploitations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purposes of metaevaluation go beyond the traditional functions of accountability and enhancement. It helps guide strategic organizational change and legitimizes evaluation systems. Metaevaluation results can also be used to create checklists so that the persons responsible for any evaluation can revise, monitor, and control them by themselves. In this paper, the self-evaluation stage of an evaluation process in higher education is metaevaluated. The qualitative method applied analyses to the concerns and complaints that emerged during the work sessions. The results are structured around two key elements: the input (information and self-evaluation guideline) and the throughput (the committee and the process, including the meetings and dynamics of work). The information and self-evaluation guidelines are intended to be responsive, comprehensible, and reliable. The self-evaluation committee and process should be effective, efficient, and responsible with the task. The results are discussed with regard to theoretical proposals for evaluation quality that emphasize criteria such as responsiveness and technical quality of the evaluation. (Contains 6 tables.)

Introduction: The Geriatric Depression Scale is an instrument used to identify depression in people of an older age. The original English version of this scale has been translated into Spanish (GDS-VE); two shorter versions of 5- (GDS-5) and 15-items (GDS-15) have been developed. Aim of the study: To assess the validity and compare the 5- and 15-item Spanish versions of the GDS among the Spanish population. Materials and methods: 573 Galicia residents aged >50 years participated in this study. The following instruments were applied: the 19-item Control, Autonomy, Self- Realization and Pleasure scale, the Subjective Memory Complaints Questionnaire, the Mini-Mental State Examination test, the GDS-5, and the GDS-15. Results: We found differences in total score between GDS-5 and GDS-15 regarding the variable sex. Internal reliability for GDS-5 and GDS-15 was 0.495 and 0.715, respectively. Sensitivity and specificity for GDS-5 – with a cut-off value of 1 – was 0.517 and 0.650, respectively; for GDS-15 – with a cut-off value of 3 points – sensitivity was 0.755 and specificity 0.668. GDS-5 has a ROC curve of 0.617 and GDS-15 of 0.764. Conclusion: GDS-15, and to a greater extent GDS-5, should be revised or even reformulated to improve their diagnostic usefulness by choosing higher discriminative ability items or even include new items with greater sensitivity that consider currently prevailing psychosocial factors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Cerebral palsy (CP) is the most common physical disability in childhood and results in motor impairment that is often associated with other disorders. The aim of this study was to assess whether a telecare intervention consisting of Action Observation Therapy with a family-center approach produces improvements in functionality in children and adolescents with CP. Seven girls with CP ages between 6 and 17 participated in this case series study that lasted 12 weeks: 6 weeks of telecare program with a total of six sessions; and a follow-up period of 6 weeks. The outcome variables were Gross Motor Function (Spanish version of the Gross Motor Function Measure), balance (Spanish version of the Pediatric Balance Scale), walking endurance (6-min walk test) and walking speed (10-m walk test). The variables were measured before starting the study, after 6 weeks of intervention and after the 6-week follow-up period. Results showed statistically significant improvements in gross motor function (p = 0.02) after the intervention. After the follow-up period, gross motor function remained statistically significant (p = 0.02), as well as balance (p = 0.04) and walking endurance (p = 0.02). These results show that a telecare program has been beneficial in improving functionality with enhancements in gross motor function, balance and endurance in children and adolescents with CP that will facilitate participation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reticulitermes grassei is a subterranean termite species that forages on woody structures of the Iberian Peninsula, and is often a building and crops pest. A total of 23 microorganisms associated with the activity of R. grassei were isolated from colonized ecosystems in southern Spain. They were morphologically and molecularly characterized, with fungi being the most prevalent ones. The fungi showed high values of optimum growth temperature, suggesting that they could be able to survive and develop in warm regions. Their cellulolytic activity was tested in carboxymethylcellulose (CMC) agar, concluding that all fungal isolates produce cellulases, and the enzymatic index (EI) was revealed in CMC agar with Gram's iodine solution, with Penicillium citrinum showing the highest EI and Trichoderma longibrachiatum the highest mycelial growth rate on CMC. A preliminary microorganism dispersion assay was carried out with the termites, concluding that these insects may have a positive influence on fungal dispersion and the subsequent colonization of new substrates. Our study suggests that fungi associated with R. grassei may potentially be of interest in biotechnological fields such as biofuel production and the food industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Beef cattle production has improved to achieve consumers' preferences, including meat quality and human-health-related indexes. Wagyu (WY) breed is Japanese cattle with high intramuscular fat infiltration and rich in unsaturated fatty acids. Most Wagyu beef cattle are raised in Japan. Our objective was to describe Wagyu, Wagyu-by-Angus (Wangus, WN), and Angus-by-Charolaise-Limousine (ACL) beef produced in a Spanish fattening system with high-olein diets, regarding the fat profile, health-related indexes and the metabolic biomarkers prior to slaughtering. Blood lipid-related metabolites, except for non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA) and low-density level cholesterol (LDL), were higher in WY and WN than in ACL, while glucose was lower in WY and WN. Leptin was higher in WN than in ACL. Nutritional analyses showed higher fat infiltration in WY and WN steers than ACL animals for both meat cuts (sirloin and entrecote), including three-fold higher content. Wagyu beef had the highest intramuscular fat in sirloin (51.5% vs. 21.9%) and entrecote (59.6% vs. 27.6%) vs. ACL animals. Wagyu entrecote contained more unsaturated fatty acids (55.8% vs. 53.0%) and more oleic acids (47.5% vs. 43.3%) than ACL' beef. Wagyu and WN entrecote showed better atherogenic (0.6 and 0.55 vs. 0.69), thrombogenicity (0.82 and 0.92 vs. 1.1), and hypocholesterolemic/hypercholesterolemic index (1.9 and 2.1 vs. 1.7; all p < 0.001) than ACL's beef. In brief, the fat profile and nutritional characteristics of beef depend on the fattening period, breed/crossbred, and cut of meat, with Wagyu and Wangus beef showing a healthier fat profile than ACL animals. A high intramuscular fat content characterizes Wagyu (WY) cattle breed. Our objective was to compare beef from WY, WY-by-Angus, or Wangus (WN) steers with European, Angus-by-Charolais-Limousine crossbred steers (ACL), considering metabolic biomarkers pre-slaughtering and nutritional characteristics, including health-related indexes of the lipid fraction. The fattening system with olein-rich diets and no exercise restriction included 82 steers, 24 WY, 29 WN, and 29 ACL. The slaughter ages and weights were (median and interquartile range) 38.4 mo.-old (34.9–40.3 mo.) and 840 kg (785–895 kg) for WY; for WN, 30.6 mo. (26.9–36.5 mo.) and 832 kg (802–875 kg), and for ACL steers, 20.3 mo.-old (19.0–22.7 mo.) and 780 kg (715–852 kg). Blood lipid-related metabolites, except for non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA) and low-density level cholesterol (LDL), were higher in WY and WN than in ACL, while glucose was lower in WY and WN. Leptin was higher in WN than in ACL. Pre-slaughtering values of plasma HDL underscored as a possible metabolic biomarker directly related to beef quality. The amino-acid content in beef did not differ among experimental groups, except for more crude protein in ACL. Compared to ACL, WY steers showed higher intramuscular fat in sirloin (51.5 vs. 21.9%) and entrecote (59.6 vs. 27.6%), more unsaturated fatty acids in entrecote (55.8 vs. 53.0%), and more oleic acid in sirloin (46 vs. 41.3%) and entrecote (47.5 vs. 43.3%). Compared to ACL entrecote, WY and WN showed better atherogenic (0.6 and 0.55 vs. 0.69), thrombogenicity (0.82 and 0.92 vs. 1.1), and hypocholesterolemic/hypercholesterolemic index (1.9 and 2.1 vs. 1.7). Therefore, beef's nutritional characteristics depend on breed/crossbred, slaughtering age and cut, with WY and WN entrecote samples showing a healthier lipid fraction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Examined characteristics defining the ideal teacher using the semantic differential (SD) scale, which can detect attributes of ideal teachers and find evaluative, emotional, or affective components linked to this concept. Spanish college students completed the SD Scale. Results found teacher profiles similar to those found using other assessments, suggesting that the scale is effective in assessing teacher quality. (SM)

Objective: The COVID-19 pandemic has caused a global health crisis. This situation has affected the general population, especially the most vulnerable populations such as individuals with cardiovascular diseases. The main objective of this study was to analyse adherence to treatment and psychological well-being in hypertensive patients before and after the COVID-19 lockdown in Spain. Methods: A cross-sectional study was performed in a Basic Health Area of Toledo, Spain. Adherence and psychological well-being (resilience, self-esteem, and health-related quality of life [HRQoL]) were measured in hypertensive patients, a group of patients before the COVID-19 lockdown and, in another group after the COVID-19 lockdown using a heteroadministered and anonymous questionnaire. A factorial multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) was applied for the outcome variables using pre- and post-COVID-19 lockdown assessment, gender, and age (< 65 years-old vs. ≥ 65 years-old) as independent variables. Univariate F follow-up tests were conducted within the multivariate significant overall differences. Results: The sample of the present study included 331 hypertensive patients. The mean age was 67.68 years (SD = 10.94). Women comprise 53.5% of the sample and men account for the remaining 46.5%. A total of 144 questionnaires were collected before the COVID-19 pandemic and 187 questionnaires were collected after the onset of the pandemic and once the lockdown was over. MANOVA showed significant main effects for pandemic lockdown (F = 13.383, p < 0.001,) age group (F = 3.74, p = 0.003) and gender (F = 8.85, p < 0.001). Therapeutic adherence decreased after the lockdown (F = 15.393, p < 0.001). However, scores on resilience (F = 17.771, p < 0.001), self-esteem (F = 4.789, p = 0.029), and physical component of HRQoL (F = 13.448, p < 0.001) increased after the lockdown. Regarding age, the univariate test showed a significant effect for the physical component of HRQoL, with scores decreasing in those aged ≥ 65 years (F = 9.375, p = 0.002). Regarding gender, women scored lower on resilience (F = 20.280 p < 0.001), self-esteem (F = 18.716, p < 0.001), the physical component of HRQoL (F = 5.722, p = 0.017), and the mental component of HRQoL (F = 28.912, p < 0.001). Conclusions: The COVID-19 pandemic had a negative effect on treatment adherence of hypertensive patients in Spain. However, variables related to psychological well-being have increased in these patients, which may serve as a protective factor against pandemic stress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Climate change represents a serious threat to the health of the population. Nurses are the ideal group to act on the health risks posed by climate change. However, their perception of this phenomenon is unknown, as existing studies are very scarce. An in-depth study of nurses' perceptions of climate change is needed. For this purpose, qualitative research is the best alternative. Objective: To understand nurses' perceptions of their role as health assets in relation to climate change. Methods: A qualitative study will be carried out. The sample will be selected by means of purposive sampling with a maximum variation approach and will be defined by the data saturation criterion and will include nurses from different health units and regions of Spain. Semistructured interviews will be conducted using a videoconferencing platform. The interviews will be transcribed and analysed by several researchers using the logic of a three-step thematic analysis. Discussion: The results of this study will provide for the first time a clear, in-depth, and representative picture of Spanish nurses' perceptions of climate change. This is essential for the development of concrete measures through which nurses become real health assets in the face of climate change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Salt efflorescences from metal sulphides and their waste are important drivers of pollution both in and around mining areas. However, little is known about these supergene minerals, particularly in the mining areas of the Mediterranean. This study aims to characterise saline efflorescences and their leachates from a Mediterranean mining area located in Southeast Spain. The physicochemical characteristics were determined using stereomicroscopy and compositional analysis, with the following techniques: XRD, WDXRF and TG-MS. Additionally, to assess the risk and potential mobility of their analytes, the samples were subjected to the leaching test DIN 38414-S4. The results showed that the salt efflorescences presented a wide range of crystalline habits and colours. Sulphates were by far the largest mineral group, followed by silicates, oxides and sulphides. Their geochemistry was dominated by elements such as S or Fe, although other potentially toxic elements such as Cd, As, Zn, Pb, Ni and Cu were also present. Due to their high metal(loid) concentrations, the salt crusts studied may act as sources of environmental contaminants, demonstrating that their leachates pose a considerable risk to soil and drinking water quality. An analysis of the correlations and provenances of the components of the salt efflorescences revealed the possible presence of some rare supergene minerals of great interest, such as cuprocopiapite and Pb-As-jarosite. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Riverine habitats are essential ecotones that bridge aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems, providing multiple ecosystem services. This study analyses the potential use of high-resolution satellite imagery, provided by the WorldView-2 satellite, in order to assess its viability for monitoring riparian ecosystems. It is performed by calculating the riparian strip quality index (RSQI) and calibrating it with the riparian quality index (QBR). The methodology was implemented in the Umia River, which is characterised by elevated anthropogenic pressures (located in the northwest of Spain). The results obtained by the method have a 92% of veracity and a kappa coefficient of 0.88. The average quality value obtained for the RSQI index was 71.57, while the average value for the QBR was 55.88. This difference could be attributed to the fact that the former does not differ between autochthonous and non-autochthonous vegetation. The areas with more accurate mapping corresponded to stretches of vegetation with optimal cover (80–50%), with good connectivity with the adjacent forest ecosystem and few or no presence of invasive plants. The worst-scoring sites had the next characteristics: low connectivity (< 10%), low forest cover (< 10%) and a higher presence of invasive plants. The degradation of vegetation could be explained by the presence of agriculture and deficient land use rationing caused by the type of ownership of the study area. The application of this index through satellite images will facilitate the environmental governance of multiple ecosystems and in special riparian ecosystems, obtaining a quick and objective methodology, easily replicable in other basins. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]