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Comprehensive air quality assessment including non-targeted approaches in primary schools from Spain
No full textThis work aims to establish a strategy to comprehensively assess the indoor air quality in schools including the analysis of chemical pollutants, bio-aerosols like fungi, bacteria and respiratory viruses and the identification of volatile and semi-volatile organic compounds applying non-targeted approaches. For this, a pilot study was performed in four primary schools from Spain, located in different urban and rural areas during different seasons.
Common indoor pollutants, like CO2, NO2, O3, CO, particulate matter (PM10, PM2.5), ultrafine particles (UFP), total volatile organic compounds (TVOCs), and formaldehyde (HCHO), were assessed in terms of maximum recommended levels, daily variations, seasonality, and school location. Additionally, fungi and bacteria were studied indoors and they were always found at adequate levels. The most prevalent fungal genera were Aspergillus, Penicillium, and Cladosporium. Seventeen respiratory viruses were measured in the air of the assessed classrooms and none were detected. Volatile and semivolatile organic compounds were identified indoors and outdoors using non-targeted approaches based on GC-HRMS and UHPLC-HRMS. High-confidence identified compounds were classified according to their chemical and toxicological characteristics, revealing that 44% and 26% of them presented a high toxicological risk in outdoor and indoor environments, respectively.
This study provides a new strategy to assess comprehensively the IAQ in schools, and expands the knowledge about contaminants present in these environments, giving rise to future research
Resilient outcomes in people with a history of mental disorder during the COVID-19 pandemic: an international 2-years longitudinal prospective study
No full textBackground During the COVID-19 pandemic, the global population was exposed to a significant psychological stress,
which had an impact on the mental health in individuals with pre-existing mental disorders. Despite their heightened vul-
nerability, subgroups within this population demonstrated resilient outcomes throughout the pandemic. This study aims to
identify predictors of long-term, sustained resilient outcomes among people with a history of mental disorder during the first
two years of the pandemic.
Methods In this international 2-year, 5-wave longitudinal online survey, the Patient Health Questionnaire-9, the General-
ized Anxiety Disorder Scale, and the PTSD Checklist DSM-5 were used for a proxy measure of psychological distress. As
possible predictors of sustained resilient outcomes, we investigated socio-demographic characteristics, economic and hous-
ing status, pandemic-related issues, chronic diseases, social support, fear of contamination and personal values which were
investigated respectively through the Oslo Social Support Scale, the Padua Inventory, and the Portrait Values Questionnaire.
Data were analysed with a Mover-Stayer Latent Transition Analysis model.
Results Nine-hundred and forty-three participants with a mental disorder were included in the analysis. Variables associ-
ated with a higher chance of sustained resilient outcomes were older age, maintaining a job, and having more people in the
household. In contrast, female gender, losing job, difficulty in meeting basic needs, higher fear of contamination, hedonism,
less social support and loneliness resulted in a lower likelihood of presenting sustained resilient outcomes.
Conclusion This study identified factors that predictsustained resilience in people with mental disorders. The newly discov-
ered predictors could prove invaluable in developing strategies to enhance the resilience of people with mental disorders
during times of crises, such as pandemics
Teacher collaboration to promote inclusive practices with cooperative learning
No full textThis study investigates how collaborative analysis of cooperative learning challenges by teachers fosters the development and implementation of inclusive improvement proposals for students with Special Educational Needs (SEN). Moreover, collaborative work among teachers has proven to be a powerful tool for professional development and also for the improvement of cooperative learning. The objective of this current research is to observe how a strategy of collaborative analysis among teachers of the problems or questions that arise in their cooperative learning practice (problems/questions) allows them to create and implement improvement proposals aimed at bettering the inclusion of these students. Employing a qualitative, multiple case study design within an action-research framework, three teacher teams from ten schools across Galicia, Valencia, Basque Country, and Catalonia (Spain) participated. Findings reveal key collaborative tasks that facilitated improvement proposal creation, including constructive collaboration on activity content and structure. Teachers also modelled strategies for inclusive student teamwork, particularly supporting students facing barriers. Notably, communicative exchanges between teachers were crucial for advancing these improvements. This research highlights the efficacy of teacher-driven collaborative analysis in enhancing the inclusion of students with Special Educational Needs (SEN) within cooperative learning environments
El rol de las ONGD en la Agenda 2030: una aproximación desde el conocimiento cotidiano
No full textEsta tesis examina las percepciones ciudadanas sobre el papel de las ONGD en la Agenda 2030, en un contexto actual de transformación de la cooperación internacional y de cuestionamiento de los actores tradicionales. Basada en el enfoque de las teorías implícitas de Rodríguez et al. (1993), combina en su metodología fases cualitativas y cuantitativas mediante un diseño secuencial. Los hallazgos muestran una brecha entre la imagen proyectada por las ONGD y las representaciones ciudadanas: si bien se reconocen sus aportaciones, persisten dudas sobre la sostenibilidad e impacto de sus acciones. Las percepciones varían según factores como la edad o el grado de vinculación con la cooperación, y revelan tensiones entre los discursos transformadores y las prácticas desconectadas de las prioridades locales. Se concluye que las ONGD deben redefinir su rol estratégico, fortaleciendo su capacidad de incidencia, de construcción de alianzas y de impulso a una ciudadanía crítica e informada.This research examines citizens’ perceptions of the role played by Non-Governmental Development Organizations (NGDOs) in the implementation of the 2030 Agenda. Drawing on the implicit theories framework proposed by Rodríguez et al. (1993), the research adopts a mixed and sequential design that combines qualitative and quantitative phases to identify the cognitive frameworks through which citizens perceive the actions of NGDOs. The results reveal a gap between the institutional image projected by these organizations and the social representations constructed by citizens regarding their contribution to sustainable development. Although citizens generally value their commitment, doubts persist about the sustainability and transformative scope of their interventions. The research also highlights significant differences related to age and familiarity with the 2030 Agenda, underscoring the need for NGDOs to strengthen their role as agents of social change.Programa de Doctorat en Desenvolupament Local i Cooperació Internaciona
Operadores caóticos e hipercíclicos
No full textTreball Final del Màster Universitari en Matemàtica Computacional (Pla de 2013). Codi: SIQ027. Curs acadèmic: 2024/202
European Transnational Civil Litigation: Transcending Corporate due Diligence
No full textLa responsabilidad civil extracontractual es una vía clave para reclamar compensaciones por daños causados por las empresas, ya sea a través de una responsabilidad directa o indirecta a lo largo de sus cadenas de actividad. En este trabajo partimos de la idea de que el nuevo marco normativo europeo sobre diligencia debida empresarial, aun aportando mejoras procesales en los litigios transnacionales, no puede garantizar, por si solo, un verdadero acceso a los tribunales. Para garantizar este acceso se necesita la modificación, flexibilización y especialización en materia de Derechos Humanos y protección al medio ambiente de los instrumentos de Derecho Internacional Privado.Tort liability is a key avenue for claiming compensation for damages caused by companies, either through direct or indirect liability along their chains of activity. In this paper, we start from the idea that the new European regulatory framework on corporate due diligence, while providing procedural improvements in transnational litigation, cannot, by itself, guarantee true access to the courts. In order to guarantee this access, it is necessary to modify, make more flexible and specialize the instruments of Private International Law
La calidad de vida de los pacientes con enfermedad reumatológica inflamatoria en tratamiento biológico
No full textIntroducción: La siguiente Tesis de Doctorado versa sobre las enfermedades reumatológicas inflamatorias o enfermedades reumáticas autoinmunes sistémicas (ERAS). El cometido de su composición pretende contribuir a la comprensión de la importancia de la calidad de vida (CdV) que permiten conseguir las personas con dichas patologías con la utilización de los nuevos tratamientos biológicos (TB) derivados de la investigación de las nuevas dianas terapéuticas a nivel molecular. Y para llegar a ese punto se pregunta si los pacientes en tratamiento con biológicos están mejor controlados que los que utilizan fármacos antirreumáticos. El objetivo principal es el de conocer el grado de control de los pacientes con enfermedades crónicas reumatológicas (AR, APs y EA) y su repercusión en la calidad de vida relacionada con la salud (CVRS), en la población asignada al Departament de Castelló. Material y métodos: Tras una búsqueda bibliográfica sobre el estado de la cuestión se plantea la realización de un estudio observacional con medicamentos (EOm). Para la consecución del objetivo principal y de los secundarios se formaliza la realización de dos estudios: un primer estudio observacional retrospectivo para conocer la realidad de la población con las patologías de interés, para posteriormente realizar un estudio prospectivo de cohortes con la inclusión de pacientes que inician tratamiento con fármacos modificadores de enfermedad (FAMEs) o bien TB. Resultados: En el estudio se objetivan prevalencias similares a los valores actuales a nivel mundial, siendo de 0,2% para la AR, y 0,1% tanto para la APs como para la EA. El grado de control de las diferentes entidades es adecuado, ya sea de forma analítica o bien mediante los cuestionarios de capacidad funcional específicos, siendo mayor de forma generalizada en el TB. A nivel de costes, la media del gasto de los tratamientos ajustados a la anualidad es de 7529€ utilizando FAMEs, siendo de 9122€ en el caso del TB. Por lo que respecta a los cuestionarios de CVRS, se observan diferencias a de forma puntual en el momento inicial, al mes, a los tres meses, a los seis meses y al año (en aquellos que se ha podido realizar el estudio completo). Conclusiones: Los resultados sugieren que la diferencia entre la utilización de FAME o TB bien sea en su grado de control y la CVRS, no puede generalizarse aunque se hayan objetivado tendencias, puesto que no son los tratamientos iguales, aunque en los cuestionarios de CVRS sí que había diferencias significativas.Introduction: The following PhD thesis is about inflammatory rheumatic diseases or systemic autoimmune rheumatic diseases (SARD). The purpose of its composition is to contribute to the understanding of the importance of the quality of life (QoL) that people with these pathologies can achieve with the use of new biological treatments (BT) derived from the research of new therapeutic targets at a molecular level. And to reach this point, it is asked whether patients under treatment with biologicals are better controlled than those who use antirheumatic drugs. The main objective is to know the degree of control of patients with chronic rheumatic diseases (RA, PsA and AS) and its impact on health-related quality of life (HRQoL), in the population assigned to the Department of Castelló. Material and methods: After a bibliographic search on the state of the art, the realization of an observational study with medications (EOm) is proposed. In order to achieve the main objective and the secondary ones, two studies were carried out: a first retrospective observational study to find out the reality of the population with the pathologies of interest, and then a prospective cohort study with the inclusion of patients who start treatment with with disease-modifying drugs (DMARDs) or biological treatment (BT). Results: The study found prevalences similar to current values worldwide, being 0.2% for RA, and 0.1% for both PsA and AS. The degree of control of the different entities is adequate, whether analytically or through specific functional capacity questionnaires, being generally higher in TB. In terms of costs, the average cost of treatments adjusted to the year is 7529€ using DMARDs, being 9122€ in the case of BT. Regarding the HRQoL questionnaires, differences were observed at baseline, at one month, at three months, at six months and at one year (in those for which the full study could be carried out). Conclusions: The results suggest that the difference between the use of DMARDs or TB, whether in their degree of control or HRQoL, cannot be generalised, although trends have been observed, since they are not the same treatments, although there were significant differences in the HRQoL questionnaires.Programa de Doctorat en Ciències Biomèdiques i Salu
Analysis of the ecological role of urban centers in Europe and North America: The impact of built parkland in richness and abundance of birds
No full textCompendi d'articles, Doctorat internacionalUrban expansion creates new bird habitats, prompting studies on how city elements affect these species. However, the influence of buildings remains under-investigated. This thesis analyzes the ecological role of urban centers in Europe and North America, assessing bird richness and abundance across scales and environmental variables, including buildings. The methodology combined local transect data with regional and international citizen science, analyzed using Excel and R. Findings show birds prefer historical buildings for nesting, and mid-rise buildings (two to four levels) correlate with greater bird richness and abundance. In conclusion, the study emphasizes integrating biodiversity into urban planning, highlighting the ecological value of historical buildings and the need for biodiversity-friendly measures to mitigate habitat loss. The combination of building height and impervious cover better predicts bird diversity than either alone. This work advances landscape ecology by incorporating vertical urban structure into biodiversity models.Programa de Doctorat en Tecnologies Industrials i Material
Discovering the tourism rainbow: an integrated approach to LGBTIQ+ tourism
No full textCompendi d'articles, Doctorat internacionalThis thesis examines the interplay between identity, inclusion, and memorable experiences as core dimensions of LGBTIQ+ tourism. Framed within an intersectional perspective, it positions identity as a central axis for understanding the motivations, perceptions, and experiences of LGBTIQ+ tourists. Through a compendium of three articles, the study delves into the influence of motivations on the creation of meaningful travel experiences, while highlighting the moderating role of gender identity and sexual orientation. The research further explores perceptions of queer-friendly destinations, revealing that authentic inclusivity in marketing and destination management not only fosters trust but also strengthens loyalty among LGBTIQ+ travelers. Additionally, it underscores the internal heterogeneity of the LGBTIQ+ community, demonstrating how socio-demographic factors shape travel preferences. The findings contribute to the academic discourse on tourism and gender studies, offering insights for fostering more inclusive, equitable, and identity-affirming tourism practices.Programa de Doctorat en Màrquetin
Perfectionism and objective physical health in older adults: a mediational analysis of psychological distress
No full textBackground:
Research has suggested that the relationship between perfectionism and perceived health may be mediated by psychological distress. However, there is a lack of studies that demonstrate this relationship in older adults and that also use objective physical health measures (such as physical fitness). This study aimed to investigate whether the associations between perfectionistic dimensions and physical fitness in older adults are mediated by psychological distress.
Participants and procedure:
Older adults (N = 121; 90 women) were evaluated for perfectionism (perfectionistic strivings and perfectionistic concerns), psychological distress (depression, anxiety, and stress) and physical fitness (cardiorespiratory fitness, balance, and upper limb strength). The mediation model was run with the PROCESS macro for SPSS.
Results:
Perfectionistic strivings and perfectionistic concerns significantly and positively predicted depression, anxiety, and stress (all p < .050). Anxiety negatively predicted balance, while depression negatively predicted upper limb strength (both p < .050). Mediation analyses indicated that perfectionistic strivings and perfectionistic concerns were associated with poorer balance via higher levels of depression. Both dimensions were also associated with less upper limb strength via higher levels of anxiety. No associations were found between perfectionism and cardiorespiratory fitness.
Conclusions:
These findings support the idea that psychological distress has an important role in the link between perfectionism and physical health in older adults