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Tool for Greener Tourism: Evaluating Environmental Impacts
Get PDFTravel and tourism are essential to global economies, generating social, economic, and environmental impacts. However, there is a lack of standardized methodologies to assess the environmental footprint of tourist destinations beyond carbon footprint analysis. This study introduces the Greentour tool, the first of its kind to evaluate the environmental impact of accommodation, restaurants, and tourism activities using nine environmental indicators from a life cycle assessment (LCA) perspective. The tool applies a hybrid bottom-up and top-down approach, integrating data from tourist establishments and destination managers. The tool was tested in four tourist destinations in Spain and Portugal (Rías Baixas, Camino Lebaniego, Lloret de Mar, and Guimarães), revealing that transportation is the primary contributor to environmental impacts, ranging from 60% to 96% of total emissions, particularly in air-travel-dependent destinations. Food and beverage services are the second-largest contributor, accounting for up to 26% of emissions, while accommodation ranks third (1–14%). This study highlights the significant role of electricity consumption and food choices (e.g., red meat and dairy) in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, emphasizing the need for sustainable alternatives. Despite challenges in data collection, particularly for food and transport statistics, the Greentour tool has demonstrated robustness and adaptability across diverse destinations, making it applicable worldwide. This tool provides key insights for policymakers, tourism stakeholders, and businesses, supporting the integration of sustainability strategies into public policies and industry best practices. Future research should focus on expanding its use to additional destinations to foster science-based decision-making and promote more sustainable tourism practices globally.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio
What has been studied about attitudes and social stigma towards HIV/AIDS? A global bibliometric study with correlations on global health HIV-related indicators
Get PDFThis study aimed to assess, through health metrics and bibliometric analysis, the global research on attitudes and social stigma of people living with HIV/AIDS and to identify research findings, gaps, and future directions. Methods: A cross-sectional bibliometric study was conducted through a structured search in different databases. Fifteen thousand four hundred and ninety-six documents were found between 1981 and 2024. Results: 83.5% were original articles, and international co-authorship was 30.66%.
Since 2000, there has been an increase in research on HIV/AIDS attitudes and social stigma. The United States is the most prolific country worldwide (n = 7837 publications; 50.5%), with the highest number of prolific institutions (n = 4/5), as well as the greatest
influence and relevance in research (h-index 170). The most studied topics worldwide are social support and social psychology concerning homosexuality, middle age, and youth in people living with HIV/AIDS. There was no significant correlation between the volume of publications, countries’ income levels, and the most prolific geographic regions with adult HIV prevalence, overall HIV incidence and prevalence, or antiretroviral therapy coverage in people living with HIV (p > 0.05 for all cases). Conclusions: Over the past two decades, research has shifted from human rights, legal rights, and ethics to attitudes toward healthcare, with the recent interest in pre-exposure prophylaxis, gender minorities, and intersectional stigma. The absence of strong correlations between publications volume and global health HIV-related indicators underscores the necessity of translating evidence into actionable strategies to reduce stigma and improve health outcomes.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio
Assessing Child Maltreatment and Its Relationships With Personality, Resilience and Attachment in Adulthood
Get PDFEl objetivo principal de este estudio es examinar los efectos psicológicos del maltrato infantil en la edad adulta, centrándose en los
rasgos de personalidad, la resiliencia y el estilo de apego dentro de una amplia muestra centrada específicamente en el contexto
español. Participaron 700 adultos, de los cuales el 24.4% declararon haber sufrido algún tipo de abuso infantil. Los resultados
indican que los individuos que refirieron haber sufrido maltrato en la infancia presentan niveles más bajos de responsabilidad,
amabilidad, extraversión y resiliencia, así como una mayor tendencia a desarrollar un estilo de apego inseguro en comparación
con aquellos sin historia de maltrato. Además, los resultados sugieren que tanto el estilo de apego como los rasgos específicos
de personalidad (extraversión, amabilidad y responsabilidad) median parcialmente en la relación entre el maltrato infantil y la
resiliencia. Estos resultados destacan la necesidad de un enfoque integral para prevenir el maltrato y el abandono en la infancia,
haciendo hincapié en la importancia de las intervenciones tempranas para fomentar el desarrollo adaptativo de la personalidad,
la resiliencia y el apego seguro en la edad adulta.The main objective of this study is to examine the psychological effects of childhood abuse in adulthood, focusing on personality
traits, resilience and attachment style within a large sample specifically centred on the Spanish context. A total of 700 adults
participated, of whom 24.4% reported experiencing some form of childhood abuse. The results indicate that individuals who
reported experiencing childhood abuse exhibit lower levels of responsibility, agreeableness, extraversion and resilience, as well
as a greater tendency to develop an insecure attachment style compared to those without a history of abuse. Furthermore, findings suggest that both attachment style and specific personality traits (extraversion, agreeableness and responsibility) partially
mediate the relationship between childhood maltreatment and resilience. These results highlight the critical need for a comprehensive approach to prevent childhood abuse and neglect, emphasising the importance of early interventions to foster adaptive
personality development, resilience and secure attachment in adulthood.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio
Assessing neurological and cardiovascular effects caused by pharmaceuticals in river water: Insights from Daphnia magna and Danio rerio embryos
Get PDFPharmaceutical residues in surface waters are an emerging environmental and public health issue, yet their biological impacts on aquatic life remain poorly understood. This study presents a cost-effective bioanalytical framework using Daphnia magna juveniles and zebrafish (Danio rerio) embryos to evaluate neurotoxic and cardiotoxic effects of pharmaceutical mixtures in rivers downstream of wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) effluents. Water samples from three rivers in north-eastern Spain (Besòs, Llobregat, and Onyar) were concentrated up to 5- and 20-fold using solid-phase extraction. Bioassays were conducted over 24 h for D. magna and five days for zebrafish embryos.
Eighty pharmaceutical compounds were quantified via HPLC-MS and linked with phenotypic endpoints including locomotion, feeding, heart rate, neurotransmitter profiles, and metabolomic alterations. Of the 28 concentrated extracts, four were acutely toxic to zebrafish embryos. Altered behavioral and cardiovascular responses were observed in 22.2 % (D. magna) and 35.1 % (D. rerio) of extracts, primarily at higher enrichment. Concentrations of 31 pharmaceuticals were statistically associated with observed effects. Neuroactive drugs such as topiramate, rasagiline, citalopram, and fluvoxamine showed strong correlations with altered neurotransmitter levels in zebrafish, consistent with their known mechanisms. Seven additional compounds with secondary neuroactive properties were linked to similar neurological disruptions. Seventeen pharmaceuticals were associated with disturbances in amino acid metabolism and urea cycle pathways, indicating broader metabolic dysregulation.
Overall, nearly 75 % of river extracts showed no observable effect, but several samples were acutely toxic or induced sublethal neurobehavioral and metabolic responses. These findings support the utility of D. magna and zebrafish (D. rerio) embryos as sensitive and complementary biosentinels for monitoring pharmaceutical pollution and highlight zebrafish as a relevant model for studying environmentally driven neurotoxicity with potential human health implications.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio
Unveiling the potential abuse liability of α-D2PV: A novel α-carbon phenyl-substituted synthetic cathinone
Get PDFSynthetic cathinones are emerging psychoactive substances designed to mimic the effects of classical psychostimulants. Among them, α-D2PV, a novel pyrrolidine-containing cathinone characterized by a phenyl group on the α-carbon atom, has gained significant attention. This study investigates the in vitro and in silico mechanism of action as well as the abuse liability of α-D2PV using rodent models. Dopamine (DA), noradrenaline (NE), and serotonin (5-HT) uptake inhibition assays were conducted in HEK293 cells expressing the corresponding human monoamine transporter, complemented by molecular docking studies at the DA transporter (DAT). Behavioral studies in male Swiss CD-1 mice assessed locomotor activity and conditioned place preference, while microdialysis and self-administration experiments were performed in male Sprague-Dawley rats. The findings reveal that α-D2PV is a potent DA and NE uptake inhibitor, with minimal activity at the 5-HT transporter (SERT). Docking studies showed that the benzene rings of α-PVP and α-D2PV align precisely in their most stable conformations at DAT. In vivo, α-D2PV elicited dose-dependent hyperlocomotion, thigmotaxis, and rewarding effects in mice, alongside increased extracellular DA levels in the nucleus accumbens of awake rats. Self-administration experiments confirmed α-D2PV's high reinforcing efficacy, indicating a significant risk of abuse in humans. Finally, these results underscore the necessity for continued surveillance of α-D2PV within the illicit drug market. Furthermore, novel synthetic cathinones incorporating a phenyl ring at the α-carbon side chain warrant proactive monitoring due to their potential to retain dopaminergic activity and evade initial legal controls.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio
Observation of the Open-Charm Tetraquark Candidate T_{cs0}^{*}(2870)^{0} in the B^{-}→D^{-}D^{0}K_{S}^{0} Decay
Get PDFAn amplitude analysis of B^{-}→D^{-}D^{0}K_{S}^{0} decays is performed using proton-proton collision data, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 9 fb^{-1}, collected with the LHCb detector at center-of-mass energies of 7, 8, and 13 TeV. A resonant structure of spin-parity 0^{+} is observed in the D^{0}K_{S}^{0} invariant-mass spectrum with a significance of 5.3σ. The mass and width of the state, modeled with a Breit-Wigner line shape, are determined to be 2883±11±8 MeV/c^{2} and 87_{-47}^{+22}±17 MeV, respectively, where the first uncertainties are statistical and the second systematic. These properties and the quark content are consistent with those of the open-charm tetraquark candidate T_{cs0}^{*}(2870)^{0} observed previously in the D^{+}K^{-} final state of the B^{-}→D^{-}D^{+}K^{-} decay. This result confirms the existence of the T_{cs0}^{*}(2870)^{0} state in a new decay mode. The T_{cs1}^{*}(2900)^{0} state, reported in the B^{-}→D^{-}D^{+}K^{-} decay, is also searched for in the D^{0}K_{S}^{0} invariant-mass spectrum of the B^{-}→D^{-}D^{0}K_{S}^{0} decay, without finding evidence for it.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio
Amplitude analysis of B+→ ψ(2S)K+π+π− decays
Get PDFThe first full amplitude analysis of B+ → ψ(2S)K+π+π− decays is performed using proton-proton collision data corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 9 fb−1 recorded with the LHCb detector. The rich K+π+π− spectrum is studied and the branching fractions of the resonant substructure associated with the prominent K1(1270)+ contribution are measured. The data cannot be described by conventional strange and charmonium resonances only. An amplitude model with 53 components is developed comprising 11 hidden-charm exotic hadrons. New production mechanisms for charged charmonium-like states are observed. Significant resonant activity with spin-parity JP = 1+ in the ψ(2S)π+ system is confirmed and a multi-pole structure is demonstrated. The spectral decomposition of the ψ(2S)π+π− invariant-mass structure, dominated by X0 → ψ(2S)ρ(770)0 decays, broadly resembles the J/ψϕ spectrum observed in B+ → J/ψϕK+ decays. Exotic ψ(2S)K+π− resonances are observed for the first time.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio
Automatic classification of packaging waste at source using acoustic technology
Get PDFSorting packaging waste at the source is key to effective recycling. Reverse vending machines (RVMs) can encourage recycling by offering incentives, but they rely on costly sensors like barcode scanners and computer vision, which face issues such as unreadable barcodes, high computational demands, and lighting sensitivity. This paper proposes an alternative approach using acoustic technology. The idea is to use a parametric array loudspeaker (PAL) to emit ultrasonic and audible sound waves towards the recyclable object, and by measuring its interaction, classify the item with the help of machine learning or deep learning. The exponential sine sweep method is used to measure the ultrasonic and audible impulse response of each item, creating a dataset for various containers. Classical and deep learning models are trained to classify items into categories like plastic, glass, cardboard, and metal. The system was tested in a controlled environment featuring a scaled replica of a reverberation chamber, with an omnidirectional parametric loudspeaker (OPL) serving as the sound source. Preliminary results demonstrate high classification accuracy, highlighting the potential of acoustic-based methods to improve the accessibility and efficiency of RVMs in promoting recycling initiativesinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio
L’efectivitat del tractament de fisioteràpia en les variables de la participació i el benestar subjectiu en pacients amb lesió medul·lar: una revisió bibliogràfica
Get PDFTFG del grau de Fisioteràpia tutoritzat per Natàlia Gómara ToldràLes variables de participació i benestar subjectiu (BS) són uns dels indicadors clau de la qualitat de vida després d’una lesió medul·lar (LM). Aquesta revisió bliogràfica té com a objectiu principal avaluar l’efectivitat de les intervencions en fisioteràpia per ambdues.
Mitjançant una cerca estructurada a PubMed i PEDro, amb descriptors com “spinal cord injury”, “physiotherapy”, “participation” i “well-being”, es van obtenir 128 registres inicials dels quals, després de l'eliminació d’articles duplicats, el cribats i la lectura completa del text es van incloure 9 articles (revisions sistemàtiques) per a realitzar la revisió. Tots aquests complien els criteris d’edat ≥18 anys, LM traumàtica o no traumàtica i intervenció de fisioteràpia amb mesures de participació i/o BS.
Els resultats obtinguts de la revisió són que les intervencions o entrenament de la marxa amb suport parcial de pes corporal, programes d’exercici integral i protocols centrats en l’activitat, juntament am suport psicosocial, van produir increments de la participació del 10-35 % (CHART, IPAQ) i millores de 5-18 punts en escales de BS (WHOQOL-BREF, SWLS). La varietat de dissenys i d’instruments limita la síntesi quantitativa.
Per tant, podem concloure que l’evidència disponible suggereix que la fisioteràpia integrada en la personal i amb un abordatge multidisciplinari pot millorar les variables de participació i BS de les persones amb LM. És necessària la continua i més extensa investigació, juntament amb assajos més controlats i amb mesures estandarditzades per a confirmar aquests resultats
Microfoundations in international entrepreneurship: an analysis in the video game sector
Get PDFStudies about resources and capabilities have contributed to a better understanding of how small and recent companies perform in international entrepreneurship (IE). This study contributes proposing a model that combines in a dynamic approach IE and microfoundations related to individual choices, processes and structures that underpin resources and capabilities required to IE. This model shows that different levels and dimensions of microfoundations need to be considered as overlapped to explain outcomes at the organizational level. The objective of this study is to analyze how micro-level elements affect capabilities in IE. This study adopted a qualitative approach based on semi-structured interviews and document content analysis. We interviewed 13 individuals with critical roles in video games’ small companies and other actors in the video game sector where there is a clear international orientation. We collected the data in Barcelona's video game ecosystem. The literature review on IE and microfoundations of routines and capabilities inspired prior codification. The analysis of the statements allowed the researchers to identify additional codes. We used ATLAS TI as a support tool to organize and code data. We found that there is an overlap in microfoundations categories showing an interplay of individual agents, interactions, processes, and structures supporting the creation and growth of companies in a sector intense in technology, knowledge, and creativity. As a practical output, this study contributes to policy creation to enhance emerging ecosystems related to knowledge, technology, and creativity-based industries. As a limitation, we highlight that the propositions and model suggested in this study relate to sectors that are intense in technology, knowledge, and creativity as the video game, music, and film industry.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio