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Data‐Driven Transfer Functions From Differential Magnetometer Measurements to Enhance GIC Model Validation Capability: A Case Study in the Spanish Power Grid
Get PDFGeomagnetically induced currents (GICs) are unwanted currents flowing in long grounded
conductors because of space weather phenomena. Example GICs are those flowing in power transmission lines via grounded transformer neutrals. Prediction models, used to foresee the amplitudes and waveforms of those currents and to identify weak points in those utilities, depend on the power grid parameters and on the ground resistivity. The differential magnetometer method (DMM), based on dual magnetic measurements, one under a power line and the other at a reference location a few hundred meters away, is used to locally validate those models by indirectly measuring the GIC. We first update our validation results at our DMM stations in Spain using the Earth Resistivity Model of the Iberian Lithosphere and discuss its performance. Second, we propose the use of geomagnetic interstation transfer functions to reproduce the magnetic measurements at the DMM reference location from geomagnetic observatory data, thus reducing the number of field instruments and saving on its maintenance.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio
Setting the Sustainability Agenda: The Impact of Luxury Brands' SDG-Related Tweets on Consumer Engagement
Get PDFThis study examines luxury market brands' communications related to the sustainable development goals (SDGs) on the social media platform “X,” and their impact on online consumer engagement. Our longitudinal study analyses 57,000 social media posts by 19 luxury brands (7-year period), revealing that social and environmental sustainability communications are the most popular to elicit consumer engagement, while economic sustainability messaging lacks a similar effect. The personal luxury industry (which includes apparel, footwear, watches, jewelry, and accessories) was chosen for this study as this industry faces unique challenges and more scrutiny over its practices. The study highlights the importance of sustainability communication in branded owned media, while emphasizing the role of the brand in shaping the public agenda through the content consumers like and share. Conceptually, agenda-setting theory is extended in this paper to cover luxury brand communications on social media. In this context, the theory is proven for some of the 17 SDGs; however, for economic agendas, extra strategic marketing practices beyond online social media communications may be required. Recommendations include prioritizing the reframing of economic sustainability communications and the continuation of the social and environmental sustainability messaging for consumer resonance.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio
Are carbon dots cluster-triggered luminogens? How through-space interaction arrangement influence the optical properties of carbon dots
Get PDFThe use of non-conventional luminescent materials without conjugated chromophores, known as cluster-triggered emission materials (CLgens), has attracted considerable attention as an environmentally benign and biocompatible alternative to conventional fluorophores. A major challenge in developing these materials is the limited understanding of the mechanisms that govern the formation and fate of their excitons, in particular the interaction of the clusters with each other and their surroundings. In this regard, this study aims to gain insight into this mechanism by unravelling the optical properties of the cluster through an innovative approach where a non-traditional luminescent polymer is converted into carbonized polymer dots (CPDs), allowing tuning of electronic interactions and cluster stiffening. The formation of this type of CPDs leads to an increase in through-space interactions (TSI) when compared to the polymer precursor, driven by stronger spatial interactions enabled by the reduced distances and constraints inherent in the formation of the CPDs. Even more striking were the small differences in spectral features between the precursors and CPDs. The typical spectroscopic features associated with TSI, such as the different excitation and absorption spectra, dependence of the emission spectra on the excitation wavelength, and blue-shift emission in small clusters, were also observed. These observations can only lead to the conclusion that TSI is the most plausible mechanism for the luminescence of these CPDs. This represents a significant breakthrough in understanding the relationship between CLgens and the derived CPDs. Furthermore, it highlights the importance of considering the properties of the precursor in order to avoid misconceptions about the luminescence of these materials, and to adjust their properties accordingly.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio
Quad-beam 4 × 2 array antenna for millimeter-wave 5G applications
Get PDFThis article presents the design of a novel, compact, 4 × 2 planar-array antenna that provides quad-beam radiation in the broadside direction, and it enhances coverage and serviceability for millimeter-wave applications. The antenna utilizes a corporate (parallel) feed network to deliver equal power and phase to all elements. Non-uniform element spacing in the two orthogonal planes, exceeding 0.5��1
(��1
being the wavelength at 30 GHz), results in a quad-beam radiation pattern. Two beams are formed in the xz-plane and two in the yz-plane, oriented at angles of θ=±54°
. However, this spacing leads to null radiation at the center and splits the radiation energy, reducing the overall gain. The measured half-power beamwidth (HPBW) is 30° in the xz-plane and 35° in the yz-plane, with X-polarization levels of −20.5 dB and −26 dB, respectively. The antenna achieves a bandwidth of 28.5–31.1 GHz and a peak gain of 10.6 dBi. Furthermore, increasing the aperture size enhances the gain and narrows the beamwidth by replicating the structure and tuning the feed network. These features make the proposed antenna suitable for 5G wireless communication systems.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio
Instant lottery innovation, tax compliance and herd effects, an impact assessment in Brazil
Get PDFTo mitigate tax evasion, the use of lottery awards is an important policy. In December 2019, Receita da Sorte a daily and instantaneous lottery was introduced, in a Brazilian state. This article aims to analyse the impact assessment of the new award program and the traditional. The approaches are directed to the taxpayer behaviour awarded and to his municipality, looking for the herd effect. This study uses a difference-in-differences model. The response variables are the number and monthly value of electronic invoices issued to beneficiaries. The database is composed of fiscal invoices issued from January 2021 to May 2023 and contains 47 million observations on 3,4 million taxpayers. The treatment group is made up of the awards citizens. The results show that the Receita da Sorte has 227% more effect in number of invoices and 166% more in value than the traditional monthly lottery. Additionally, a subgroup within Receita da Sorte exhibited behaviour resembling gambling addiction, where the effects appeared amplified. In the municipal-level analysis, the herd effect was observed. For public policy implications, the analysis corroborates the use of the instant lotteries to increase citizen engagement.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio
Radial ESWT combined with a specific rehabilitation program (rESWT+RP) is more effective than sham rESWT+RP for acute hamstring muscle complex injury type 3b: a randomized, controlled trial
Get PDFIntroduction
Acute type 3b injuries of the hamstring muscle complex (HMC) are prevalent in sports, often lead to prolonged recovery, and demonstrate a high recurrence. Conservative rehabilitation is standard, and adjunct therapies such as radial extracorporeal shock wave therapy (rESWT) may offer additional benefits.
Sources of data
This randomized controlled trial, with blinding of patients and assessors, included 36 semi-professional athletes with ultrasound-confirmed acute type 3b HMC injuries. Participants received either real or sham rESWT in combination with an 8-week structured rehabilitation program. The primary outcome was time to return to sport; secondary outcomes included post-treatment muscle strength, patient satisfaction, and re-injury rate.
Areas of agreement
Progressive rehabilitation is effective for muscle injuries. rESWT is a safe, non-invasive modality with high therapeutic potential in musculoskeletal conditions.
Areas of controversy
Questions remain regarding the ideal rESWT protocol for acute muscle injuries, including optimal dosing, frequency, and timing relative to injury onset.
Growing points
The addition of rESWT resulted in a statistically significant reduction in return-to-sport time [25.4 ± 3.5 (mean ± SD) days with rESWT vs 28.3 ± 4.5 days with sham rESWT; P = .037]. In elite and semi-professional athletes, even modest reductions in downtime can carry meaningful performance and economic benefits. Furthermore, only the rESWT group avoided strength deficits in the previously injured leg, suggesting improved functional recovery.
Areas timely for developing research
Future studies should explore the comparative effectiveness of individualized versus standardized rESWT protocols and investigate its broader applicability across sports disciplines and levels of play.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio
Objects as Ludofictional Credit Generators in Fantasy Video Games: The Alan Wake II Case
Get PDFLa singularidad de los videojuegos respecto a otros medios se basa en posibilitar la acción en espacios virtuales para, a través de esta, generar el relato videolúdico. Los objetos devienen, así, un elemento estructural de la experiencia de juego y determinan las dinámicas participativas características del medio. En los videojuegos fantásticos, los objetos no solo poseen una función estética, sino que contribuyen a dotar de crédito al mundo de ficción a través de las mecánicas, reforzando la premisa narrativa y sosteniendo la experiencia inmersiva. Dentro del marco teórico de los Game Studies y los mundos de ficción, veremos cómo en Alan Wake II, un videojuego Survival Horror centrado en la figura de un escritor enloquecido, los objetos dan crédito a un imaginario ludonarrativo lovecraftiano con tintes de thriller rural y Folk Horror donde la escritura se plantea como exorcización de nuestros propios monstruos.The uniqueness of video games compared to other media is based on enabling action in virtual spaces in order to generate the video game story. The objects thus become a structural element of the game experience and determine the participatory dynamics characteristic of the medium. In fantasy video games, objects not only have an aesthet-ic function, but also contribute to giving credit to the fictional world through their mechanics, reinforcing the narrative premise and sustaining the immersive experi-ence. Within the theoretical framework of Game Studies and fictional worlds we will see how in Alan Wake II, a Survival Horror video game focused on the figure of a crazed writer, the objects give credence to a Lovecraftian ludonarrative imaginary with tinges of rural thriller and Folk Horror where writing is presented as an exorcism of our own monsters.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio
Assessing the Affordability of Healthy Diets Across Europe: A Scoping Review
Get PDFTFG del grau de Nutrició Humana i Dietètica tutoritzat per Elena Carrillo i Yael PuyolBackground/Objectives: Rising food prices, socioeconomic disparities, and limited welfare support have intensified concerns about the affordability of healthy diets in Europe, particularly among vulnerable populations. These conditions contribute to food insecurity and exacerbate nutritional inequalities. While widely studied in low and middle-income countries, diet affordability remains underexplored in Europe. This scoping review evaluates European initiatives that measure healthy diet affordability, focusing on definitions, methodologies, indicators, and current limitations to inform future initiatives.
Methods: The scoping review followed the methodological framework proposed by Arksey and O’Malley, complemented by the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) guidelines. The search was conducted in PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science, for studies published between 2015 and 2025. Inclusion was restricted to studies that explicitly addressed the affordability of healthy diets.
Results: Out of 1442 initially identified studies, 9 were ultimately included after the screening process. The selected studies varied in geographic scope, target populations, and methodological approaches. While most focused on specific European countries, two offered global perspectives. Definitions of a healthy diet differed across studies, and affordability was typically assessed as a proportion of household income, although the thresholds used were often arbitrary or unspecified.
Overall, the findings reveal significant disparities in affordability across regions and income levels, with low-income households being the most affected.
Discussion: A substantial body of literature addresses the cost of healthy diets, yet relatively few studies explicitly examine their affordability. Within the European context, existing research shows inconsistency in how affordability is defined and measured. The studies used different methodologies and thresholds to assess affordability. Furthermore, there is a prevailing tendency to treat Europe as a homogeneous, high-income region—an assumption that obscures the continent’s significant econòmic diversity.
Conclusion: The findings highlight the need for context-specific approaches to better inform policies aimed at improving access to healthy diets.Antecedents/Objectius: L'augment dels preus dels aliments, les desigualtats socio econòmiques i les limitacions de les ajudes socials han intensificat la preocupació per l'assequibilitat de la dieta saludable a Europa, especialment entre les poblacions vulnerables. Aquests factors contribueixen a la inseguretat alimentària i agreugen les desigualtats nutricionals. Encara que s'ha estudiat àmpliament en països d'ingressos baixos i mitjans, l'assequibilitat de la dieta segueix sense estar prou investigada a Europa. Aquesta revisió d'abast avalua les iniciatives europees existents per a mesurar l'assequibilitat de la dieta saludable, centrant-se en les definicions, les metodologies, els indicadors i les seves limitacions per a informar futures mesures.
Mètodes: La revisió segueix el marc metodològic d’Arksey & O'Malley, complementat amb les directrius de l'Institut Joanna Briggs (JBI). La cerca s’ha realitzat a PubMed, Scopus i Web of Science, per a estudis publicats entre 2015 i 2025. La inclusió es va limitar a estudis que abordaven explícitament l'assequibilitat de les dietes saludables.
Resultats: Dels 1442 estudis identificats inicialment, 9 van ser inclosos després del procés de selecció. Els estudis seleccionats varien en quant al seu abast geogràfic, poblacions objectiu i enfocaments metodològics. Si bé la majoria se centren en països europeus específics, dos ofereixen perspectives globals. La definició de dieta saludable difereix entre els estudis, i l'assequibilitat s'avalua normalment com una proporció dels ingressos familiars, encara que els llindars utilitzats són arbitraris o no s'especifiquen. En general, els resultats evidencien disparitats en l'assequibilitat entre regions i nivells d'ingressos, sent les llars amb baixos ingressos les més afectades.
Discussió: Existeix una gran quantitat d’estudis que aborden el cost de les dietes saludables, però són relativament pocs els estudis que examinen explícitament la seva assequibilitat. En el context europeu, la literatura existent mostra inconsistències en la forma en què es defineix i mesura l'assequibilitat. Els estudis van utilitzar diferents metodologies i llindars per a avaluar l'assequibilitat. A més, existeix una tendència predominant a tractar a Europa com una regió homogènia d'alts ingressos, una suposició que oculta la important diversitat econòmica del continent.
Conclusió: Els resultats evidencien la necessitat d’adoptar enfocaments adaptats al context per orientar adequadament les polítiques destinades a millorar l’accés a una alimentació saludable
Perceptions and experiences of parents of preterm infants with umbilical venous catheter undergoing skin-to-skin contact
Get PDFBackground: Skin-to-skin contact (SSC) is established as a standard of care due to its demonstrated benefits for preterm newborns, with evidence showing that earlier and more prolonged skin-to-skin contact correlates with reduced morbidity in neonates. Preterm newborns frequently require an umbilical venous catheter, and decisions regarding SSC implementation often depend on nursing staff discretion, given the limited evidence on the safety of SSC in infants with umbilical venous catheters. Aim: The primary endpoint is to explore the experiences and perceptions of parents of preterm infants with umbilical venous catheter (UVC) who engaged in SSC. Methods: This mixed-method, cross-sectional observational study. Conducted from February 2021 to January 2023 at Vall d’Hebron Hospital. The study recruited 190 participants, all progenitors of preterm neonates with umbilical venous catheters, who completed an ad-hoc survey with open and closed questions between the 7th and 10th days of the neonate’s life. Results: Descriptive analysis indicated that 74% of progenitors-initiated skin-to-skin contact within the first 48 h of life; 88.4% reported enhanced emotional well-being during hospitalization while engaging in SSC; 80.4% considered SSC a safe method; and 46.6% were satisfied with the available support furniture. Additionally, 80.4% perceived skin-to-skin contact as beneficial for the developmental progress of their preterm newborn. Phenomenological analysis identified three key categories: perceptions, support and environment. Conclusions: Promoting SSC provides substantial benefits for preterm neonates. Initiating skin-to-skin contact while the infant has an UVC supports earlier initiation and increased hours of SSC. Positive family feedback on SSC with UVC adds value to promoting this practice in neonatal units. SSC with UVC venous catheter is a safe and positive experience for parents. Information, practical support and the integration of the parents’ perspective will be key in the realization of SSC. These findings should encourage other neonatal units to review protocols and actively promote early SSC with UVC.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio
Comparativa de les polítiques socials destinades a joves migrants majors d'edat amb la dels menors estrangers no acompanyats: Impacte en la delinqüència juvenil
Get PDFEstudi exploratori descriptiu sobre com afecta la manca de polítiques socials als joves migrants majors d’edat en comparació amb els menors en l’augment de la delinqüència i com el treball social pot contribuir-hi de forma positiva.
La investigació s’ha basat en l’estudi del marc legal, enquestes d’opinió a la població general i entrevistes a joves migrants.
Les conclusions més importants són: 1: el desconeixement d’aquesta problemàtica dintre de la població, 2: la complexitat i contradiccions del tràmit de decretar la majoria o no d’edat, 3: les principals barreres són la carència d’una família, l’accés al mercat laboral, la manca de suport social quan assoleixen la majoria d’edat amb el risc de marginalització social i delinqüència, la inexistència de programes específics i la percepció d’aquest col·lectiu com invisible o estigmatitzat, 4: una part rellevant de la població no és partidària de mesures de suport, defensa mesures punitives o han tingut experiències negatives, 5: el treballador social és la figura d’adult de referència que supleix l’absència de vincle familiar i que efectua el seu acompanyament i el desenvolupament de les polítiques de suport i 6: s’ofereixen recomanacions per a polítiques públiques més equitatives.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio