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Manufacturing and Structural Testing of Small Wind Turbine Blades Using Thermoplastic Composites
No full text[EN] Thermoplastic composites can be a solution for the circular economy of the wind industry. Some studies have focused on addressing the challenges of reusing raw materials and reducing both the economic costs and environmental damage. Thermoset composites have been crucial in increasing the size of wind turbines (WT), achieving longer and structurally more resistant blades, but they are difficult to recycle at the end of life and sometimes end up in landfills. Thermoplastic composites are being tested as an alternative to thermoset composites because of their similar structural properties and substantial advantages, such as ease of recycling. This article presents the results of the structural properties of a 2-m-long thermoplastic WT blade manufactured with a new thermoplastic resin called Akelite to obtain progress in the implementation of thermoplastic composites in this type of product. The new blade has been compared to an epoxy WT blade built with the same procedure. Property, static, and fatigue tests were performed on these blades to characterize them. The results of this comparison were quite similar, with less than 5% displacement in the static tests and a sensitivity change of less than 2% after the fatigue tests. Future studies should be conducted to extend this study to larger-scale blades.This research was funded by the AEI Agency of the Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities of the Spanish Government, under Grant No. TED2021-130201B-C33, by NextGenerationEU European Funds, and PID2023-151110OB-I00. Open Access funding provided thanks to the CRUE-CSIC agreement with Springer Nature.Carnicero, R.;Cano, L.;Cruz, I.;García Manrique, Juan Antonio (2026). Manufacturing and Structural Testing of Small Wind Turbine Blades Using Thermoplastic Composites. Fibers and Polymers. 27(1):379-396. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12221-025-01187-6S37939627
MOF-derived PdMn and PdCo bimetallic systems as bifunctional electrocatalysts for overall water splitting
No full text[EN] Bimetallic Metalorganic Framework (MOF)-derived PdCo and PdMn nanoparticles have been shown to be excellent bifunctional electrocatalysts for overall electrocatalytic alkaline water splitting. Through an innovative strategy combining a soft chemical (Q) transformation followed by pyrolysis (T) of PdCo-MOF and PdMn-MOF precursors, well-defined and uniformly distributed nanoparticles supported on N-doped graphitic carbon were synthesized (PdCo-QT and PdMn-QT, respectively). The influence of the first row transition metal into the bimetallic nanoparticles on the electrocatalytic activity for both electrocatalytic hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) and oxygen evolution reaction (OER) was assessed. Comprehensive characterization using TEM/STEM, PXRD, Raman, XAS and XPS revealed the ultimate structural and compositional features of the synthesized materials. Notably, the bimetallic PdCo-based catalyst demonstrated the best electrocatalytic performance, exhibiting the lowest Tafel slopes for both HER and OER processes, along with superior thermodynamic and kinetic metrics compared to the bimetallic PdMn and monometallic Pd nanoparticles. The exceptional catalytic activity of the PdCo-QT electrode competes with that of benchmark materials, attributed to a synergistic effect between Pd and the secondary metal (Co), likely forming Pd-O(OH)-Co active centers. Moreover, operando and after electrocatalysis characterizations of the electrodes validate the remarkable stability and efficiency of PdCo-QT, underscoring its potential for practical water-splitting applications.Financial support by Severo Ochoa center of excellence program (CEX2021-001230-S) is gratefully acknowledged. The authors thank the financial support from the Spanish Government (PID2022-140111OB-I00, PID2021-126799NB-I00, TED2021-130191B-C41, TED2021-130191B-C42, and TED2021-130191B-C44 funded by MCIN/AEI/10.13039/501100011033 and European Union Next Generation EU/PRTR). This study forms part of the Advanced Materials program and was supported by MCIN with partial funding from European Union Next Generation EU (PRTR-C17. I1) and by Generalitat Valenciana (MFA/2022/047). In addition, this work has received funding from the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation program under grant agreement No 101022507. C.W.L. acknowledges the National Council for Scientific and Technological Development-CNPq/Brazil (443418/2023-3) and PPGQ-UFPR for financial support. HR-STEM studies were performed at the DME-UCA node of the ELECMI Spanish Unique Infrastructure (ICTS) for Electron Microscopy of Materials. Some of these experiments were performed NOTOS beamlines at ALBA Synchrotron with the collaboration of ALBA staff (Carlos Escudero, and Carlo Marini).r 130191B-C42, and TED2021-130191B-C44 funded by MCIN/AEI/10.13039/501100011033 and European Union Next Generation EU/PRTR) . This study forms part of the Advanced Materials program and was supported by MCIN with partial funding from European Union Next Generation EU (PRTR-C17. I1) and by Generalitat Valenciana (MFA/2022/047) . In addition, this work has received funding from the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation program under grant agreement No 101022507. C.W.L. acknowledges the National Council for Scientific and Technological Development-CNPq/Brazil (443418/2023-3) and PPGQ-UFPR for financial support. HR-STEM studies were performed at the DME-UCA node of the ELECMI Spanish Unique Infrastructure (ICTS) for Electron Microscopy of Materials. Some of these experiments were performed NOTOS beamlines at ALBA Synchrotron with the collaboration of ALBA staff (Carlos Escudero, and Carlo Marini) .Mazarío-Santa-Pau, J.;Martínez, JS.;Márquez, I.;Lopes, CW.;Cerezo-Navarrete, C.;Gonzalo;Agostini, G.... (2026). MOF-derived PdMn and PdCo bimetallic systems as bifunctional electrocatalysts for overall water splitting. International Journal of Hydrogen Energy. 197. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijhydene.2025.152565S19
Col·lectiva El Carme: cosint el barri. Rehabilitació urbana, habitatge col·lectiu i centre veïnal al nucli històric de València
No full text[ES] El proyecto se sitúa en el límite del barrio del Carmen, un enclave cargado de memoria industrial, cultural y social. En la zona conviven elementos de alto valor patrimonial que constituyen huellas tangibles del pasado obrero del barrio, como las naves industriales, la chimenea, las viviendas obreras y una presencia de comunidad latente en su interior. Sin embargo, el progresivo abandono que ha sufrido y las posteriores intervenciones urbanísticas, han contribuido a procesos de degradación y gentrificación en todo el casco histórico, relegando a este enclave a un papel secundario y en estado de abandono.
Frente a esta situación, el proyecto propone dos volúmenes que actúan como articuladores del espacio físico y como respuesta a la actual demanda de vivienda. Se plantea un programa híbrido que estructura el conjunto mediante la integración de diferentes usos y que combina vivienda pública y cooperativa como alternativa al modelo convencional, fomentando formas de habitar basadas en la convivencia y el uso compartido. Paralelamente, se impulsa una estrategia de rehabilitación urbana que cose el tejido fragmentado del barrio mediante recorridos continuos que atraviesan y reprograman las preexistencias arquitectónicas, activando así la vida colectiva de El Carmen. Al mismo tiempo, se establece una conexión estratégica con un elemento fundamental del entorno: el parque del Turia, mediante la apertura del frente de fachada para potenciar la transversalidad hacia dicho espacio verde.[EN] The project is situated in the El Carmen neighbourhood, which is characterised by a rich industrial, cultural and social heritage. The area is characterised by the coexistence of heritage elements that serve as tangible traces of the district's working-class past, including industrial warehouses, a chimney, worker's housing, and a latent sense of community. However, the progressive abandonment it has suffered, in conjunction with subsequent urban interventions, has contributed to processes of degradation and gentrification across the entire historic centre, relegating this enclave to a secondary and neglected state.
In response to the given context, the project proposes two volumes that function as spatial articulators and as a response to the current housing demand. The proposal of a hybrid programme is presented, with the objective of integrating different uses and combining public and cooperative housing as an alternative to the conventional model. The objective is to foster ways of living based on coexistence and shared use. In parallel, an urban rehabilitation strategy is being implemented that aims to "stitch" the fragmented fabric of the neighbourhood by means of continuous routes that intersect and reprogram the architectural pre-existences, thereby activating the collective life of El Carmen. At the same time, a strategic connection is established with a key element of the surroundings, Turia Park, by opening the building's façade to enhance transversal flows towards this green space.Gómez Reyes, ML. (2025). Colectiva El Carmen: cosiendo el barrio. Rehabilitación urbana, vivienda colectiva y centro vecinal en el casco histórico de València. https://riunet.upv.es/handle/10251/232367TFG
Intercomparison of Earth Observation products for hyper-resolution hydrological modelling over Europe
No full text[EN] The increasing frequency and severity of hydrological extremes demand the development of early warning systems and effective adaptation and mitigation strategies. Such systems and strategies require spatially detailed hydrological predictions, mostly provided by hydrological models. However, current state-of-the-art hydrological predictions remain limited in their spatial resolution. A proposed solution is the integration of high-resolution (0.5 with the benchmark reference over most areas and are recommended for hyper-resolution hydrological modelling over Europe. The MODIS (resolution of 250 m) and Sentinel-2/Landsat-8 (resolution of 20/30 m) snow cover products showed the highest classification accuracy and were selected as the best choice for the use of snow cover area products in hyper-resolution hydrological modelling. For surface soil moisture, the NSIDC SMAP product at 1 km resolution yielded correlation coefficients >0.6 at most stations and is recommended for hyper-resolution hydrological modelling. Finally, evapotranspiration products showed similar performances at the selected flux sites (correlations coefficients > 0.8). While the MODIS-Terra/Aqua evapotranspiration products (MOD16A2/MYD16A2) offer higher spatial resolution (500 m), making them potentially advantageous for hyper-resolution hydrological modelling, their temporal resolution is coarser (8-day intervals). In contrast, products like ETMonitor (1 km), ALEXI, and HOLAPS (5 km) provide daily estimates, albeit at lower spatial resolution. The assimilation of the proposed high-resolution products in models individually or in combination could lead us to hyper-resolution hydrological modelling. Still, developing integration workflows is required to overcome difficulties related to scale mismatches and data-gaps.We thank three anonymous reviewers for their constructive feedback on our manuscript as well as all the agencies and institutions that provided data for this study. This work was conducted within the 4DHydro initiative funded by the European Space Agency (ESA), France under contract 4000141141/23/I-EF. MF, MO and OR were additionally supported by AdAgriF-Advanced methods of greenhouse gases emission reduction and sequestration in agriculture and forest landscape for climate change mitigation . We acknowledge the E-OBS dataset from the EU-FP6 project UERRA (http://www.uerra.eu) and the Copernicus Climate Change Service, and the data providers in the ECA&D project (https://www.ecad.eu). We acknowledge the work of Nazzareno Diodato and the METEROBS team in support of the ISMN. We acknowledge the work of Fred Wenger and the Norwegian water resources and energy direcorate (NVE) team in support of the ISMN. We acknowledge the work of Arnaud Blanchouin and ORACLE team of the Institut national de recherche en sciences et technologies pour l"environment et l"agriculture, France in support of the ISMN. We acknowledge the work of Andrei Diamandi and Adelina Mihai and the Romanian National Meteorological Administration team in support of the ISMN. We acknowledge the work of Andrej Varlagin and Adelina Mihai and the Ru_CFR team of the A.N. Severtsov Institute of Ecology and Evolution, Russian Academy of Sciences team in support of the ISMN. We acknowledge the work of Andrea Pasquali and the UMSUOL network team provided by the Agenzia Regionale Prevenzione Ambiente-Servizio Idro-Meteo-Clima (ARPA-SIMC) in support of the ISMN. We acknowledge the work of Yann H. Kerr and the VAS network team provided by the Climatology from Satellites Group (GCS)-University of Valencia in support of the ISMN. We acknowledge the work of Ileen de Kat and Richard de Jeu as well as the VDS network team in support of the ISMN.Garcia-Garcia, A.;Stradiotti, P.;Di Paolo, F.;Filippucci, P.;Fischer, M.;Orsag, M.;Brocca, L.... (2026). Intercomparison of Earth Observation products for hyper-resolution hydrological modelling over Europe. Remote Sensing of Environment. 333. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rse.2025.115131S33
Disseny i desenvolupament d'un aleró traser per a un vehicle de competició
No full text[ES] En este trabajo se desarrolla el diseño y cálculo de un alerón trasero para un vehículo de competición. El trabajo comprende desde la definición de las necesidades de carga aerodinámica, hasta el diseño aerodinámico mediante cálculo de dinámica de fluidos (CFD) y estructural mediante elementos finitos (FEM), pasando por la definición del proceso de fabricación, la selección de materiales, y el análisis de costes pertinente. El objetivo es obtener la solución que genere una mejor relación entre carga y resistencia aerodinámicas, con el menor peso y coste posible. Mediante la realización de este proyecto, se cubrirán las competencias definidas en el apartado 3 de la Orden CIN/351/2009.[EN] This project develops the design and calculus of a racecar rear wing. It goes from the definition of the needs of aerodynamic downforce, to both the aerodynamics design by means of Computational Dynamic Fluids (CFD) and structural design with the Finite Element Method (FEM), together with the definition of the manufacturing process, material selection, and cost analysis. The aim is to get the solution that offers the best relation between drag and downforce, keeping weight and costs as low as possible. With this project, the competencies defined in the 3rd paragraph of the Order CIN/351/2009 will be covered.Borja Colubi, P. (2025). Diseño y desarrollo de un alerón trasero para un vehículo de competición. https://riunet.upv.es/handle/10251/231539TFG
Does AI boost firm productivity? A web scraping and LLMs approach
No full text[EN] Artificial Intelligence (AI) is widely seen as a transformative technology with the potential to reshape firm productivity across sectors. However, empirical evidence on its actual impact at the firm level remains limited, mainly due to the lack of extensive firm-level data. Leveraging web scraping and Large Language Models (LLMs), this study develops a novel framework to detect and quantify AI adoption among 62,525 Spanish firms. The approach distinguishes between firms that adopt AI and those that integrate it intensively across business functions, constructing both binary and continuous measures of AI use. Using entropy-balanced instrumental variable estimations to address endogeneity, we find that AI-adopting firms exhibit approximately 53%¿55% higher sales and 48% higher value added than comparable non-adopters. Moreover, increasing the intensity of AI use is associated with an even larger productivity premium of 74%¿76% in sales and up to 67% in value added, highlighting the substantial returns from deeper AI integration. In dynamic terms, AI adoption is linked to 9%¿13% faster annual sales growth. These findings provide evidence that AI significantly enhances firm performance, underscoring its role as a key driver of productivity growth.This work was supported by the Generalitat Valenciana, Spain under Grant CIAICO/2023/272; the Agencia Estatal de Investigacion, Spain (MCIN/AEI/10.13039/501100011033) and ERD-F/EU under Grant PID2023-152106OB-I00; and the Universitat Politecnica de Valencia, Spain (PAID-01-24) and FPU24/01116, Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovacion (Spain).Pastor-Merino, Ana;Martínez-Barbero, Xavier;Vicente, MR.;Domenech, Josep (2026). Does AI boost firm productivity? A web scraping and LLMs approach. Telecommunications Policy. 50(2). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.telpol.2025.103138S50
Evaluación de la influencia de mucílagos de cactáceas en morteros de tierra cruda y su aplicación en la conservación y restauración de estructuras arqueológicas. El caso del Parque Arqueológico de Cochasquí.
No full text[ES] El uso de materiales sostenibles y tradicionales en acciones de conservación y restauración de estructuras arqueológicas ha despertado un interés creciente en las últimas décadas. Este impulso se explica, por un lado, por las garantías de retratabilidad y el grado de compatibilidad que ofrecen estos materiales y, por otro, por su carácter inocuo tanto para el medio ambiente como para los profesionales que los aplican.
En este marco, y a partir de la experiencia adquirida en el proyecto de Cooperación al Desarrollo Cultural y Formativo de las pirámides preincaicas de Cochasquí (Ecuador), esta investigación se centra en el estudio de recursos tradicionales del área andina —cactus y tierra cruda— para evaluar su uso como morteros de sacrificio en tareas de conservación y restauración de estructuras arqueológicas.
La metodología combina una revisión bibliográfica de los aspectos históricos y técnicos de las manifestaciones arqueológicas con un análisis específico del empleo de la tierra cruda y de las plantas crasas. Sobre esta base, se realizaron ensayos de laboratorio en el Instituto de Restauración del Patrimonio (IRP) de la Universitat Politècnica de València y en el Departamento de Construcciones Arquitectónicas de la ETS de Arquitectura de la misma universidad. Los ensayos evaluaron los mucílagos extraídos de Austrocylindropuntia subulata (Mühlenpfordt) y Opuntia huajuapensis (Bravo), así como su incorporación a morteros de tierra cruda en diferentes concentraciones, con el fin de analizar la durabilidad y las propiedades físico-mecánicas.
Los resultados ponen de manifiesto el carácter heterogéneo de estas sustancias vegetales e indican que pueden constituir un sustrato favorable para la proliferación microbiana, aspecto que requiere mayor profundización. Por otra parte, su incorporación en morteros de tierra cruda parece aportar mejoras modestas en algunas propiedades físicas —especialmente en el comportamiento frente al agua y durante el secado—, mientras que las mejoras en el comportamiento mecánico resultan poco significativas.
En conjunto, los hallazgos apuntan a un potencial técnico interesante, aunque también evidencian la necesidad de ampliar el conocimiento sobre estas plantas, optimizar las metodologías de extracción y definir mejor su aplicabilidad. Asimismo, se observa una elevada sensibilidad del sistema de variables que condicionan los resultados (granulometría, estado de conservación de los soportes, manufactura de los morteros y calidad de los mucílagos), lo que ha dificultado el establecimiento de conclusiones firmes.[CA] L’ús de materials sostenibles i tradicionals en la conservació i restauració d’estructures arqueològiques ha despertat un interès creixent en les darreres dècades. Aquest impuls respon, d’una banda, a les garanties de retratabilitat i a la bona compatibilitat que ofereixen aquests materials i, de l’altra, al seu caràcter innòcua tant per al medi ambient com per als professionals que els apliquen.
En aquest context, i a partir de l’experiència adquirida en el projecte de Cooperació al Desenvolupament Cultural i Formatiu de les piràmides preincaïques de Cochasquí (Equador), aquesta investigació té com a objectiu principal estudiar recursos tradicionals de l’àrea andina —cactus i terra crua— i avaluar-ne la utilitat com a morters de sacrifici en intervencions de conservació i restauració.
La metodologia combina una revisió bibliogràfica dels aspectes històrics i tècnics de les manifestacions arqueològiques amb una aproximació específica a l’ús de la terra crua i de les plantes crasses. Sobre aquesta base, es van realitzar assajos de laboratori a l’Institut de Restauració del Patrimoni (IRP) de la Universitat Politècnica de València i al Departament de Construccions Arquitectòniques de l’ETS d’Arquitectura de la mateixa universitat. Els assajos van valorar els mucílags extrets d’Austrocylindropuntia subulata (Mühlenpfordt) i Opuntia huajuapensis (Bravo), així com la seua incorporació a morters de terra crua en diferents concentracions, amb l’objectiu d’analitzar la durabilitat i les propietats fisicomecàniques.
Els resultats evidencien el caràcter heterogeni d’aquestes substàncies vegetals i indiquen que poden constituir un substrat favorable per a la proliferació microbiana, un aspecte que requereix més investigació. D’altra banda, la incorporació dels mucílags als morters sembla aportar millores modestes en algunes propietats físiques —sobretot en el comportament davant l’aigua i durant l’assecat—, mentre que les millores en el comportament mecànic són poc significatives.
En conjunt, les troballes apunten un potencial tècnic interessant, però també la necessitat d’aprofundir en el coneixement d’aquestes plantes, en els mètodes d’extracció i en la seua aplicabilitat específica. Finalment, s’observa una elevada sensibilitat del sistema de variables que condicionen els resultats (granulometria, estat de conservació dels suports, manufactura dels morters i qualitat dels mucílags), fet que ha dificultat l’establiment de conclusions fermes.[EN] The use of sustainable and traditional materials in the conservation and restoration of archaeological structures has attracted growing interest in recent decades. This trend is driven, on the one hand, by the guarantees of reversibility and the degree of compatibility these materials can provide and, on the other, by their harmless nature both for the environment and for the professionals who apply them.
Within this framework, and drawing on the experience gained through the Cultural and Educational Development Cooperation project at the pre-Inca pyramids of Cochasquí (Ecuador), this research focuses on the study of traditional resources from the Andean region—cacti and earthen materials (raw earth)—in order to assess their use as sacrificial mortars in the conservation and restoration of archaeological structures.
The methodology combines a literature review of the historical and technical aspects surrounding archaeological remains with an in-depth examination of the use of raw earth and succulent plants. Based on this groundwork, laboratory tests were carried out at the Heritage Restoration Institute (IRP) of the Universitat Politècnica de València and at the Department of Architectural Constructions of the School of Architecture at the same university. These tests assessed the mucilages extracted from Austrocylindropuntia subulata (Mühlenpfordt) and Opuntia huajuapensis (Bravo), as well as their incorporation into raw-earth mortars at different concentrations, to evaluate durability and physico-mechanical properties.
The results highlight the heterogeneous nature of these plant-based substances and suggest that they may provide a favorable substrate for microbial proliferation, an issue that requires further research. In addition, incorporating mucilages into raw-earth mortars appears to yield modest improvements in certain physical properties—particularly water-related behavior and drying—while improvements in mechanical performance are not significant.
Overall, the findings indicate promising technical potential, while also pointing to the need for deeper knowledge of these plants, improved extraction methodologies, and clearer definitions of their specific applicability. The study also reveals the high sensitivity of the system to variables affecting the results (particle-size distribution, condition of the substrates, mortar preparation, and mucilage quality), which has hindered the establishment of firm conclusions.Medina Lorente, OM. (2026). Evaluación de la influencia de mucílagos de cactáceas en morteros de tierra cruda y su aplicación en la conservación y restauración de estructuras arqueológicas. El caso del Parque Arqueológico de Cochasquí [Tesis doctoral]. Universidad Politécnica de Valencia. https://dx.doi.org/10.4995/Thesis/10251/232805TESI
Electrochemical removal of polystyrene nanoplastics in a filter-press reactor using modified Ti-felt anodes [Dataset]
No full textTi-felt anodes, with high surface area, have been used as supports of Pt and SnO2-Sb-Pt electrocatalysts. Anodes have been applied in a filter-press electrochemical reactor for the
electrooxidation of polystyrene nanoplastics (NPs) (100 mg·L-1). Two types of configurations have been used. In the first, the solution with NPs flows through the anode,
taking advantage of its porosity (acting as a sort of membrane) to enhance the contact of NPs with the anode and the oxidative species generated. In the second configuration, the
solution of NPs flows parallel to the anode, and the NPs flow parallel to it. Comparing both configurations at 25 mA·cm-2, for the Ti-Pt anode, the flow-through configuration
decreases energy consumption by ~7-fold and treatment time by ~15-fold when compared to the flow-by configuration. For Ti-SnO2-Sb-Pt anode, ratios of ~6.5-fold and
~13-fold were obtained, respectively. Moreover, the effect of the current density (50, 25, 12.5, and 5 mA·cm-2) was studied. For the Ti-Pt electrode, a treatment time of only 40
minutes was achieved at a current density of 25 mA·cm-2 with the F-T configuration, with a faradaic efficiency of 62.09 %, and electrochemical energy per order (EEO) of 21.91
kW·h·m-3·order-1. In the case of the F-B configuration at 25 mA·cm-2 the treatment time increases until 600 min, with a faradaic efficiency of 8.27 % and EEO of 156.57 kW·h·m-
3·order-1.This research is part of the Spanish R+D+i contract TED2021-130905B-I00 funded by MCIN/AEI /10.13039/501100011033 and by the European Union NextGenerationEU/PRTR as well as the Red E3Tech Plus: Proyecto Redes de
Investigación de la AEI Network E3Tech PLUS (RED2022-134552-T) project. Funding for open access charge: CRUE-Universitat Politècnica de València. The Electron Microscopy Service of the UPV (Universitat Politècnica de València) is gratefully acknowledged for its help with FESEM, EDX, TEM, and XRM characterization.Cases, Francisco;Molina Puerto, Javier;Bonastre Cano, José Antonio;Rodrigo Roca, R. (2026). Electrochemical removal of polystyrene nanoplastics in a filter-press reactor using modified Ti-felt anodes [Dataset]. Universitat Politècnica de València. https://doi.org/10.4995/Dataset/10251/23253
Architecture, Wellbeing + Happiness: From Enriched Classrooms to Nourished Souls
No full text[EN] From the rising skylines of urban metropolises to the serene sanctuaries of parks and rural retreats, architecture not only frames our physical spaces but also shapes our mental, emotional, and physical wellbeing, intertwining human health with the built environment. The present paper chronicles the transformative educational journey of a second-year undergraduate architecture studio cohort, born from the prestigious 2024 OBEL Foundation Fellowship, and aimed at exploring the intersection of architecture and wellbeing. Centered at the remote Himalayan Kingdom of Bhutan, celebrated for its pursuit of Gross National Happiness (GNH), the studio's pedagogy sought to integrate principles of wellbeing into architectural design. Employing a mixed method approach, students delved into redesigning primary schools in rural settlements in the town of Phuentsholing. Through site visits, including to the rustic village of Merak, students engaged meaningfully with local communities to gather insights on both happiness and wellbeing. Guided by design principles informed by environmental psychology, personal reflections shared in mindfulness circles, and contemplative walks, the students deepened their understanding of the profound links between built environments and our human condition. The course included a curated series of online lectures and a full day hands-on workshop (for the entire department of architecture, including faculty members), entitled "Designing for Eudaimonia" - featuring international experts discussing diverse perspectives on wellbeing in architecture. Culminating in the presentation of final designs, each set of deliverables represented a compelling testament to students' journeys of discovery and growth. This paper showcases select student projects, along with pertinent data collected from the course village tour, highlighting the successful teaching of a studio course focused on wellbeing in the School of Architecture in Bhutan. Additionally, the paper interprets data collected at and discussions ensuing within the lecture series and the workshop, aiming to inform future similar courses at other universities. This Wellbeing Studio paves the way for a new era of architectural pedagogy, championing a more holistic approach that prioritizes human wellbeing in design practice. This pioneering studio signifies a paradigm shift, driving the architectural discipline towards a future where design fosters health, happiness, and equity for all. Additionally, as part of its broader aim, this paper highlights the importance of injecting principles of wellbeing and health into architectural pedagogy. This integration cultivates a more humanistic field where compassion, empathy, self-identity, and transcendence, all play pivotal roles in pursuing 'peak experience' where happiness and wellbeing reside, as Maslow delineated in his seminal pyramid. By embracing such principles, this studio serves as a beacon illuminating paths towards a future where arEsmaeili, N.;Sinclair, DBR. (2026). Architecture, Wellbeing + Happiness: From Enriched Classrooms to Nourished Souls. En Editorial Universitat Politècnica de València, (pp. 710-726). https://doi.org/10.4995/VIBRArch2024.2024.18333OCS71072
RetroZearch : Identificació i caracterització a gran escala de retrozims en genomes de plantes
No full text[ES] Las retrozimas son pequeños retroelementos no autónomos que contienen ribozimas de tipo cabeza de martillo (Hammerhead), responsables del autocorte y circularización de sus transcritos. Estos elementos genéticos móviles fueron descubiertos recientemente en plantas (Cervera et al., 2016) y animales (Cervera y De la Peña, 2020), por lo que su origen y mecanismos de regulación y retrotransposición aún no se conocen con detalle. El objetivo principal de este trabajo fue realizar una búsqueda a gran escala de retrozimas en bases de datos genómicas del NCBI, centrando su descubrimiento y caracterización en especies vegetales angiospermas, con el fin de sentar las bases para investigaciones futuras.
Para ello, se desarrolló el programa RetroZearch, una herramienta bioinformática implementada en Python y basada en el algoritmo de búsqueda de secuencias y estructuras de RNA Infernal (Nawrocki y Eddy, 2013). Con este programa se analizaron más de 2000 genomas de especies vegetales identificándose más de 8000 secuencias de retrozimas distribuidas en 271 especies vegetales, casi todas pertenecientes a las dicotiledóneas. Además, los análisis comparativos por homología de secuencia realizados permitieron demostrar la presencia de retrozimas homólogas en plantas evolutivamente distantes, lo que refuerza la hipótesis de transferencia horizontal de estos elementos entre distintas especies vegetales.
Tras los análisis in silico, se caracterizaron las retrozimas de tres especies vegetales de interés como fueron girasol (Helianthus annuus), por su relevancia en la industria agroalimentaria, la okra (Abelmoschus esculentus) y Euphorbia lathyris, estas dos últimas siendo importantes para desvelar posibles casos de transferencia horizontal de estos elementos. Los estudios moleculares en H. annuus revelaron una abundante expresión de sus retrozimas como RNAs lineales y circulares tanto en tejidos florales como en semillas, aunque no en hojas adultas. Por otro lado, no se detectó expresión de RNAs de retrozimas en ninguno de los tejidos analizados (hojas, flores o semillas) de A. esculentus ni de E. lathyris, lo que indica un fuerte control transcripcional en determinadas especies.[EN] Retrozymes are small non-autonomous retroelements containing Hammerhead ribozymes, which are responsible for the self-cleavage and circularization of their transcripts. These mobile genetic elements were recently discovered in plants (Cervera et al., 2016) and animals (Cervera and De la PeÒa, 2020), so their origin and mechanisms of regulation and retrotransposition are not yet known in detail. The main objective of
this work was to conduct a large-scale search for retrozymes in NCBI genomic databases, focusing on their discovery and characterization in angiosperm plant species, to lay the foundations for future research.
To this end, the RetroZearch program was developed, a bioinformatics too implemented in Python and based on the Infernal RNA sequence and structure search algorithm (Nawrocki and Eddy, 2013). This program was used to analyze more than 2000 plant species genomes, identifying more than 8000 retrozyme sequences distributed across 271 plant species, almost all of which belong to the dicotyledons. In addition,
comparative analyses based on sequence homology demonstrated the presence of homologous retrozymes in evolutionarily distant plants, reinforcing the hypothesis of horizontal transfer of these elements between different plant species.
Following in silico analyses, the retrozymes of three plant species of interest were characterized: sunflower (Helianthus annuus), due to its relevance in the agri-food industry, okra (Abelmoschus esculentus), and Euphorbia lathyris, the latter two being important for revealing possible cases of horizontal transfer of these elements.
Molecular studies in H. annuus revealed abundant expression of its retrozymes as linear and circular RNAs in both floral tissues and seeds, but not in adult leaves. On the other hand, no expression of retrozyme RNAs was detected in any of the tissues analyzed (leaves, flowers, or seeds) of A. esculentus or E. lathyris, indicating strong transcriptional control in certain species.Belinchón Algarra, Germán (2026). RetroZearch : Identificación y caracterización a gran escala de retrozimas en genomas de plantas. https://riunet.upv.es/handle/10251/232586TFG