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The mental health benefits of hands-on participation in urban afforestation activities
No full textDespite extensive research on the environmental benefits of urban afforestation, its direct impact on mental health through active engagement remains underexplored. The present study aims to investigate the potential benefits of hands-on participation in an urban afforestation program on affective states and subjective vitality. This study was conducted as a single-group, pretest-posttest clinical trial. One hundred fifty-two healthy adults participated in a tree-planting activity. Affective states and subjective vitality were assessed using the Positive and Negative Affect Schedule and the Subjective Vitality Scale, respectively. Several potential predictive factors regarding the expected effects of this program were recorded, including the connectedness to nature, instorative properties of the environment, and physical effort exerted during the activity, along with lifestyle habits such as daily physical activity and sleep duration. Results indicated increases in scores of the positive affect subscale (t = −9.165, p < .001) and the Subjective Vitality Scale (t = −5.881, p < .001), as well as a decrease in the score of the negative affect subscale (t = 7.473, p < .001). Multiple regression analyses showed that after controlling for baseline scores, several predictive factors uniquely explained an additional 14.9 % of the variance in positive affective states, 2.2 % in negative affective states, and 11.6 % in subjective vitality. In conclusion, hands-on participation in an urban afforestation program appears to favorably influence affective states and subjective vitality in healthy adults. Understanding that these psychological benefits arise not only after the trees grow, but also throughout the planting process itself, could encourage city residents to engage in such activities.Universidad de Granada/CBUA - Funding for open access charg
Multivariate quantification of olive oil blended with sunflower oil by portable device SORS
No full textThis study evaluates the ability of a portable analyser based on Spatially Offset Raman Spectroscopy (SORS) to quantify blends of extra virgin olive oil (EVOO), virgin olive oil (VOO) and sunflower oil (SFO) using multivariate regression analysis. Firstly, normalised spatially resolved (NSR) Raman fingerprints of pure EVOO, VOO, and EVOO/SFO and VOO/SFO binary mixtures were obtained. Multivariate regression models (PLS-R) were then developed from these instrumental fingerprints that could adequately predict the percentage of olive oil in the binary mixtures. The results showed that the portable SORS combined with chemometric tools can efficiently detect the presence of adulterant oil, even at concentrations below 2 %, with a prediction error (RMSEP) 4.96 %, a bias close to 0 and suitable SEP (∼5 %) for quality control applications of virgin olive oil. This non-destructive, sustainable approach combines Raman-SORS technique and instrumental fingerprinting methodologies to offer a versatile, reliable tool for monitoring and authenticating EVOO and VOO against SFO adulteration.
Furthermore, it shows that it is possible to make direct measurements through the EVOO bottle, as there are no significant differences in the SORS spectra obtained from measurements made through the instrumental vial or the original sales bottle. The bottle under study was supplied by a reputable olive oil packaging company, which provided us with the relevant technical specifications. This methodology enables quality control to be conducted at various stages of distribution and sale, in order to detect adulteration of these oils with SFO, as they can be monitored both in bulk and in bottles
Minimal time of the pointwise controllability for a degenerate/singular parabolic equation and related numerical results via B-splines
No full textThe goal of this paper is to analyze the pointwise controllability properties of a one-dimensional
degenerate/singular parabolic equation. We prove the conditions that characterize approximate
and null controllability. Besides, a numerical simulation based on B-splines is provided, in which
both the state and the control are represented in terms of B-spline basis functions. The numerical
results obtained match the theoretical ones.MCINN/AEI/10.13039/501100011033/CEX2020-001105-
Ladder operators for bivariate generalized classical symmetric orthogonal polynomials
No full textClassical generalized bivariate polynomials are families of bivariate symmetric
polynomials pγ
n,k(x, y) orthogonal with respect to the weight function
Wγ(x, y) = ω(x)ω(y)|x − y|
2γ+1, x, y ∈ (a, b),
where γ > −1, and ω(t) is one of the classical weight functions (Hermite, Laguerre,
Jacobi) on the real line. They are eigenfunctions of Dγ
1 , a second order partial
differential with rational coefficients. We consider raising or lowering operators for
these polynomials, that is, we study differential operators acting on orthogonal
polynomials to raise or lower their degree while preserving their orthogonality but
shifting the parameters in the weight function. The change of variables u = x+y, v =
xy allows us to construct a family of orthogonal polynomials by means of the identity
qγ
n,k(u, v) = pγ
n,k(x, y), those polynomials are eigenfunctions of partial differential
operators with polynomial coefficients and order 2 and 4 constructed from Dγ
1 and
the ladder operators. Finally, we show that these two operators generate the algebra
of differential operators that admit the polynomials qγ
n,k(u, v) as eigenfunctions
Renewable energy adoption in european small and medium-sized enterprises: A comparative sectoral analysis
No full textThe authors are grateful to the European Union project CO-SUSTAIN (HORIZON–CL2–2023-DEMOCRACY-01–05, N◦191132467). Views and opinions expressed are, however, those of the authors only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or European Research Executive Agency. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.This study explores sectoral differences in renewable energy adoption among Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (SMEs) in the European Union, with a particular focus on the understudied service sector, which has received considerably less attention than industrial and manufacturing activities. Drawing on data from the Flash Eurobarometer 498 on SMEs, Resource Efficiency, and Green Markets, the analysis examines how internal resources, especially financial capacity, and external support—such as public funding and advisory services—shapes renewable energy decisions. The findings reveal that industrial (48.7 %) and manufacturing (48.1 %) SMEs are significantly more likely to plan renewable energy adoption in the near future compared to service-sector SMEs (41.1 %). Internal financial resources emerge as a key driver across all sectors, while the effectiveness of external support varies. In particular, public funding is notably underutilized in the service sector, despite its strategic potential. These sectoral disparities reflect deeper differences in energy consumption patterns, investment priorities, and the perceived returns from renewable energy. The study highlights the need for tailored, sector-specific policy interventions to remove adoption barriers in the service sector and improve the alignment of financial and advisory mechanisms. By identifying the distinct challenges and enablers across sectors, this research contributes to the design of more effective renewable energy policies for SMEs, supporting a more inclusive and sustainable energy transition in line with broader Sustainable Development Goals.European Union project CO-SUSTAIN (HORIZON–CL2–2023-DEMOCRACY-01–05, N◦191132467
The COVID-19 lockdown unmasked the overwhelming impact of human activity on the breeding success of an endangered raptor
No full textUnderstanding how human activities influence wildlife populations is crucial for the conservation of endangered species, yet assessing their demographic impacts remains challenging. This is partly because experimental approaches are seldom feasible in research on threatened wildlife, limiting our ability to effectively identify and manage key threats. Here, we capitalized on an unintentional pseudo-experiment—the 2020 COVID-19 lockdown—embedded within a 31-year monitoring program (1246 breeding attempts from 1994 to 2024) of the endangered Bonelli's eagle subpopulation of southeastern Spain to assess the effects of human activities on its reproductive success. We detected a significant increase in productivity during the lockdown, especially in territories traditionally subject to a higher number of human activities. Partridge hunting with calling lures and traffic—likely facilitating other recreational uses such as hiking and cycling—were identified as the most detrimental activities for breeding success. This study demonstrates how exceptional events, when analyzed within a long-term framework, can uncover the full extent of human disturbance on wildlife, thereby helping to identify priority actions for conservation. It also underscores the limitations of purely correlational studies and highlights the irreplaceable value of long-term monitoring for understanding and mitigating threats to endangered species
Pyrolysis as the gateway thermochemical route for plastic-to-hydrogen-rich gas valorization
No full textThe rapid growth in plastic production has intensified environmental challenges, while conventional management routes such as recycling or incineration remain limited by costs, pollution, and low circularity. Against this
background, pyrolysis stands out as an essential first stage within multi-step thermochemical routes for plastic
conversion. This review critically evaluates the role of pyrolysis as the primary platform for hydrogen-oriented
valorization schemes, emphasizing its capacity to transform diverse polymeric feedstocks into intermediate gas
and liquid fractions. The influence of operating parameters such as temperature, residence time, heating rate,
and particle size on product distribution and quality is systematically analyzed. Beyond pyrolysis, the review
explores complementary downstream processes, including gasification, catalytic and thermal reforming,
water–gas shift reactions, and plasma-assisted upgrading, highlighting their synergetic role in boosting hydrogen
yield and purity. A comparative discussion of thermal versus catalytic pathways is provided, together with an
overview of emerging integrated configurations. Furthermore, recent techno-economic analyses and life-cycle
assessments are assessed to examine the scalability, energy efficiency, and environmental footprint of these
multi-stage systems. Overall, this review positions pyrolysis not as a standalone solution but as a pivotal enabling
step in advanced thermochemical strategies for sustainable hydrogen production from plastics, contributing to
the development of circular economy models.State Research Agency/10.13039/501100011033 (PID2022–139014OBI00/SRA)MICIU/AEI/10.13039/501100011033 - ESF+ (RYC2023–043018-I)Universidad de Granada / CBUA (Open access charge
Admissible orders for closed intervals of real numbers not based on the extremes of the intervals
No full textDue to its reasonable properties, the Kulisch and Miranker binary relation on the family of all
closed and bounded real intervals has attracted the attention of many researchers, especially in
the field of Computation. However, it is not total, so there are intervals that are not comparable.
To face this problem, Bustince et al. introduced the notion of admissible order, which is coherent to
the Kulisch and Miranker binary relation. Due to its technical construction, most of the examples
of admissible orders are defined by only employing the extremes of such intervals. In this paper
we introduce a non-countable family of admissible orders in the set of all closed and bounded
subintervals contained in a concrete closed and bounded real interval. The approach is novel in
two senses: on the one hand, due to the mathematical objects that are involved (a dense sequence
and a family of continuous functions); and, on the other hand, we do not handle the intervals
through their extremes, but only by their interior points.Consejería de Universidad, Investigación e Innovación, Junta de Andalucía – European Union, Program FEDER Andalucía 2021–2027 (project C-EXP-153-UGR23)National Council for Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq, projects 311429/2020-3, 304118/2023-0, 407206/2023-0)Coordination for the Improvement of Higher Education Personnel (CAPES, project Capes-Print 88887.917043/2023-00)Research Support Foundation of the State of Rio Grande do Sul (FAPERGS, project 23/2551-0001865-9)MCIN/AEI/10.13039/501100011033 – FEDER, EU (projects PID2022-139886NB-I00; PID2022-136627NB-I00)Universidad Pública de Navarra (Open access
Identifying the components of paper, inks and varnishes in samples of 19TH and 20TH century school maps using non-invasive analytical techniques FTIR-ATR and XRF
No full textThis study was funded by the Spanish Ministry of Universities Assistance Programme for University Lecturer Training, of which Ana Reyes Pérez is a beneficiary at the University of Granada (FPU20/02198), and the Ministry of Science and Innovation Research Project “Non-invasive characterisation and preservation of translucid and lignified supports in graphic documents (CCDOC)” (PID2022-142431NB-I00).School maps from the 19th and 20th centuries are a very interesting heritage typology, but they have received little social or cultural recognition. Due to the poor quality of the composition materials of these documents and a lack of concern for studying and safeguarding them, surviving examples are in a deplorable state of preservation.
The purpose of this investigation is to characterise 19th and 20th century school maps as a way to optimise interventions by conservator-restorers. The aim is to study a selection of maps from the University of Granada Archive (Granada, Spain) by collecting microsamples and applying two non-invasive analytical techniques: Attenuated Total Reflection Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR-ATR) and X-Ray Fluorescence (XRF).
The FTIR results identified the paper components: calcium carbonate (875 cm−1), kaolin (910 and 758 cm−1), and calcium sulphate, which has a band coinciding with alum (665 cm−1). They also confirmed the use of starch (1145 and 1075 cm−1). XRF detected iron and chlorine, associated with sheet formation and bleaching. The FTIR spectra of the printing identified the binder linseed oil (2920 and 2850 cm−1) and the pigment Prussian blue (2090 cm−1), and XRF confirmed the use of chrome yellow (Pb, Cr) or zinc yellow (Zn, Cr), vermillion (Hg, S) and barite (Ba). The varnish used as protection was not identifiable by FTIR due to the thickness and/or poor state of preservation of the layer. Dammar resin was detected in only two maps.Spanish Ministry of Universities, FPU20/02198Ministry of Science and Innovation Research, PID2022-142431NB-I0
Comparing personal and general beliefs in a just world and in an unjust world in relation to well-being
No full textThe current studies aimed to advance knowledge on the relationship between injustice perceptions and well-being by investigating whether Belief in Just (BJW) and in an Unjust World (BUJW) have different associations with people's well-being. In two studies (Study 1, N = 258; Study 2, N = 573), we examined whether well-being is associated differently with just and unjust world beliefs, and we further extended the study of these distinct associations to the differentiation between personal and general beliefs in a (un) just world. In both studies, we confirmed that a one-second-order factor model of BJW was positively associated with a latent variable of well-being. Furthermore, for the first time, we examined and confirmed that a one-second-order factor of BUJW—combining General BUJW and Personal BUJW—was also significantly associated with well-being. We further compared the differences between each of the personal and general BJW compared with the BUJW. We found that the factor associated with personal beliefs, either Personal BJW or Personal BUJW, instead of general beliefs, is the one consistently linked to well-being. The current studies pave the way for further studies on just and unjust world beliefs, considering the relevance of both just/unjust and personal/general frames.Fundaçao para a Ciência e Tecnologia (FCT) (UIDB/03125/2020