University of Alicante

This paper assumes that quality management enhances organizational agility, and that organizational agility is a dynamic capability that mediates the effect of quality management on performance in services. The purpose of this paper is to analyze the mediating role of organizational agility (customer agility, partner agility, and operational agility) in the link between quality management and performance in the hotel industry. A mediation model is used with data from 365 hotels located in Spain. The findings show that there is partial mediation, since quality management is positively and indirectly related to hotel performance through partner and operational agility.

More than 13% of the Spanish population suffers from hearing impairment. Despite the existence of several hearing aids and implants making sounds clearer and louder, there are some people unable to use them and, consequently, their only means of communication is Sign Language. However, this language is not widely known in the society. Consequently, those who are deaf or hard of hearing may be socially excluded and experience frustration as a result of the lack of communication. In this context, Sign Language Recognition and interpretation would help to break down the existing communication barriers and facilitate the creation of inclusive environments. With that aim, this paper presents a real-time platform to recognize and interpret finger-spelt words in Spanish Sign Language (Lengua de Signos Española). As finger spelling implies the recognition of each signed letter, a comparative analysis of different deep learning techniques to properly recognize the Spanish Sign Language alphabet has been carried out. For that, due to the lack of Spanish Sign Language datasets, the first step was to capture and build an image dataset representing its 30 letters. As there are static and in-motion letters, spatial and temporal analysis has been conducted by considering different kind of neural networks (Convolutional Neural Networks, Recurrent Neural Networks, and Vision Transformers). The experimental results highlight the good performance of the studied architectures, obtaining a maximum accuracy of 79.96% on previously unseen data. Finally, a real-time platform for the recognition and interpretation of finger-spelt words in Spanish Sign Language has been implemented making the communication possible.

Metallurgy has been defined as a pivotal activity in understanding of the development of El Argar society. Nonetheless, comprehensive studies of extractive metallurgical processes based on archaeometallurgical analyses remain lacking. This article examines the production remains found at the El Argar site of Laderas del Castillo, documented from 2150 to 1950 cal BC, including samples of slag, crucibles, copper prills and artefacts. Laderas del Castillo emerges as a key site for understanding the technology and organization of metallurgical production in the El Argar world. There are few sites with archaeometric analysis of metallurgical remains, and the present case allows for an almost complete view of the entire metallurgical chaîne opératoire in this period. Microstructural analyses of smelting remains by SEM-EDS reveal a technological tradition that mirrors the previous Copper Age one and the direct exploitation of complex arsenical copper ores with occasional copper sulphides. Despite the existence of closer mineralizations, lead isotope analyses show the exploitation of various copper resources and sources far from the settlement (Linares, the Interior of the Baetic Cordilleras and Almagrera, about 300, 200 and 140 km respectively). These active exchange networks in Laderas del Castillo reflect the same pattern found in the rest of the El Argar territory, which is based on the intensive exploitation of mineralizations in the interior of the Baetics and the Southeast of the peninsula. Some of these sources have also been observed in Copper Age metallurgy, suggesting that the mobility and exchange networks operating in the southeast during the El Argar period were rooted in earlier archaeological phases, indicating a wide and complex exchange network in the region.

Introduction: Low back pain (LBP) is a prevalent and multifaceted health condition affecting over 619 million people globally. Today, pain evaluation heavily relies on subjective measures, so more advanced diagnosis and treatment methods are required. Electrodermal activity (EDA) could represent a potential objective tool to assess LBP. Despite its promise, EDA has been less studied in this context, and the methodologies vary across studies. The systematic review described thus aims to determine the relationship between EDA and LBP as well as the potential utility of EDA as a tool for evaluating LBP. The various EDA measurement methodologies employed to detect LBP will also be analysed to ultimately identify the most reliable and effective approaches. Methods and analysis: The primary databases include PubMed, Web of Science (all databases) and Scopus. The search strategy will be tailored to identify articles written in English or Spanish without imposing any time restrictions. The snowballing technique will also be used to identify additional studies by reviewing the reference lists of relevant articles or citing articles. Eligible studies will encompass adults with both acute and chronic LBP. A diverse range of research designs will be considered, focusing on the relationship between EDA and LBP. PEDro scale and Cochrane Risk of Bias tool 2.0 (RoB2) will be used to assess the methodological quality and risk of bias in the studies, respectively. Data synthesis will be based on a structured presentation of participant characteristics, methodological details and EDA-related variables. Ethics and dissemination: This protocol of systematic review, registered in the International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews, adheres to the PRISMA checklist. The study findings will be disseminated through publication in peer-reviewed journals. The search process is forecast to end on 30 November 2024. Adhering to Spanish guidelines, ethical approval is deemed unnecessary for our secondary analyses, given the de-identification and anonymous analysis of all data. PROSPERO registration number CRD42023464812.

The Canary Islands are an excellent natural laboratory for understanding ecological and evolutionary processes such as biogeographical colonisation. The morphology of the larva, puparium and adult of the endemic Canarian copper fly, Calliphora splendens , is described, illustrated and contrasted with those of the other species of Calliphora that occur in Africa, the Iberian Peninsula and Macaronesia. Partial cytochrome oxidase I sequences show a connection between C. splendens , Calliphora vicina , Calliphora loewi and Calliphora croceipalpis , but more distant relationship with Calliphora vomitoria . Calliphora splendens produced unisexual offspring in captivity. This work confirms the relict character of the Canarian copper fly associated with the endemic laurel forest habitat.

Urban sanitation, especially in developing nations, relies on pipe networks, but determining flow in these networks is challenging. Rainwater Drainage Networks (RDNs) face high flow unpredictability due to extreme events and climate change. Optimization studies focused on RDNs frequently employ stochastic techniques due to these systems’ inherent complexities. This study aims to optimize RDNs design, reducing costs while adhering to standards, by selecting appropriate pipes, diameters, and inclinations using a deterministic method. Two mathematical models were developed and evaluated on three case studies exhibiting varying levels of complexity. A Rigorous Model provides a detailed and comprehensive approach to modeling the geometric dimensions of circular sections. However, its inherent non-linear and non-convex properties limit the model’s suitability to smaller-scale problems. The complex characteristics exhibited by larger-scale network surpass the capacities of the Rigorous Model. A Sequential Model is presented as a novel and effective formulation that replaces certain hydraulic equations with constraints, thus guaranteeing feasibility and an optimal network design without compromising the rigor. The model is formulated as a convex Mixed-Integer Quadratic Constrained Programming (MIQCP), solvable by advanced global optimum solvers. The Sequential Model, effectively and quickly, found optimal designs for all case studies, including a network with 160 nodes, offering a practical tool for engineers and urban planners in designing cost-effective RDNs.

Background Previous studies have shown that microbial communities differ in obese and lean individuals, and dietary fiber can help reduce obesity-related conditions through diet-gut microbiota interactions. However, the mechanisms by which dietary fibers shape the gut microbiota still need to be elucidated. In this in vitro study, we examined how apple fibers affect lean and obese microbial communities on a global scale. We employed a high-throughput micro-matrix bioreactor system and a multi-omics approach to identify the key microorganisms and metabolites involved in this process. Results Initially, metagenomics and metabolomics data indicated that obese and lean microbial communities had distinct starting microbial communities. We found that obese microbial community had different characteristics, including higher levels of Ruminococcus bromii and lower levels of Faecalibacterium prausnitzii, along with an increased Firmicutes:Bacteroides ratio. Afterward, we exposed obese and lean microbial communities to an apple as a representative complex food matrix, apple pectin as a soluble fiber, and cellulose as an insoluble fiber. Dietary fibers, particularly apple pectin, reduced Acidaminococcus intestini and boosted Megasphaera and Akkermansia in the obese microbial community. Additionally, these fibers altered the production of metabolites, increasing beneficial indole microbial metabolites. Our results underscored the ability of apple and apple pectin to shape the obese gut microbiota. Conclusion We found that the obese microbial community had higher branched-chain amino acid catabolism and hexanoic acid production, potentially impacting energy balance. Apple dietary fibers, especially pectin, influenced the obese microbial community, altering both species and metabolites. Notably, the apple pectin feeding condition affected species like Klebsiella pneumoniae and Bifidobacterium longum. By using genome-scale metabolic modeling, we discovered a mutualistic cross-feeding relationship between Megasphaera sp. MJR8396C and Bifidobacterium adolescentis. This in vitro study suggests that incorporating apple fibers into the diets of obese individuals can help modify the composition of gut bacteria and improve metabolic health. This personalized approach could help mitigate the effects of obesity. 1sSYKieb1FyPG4CFVZT5APVideo Abstract Graphical Abstract

This paper aims to improve the aqueous stability and electrochemical activity of HKUST-1 (or Cu3(BTC)2, BTC = benzene 1,3,5-tricarboxylate; and HKUST from Hong Kong University of Science and Technology) by the incorporation of Graphene Oxide (GO). The synthesis was carried out in two steps; first, CuII ions were pre-adsorbed on the surface of GO, and then the BTC organic linker was added to form the HKUST-1 structure dispersed on GO sheets. Two concentrations of copper were used in the synthesis, 3.57 and 14.27 mmol, to obtain the samples: GO@HKUST-1low and GO@HKUST-1high, respectively. N2 adsorption properties of GO@HKUST-1high suggest an increase in surface area compared to HKUST-1 up to 1082.0 m²·g⁻¹. In addition, the CO2 capture of GO@HKUST-1high increased from 5.34 (HKUST-1) to 6.92 mmol·g⁻¹ at 273 K and 100 kPa. This improvement is associated with the dispersion of the HKUST-1 on the GO sheets achieved through the synthesis strategy used, which also increased the surface area, H2O adsorption capacity of the composite material, and electrochemical stability. After the H2O adsorption tests, XRD confirmed that the material was stable under aqueous conditions, showing that the material did not undergo any structural modification.

The impact of cognitive biases on decision-making in the digital world remains under-explored despite its well-documented effects in physical contexts. This paper addresses this gap by investigating the attractiveness halo effect using AI-based beauty filters. We conduct a large-scale online user study involving 2748 participants who rated facial images from a diverse set of 462 distinct individuals in two conditions: original and attractive after applying a beauty filter. Our study reveals that the same individuals receive statistically significantly higher ratings of attractiveness and other traits, such as intelligence and trustworthiness, in the attractive condition. We also study the impact of age, gender and ethnicity and identify a weakening of the halo effect in the beautified condition, resolving conflicting findings from the literature and suggesting that filters could mitigate this cognitive bias. Finally, our findings raise ethical concerns regarding the use of beauty filters.

The Mobile Cloud Computing paradigm has revolutionized the concepts of mobile computing and the Internet of Things (IoT). This paradigm allows outsourcing the workload of mobile devices, or other connected “things,” to be computed in the Cloud. Currently, outsourcing possibilities have been widely developed making available computing platforms at different network layers. In a consequence of that, a virtual increasing of the performance and a homogenization of the computing capabilities of the devices are produced. The research described in this work presents a review of the state of the art about recent works, the main operational concerns, challenges, and open issues of this paradigm in order to update the border of knowledge on this topic. As a result, a critical analysis is conducted, and new research directions are discussed. The findings provide value‐added to the scientific community and, therefore it could be helpful for other researches in these topics, especially given the rising popularity of IoT platforms.

Aim To identify the essential competencies required of nurse managers in healthcare services during the COVID‐19 pandemic. Background Nurse managers play a vital role in healthcare services organization, requiring a diverse set of competencies. The increasing occurrence of epidemics in recent decades underscores the importance of understanding these competencies in pivotal junctures. The challenges faced during the COVID‐19 pandemic present valuable opportunities to recognize the competencies of nurse managers and guide their responsiveness in addressing future health crises. Methods A scoping review following the Joanna Briggs Institute and Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta‐Analyses extension for scoping reviews guidelines was conducted. A comprehensive search was conducted across six databases (LILACS, BDENF, EMBASE, MEDLINE, SCOPUS, and Web of Science). Results were categorized according to the nurse manager competencies model by the American Organization for Nursing Leadership and were analyzed using the competing values framework model. Results Out of 2033 potentially relevant sources identified, 17 studies met inclusion criteria. A total of 52 competencies were identified and categorized into four thematic categories: (1) the ability to collaborate in times of crisis; (2) maintaining control during a crisis; (3) adapting to changes caused by the crisis; and (4) preserving competitiveness through the crisis. Conclusions The findings highlight communication, decision‐making, training, adaptability to change, and leadership as essential competencies required of nurse managers to address crises, such as pandemics. Implications for nursing policy This body of knowledge can serve as a reference point to enhance the response of nurse managers in the face of future health crisis scenarios. Additionally, it can serve as a framework for healthcare organizations to develop or improve their crisis management training programs.

Records of two species of hoverflies (Diptera, Syrphidae), Hammerschmidtia ferruginea (Fallén, 1817) and Megasyrphus erraticus (Linnaeus, 1758), are here provided for the first time in the Iberian Peninsula, both records located at the southern edges of these genera ranges in Europe. The new data is reported following fieldwork in the Pyrenees of Huesca and Lleida provinces (Spain) and consultation of the 'Museu de Ciències Naturals de Barcelona' entomological collection. The importance of these findings is discussed in the frame of the conservation of these species’ habitats.

The implementation of the collaborative economy in the tourist sector has led to a partial relocation of the accommodation (traditionally concentrated on hotels and resorts) through tourist homes scattered all over the city. Although some aspects of this new phenomenon (such as its impact on hotel occupation, the housing and long-time rental price) have been already analysed, socioeconomic and urban factors influencing tourists’ accommodation choice need to be explored. This research aims to analyse and quantify the role of the urban public transport network on the occupation and promotion of tourist homes in contrast to other urban factors. The research is based in Madrid, a first-class urban tourist destination with a dense and efficient public transport system which may be an opportunity for peripheral accommodation locations compared to homes located in the city centre (usually at higher fares). Based on information of tourist homes in the city of Madrid provided by AirDNA for the period 2022–2023 (number of housings, fares, occupation rates, type of home, etc.), this research develops a methodology that relates the role of the urban public transport network and the occupation of tourist homes. To achieve this, linear regression models have been applied to two groups of accommodations separately: those located in the city centre and those located in the periphery. Results show that, for all accommodations, occupancy is strongly dependent on the average daily rate and the rating. However, for the group of accommodations located in the periphery, the distance to the nearest bus station also exhibits significant importance, highlighting the role of public transportation in decentralising the concentration of tourist accommodations and promoting greater sustainability in tourism within our cities.

The aim of the study was to examine associations between moderate-to-vigorous physical activity and sedentary time with sleep quality and quantity among preschool girls and boys using objective methods. Children (5–6 years old) attending kindergarten were recruited (n = 676). Measures included accelerometer-derived 24-hr activity and sleep for seven consecutive days. Longer time spent in moderate-to-vigorous physical activity was associated with higher sleep efficiency both in boys (p < 0.0001) and girls (p = 0447), and with lower Sleep Fragmentation Index in boys (p = 0.0042) and girls (p = 0.0494). Moreover, among boys, moderate-to-vigorous physical activity was inversely associated with wakefulness after sleep onset (p = 0.0006), number of awakenings (p = 0.0081) and Fragmentation Index (p = 0.0041), while in girls with sleep duration (p = 0.0405), Movement Index (p = 0.0128) and Sleep Fragmentation Index (p = 0.0494). Longer time spent sedentary was associated with lower sleep efficiency, and higher wakefulness after sleep onset, number of awakenings, Movement Index and Sleep Fragmentation Index—all with p < 0.0001. Furthermore, sedentary time was inversely associated with sleep duration both in boys (p < 0.0001) and girls (p = 0.0006), and directly associated with Fragmentation Index but only in boys (p = 0.0069). Meeting the recommended level of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity was associated with better sleep efficiency, lower wakefulness after sleep onset and number of awakenings among boys. All sleep-related variables showed significant differences between quartile groups according to sedentary time (p < 0.05) in both the total group and the boys. The sedentary time had the strongest, negative effect on sleep-related parameters in preschool children, therefore sedentary time reduction may contribute more to improving sleep quality than increasing moderate-to-vigorous physical activity.

Inverted singlet-triplet gap materials (INVEST) have emerged as an intriguing class of materials with potential applications as emitters in Organic Light Emitting Diodes (OLEDs). Indeed, this type of material exhibits a negative singlet-triplet energy gap (ΔEST), i.e., an inversion of the lowest singlet (S1) and triplet (T1) excited states, that goes against Hund’s rule. In this study, the ΔEST of a set of 15 INVEST molecules has been computed within the framework of Restricted Open-Shell Kohn-Sham (ROKS) and Delta Self-Consistent Field (ΔSCF) and have benchmarked these results against wavefunction-based methods, such as EOM-CCSD, NEVTP2 and SCS-CC2. We herein demonstrated that ROKS always predicts a positive ΔEST and has been shown to be almost functional-independent. Besides, the ΔSCF usually gives a negative ΔEST, although it is functional-dependent. Our findings indicate that the ΔSCF method together with the PBE0 functional provides the lowest MSD and MAD with respect to EOM-CCSD reference method. However, a very poor Pearson correlation coefficient was computed for all functionals whatever a ROKS or a ΔSCF scheme was employed. We also demonstrated that orbital relaxation and the difference in orbital set in the singlet and the triplet states are the fundamental reasons to ex-plain why ΔSCF is able to predict a negative energy gap. Indeed, we showed that they naturally involve the inclusion of double and higher-order excitations and a difference in spatial localiza-tion of the and spins wavefunctions resulting in spin polarization, namely one of the two reasons for observing a negative ΔEST together with a minimized exchange energy.

The development of sustainable aviation fuels (SAFs) is a must for the decarbonization of the aviation industry. This paper explores various pathways for SAF production, focusing on innovative catalytic processes for the utilization of CO2 as a potential feedstock. Key pathways analyzed include the Modified Fischer–Tropsch Synthesis (MFTS), methanol synthesis, and subsequent transformations of methanol into hydrocarbons (MTH), aromatics (MTA) and olefin oligomerization. The potential of these processes is highlighted, alongside the challenges in catalyst development. The paper emphasizes the need for advanced catalytic processes to achieve high selectivity and stability under industrial conditions, which are critical for the commercial viability of CO2-based SAF production. Ultimately, this work aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the current state of research in SAFs, outlining promising directions for future research.

Food addiction contributes to the obesity pandemic, but the connection between how the gut microbiome is linked to food addiction remains largely unclear. Here we show that Microviridae bacteriophages, particularly Gokushovirus WZ-2015a, are associated with food addiction and obesity across multiple human cohorts. Further analyses reveal that food addiction and Gokushovirus are linked to serotonin and dopamine metabolism. Mice receiving faecal microbiota and viral transplantation from human donors with the highest Gokushovirus load exhibit increased food addiction along with changes in tryptophan, serotonin and dopamine metabolism in different regions of the brain, together with alterations in dopamine receptors. Mechanistically, targeted tryptophan analysis shows lower anthranilic acid (AA) concentrations associated with Gokushovirus. AA supplementation in mice decreases food addiction and alters pathways related to the cycle of neurotransmitter synthesis release. In Drosophila, AA regulates feeding behaviour and addiction-like ethanol preference. In summary, this study proposes that bacteriophages in the gut microbiome contribute to regulating food addiction by modulating tryptophan and tyrosine metabolism.