Balearic Islands Research Articles (Page 1)

Eating disorders (ED) most often develop during adolescence and young adulthood. Therefore, university is deemed a period of risk due to increased academic demands and uncertainty about the future. Despite the high prevalence of ED among young adults, there is limited evidence regarding their association with non-substance behavioral addictions-such as mobile phone use and exercise addiction-in Mediterranean university populations. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of risk for ED and its association with risk factors among university undergraduate students. The association between ED risk and dieting, weight control behavior and the problematic use of mobile phones was also analyzed. Two thousand six undergraduates aged between 18-30 at the University of the Balearic Islands participated in a cross-sectional survey. This survey included assessments of ED risk (Eating Attitudes Test-26 items, EAT-26), exercise addiction (Exercise Addiction Inventory, EAI), mobile phone addiction (Questionnaire on Mobile Phone-Related Experiences, CERM), body shape satisfaction (Stunkard Figure Rating Scale), and personality (Ten Item Personality Measure, TIPI). Additionally, questions regarding binge eating, dieting and other weight control behaviors, as well as sociodemographic and anthropometric data were included. Among participants, 6.1% were found to be at risk for ED, with a higher prevalence in women than men (7.9% vs. 2.9%, p < 0.001). The logistic regression analysis showed that participants at risk were more responsible (OR = 1.410; p = 0.001), with lower emotional stability (OR = 0.810; p = 0.011), they had more frequent problems related to mobile phone (OR = 5.523; p < 0.001) and more risk of exercise addiction (OR = 8.965; p < 0.001). Furthermore, participants with ED risk performed more weight control behavior (OR = 2.808; p < 0.001), binge eating (OR = 1.887; p = 0.007) and dieting (OR = 7.465; p < 0.001 for successful diets; OR = 2.670; p = 0.011 for unsuccessful diets), and reported a desire for a lower body mass (OR = 4.411; p < 0.001). ED risk was found to be associated with more frequent problems of mobile phone use and more risk of exercise addiction. The risk for eating disorders was associated with following a diet but also with the intention of following a diet. Therefore, measuring addictive exercise, problematic phone use or the continuous intention to follow diets could contribute to early determine ED risk.

In the context of global change, studying the synergic effects of climate and marine resources is key to understanding and predicting their impact on exploited stocks and improving adaptive fisheries management. In the western Mediterranean, European hake ( Merluccius merluccius ) and deep-water rose shrimp ( Parapenaeus longirostris ) are two key demersal species with distinct ecological preferences. This study models long-term projection of their population dynamics at two geographical subareas (GSAs) established by the General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean (FAO-GFCM), Balearic Islands (GSA 5) and Northern Spain (GSA 6), under different management strategies and climatic scenarios. The methodological approach followed three steps. First, recruitment and spawning stock biomass temporal series of these stocks were obtained from fisheries assessment models, developed within the framework of the FAO-GFCM. Then the influence of parental stock and environmental drivers on their recruitment was modelled. In GSA 5, European hake recruitment was mainly driven by winter sea surface temperature, while in GSA 6, additional factors included chlorophyll-a and mean salinity. For deep-water rose shrimp, bottom temperature was the key driver in both GSAs. Lastly, we projected the population dynamics of the stocks along the whole 21st century by combining five potential fishing management strategies, including those currently applied in the investigated area (European Union Multiannual Plan) and the models of main explanatory drivers developed concurrently with an ensemble of four Regional Climate Models under two climatic scenarios (RCP4.5 and RCP8.5) adopted by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, which describe medium and extreme heating. From the combination of these management strategies and climatic scenarios, projections of the population parameters of European hake and deep-water rose shrimp and its catches were carried out up to 2100. The projections revealed a decline in European hake recruitment, population, and catches across all climate scenarios, regardless of fishery management strategies. In contrast, deep-water rose shrimp showed an overall improvement in population parameters and catches under all conditions. Our results may enhance scientific advice for implementing an adaptive fisheries management and highlight the need of integrating climatic effects in the assessment and management processes to enhance stock sustainability under global change.

Abstract. Systematic monitoring and assessment of vegetation dynamics and changes are essential for informing environmental management and conservation strategies. Addressing this need, our study introduces a pioneering procedure to generate a database of vegetation indices that provides semi-monthly updates from 1981 to the present at a 1.1 km spatial resolution, focusing on the Iberian Peninsula and the Balearic Islands. This database enables near-real-time monitoring and analysis of vegetation anomalies. The methodology developed combines harmonized historical satellite imagery from AVHRR, MODIS, and VIIRS sensors. The database's performance was assessed, demonstrating highly accurate and consistent harmonization of NDVI data over time. Notably, the database is adept at identifying temporal variability and trends in vegetation activity and detecting disturbances caused by fire and other phenomena. This work not only advances our understanding of vegetation dynamics in the region but also serves as a crucial tool for policymakers, environmental managers, and agricultural stakeholders. By providing near-real-time updates and using indices to monitor vegetation anomalies, the data allows for comparisons across seasons and vegetation types. The database, which includes the NDVI and kNDVI vegetation indices as well as their standardized versions, SNDVI and SkNDVI, is accessible via https://doi.org/10.20350/digitalCSIC/16201 (Franquesa et al., 2024).

Considering the increase of West Nile virus (WNV) circulation in Europe, blood banks perform WNV Nucleic Acid Test testing to ensure transfusion safety during the WNV transmission season. Usutu virus (USUV), an arbovirus related to WNV, has relevant molecular and serological cross-reactivity with WNV. During the 2024 WNV season in Europe, 15,957 blood donations from the Balearic Islands Blood Bank and 79,400 from the Catalonia Blood Bank were tested for WNV using the Cobas WNV real-time PCR (Roche Diagnostics, USA) and the Procleix WNV/Procleix ArboPlex transcription-mediated assays (Grifols Diagnostic Solutions Inc., USA), respectively. Serological tests for flavivirus, PCR using USUV- and WNV-specific primers, sequencing of viral RNA, and neutralization tests (NT) were performed to confirm positive results. We identified three donors with USUV infection. In July, the first donor was detected in Majorca (Balearic Islands), whose infection was confirmed by NT. In September, two donors with USUV Africa 3 lineage were identified by RT-PCR and sequencing in Catalonia. There were three USUV-positive cases in 95,357 donations (1 in 31,786; 95% CI: 1 in 10,877 to 1 in 154,083) during the 2024 WNV season in Spain. We report three cases of autochthonous USUV infection in blood donors from the Balearic Islands and Catalonia, two of which were infected by the USUV Africa 3 lineage. Health authorities should be aware that positive WNV screening may be due to USUV, an emerging zoonotic virus that can be underreported.

THE LINGUISTIC LANDSCAPE AT THE FACULTY OF EDUCATION OF THE UNIVERSITY OF THE BALEARIC ISLANDS: A WINDOW ONTO DIVERSITY?This paper aims to provide an initial approach to the linguistic landscape at the Faculty of Education of the University of the Balearic Islands (UIB), with the goal of offering a panoramic view of the presence and visibility of different languages in a specific university setting. The analysis of the linguistic landscape in a university environment is particularly relevant considering that, on the one hand, Castell, Cremades and Vanrell (2024) suggest it can serve as a space for language shift, while on the other hand, a recent study by Cremades, Maimó, Moreno, Sánchez and Solivellas (2025) indicates that the Faculty of Education at the UIB does not seem to function as such a space. Within this framework, the present study examines the languages found in various types of texts commonly seen in the public areas of any faculty, the positions that they occupy in these texts, and the roles that they play. In this regard, the study confirms the relevance of the two ideologies described by Woolard (2008) in understanding how Catalan and Spanish (as well as English) are legitimized in the Balearic Islands. Altogether, this allows for a critical reflection on the university’s sociolinguistic situation, which can serve as a starting point for future language planning efforts in the Balearic university context.

LEARNING (SOCIO)LINGUISTICS THROUGH THE LINGUISTIC LANDSCAPE OF PALMA: A PRACTICAL EXPERIENCEThis paper presents a pedagogical experience related to the innovation project “Planning the Acquisition of the Norm: From the Classroom to the Street” (PID232522), which aims to provide students of three undergraduate courses (Sociolinguistics, Language Planning, and Descriptive Grammar: Syntax and Pragmatics) a holistic view of external and internal linguistics, and to equip them with the necessary tools to approach the sociolinguistic reality of the archipelago in their professional lives. Among other things, the project includes, as a key element, the development of a coordinated final project coordinated, which in the 2023-2024 academic year consisted of a study on linguistic landscapes, a key concept for understanding how languages are represented in public space. Specifically, students carried out an analysis of the linguistic landscapes of three types of establishments (a large retail store, a small shop, and a restaurant) in different areas of Palma. Through this study, patterns of linguistic behavior were identified, which can be summarized in two main conclusions. On the one hand, students observed the presence of linguistic diversity in the most touristic areas of the city—in addition to the official languages of the Balearic Islands, languages such as German and English were also present. On the other hand, the project allowed students to find out a predominance of Spanish in the key points for the configuration of the linguistic landscape, followed by the most common languages for dealing with tourists—German and English. The paper shows how this experience allowed students to enhance their knowledge, competencies, and skills, developing a critical awareness of the sociolinguistic situation in the city and gaining better preparation to face the professional challenges that they will encounter in fields such as language planning or teaching.

Novel methodology approach for assessing microplastic distribution in marine habitats along the Spanish Western Mediterranean coast.

Territorial inequality in access to residential care for the aged in Spain

Quantifying sources of floating marine debris on the coasts of the Balearic islands.

From words to deeds: Description and challenges in the implementation of social prescription in spanish primary care

Climate change is altering the global distribution of precipitation, especially in Mediterranean areas with heterogeneous climates. The spatiotemporal variability of precipitation complicates its monitoring. Satellite-derived precipitation products (SPPs) usually offer global continuous coverage at daily scale; however, their coarse spatial resolution and indirect measurement introduce relevant bias. We analysed the suitability of CMORPH V1.0, IMERG V07A and MSWEP V2.8 across Peninsular Spain and Balearic Islands using Agencia Estatal de Meteorología (AEMET) gauge data as reference, and investigated performance dependence on seasonality, precipitation intensity, altitude and orography. CMORPH is not recommended and MSWEP is preferable over IMERG, although MSWEP performs worse for lighter intensities and summer. IMERG and MSWEP show mainly Correlation Coefficient (CC) and Probability of Detection (POD) &gt;67%, and False Alarm Ratio (FAR) &gt;30% (vice versa for CMORPH). All products overestimate with lower frequency but greater magnitude (at least twice the reference value). Monthly performance is better than daily, but with increased underestimation. Performance for spring and autumn is similar to overall performance, while summer presents the most divergent patterns. For heavier intensities, all products improve their correlation with reference data and their detection capabilities, but also increase their underestimation rate and magnitude. Worst performance occurs in those regions with simultaneously higher orographical complexity, annual precipitation and altitude. These SPPs should be used with caution, and we recommend first analysing their performance on the specific application of interest.

This study reports the physiological effects of the invasive alien species Batophora occidentalis within a small lagoon in the Balearic Islands. This study aims to determine whether the presence of newly colonizing invasive macroalgae causes physiological effects on the sessile Porifera species Sarcotragus spinosulus through the application of biochemical markers and metabolomic fingerprinting. Sections of 27 different individuals were collected at three representative sites (N = 9 in each site) of varying degrees of epibiont colonisation (high, low, and absent). The activation of antioxidant enzymes for catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and glutathione reductase (GRd) was observed between individuals that were highly affected by B. occidentalis in addition to the detoxification mechanism for glutathione s-transferase (GST). In terms of oxidative damage, MDA levels were found to be nonsignificant, although those individuals characterised by high epibiont colonisation reported higher levels than those in areas where B. occidentalis was not present. Furthermore, significant differences were observed in the metabolomic fingerprinting of the different levels of epibiont colonisation, an indication B. occidentalis is causing changes in chemical and metabolomic characteristics in S. spinosulus. These findings highlight the need for targeted conservation strategies to mitigate the ecological impact of this invasive species in Mediterranean coastal lagoons.

Anchialine caves are singular aquatic environments of significant conservation interest, defined by darkness, constant temperature, and low levels of nutrients and dissolved oxygen, as well as vertically stratified water layers. Due to their challenging accessibility, these caves represent one of the few remaining unexplored frontiers on Earth, hosting short-range endemics and ecologically specialized communities highly susceptible to anthropogenic disturbances. Exploration of a cave in the northern region of Mallorca, Balearic Islands (Western Mediterranean), has revealed the presence of a new genus and species of Polynoidae, Pollentia perezi Capa, Pons &amp; Jaume, 2022, with presumed deep-sea affinities. Further exploration of this cave system showed two additional polychaetes. The first is a new species of Polycirrus (Terebellidae), whereas the second, Vermiliopsis labiata (Costa, 1861) (Serpulidae), previously known to inhabit marine environments, represents the first record of this species in an achialine cave. Notably, neither the terebellid nor the serpulid exhibits apparent morphological adaptations to their cave habitat. Our study combines morphological and molecular analyses to characterise the polychaete fauna of the Cova des Bastons, Mallorca, and increases the number of taxa associated with Mediterranean anchialine environments.

BackgroundThe diabetes epidemic continues to surge worldwide, demanding urgent and innovative solutions. Digital health interventions, particularly those targeting behavior change, hold promise due to their affordability and scalability. However, research in this field remains in its early stages.ObjectiveThis study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of PREDIABETEXT (Prediabetes Text Message Digital Intervention for the Prevention of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus), a digital health intervention, in reducing glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) and in improving secondary clinical, physiological, and behavioral outcomes.MethodsWe conducted a 6-month, 3-arm, pragmatic cluster randomized clinical trial. We recruited patients with prediabetes (HbA1c levels between 6% and 6.4% in the previous 3 months or 2 consecutive fasting plasma glucose measurements of 110-125 mg/dL) registered at primary care centers in the Balearic Islands, Spain. The PREDIABETEXT intervention consisted of 3 personalized SMS text messages per week aimed at supporting lifestyle behavior changes and online training for their primary health care professionals. A total of 58 professionals (clusters) from 16 centers participated in the study and were randomized (1:1:1) to intervention group A (patient SMS text messaging), intervention group B (patient SMS text messaging+health care professional web-based training), or the control group (usual care). Following the 6-month intervention period, we conducted individual qualitative interviews with 8 patients and 7 health care professionals to evaluate their experiences with the intervention in terms of utility, satisfaction, and implementation barriers.ResultsIn total, 58 health care professionals (clusters) were included, allocated to the control group (n=20, 34%; 119/365, 32.6% patients), intervention group A (SMS text messaging only; n=18, 31%; 106/365, 29% patients), and intervention group B (SMS text messaging+training; n=20, 34%; 140/365, 38.4% patients). The mean age of the patients was 59.79 (SD 9.75) years, and 54.5% (199/365) were female. The results of the intention-to-treat analysis at the 6-month time point showed that intervention A led to a small, nonsignificant reduction in HbA1c levels compared to the control group (β=−0.05, 95% CI −0.21 to 0.10; P=.50), whereas intervention B showed a similar nonsignificant reduction (β=−0.04, 95% CI −0.12 to 0.10; P=.56). No substantial differences were observed in the remaining secondary outcomes. Interviews revealed positive feedback from patients, who appreciated the intervention’s dietary messages and their frequency and practicality. Participants suggested enhancements such as increased personalization, links to recipes, and nursing follow-ups. Health care professionals valued the online training but highlighted time constraints, suggesting shorter or blended formats to improve accessibility.ConclusionsWhile PREDIABETEXT did not significantly improve HbA1c levels, it demonstrated potential benefits for patient engagement. Further studies involving more intensive interventions are warranted to confirm the clinical impact on diabetes prevention.Trial RegistrationClinicalTrials.gov NCT05110625; https://www.clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT05110625International Registered Report Identifier (IRRID)RR2-10.3390/ijerph192214706

Records of European long-distance migrant birds wintering in the Western Palaearctic have increased recently, possibly in response to milder climatic conditions due to climate change. The spotted flycatcher (Muscicapa striata), traditionally a trans-Saharan migrant, has recently been observed wintering north of the Sahara Desert. This study examines the winter status of this species in the Western Palaearctic and identifies climatically favourable yet unoccupied wintering areas. We compiled wintering records from 2000 to 2024 using the citizen science platform eBird. We then modelled the distribution of these data across Europe and the Middle East using 19 climatic and two topographic variables. Our results provide the first evidence of a regular wintering pattern of the species in the Western Palaearctic over the last decade, with over 80% of the records located on the Iberian Peninsula and the Balearic Islands. This aligns with positive temperature anomalies in Europe between 2014 and 2023. We identified four climatic variables as significant drivers, with the diurnal temperature range and the temperature of the coldest quarter within the study area being the strongest predictors. Favourable wintering areas encompass much of the Mediterranean basin and large Mediterranean islands. Using fuzzy logic, we produced ensemble models of these variables under different hypotheses regarding their relative importance, tested against independent North African wintering records. The most supported hypothesis indicates that while favourable values in the four variables are important, they are not essential, meaning that favourable values in some variables can compensate for less favourable values in others. This species may serve as a model for other trans-Saharan migrants now wintering in the Western Palaearctic. If temperatures continue to increase, more individuals are expected to shift their wintering strategy from trans-Saharan to pre-Saharan migrants, leading to an increase in the populations regularly wintering along Mediterranean coasts and islands.Supplementary InformationThe online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1038/s41598-025-19138-9.

ABSTRACT The increase in marine pollution has led to an urgent need to find effective, affordable, and speedy methods to detect contaminants and their sources in a global change context. The use of marine organisms as bioindicators is a highly relevant and efficient approach, particularly if it can provide quick and cost-effective data without damaging any biota. Epiphytic foraminifera provide a good example of reliable bioindicators applicable in marine ecosystems such as seagrass meadows. The study of benthic foraminifera associated with Posidonia oceanica meadows began in the Mediterranean in the early 20th century, with the Balearic Islands being one of the first scenarios for this discipline. Foraminiferal analysis, particularly the occurrence of Planorbulinatum mediterranensae assemblage, became a useful criterion for characterizing P. oceanica ecosystems in the Mediterranean and indirectly assessing their environmental quality. This work uses epiphytic foraminifera as bioindicators of P. oceanica ecosystems in the Balearic Islands. A comprehensive review of the so-called grey literature, including theses, reports, and repositories from the 1960s to 2020s on foraminiferal assemblages reported in P. oceanica meadows has been conducted. Subsequently, epiphytic foraminifera-based indices (the modified FORAM (Foraminifera in Reef Assessment and Monitoring) Index (FI′), and the “Long vs Short life span” index (ILS)) have been applied to this historical dataset to detect the anthropogenic impact of touristic development over the last 60 years. In regions with minimal human influence, such as the Cabrera Archipelago National Park, foraminiferal indices were found to be the highest. Also, a diminishing trend was recorded after the 1960s, during the beginning of tourism development, to late 1990’s and early 2000’s. The FI′ and ILS indices have been increasing and stabilizing over the last two decades, reflecting conditions over a large area and suggesting an improvement in the marine environment and P. oceanica conditions, reflecting the enforcement of legislative protection. The simplicity and ease of application of these indices make them ideal for use with a wide range of databases, allowing for powerful analysis of long-term trends in the health and environmental variability of P. oceanica meadows.

Smart Family, developed by the Finnish Heart Association, was implemented through the JA Health4EUKids. Its goal is to promote healthy lifestyles among families to prevent childhood overweight and obesity. The countries piloting Smart Family are Croatia, Greece, Lithuania, Poland, Slovenia, and Spain (Balearic Islands). The implementation process followed the structured implementation framework, progressing through a pre-implementation (planning), implementation, and post-implementation phase. Each country conducted a baseline situation analysis-including SWOT assessments-and developed tailored pilot action plans targeting families with children in different settings, such as kindergartens, schools, and community health systems. Pilots aimed to strengthen professionals’ motivational counseling skills, provide families with tools for improving nutrition, physical activity, stress management, breastfeeding and parenting, and integrate Smart Family tools into existing services or digital platforms. Early findings show that while implementation settings vary, common enablers include motivated core teams, cross-sector collaboration, and flexibility in applying the method. Shared challenges were related to workforce limitations, structural fragmentation, and economic barriers. Results highlight the potential for a scalable, evidence-based, and adaptable approach to supporting lifestyle changes through primary prevention. Smart family operates across settings to strengthen professionals’ motivational counselling while providing families with practical tools for nutrition, physical activity, stress management, breastfeeding, and parenting skills. Initial findings provide insights of key enablers and barriers/ challenges, suggesting Smart Family offers potential as a scalable, evidence-based approach to primary child obesity prevention, although it requires commitment & digital resources at the least for building sustainable obesity prevention structures across Europe

Trends in pulmonary embolism incidence in Spain (2016-2022): an analysis of differences among autonomous communities.

Chronostratigraphic significance of the “Thüringian” palynological record from the Permian of Iberia and the Balearic Islands: Implications for correlations across Western Europe

Tendons are essential components of the musculoskeletal system, enabling movement by transmitting forces from muscles to bones while maintaining joint stability. Despite their vital function, tendons are susceptible to injuries and chronic conditions, collectively termed tendinopathies. These conditions, characterized by pain, functional impairment, and structural changes, affect diverse populations and present challenges in diagnosis, treatment, and prevention. These injuries represent a significant clinical and economic burden, causing a diminished quality of life.The talk will explore the biological and clinical aspects of tendon health and disease. Tendons, composed of a specialized extracellular matrix and tenocytes, are designed to withstand high mechanical loads. However, repetitive stress, aging, and metabolic dysfunction can disrupt tendon homeostasis, leading to inflammation, degeneration, and chronic pain. Current treatment modalities, including non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, corticosteroids, and surgical interventions, often fail to resolve the condition fully and carry significant limitations. Eccentric exercise regimens, regenerative therapies, and biomarker-based diagnostics offer promising avenues for improved management.Furthermore, this presentation focuses on a retrospective epidemiological study of tendinopathies conducted in primary care centers across the Balearic Islands, Spain. The study analyzes ten years of clinical records to determine the prevalence, incidence, and risk factors of chronic tendinopathies, excluding traumatic injuries and acute cases. The findings provide crucial insights into the impact of these conditions within the local population and identify trends associated with demographic and lifestyle factors. Such data are essential for developing targeted prevention and treatment strategies.Acknowledgements: Carlos III Health Institute and the EU through the European Social Fund Plus for the Miguel Servet contract CP21/00136 and the project PI22/01686. TENET COST Action CA22170 for fostering collaboration and networking opportunities.