System In Spain Research Articles

Daily requests and complaints in Spanish prisons: Looking beyond legal regulation

AbstractThis article deals with the right to make requests and complaints (RCs) inside Spanish prisons. It discusses the European Prison Rules and the principles set forward by the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CPT), examining how the Spanish system respects these. It then introduces the RCs system in Spain. Through research carried out in four prisons, interviews with the directors and with 21 inmates and taking as an example one prison, we were able to discover that the number of requests in one year is 55,000. This result reveals the formalised character of Spanish prisons and raises the question as to how to respond to RCs inside prison. The last part of the article draws on interviews with three Penitentiary Judges and discusses their role in reviewing RCs. In our analysis of 626 of the final decisions we found that 98.6% were denied. Finally, the article provides some explanations for this result and questions whether judges can be said to provide an effective remedy in such cases.

Gender Equality Policies “Confined”: Adopted Frames in the Prison System in Spain

Gender Equality Policies “Confined”: Adopted Frames in the Prison System in Spain

Generic and site-specific social life cycle assessment of municipal wastewater treatment systems in Spain: challenges and limitations of the method when applied to resource recovery systems

Abstract Purpose This work aims to provide insights on the application of social life cycle assessment (S-LCA) in evaluating the social impacts associated with municipal wastewater treatment (WWT). The study assesses the social risks and social performance of two municipal WWT systems in Catalonia, Spain: a conventional wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) (Reference System) and a novel system that recovers water and other valuable resources (Novel System). Methods S-LCA was conducted at Generic and Site-Specific levels using 1 m3 of wastewater treatment as the functional unit (FU). The Generic assessment was conducted via the Product Social Impact Life Cycle Assessment (PSILCA) database, while the Site-Specific assessment employed the Subcategory Assessment Method (SAM) with four-level reference scales to assess the social performance of the WWTP operator and its first-tier suppliers. Furthermore, activity variables were calculated based on organizations’ shares in the total costs per FU, and the Novel System’s multifunctionality was solved through economic allocation. Results were aggregated by (i) assigning equal weights to organizations and (ii) factoring in organizations’ weights and the allocation factor, leading to results per FU. Results and discussion The Generic analysis results indicated that the Novel System entailed fewer social risks than the Reference System. Most social risks in both systems occurred in the subcategories “Access to material resources,” “Fair salary,” “Freedom of association and collective bargaining,” “Contribution to economic development,” and “Corruption.” In the Site-Specific assessment, the Novel System presented better social performance than the Reference System per 1 m3 of wastewater treatment. The latter’s performance per FU did not meet the basic requirement in four out of eleven subcategories, mainly due to the performance and weight of a chemical supplier. Allocation greatly benefitted the Novel System’s results per FU compared to the results obtained when equal weights were applied. Conclusions Activity variables were used to connect organizations’ conduct with particular WWT systems, and multifunctionality was solved. This approach allowed for obtaining results per FU at both assessment levels. However, social performance was also evaluated by calculating the average social performance of each system without considering activity variables and the FU, leading to different results. The social performance of the Novel System per FU was satisfactory across all subcategories but required improvement in four subcategories based on the average results. Given the limitations of using activity variables and allocation in S-LCA, further research is necessary to appropriately evaluate and compare the social effects of novel resource recovery systems.

Key steps and barriers in the journey of patients with epilepsy through the National Healthcare System in Spain: The EPIPASS qualitative study.

Epilepsy requires continuous medical attention from multiple healthcare specialists, specialized facilities, and community-based care. In Spain, there is no standardized approach to epilepsy care. The aim of this study was to identify the factors impacting on the delivery of high-quality care by exploring key steps and barriers along the patient journey through the Spanish National Healthcare System (NHS). A qualitative study was conducted using opinions and experiences of neurologists, nurses, patients, and caregivers shared in discussion meetings. Using thematic content analyses, relevant aim-focused statements were coded according to prespecified issues in a discussion map (i.e., key steps and barriers), and sub-coded according to emerging issues. Thematic saturation and co-occurrence of key steps/barriers were evaluated to identify the most relevant factors impacting on the delivery of high-quality care. Sixty-five stakeholders took part in discussion meetings (36 neurologists, 10 nurses, 10 patients, and nine caregivers). Six key steps on the patient journey were identified: emergency care, diagnosis, drug therapy, follow-up, referral, and interventional treatment. Of these, follow-up was the most relevant step impacting on the delivery of high-quality patient care, followed by drug therapy and diagnosis. Emergency care was considered a hot-spot step with impact throughout the patient journey. Communication (among HCPs and between HCPs and patients) was a barrier to the delivery of high-quality care at several stages of the patient journey, including drug therapy, follow-up, referral, and interventional treatment. Resource availability was a barrier for diagnosis (especially for confirmation), drug therapy (drug availability), and referral (lack of professionals and specialized centers, and long waiting lists). This is the first study capturing perspectives of four key stakeholders involved in epilepsy care in Spain. We provide an overview of the patient journey through the Spanish NHS and highlight opportunities to improve the delivery of patient-centered care with a chronicity perspective. Patients with epilepsy may require prolonged medical care. In Spain, care is provided by a range of specialist and non-specialist centers. In this study, a team of Spanish neurologists, nurses, patients and caregivers identified barriers that affect the delivery of high-quality care for patients with epilepsy at each stage of their journey through the Spanish NHS. Specific epilepsy training for healthcare providers, appropriate resources for diagnosing and treating patients, and good communication between healthcare workers and patients were identified as important factors in providing high-quality care for patients with epilepsy.

Seeding young entrepreneurs: The role of business incubators

This study focusses on young entrepreneurs and considers the extent of business incubators’ impact on the development and visibility of projects headed by young people. To do so, we analyse incubators’ role as ecosystems for entrepreneurship in Spain based on the 2023 Funcas survey. First, we categorised incubators according to entrepreneurs’ age, defining young incubators as those in which most of the businesses are run by individuals under 35, excluding those over that age. We analyse variables that include the services offered and the frequency of events or training within the incubators to determine which approaches benefit or harm young entrepreneurs. This study uses a statistical approach, with quantitative data from the questionnaire as a starting point to characterise and identify young entrepreneurial profiles in business incubators. We develop and test two hypotheses using the chi-squared test, which is a non-parametric (distribution free) technique. Finally, we include a brief analysis of young entrepreneurs’ personality traits to shed light on some defining characteristics, concluding that personal initiative is a key feature amongst entrepreneurs under the age of 35. We conclude that the incubator system in Spain harms young entrepreneurs and propose some relevant recommendations to reverse this trend.

Hospital admissions for pyoderma gangrenosum in Spain (1999-2021): Epidemiological and clinical characteristics, temporal trends, and factors associated with poor prognosis and higher cost.

Pyoderma gangrenosum (PG) is a neutrophilic inflammatory dermatosis that can be idiopathic or associated with other diseases. The aim was to analyze the epidemiological and clinical characteristics, temporal trends, risk factors for poor prognosis, and admission costs associated with PG in Spain. We conducted a retrospective study, based on the Hospital Discharge Registry of the Spanish National Health System in Spain from 1999 to 2021. Of 82,161,670 admissions during the study period, 4901 were for PG (hospitalization rate of 59.7/1,000,000 admissions). PG hospitalizations increased from 28.8/1,00,000 in 1999 to 91.9/1,000,000 in 2021. PG was a primary cause of admission in 60.5% of cases, and 58.4% of patients were women. The main PG-related comorbidities were inflammatory bowel disease (15.7%) and neoplasms (10%). There was a significant increase over the years in admissions for inflammatory bowel disease, monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance, and lymphoma, as well as an increase in diseases unrelated to PG, such as hypertension, diabetes, and chronic kidney disease. The hospital mortality rate was 5.6%. Death was associated with PG being a primary diagnosis, older age, leukemia, neoplasms, diabetes, and chronic kidney disease. The cost of treatment increased over the years and was higher in older people. PG cases in the inpatient setting in Spain over the past 23 years make up a tiny proportion of all hospital admissions, although the rate of hospitalization for PG has increased in the last two decades.

Spanish pacemaker registry. 21st official report of Heart Rhythm Association of the Spanish Society of Cardiology (2023)

IntroductionData on implants of cardiac pacing systems in Spain in 2023 are presented. MethodsThe registry is based on the information provided by centers to the recording platform of the Heart Rhythm Association after device implantations, through Cardiodispositivos, the online platform of the National Registry. Other information sources include: a) data transfers from the manufacturing and marketing industry; b) the European pacemaker patient card; and c) local databases submitted by the implanting centers. ResultsIn 2023, 112 hospitals participated in the registry (30 more than in 2022). A total of 24 343 device implantations were reported (48.1% more than in 2022) compared with 45 120 reported by Eucomed (European Confederation of Medical Suppliers Associations). Of these, 1646 were cardiac resynchronization therapy pacemakers. The devices showing the largest increases were leadless pacemakers, with 963 devices implanted, representing an 18.1% increase over 2022. The most frequent indication was atrioventricular block followed, for the first time, by atrial tachyarrhythmia with slow ventricular response. The number of devices included in remote monitoring also increased (cardiac resynchronization therapy defibrillators, 71%; cardiac resynchronization therapy pacemakers, 63%; and conventional pacemakers, 28%), although more moderately. ConclusionsIn 2023, there was an increase in the number of institutions participating in the registry. The reporting of device implantations rose by 48.1%, and the implantation of leadless pacemakers grew by 18.1%. Remote monitoring also experienced modest growth compared with previous years.

Current state of proton therapy for tumors of the central nervous system in Spain: physical bases, indications, controversies and perspectives.

The unique biophysical properties of proton therapy (PT), regarding the precise dose distribution, a remarkable better sparing of surrounding normal tissues, and the decreasing costs have promoted the spread of this technique worldwide. In Spain, eleven new PT centers, added to the currently two in function, are expected to be available in the near future. Indications for PT are currently evolving. The suitability of PT in central nervous system tumors of the adult population has been extrapolated from the favorable experience in children and adolescents. Given the lack of appropriate randomized trials, controversies remain regarding its use in lower grade tumors, re-irradiation, and other clinical scenarios in which an a priori dose distribution benefit is expected compared to photon-based radiotherapy. PT is a reasonable option in many brain and spinal tumors associating long life expectancy, in which cognitive decline, and the appearance of radiation-induced neoplasms can be minimized.Estado actual de la terapia con protones en los tumores del sistema nervioso central en España: bases físicas, indicaciones, controversias y perspectivas.

Enhancing sustainability in irrigation networks: A multicriteria method for optimizing flow distribution and reducing environmental impact

Irrigation systems significantly enhance agricultural productivity but are also substantial consumers of water, energy, and natural resources. The need to optimize their design encouraged agronomic engineering to develop various methods for improving the design and management of these irrigation networks. This development focuses on creating a tool to define the optimal flow distribution according to the system's irrigation or consumption needs, thereby determining the design flows. The aim is to optimize the design of pipe diameters to improve sustainability (i.e., reducing CO2 emissions, minimizing service pressure, and maximizing recoverable energy within the system). These principles ensure a better evaluation of sustainable development goals within agricultural production. The proposed procedure develops a strategy to define the best-fitting distribution using a multicriteria solution. As novel, the research develops a tool, which characterizes flow distributions deviating from the classic Clement's formulation used in irrigation systems. The proposed method was applied in a Mediterranean irrigation system in Spain, achieving a correlation coefficient above 0.9 in the model. This methodology addresses design criteria in terms of sustainability and reduces energy consumption in networks. It achieved material savings of 6.01 % compared to the observed network, reducing CO2 emissions between 5.61 and 5.72 TnCO2/ha over its lifecycle.

Women Architects and Their Works in the Autonomous Region of Madrid, 1978-2008

This paper explores the periphery of the very centre of the architectural system in Spain, considering the work of women architects in the Autonomous Region of Madrid (Comunidad Autónoma de Madrid), the province of its capital, in the period 1978-2008, i. e., between the democratic restoration and the global financial crisis. The approach is threefold. Firstly, a quantitative analysis, according to various parameters, of a sufficiently representative sample (more than a hundred cases) of this female-authored production, either solo or in collaboration with other women colleagues. Secondly, an analysis of the presence of women and their works in the architectural media in terms of the prestige they represent. Thirdly, an evaluation based on a qualitative approach of these works, the account of their differential features, and the identification of the very interests that women architects expressed through them. To this end, a methodology is implemented that includes the collection of bibliographic sources, a call to the architects to invite them to submit their projects and field work, by visiting and collecting data from most of the works. The results reveal that most of their professional practice that solo and is mainly based on residential works—the most recognised— followed by interventions in public spaces. Most of the works correspond to new construction and are concentrated, in time, in the 1990s and, in space, to the south and east of both the capital and the wider Madrid Region. The work of women architects has hardly been reported in professional journals, although it has been more widely disseminated in institutional publications, especially in the case of female civil servants. Qualitatively, the attention paid to the programme, especially to the common and intermediate spaces, the suitability of the technical means to the ends and the context, the care taken in the design of inclusive public spaces and the commitment to sustainability are striking. All this speaks volumes about the value of authors and architectures that, even in the center itself, are relegated to the periphery. It is a political and cultural system, which gender-based research challenges to propose hopeful alternatives for the discipline.

Applying the FAO surveillance evaluation tool (SET) to assess the fish farming disease surveillance system in Spain.

EU Member States should ensure that they implement adequate health surveillance schemes in all aquaculture farming areas, as appropriate for the type of production. This study presents the results of applying the FAO's Surveillance Evaluation Tool (SET) to assess the Spanish disease surveillance system for farmed fish species, which although applied previously in livestock production, is applied here to aquaculture for the first time. Overall, there were important score differences between trout and marine fish (seabass and seabream) surveillance, which were higher for trout in the following areas: Institutional (70.8% versus 50.0%), Laboratory (91.7% versus 47.2%), and Surveillance activities (75.3% versus 61.3%). For other categories, the values were lower and no significant differences were found. However, most surveillance efforts focused only on trout, for which there are EU and WOAH listed (notifiable) diseases. In contrast, for seabream and seabass, for which there are no listed diseases, it was considered that surveillance efforts should, nevertheless, be in place and should focus on the identification of abnormal mortalities and emerging diseases, for which there are as yet no standardized harmonised methodologies.

Movement-driven modelling reveals new patterns in disease transmission networks.

Interspecific interactions are highly relevant in the potential transmission of shared pathogens in multi-host systems. In recent decades, several technologies have been developed to study pathogen transmission, such as proximity loggers, GPS tracking devices and/or camera traps. Despite the diversity of methods aimed at detecting contacts, the analysis of transmission risk is often reduced to contact rates and the probability of transmission given the contact. However, the latter process is continuous over time and unique for each contact, and is influenced by the characteristics of the contact and the pathogen's relationship with both the host and the environment. Our objective was to assess whether a more comprehensive approach, using a movement-based model which assigns a unique transmission risk to each contact by decomposing transmission into contact formation, contact duration and host characteristics, could reveal disease transmission dynamics that are not detected with more traditional approaches. The model was built from GPS-collar data from two management systems in Spain where animal tuberculosis (TB) circulates: a national park with extensively reared endemic cattle, and an area with extensive free-range pigs and cattle farms. In addition, we evaluated the effect of the GPS device fix rate on the performance of the model. Different transmission dynamics were identified between both management systems. Considering the specific conditions under which each contact occurs (i.e. whether the contact is direct or indirect, its duration, the hosts characteristics, the environmental conditions, etc.) resulted in the identification of different transmission dynamics compared to using only contact rates. We found that fix intervals greater than 30 min in the GPS tracking data resulted in missed interactions, and intervals greater than 2 h may be insufficient for epidemiological purposes. Our study shows that neglecting the conditions under which each contact occurs may result in a misidentification of the real role of each species in disease transmission. This study describes a clear and repeatable framework to study pathogen transmission from GPS data and provides further insights to understand how TB is maintained in multi-host systems in Mediterranean environments.

Registro español de marcapasos. XXI informe oficial de la Asociación del Ritmo Cardiaco de la Sociedad Española de Cardiología (2023)

IntroductionData on implants of cardiac pacing systems in Spain in 2023 are presented. MethodsThe registry is based on the information provided by centers to the recording platform of the Heart Rhythm Association after device implantations, through Cardiodispositivos, the online platform of the National Registry. Other information sources include: a) data transfers from the manufacturing and marketing industry; b) the European pacemaker patient card; and c) local databases submitted by the implanting centers. ResultsIn 2023, 112 hospitals participated in the registry (30 more than in 2022). A total of 24 343 device implantations were reported (48.1% more than in 2022) compared with 45 120 reported by Eucomed (European Confederation of Medical Suppliers Associations). Of these, 1646 were cardiac resynchronization therapy pacemakers. The devices showing the largest increases were leadless pacemakers, with 963 devices implanted, representing an 18.1% increase over 2022. The most frequent indication was atrioventricular block followed, for the first time, by atrial tachyarrhythmia with slow ventricular response. The number of devices included in remote monitoring also increased (cardiac resynchronization therapy defibrillators, 71%; cardiac resynchronization therapy pacemakers, 63%; and conventional pacemakers, 28%), although more moderately. ConclusionsIn 2023, there was an increase in the number of institutions participating in the registry. The reporting of device implantations rose by 48.1%, and the implantation of leadless pacemakers grew by 18.1%. Remote monitoring also experienced modest growth compared with previous years.

Treatment coverage for depression in the general Spanish population and the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic

BackgroundDespite the availability of effective antidepressant strategies, numerous people with depressive disorders remain untreated. The Covid-19 pandemic has affected healthcare services, especially the mental health sector. This study aims to explore the coverage of depression treatments in the general Spanish population and the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic. MethodsWe used longitudinal data (2018 and 2022) from the general Spanish population: pre-pandemic n = 1512; mean age = 65.43 years ± 14.90; 56 % females; post-pandemic n = 909; mean age = 68.00 years ± 14.24; 54 % women. The International Classification of Disease 10th edition was used to diagnose lifetime depressive episodes and severity. We explored psychological and pharmacological treatment coverage via multiple logistic regressions adjusted for 4 covariates (sex assigned at birth, education level, age, Covid-19 pandemic) for participants with a diagnosis of depression. ResultsTreatment coverage for depression in the pre-pandemic and post-pandemic samples was, respectively, 53.3 % and 51.9 %. We observed an association between severe depression and treatment coverage (OR = 2.77, 95%CI 1.05 to 7.75). We found no association between the COVID-19 pandemic and treatment coverage. ConclusionsThe pharmacological treatment coverage was associated with severe types of depression. The prevalence rates of treatment coverage were similar in the pre- and post-COVID-19 pandemic attesting to the resilience of the mental health system in Spain.

Self-consumption potential and surplus compensation policy impact on rooftop photovoltaic systems in Spain

This research examines the viability of rooftop photovoltaic systems for electricity self-consumption in Spain's residential sector, analyzing municipality-level data on electricity demand, rooftop availability, solar irradiance, and various electricity market and surplus policy scenarios. Differences are found between rural and urban contexts, with rural areas exhibiting greater potential for photovoltaic systems deployment due to more available rooftop space. The study highlights the crucial role of surplus electricity management, showing that an efficient use can significantly boost self-consumption potential, particularly in rural areas where surplus constitutes about two-thirds of the photovoltaic production. Economic analyses under different electricity market conditions and surplus compensation policies show that these factors critically affect the attractiveness and viability of these systems. Current high electricity prices in Spain have reduced their payback period, but the prevalent surplus compensation policy, a 1-month net billing feed-in tariff, reduces their cost-effectiveness by up to 60 % compared to a hypothetical 12-month net billing approach. The findings underscore the need for policy adjustments to maximize rooftop occupancy and ensure fair compensation of surpluses, highlighting the importance of tailored strategies for effective sustainable photovoltaic systems deployment in residential contexts.

The history of studying the problem of transformation of the Spanish political system on the example of the activity of the party «Citizens» (2015-2022)

The paper offers an analysis of modern research devoted to the qualification of the state of the modern political system in Spain. The author's attention is focused on the interpretation of systemic changes, the indicator of which was the activity of a new national party – "Citizens". The activities of the "Citizens" revealed the crisis of the traditional political system, based, in particular, on bipartisanship, within which two national forces dominated the country for more than 30 years – the conservative People's Party (NP) and the center-left Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE). Therefore, the activity of the Citizens Party in 2015-2022 is an illustrative example of the changes taking place in the country's political system. The author systematized the main directions of modern historiography, both Spanish and Russian, paying attention to the logic of their formation, the focuses of research interest, the source base and the methods used by specialists. The methodological basis of the work is based on the principles of historicism, objectivity, systematic analysis; historical and genetic method and comparative approach, which is due to the research logic of studying works on the transformation of the Spanish political system over time, and involves a comparative analysis of domestic and foreign literature. The conclusion is made about the similarity of methodology and sources; the "turn" in the study of Spanish Transit and the party-political system formed in 1975-1982 is defined – the transition from "modeling" to historical specifics. The main characteristics of the Spanish political system that exist in modern research are revealed, and the controversial prospects for the evolution of the system are noted. The author's qualification of the party system (the movement from bipartism to unstable multiparty system) dominates both modern historical works and political analysis. Modern researchers and analysts mainly paid their attention to the bright Podemos party, which is associated with its loud rhetoric and opposition to the constitutional foundations of Spain, but the activities of "Citizens", despite their activity in a crisis situation, turned out to be on the sidelines of research interest.

[Artículo traducido] Presencia de partículas metálicas en parches transdérmicos de medicamentos y riesgo de quemaduras

ObjectiveSkin burns are associated with the presence of metallic components in transdermal drug delivery systems during Magnetic Resonance Imaging, cardioversion or defibrillation procedures.The aim of the study was to review the presence of metallic components in marketed products of transdermal drug delivery systems in Spain. MethodFor each presentation, the summary of product characteristics was reviewed. If the information was not provided, manufacturers were contacted. ResultsWe identified 59 marketed products of transdermal drug delivery systems of 12 different active substances.59.3% of patches contained metallic components or their presence could not be ruled out. Information regarding the need to remove the patch was only included in 8 summaries of product characteristics (13.6%).A table was elaborated and included the following aspects: product, active substance, manufacturer, need to remove the patch before the exposure to magnetic or electric fields and references. ConclusionMore than a half of the patches at the time of the study contained metals or their absence could not be confirmed by the manufacturer. However, this information was only included in 13.6% of summaries of product characteristics.

Water quality aspects from Spanish sites to support managed aquifer recharge (MAR) guidelines not based on maximum allowable concentration standards

Most countries that have technical guidelines or regulations for artificial recharge or managed aquifer recharge (MAR), that include water quality aspects are based on the establishment of standards or Maximum Allowable Concentrations (MACs) to regulate the quality of the water percolated or injected into an aquifer. The number of parameters in these guidelines vary considerably (from 6 in Spain to 156 in the USA) and often apply to all aquifers within administrative boundaries (e.g., national territory), regardless of the nature of the receiving medium, the depth of the water table, and other key factors. Eleven MAR systems in Spain have been studied (eight operational and three experimental, with limited number of data from three sites), characterising both, the recharge water quality and the water resulting from the interaction processes recharge water-soil-unsaturated zone-saturated zone of the aquifer. In all cases, an improved effect on groundwater quality is observed, even though some parameters in the recharge water don’t comply with the standards employed in some European countries, where this article focuses. The article suggests that regulating water quality for MAR through MACs at national level gives room for another alternative approach specific for each site. It might be recommendable to establish local standards at the regional or aquifer-wide level to better reflect the diversity of groundwater occurrence. As per the article, sectoral water authorities could receive more decision-making power on granting permits for MAR based on the quality of the hydrogeological and risk studies for each request. This would help reduce the application of the precautionary principle when in granting permission.

A New Model for Building Energy Modeling and Management Using Predictive Analytics: Partitioned Hierarchical Multitask Regression (PHMR)

Buildings are major consumers of energy, accounting for a significant proportion of total energy use worldwide. This substantial energy consumption not only leads to increased operational costs but also contributes to environmental concerns such as greenhouse gas emissions. In the United States, building energy consumption accounts for about 40% of total energy use, highlighting the importance of efficient energy management. Therefore, accurate prediction of energy usage in buildings is crucial. However, accurate prediction of building energy consumption remains a challenge due to the intricate interaction of indoor and outdoor variables. This study introduces the Partitioned Hierarchical Multitask Regression (PHMR), an innovative model integrating recursive partition regression (RPR) with multitask learning (hierML). PHMR adeptly predicts building energy consumption by integrating both indoor factors, such as building design and operational variables, and outdoor environmental influences. Rigorous simulation studies illustrate PHMR’s efficacy. It outperforms traditional single-predictor regression models, achieving a 32.88% to 41.80% higher prediction accuracy, especially in scenarios with limited training data. This highlights PHMR’s robustness and adaptability. The practical application of PHMR in managing a modular house’s Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning (HVAC) system in Spain resulted in a 37% improvement in prediction accuracy. This significant efficiency gain is evidenced by a high Pearson correlation coefficient (0.8) between PHMR’s predictions and actual energy consumption. PHMR not only offers precise predictions for energy consumption but also facilitates operational cost reductions, thereby enhancing sustainability in building energy management. Its application in a real-world setting demonstrates the model’s potential as a valuable tool for architects, engineers, and facility managers in designing and maintaining energy-efficient buildings. The model’s integration of comprehensive data analysis with domain-specific knowledge positions it as a crucial asset in advancing sustainable energy practices in the building sector.

Integration of migrant children in educational systems in Spain: stakeholders’ views

ABSTRACT This paper presents an overview of approaches and proposals to improve the integration of migrant children in schools in Spain and it is linked to the European research project Migrant Children and Communities in a Transforming Europe (MiCREATE). It focuses on a part of the research in which stakeholders were interviewed. Based on the needs of migrant children and practices already implemented in Spain, experts from different fields problematised and proposed improvements in current policies and practices in education. The main conclusions indicate that a more holistic and transversal approach to the inclusion of migrants is needed, as well as better coordination between institutions in different contexts and areas of action. This implies rethinking inclusive practices and involving children’s families and taking their environment into consideration, as well as supporting educational practices that foster a sense of belonging among migrant children and their families in schools, the community, and society. Finally, the paper highlights the importance of gathering data from stakeholders in different fields of expertise and areas of action in order to obtain a more complex and insightful overview of the phenomenon under study.