System In Spain Research Articles

Strategies of international financial capitalism and the integration of the Spanish electricity system: the Levantine coast

Among the national varieties of investment employed in European electricity development, Spanish studies have focused on the strategies of large electricity companies based in mature electricity markets, such as Catalonia or Madrid, but only in traditional electricity systems, such as the Levantine. The purpose of this article is to answer the following question: What impact did foreign investment have on the configuration of the Levantine/Spanish electricity systems during the interwar period? The article concludes that, compared to the theoretical model of local monopolies applied generically to the Spanish case, the second wave of international investment not only accelerated the process of integration of the Levantine electricity market, but had a significant impact, due to the defensive attitude of the Spanish electricity-financial lobby, on the dynamics (competitive/oligopolistic) of regional electricity systems in Spain.

Students Who Orient towards Studying vs. Learning: Teachers’ Perceptions

Many present-day students orient towards outcomes instead of learning. This is leading to failure that affects students, families, the educational system itself, and occupational and financial systems in Spain. Indeed, current data points to an 18.2% university drop-out rate during the first year. The present study seeks to identify teachers’ perceptions of the deficiencies pertaining to study orientations, their involvement in training processes, and student knowledge about the actual state of affairs regarding this topic. The target population for this incidental study was 1769 university lecturers, with a final participating sample of 317. A cross-sectional study was conducted, which was descriptive and inferential in nature. Linear regression was employed to explain variance. Outcomes showed a high degree of homogeneity in teachers’ responses. Outcomes indicate that orientations towards academic learning and study are deemed necessary. Furthermore, such orientations do not prevail due to a lack of teacher engagement, possibly due to a lack of teacher training directed towards managing and balancing class time with monitoring practices. A degree of insufficiency was observed with regards to teacher training for study management, in addition to greater teacher engagement amongst hired teaching staff with indefinite contracts working at public or private institutions, relative to official permanent teaching staff.

Severity of Covid-19 Clinical Outcomes and Mortality in Multiple Myeloma Patients over Year 1 of the Pandemic

Severity of Covid-19 Clinical Outcomes and Mortality in Multiple Myeloma Patients over Year 1 of the Pandemic

Economic Analysis and Modelling of Rooftop Photovoltaic Systems in Spain for Industrial Self-Consumption

This article has been developed to assess the economic feasibility of a rooftop photovoltaic installation of industrial self-consumption. Numerical models that enable an interested person to obtain the main expected parameters will be generated, with those models being the article’s main contribution to the field. To do this, a calculation methodology will be developed through which the reader, knowing the location of the facility and dimensions of the roof, will be able to calculate the maximum installable power, the main parameters related to production, the cost of the installation, and the LCOE of the plant. The use of actual costs will be facilitated in case they are known. Still, it will remain possible to apply the major equipment costs (modules, inverter, and structure) considered throughout the article. This developed calculation methodology will also allow a quick comparison of the forecasts of production, CAPEX, and LCOE of plants designed with different inclinations and different types of modules. Consequently, it will be especially useful in decision-making before developing the plant’s basic engineering. Moreover, the calculations used for modeling the LCOE will be analyzed in depth. This analysis will allow evaluating how the different technical variables affect the profitability of a photovoltaic installation, such as the selected tilt, the location, the module’s technology, or the available area.

Energy and economic assessment of floating photovoltaics in Spanish reservoirs: cost competitiveness and the role of temperature

The installation of photovoltaic modules on water bodies, known as floating photovoltaics (FPV), addresses one of the main issues arising with the growing deployment of photovoltaics: land occupancy. However, while the FPV capacity is increasing exponentially, its economics is still being debated, as few field data are nowadays available and discussions on the expected performance are still ongoing. This work presents a first estimate of the maximum capital expenditures that FPV installers should target to make these systems as profitable as optimally tilted in-land photovoltaic (LPV) plants. The analysis is conducted by estimating and comparing the modelled Levelized Cost Of Energy (LCOE) and Net Present Value (NPV) of potential FPV and LPV systems in Spain. The analysis shows that low-inclination FPV systems are not expected to outperform optimally tilted LPV in terms of energy yield. However, FPV can already compete with LPV in Spain in terms of lifetime cost of electricity and profits if the expected lower operating temperatures are confirmed. The maximum allowed capital expenditure is found to vary depending on the location. The impact of factors influencing the energy and economic performance of FPV is also discussed, with particular attention to the effect of the improved thermal behavior expected from FPV systems.

Main Factors Determining the Economic Production Sustained by Public Long-Term Care Spending in Spain.

Policy reforms of 2012 introduced in Spain a set of austerity measures to emerge from the 2008 global recession. However, attaining the sustainability of the long-term care (LTC) system by reducing public spending overlooks the drawbacks of a lower demand to meet dependency needs. In this context, this study is intended to provide a deeper insight into the economic factors affecting the shifts in the industrial output sustained by LTC spending before and after the austerity measures adopted in 2012. To accomplish this, we first apply a model based on the Input-Output methodology to quantify the output arisen from the consumption demand to meet the dependency needs covered by LTC spending in 2009, 2012 and 2015. Using the results of this model, we carry out a Structural Decomposition Analysis to explore the main drivers of change in the Spanish economic production for 2009–2012 and 2012–2015. The findings reveal that LTC demand factors have proven more relevant than technology factors in increasing production for the two periods considered. Such findings might guide political decision-making on the management of the LTC system in Spain, showing that public LTC spending does not merely contribute to the welfare of dependents, but also may boost economic production.

A matter of fragmentation? Challenges for collective bargaining and employment conditions in the Spanish long-term care sector

The long-term care system in Spain has been characterised by decentralisation, marketisation, fiscal austerity and its reliance on informal family care and cheap migrant labour. Focusing on home-help services, this article addresses the extent to which the sector’s multi-level system of collective bargaining can be characterised as fragmented and whether this has had a negative effect on employment conditions. The research involved an analysis of the legal and collective bargaining framework, expert interviews and employee focus groups. We argue that the precedence given to sectoral agreements within public procurement processes is one main factor preventing a move towards ‘disorganised decentralisation’ in the aftermath of the 2012 labour market reform. Moderate decentralisation has favoured heterogeneity in pay and working conditions at regional and provincial levels. However, these mid-level collective agreements have improved standards with respect to the national collective agreement, and there has been a minor increase in the number of company-level collective agreements since the reform. The limited professionalisation, the lack of recognition of skills and effort in occupational classifications, and the organisation of working time emerge as key contributors to the sector’s poor employment conditions.

Stover management modifies soil organic carbon dynamics in the short-term under semiarid continuous maize

In croplands, the adoption of certain management practices may increase soil organic carbon (SOC) levels. In this study, we evaluated the short-term impact of crop stover management and the interaction between crop stover and irrigation method on SOC change in a continuous maize (Zea mays L.) system in Spain. Four years after the beginning of the experiment, total SOC and C fractions (particulate organic matter carbon, POM-C; and mineral-associated organic matter carbon, Min-C) contents, SOC stocks and SOC stock changes were measured in four different soil layers (0−5, 5−10, 10−25 and 25−50 cm) in an experiment with two irrigation methods (sprinkler and flood) and three stover management systems (conventional tillage with all the stover incorporated, CT; no-tillage maintaining the stover, NTr; and no-tillage removing the stover, NT). Stover management resulted in significant differences in SOC and POM-C but not in Min-C. In particular, NT reduced SOC and POM-C contents compared with CT and NTr (about 10 and 60 %, respectively). After 4 years, SOC change was not affected by the interaction between stover management and irrigation. Concurrently, both CT and NT showed SOC losses, reaching 0.11 and 1.22 Mg ha−1 yr−1 in CT and NT, respectively. However, NTr showed SOC gains at a rate of 0.09 Mg ha−1 yr−1. Consequently, the removal of crop stover has been demonstrated as a detrimental strategy to store SOC in the short-term in irrigated continuous maize systems.

Stochastic analysis of future scenarios for battery electric vehicle deployment and the upgrade of the electricity generation system in Spain

The feasibility of electrifying transport while reducing energy coming from non-renewable sources remains unknown. This study analyzes the current and future impacts caused by uncontrolled electric vehicle charging activities on the electrical grid, in terms of the possibility of having an undetermined number of electric vehicles plugged in at the same time. The results obtained show that charging battery electric vehicles could heavily impact the daily request of electric power, and the peak time for electricity consumption would become unmanageable. In particular, the Spanish grid is vulnerable due to the government's intention to achieve a gradually greater proportion of renewable energy through the closure of fossil fuel and nuclear power stations. This study proposes and evaluates a set of scenarios by developing a simplified stochastic model that considers the uncertainty involved in the problem. Electromobility can only be successful if the power system is considered. The evolution from the current situation to a series of future electrified mobility scenarios will heavily impact not only the annual energy consumption but also the daily electric power supply. The results show that the development of a charging network that allows vehicle batteries to be recharged during working hours seems to be the most suitable solution, while the uncontrolled development and management of a fast-recharging network would be the worst strategy.

Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems in Spain: Analysis of the Research on SUDS Based on Climatology

Sustainable urban drainage systems (SUDS), or urban green infrastructure for stormwater control, emerged for more sustainable management of runoff in cities and provide other benefits such as urban mitigation and adaptation to climate change. Research in Spain began a little over twenty years ago, which was later than in other European countries, and it began in a heterogeneous way, both in the SUDS typology and spatially within the peninsular geography. The main objective of this work has been to know through bibliographic review the state of the art of scientific research of these systems and their relationship with the different types of climates in the country. These structures have a complex and sensitive dependence on the climate, which in the Iberian Peninsula is mostly type B and C (according to the Köppen classification). This means little water availability for the vegetation of some SUDS, which can affect the performance of the technique. To date, for this work, research has focused mainly on green roofs, their capabilities as a sustainable construction tool, and the performance of different plant species used in these systems in arid climates. The next technique with the most real cases analyzed is permeable pavements in temperate climates, proving to be effective in reducing flows and runoff volumes. Other specific investigations have focused on the economic feasibility of installing rainwater harvesting systems for the laundry and the hydraulic performance of retention systems located specifically in the northeast of the Iberian Peninsula. On the contrary, few scientific articles have appeared that describe other SUDS with vegetation such as bioretention systems or green ditches, which are characteristic of sustainable cities, on which the weather can be a very limiting factor for their development.

Effectiveness of the Unified Protocol for transdiagnostic treatment of emotional disorders in group format in Spain: Results from a randomized controlled trial with 6-months follow-up

Background The present study aims to investigate the effectiveness of the Unified Protocol (UP), a transdiagnostic treatment of emotional disorders (EDs), when applied in a group format in the public mental health system in Spain. Methods 488 participants with a primary diagnosis of ED were randomized to the UP group or to the treatment as usual (TAU; individual, disorder-specific cognitive behavioral therapy). Personality, depression and anxiety symptoms, affect, and quality of life were assessed at pre-treatment, 3 months after treatment onset (coinciding with the end of the UP treatment), and 6 and 9 months after treatment onset (follow-ups). The moderating effect of the treatment condition and the number of sessions received in the evolution of study outcomes was investigated with a linear mixed model analysis. Results A significant improvement in outcomes occurred in both conditions, except for extraversion in the TAU. Improvements in depression, anxiety and quality of life were larger in the UP condition. After the treatment, improvements were maintained at follow-ups in all study outcomes. An interaction between Time*Condition*Sessions was found for depression. Conclusion The results add to the existing evidence on the effectiveness of the UP and may be important for implementation purposes in the Spanish or other similar public mental health systems. Trial registration number NCT03064477 (March 10, 2017).

Crop Yields in European Agroforestry Systems: A Meta-Analysis

Agroforestry is the practice of integrating woody vegetation with crops and/or livestock production in order to strengthen ecological services on farmland and achieve a more multi-functional agricultural system. Crop yields determine economic outcomes when trees are young, but information on yields is scattered in the literature and a quantitative overview of crop yields in European agroforestry systems is lacking. We therefore synthesized published information on crop yields in European agroforestry systems, using meta-analysis. A systematic review of the literature was conducted, highlighting quantitative information on yields is available only for traditional Dehesa systems in Spain and Portugal and for modern alley cropping experiments, mostly in northern Europe. Relative cereal crop yields in alley cropping systems (systems with tree rows with interspersed crop strips) were 96% of sole crop yield at tree planting. Crop yields in alley cropping decreased on average with 2.6% per year over the first 21 years of the tree stand, indicating increasing competitive effects of the trees with their age. On the other hand, studies in traditional Dehesa and Montado systems in Southern Europe showed no negative influence of the trees on crop production, indicating that competition between crops and trees plays a less important role in those systems than in alley cropping. Overall, the systematic review showed a need for more experimental data to further substantiate the benefits of agroforestry and elucidate optimal agroforestry practices under European conditions.

Transpiration and photosynthesis of holm oak trees in southern Spain

“Dehesas”, the Iberian semi-natural woodlands based on large holm oak (Quercus ilex L.) trees, represent a key agroforestry system in Spain and Portugal sustaining relevant economic activities (e.g. “iberico” pork feeding, truffle) and ecosystem services. Despite of their importance, scarce information is still available regarding both the transpiration (Ep) and photosynthesis of holm oaks growing in dehesas and the effects of irrigation on these fluxes. Two experiments were performed in Espiel and Hinojosa del Duque (southern Spain) where sap flow was measured in large trees between 2009 and 2011 and photosynthesis was measured with a transitory-closed chamber in smaller trees at different moments of 2009. In 2009, half of the trees equipped with sap flow sensors were drip irrigated and half were rainfed. However, the supply of irrigation barely affected Ep and shoot water potential. The seasonal course of Ep peaked in late spring and decreased gradually, reaching minimum values during winter. Vapor pressure deficit (VPD) exerted a strong control over canopy conductance and its seasonal variation was identified as a major driver for the observed patterns of Ep. Photosynthesis showed a similar course as that of Ep but there was a second smaller peak in autumn. Seasonal water use efficiency was remarkably high due to the reduced summer Ep. Our results also indicate that hyperbolic models of canopy conductance and water use efficiency in response to VPD may be used to estimate diurnal and seasonal Ep and net photosynthesis of holm oak if the tree size and leaf area density are known.

Recommendations on the skills profile and standards of the neonatal transport system in Spain

The first hours of life of a sick or premature newborn are crucial for its prognosis and therefore delivery should take place in a center prepared for that degree of complexity. When this condition is not met, the newborn must be transferred in an optimal and safe way to the center that can offer the necessary care. The training, staffing, organization and coordination of the neonatal transport team are essential to guarantee a safe transfer. Being aware of the interest and the advances that are currently taking place in this area of ​​pediatrics, the Standards Commission and the Neonatal Transport Commission of the Spanish Society of Neonatology have prepared this document. In it, both the provision of human and material resources necessary as well as the bases of clinical stabilization in transport to carry out the neonatal transfer in a safe way and proportionate to the needs of the critical newborn have been exhaustively reviewed and detailed.

Analysis of District Heating and Cooling Energy Systems in Spain: Resources, Technology and Management

District heating and cooling (DHC) systems play an important role under the new European Union (EU) energy transition strategy. Thermal energy networks are helping to stimulate the development of alternative technologies based on a broad range of renewable energy sources. The present study analysed the current situation of DHC systems in Spain and provides an overview of the challenges and future opportunities that their use will entail. Its objective is to assess thermal energy conversion and management from a holistic perspective, including a study of existing energy infrastructures. The focus of this study lies on Spain given the country’s abundance of natural resources such as renewable energy sources including solar energy, biomass and geothermal energy, among others, as well as its strategic location on the map of the EU. Based on the analysis of the three factors for energy conversion in a district heating system, namely resources, technology, and management, the methodology provided an assessment of the different factors involved in running a DHC system. The results show an estimated total production for DHC networks of 1448 MWth, of which 72% is supplied purely by renewable energy sources.

Design and preliminarily validation of a tool to assess the impact of chronic non-cancer pain on people's daily life in Spanish-language: PAIN_Integral Scale©.

To build and preliminarily validate a Spanish-language instrument to assess the impact that CNCP has on the daily lives of people who suffer from it. The experience of pain is multifactorial and a correct assessment of it helps to control the intensity of pain. Although there are instruments that evaluate areas on which Chronic Non-Cancer Pain impacts, it would be necessary to include other aspects that scientific literature identifies as relevant. Instrument and construct cross-sectional study for psychometric validation. A total of 157 items based on items from validated questionnaires were evaluated by a group of 21 chronic pain experts using Delphi methodology in three evaluation rounds. A final questionnaire of 55 items with a 5-point Likert-type scale was formed. This questionnaire was piloted on a total of 30 patients to assess their understanding of the items and the psychometric validation process was carried out (January to March 2020) on a subsequent sample of 395 people, all of whom attended Pain Units and Primary Care Centres of the Public Health System in Spain. The PAIN_Integral Scale© showed acceptable internal consistency scores measured by Cronbach's alpha. Exploratory Factor Analysis indicated a structure of nine factors that explain 71.02% of the total variance, from 157 to a final total of 36 items. Confirmatory Factor Analysis showing adequate values confirmed this structure. The effect size was used to calculate the cut-off points for the overall scale, setting them at scores of 130 and 135. This instrument would allow to assess other constructs and dimensions not included in the instruments previously available such as treatment compliance, proactivity, resilience, hopelessness due to pain and pain catastrophizing. However, despite the fact that the preliminary analysis shows good results, it is necessary to continue with its validation process in subsequent studies. The PAIN_Integral Scale© , once the validation process is finished, could be a complete enough instrument to allow a comprehensive healthcare assessment of Chronic Non-Cancer Pain's impact on daily nursing clinical practice and other healthcare professionals.

Carga de enfermedad. Cálculo del riesgo cardiovascular y objetivos terapéuticos

Therapeutic intervention should be determined by the risk of developing atheromatous cardiovascular disease (CVD). The higher the risk, the more intense the action should be. This is the reason for the stratification of patient risk. In primary prevention, the two main guidelines used, the American Heart Association and the American College of Cardiology (ACC/AHA) use the Pooled cohort equations (PCE) and the guidelines of the European societies use the SCORE tables. The PCE calculates the risk of fatal and non-fatal CVD, and the SCORE calculates risk of fatal CVD only. In young people, it is useful to consider the lifetime risk calculation. The Spanish Society of Arteriosclerosis (SEA) recommends the SCORE system in Spain. SCORE and PCE calculate the risk for people up to 70 and 75 years of age. Prediction and potentials are available for 80 years of age and above, with the data available being much more scarce. Risk stratification in secondary prevention may be useful to identify the subgroup of patients who may benefit from more intensive treatment. Imaging tests, especially coronary calcium scans and vascular ultrasound, can help to better the profile risk.European guidelines identify LDL cholesterol as a therapeutic target. They recommend initiating treatment with statins, and increasing dose and potency until targets are achieved, and then to treatment with potent statins at a maximum tolerated dose, and ezetimibe if targets are not achieved. As a third step, PCSK9 inhibitors are indicated. They set very ambitious targets, as low as 40 mg/dL in those subjects with recurrences before two years of CVD despite high-intensity statin therapy, and below 55 mg/dL for all very high-risk subjects.

The Economic Impact of the SARS-COV-2 (COVID-19) Pandemic in Spain.

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has hit both the Spanish economy and the population’s health hard. The result is an unprecedented economic and social crisis due to uncertainty about the remedy and the socioeconomic effects on people’s lives. Methods: We performed a retrospective analysis of the macroeconomic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 using key indicators of the Spanish economy for the 17 Autonomous Communities (ACs) of the country. National statistics were examined in the search for impacts or anomalies occurring since the beginning of the pandemic. To estimate the strength of the impact on each of the indicators analyzed, we used Bayesian structural time series. We also calculated the correlation between the rate of GDP decline during 2020 and the cumulative incidence of COVID-19 cases per 100,000 inhabitants in the ACs. Results: In 2020, the cumulative impact on the gross domestic product was of −11.41% (95% credible interval: −13.46; −9.29). The indicator for business turnover changed by −9.37% (−12.71; −6.07). The Spanish employment market was strongly affected; our estimates showed a cumulative increase of 11.9% (4.27; 19.45) in the rate of unemployment during 2020. The worst indicators were recorded in the ACs most economically dependent on the services sector. There was no statistical association between the incidence of COVID-19 in 2020 and the fall in GDP in the ACs. Conclusions: Our estimates portray a dramatic situation in Spain, where the COVID-19 crisis has had more serious economic and health consequences than in other European countries. The productive system in Spain is too dependent on sectors vulnerable to the pandemic, and it is necessary to design and implement profound changes through the European Next Generation program.

ДОСВІД ФОРМУВАННЯ ПРОФЕСІЙНОЇ КОМПЕТЕНТНОСТІ В МАЙБУТНІХ ФАХІВЦІВ ОБРАЗОТВОРЧОГО І ДЕКОРАТИВНОГО МИСТЕЦТВА У ЄВРОПЕЙСЬКИХ КРАЇНАХ

A study of the experience of forming professional competence among future specialists in fine and decorative arts was carried out. The main task is to study the experience of forming professional competence in future professionals of fine and decorative arts. It has been determined that the system of training future specialists in fine and decorative arts exists in all European countries. However, Great Britain, Spain, Italy, Germany and others are recognized as leaders in this area. In our study, we will take a closer look at the features of the training system for future specialists in fine and decorative arts in Spain and Italy. It has been established that the educational process in Italian universities is based on the principles of student responsibility for their own learning. Students have the opportunity to independently create their own class schedule. Attendance at the classes is voluntary and the teacher is not registered. The academic year is divided into three semesters. Based on the results of the semesters, exams are passed, but the student, if desired, can postpone the exam to a later date, since students are entitled to an individual training program. The higher education system in Spain is considered one of the best in the world. Higher education in Spain is divided into public and private. To enter a higher education institution, you must pass an entrance exam (Selectividad), which is conducted centrally. The experience of Spain in the development of professional competencies of future specialists in fine and decorative arts shows that in the course of the master's program, masters acquire competencies that allow them to understand and implement a strategic, comprehensive and objective vision of the industry from a business point of view; use the most innovative methods; effectively conduct branding and sponsorship. The main pedagogical conditions that form the professional competence of future specialists in the fine and decorative arts in Italy are determined. Highlighted the professional components that should be inherent in future specialists in fine and decorative arts in European countries.

Does the economic crisis contribute to the burnout and engagement of Spanish nurses?

The national and European economic crisis has caused significant changes in the National Health System in Spain, among others a considerable deterioration in the working conditions of nursing professionals. The aim of this study was to analyse whether the economic crisis situation influenced the burnout and engagement of Spanish nursing professionals. The research design was a transversal study based on descriptive and inferential statistical analysis. Because the variable “economic crisis” is not susceptible to direct experimental manipulation, to explore its possible influence on the burnout and engagement of nursing staff, we use an indirect strategy of “priming”. That is, we presented a group of participants with news about how the economic crisis was affecting healthcare personnel, in order to facilitate their cognitive accessibility, while another control group did not read any news. The participants were 66 nursing professionals from two public hospitals in the north of Spain completed various questionnaires that allowed information to be collected on the factors of interest in the study. The work experience of the participants contributes significantly to their burnout levels. The economic crisis situation helps to explain the burnout of Spanish nurses, but not their engagement levels.