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The hidden cost of controlling teaching in Physical Education: A systematic review and meta-analysis of students’ Physical activity intention and levels
(Universidad del País Vasco, 2026-06-05) Tapia-Serrano, Miguel Ángel; García-González, Luis; Perez Lasierra, José Luis; Sevil-Serrano, Javier
Despite the benefits of physical activity (PA), most young people fail to meet the World Health Organiza-tion’s recommendations. Grounded in Self-Determination Theory (SDT), Physical Education (PE) teachersplay a pivotal role in promoting PA through their motivational teaching style. While need-supportivebehaviors show clear benefits, the effects of controlling teaching behaviors on PA-related outcomesremain unclear. This systematic review and meta-analysis examined the associations between students’perceptions of controlling teaching in PE and their PA intention and PA levels, and explored whether theseassociations differ by age or sex. The review was registered in PROSPERO (CRD42022362459) and con-ducted following PRISMA 2020 guidelines. Searches were performed in PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science,and APA PsycNet up to 2025. Eligible studies included participants aged 5–18 years, assessed control-ling teaching behaviors in PE based on SDT, and reported PA intention and/or PA levels. Random-effectsmeta-analyses were conducted, along with subgroup analyses by sex and a meta-regression on age. Studyquality was assessed using the NIH Quality Assessment Tool for Observational Cohort and Cross-SectionalStudies. Of 3,819 records, 16 studies (n = 9,925; ages 11–19 years) were included. Controlling teachingstyle was negatively associated with PA intention (r = –0.14; 95%CI: –0.22, –0.06) and PA levels (r = –0.18;95%CI: –0.31, –0.06), with high between-study heterogeneity (PA intention: I2= 90.05%; PA levels: I2=95.79%), based exclusively on cross-sectional studies. Subgroup analyses showed similar trends for boysand girls. Neither sex nor age moderated these associations. Controlling behaviors in PE were associatedwith students’ PA intention and PA levels, highlighting the importance of minimizing such practices inPE contexts.
Hydroquinone Ecotoxicity: Unveiling Risks in Soil and River Ecosystems with Insights into Microbial Resilience
(MDPI, 2024-01-29) Ballestero Fernández, Diego; Langa Morales, Elisa; Pino Otín, Rosa
Despite widespread industrial use, the environmental safety of hydroquinone (HQ), a benzene compound from plants used in processes like cosmetics, remains uncertain. This study evaluated the ecotoxicological impact of HQ on soil and river environments, utilizing non-target indicator organisms from diverse trophic levels: Daphnia magna, Aliivibrio fischeri, Allium cepa, and Eisenia fetida. For a more environmentally realistic assessment, microbial communities from a river and untreated soil underwent 16S rRNA gene sequencing, with growth and changes in community-level physiological profiling assessed using Biolog EcoPlate™ assays. The water indicator D. magna exhibited the highest sensitivity to HQ (EC50 = 0.142 µg/mL), followed by A. fischeri (EC50 = 1.446 µg/mL), and A. cepa (LC50 = 7.631 µg/mL), while E. fetida showed the highest resistance (EC50 = 234 mg/Kg). Remarkably, microbial communities mitigated HQ impact in both aquatic and terrestrial environments. River microorganisms displayed minimal inhibition, except for a significant reduction in polymer metabolism at the highest concentration (100 µg/mL). Soil communities demonstrated resilience up to 100 µg/mL, beyond which there was a significant decrease in population growth and the capacity to metabolize carbohydrates and polymers. Despite microbial mitigation, HQ remains highly toxic to various trophic levels, emphasizing the necessity for environmental regulations.
Enhancing Antibiotic Efficacy with Natural Compounds: Synergistic Activity of Tannic Acid and Nerol with Commercial Antibiotics against Pathogenic Bacteria
(MDPI, 2024-09-28) Ballestero Fernández, Diego; Langa Morales, Elisa; Pino Otín, Rosa
The search for synergies between natural products and commercial antibiotics is a promising strategy against bacterial resistance. This study determined the antimicrobial capacity of Nerol (NE) and Tannic Acid (TA) against 14 pathogenic bacteria, including ESKAPE pathogens. TA exhibited the lowest Minimum Inhibitory Concentrations (MICs) at 162.5 µg/mL against Pasteurella aerogenes and 187.5 µg/mL against Acinetobacter baumannii (WHO priority 1). NE showed its lowest MIC of 500 µg/mL against both Pasteurella aerogenes and Salmonella enterica. A total of 35 combinations of NE and 13 of TA with eight commercial antibiotics were analyzed. For NE, combinations with Streptomycin and Gentamicin were effective against Salmonella enterica, Bacillus subtilis, and Streptococcus agalactiae, with antibiotic MIC reductions between 75.0 and 87.5%. TA showed six synergies with Chloramphenicol, Ampicillin, Erythromycin, and Streptomycin against Acinetobacter baumannii, Streptococcus agalactiae, and Pasteurella aerogenes, with MIC reductions between 75.0 and 93.7%. Additionally, 31 additive effects with antibiotics for NE and 8 for TA were found. Kinetic studies on these synergies showed complete inhibition of bacterial growth, suggesting that natural products enhance antibiotics by facilitating their access to targets or preventing resistance. Given their safety profiles recognized by the EPA and FDA, these natural products could be promising candidates as antibiotic enhancers.
Enhancing Commercial Antibiotics with Trans-Cinnamaldehyde in Gram-Positive and Gram-Negative Bacteria: An In Vitro Approach
(MDPI, 2024-01-10) Ferrando, Natalia; Pino Otín, Rosa; Ballestero Fernández, Diego; Lorca, Guillermo; Terrado, Eva María; Langa Morales, Elisa
One strategy to mitigate the emergence of bacterial resistance involves reducing antibiotic doses by combining them with natural products, such as trans-cinnamaldehyde (CIN). The objective of this research was to identify in vitro combinations (CIN + commercial antibiotic (ABX)) that decrease the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of seven antibiotics against 14 different Gram-positive and Gram-negative pathogenic bacteria, most of them classified as ESKAPE. MIC values were measured for all compounds using the broth microdilution method. The effect of the combinations on these microorganisms was analyzed through the checkboard assay to determine the type of activity (synergy, antagonism, or addition). This analysis was complemented with a kinetic study of the synergistic combinations. Fifteen synergistic combinations were characterized for nine of the tested bacteria. CIN demonstrated effectiveness in reducing the MIC of chloramphenicol, streptomycin, amoxicillin, and erythromycin (94–98%) when tested on Serratia marcescens, Staphylococcus aureus, Pasteurella aerogenes, and Salmonella enterica, respectively. The kinetic study revealed that when the substances were tested alone at the MIC concentration observed in the synergistic combination, bacterial growth was not inhibited. However, when CIN and the ABX, for which synergy was observed, were tested simultaneously in combination at these same concentrations, the bacterial growth inhibition was complete. This demonstrates the highly potent in vitro synergistic activity of CIN when combined with commercial ABXs. This finding could be particularly beneficial in livestock farming, as this sector witnesses the highest quantities of antimicrobial usage, contributing significantly to antimicrobial resistance issues. Further research focused on this natural compound is thus warranted for this reason.
Mechanisms of action and resistance prevention of synergistic thymol and carvacrol combinations with antibiotics in Staphylococcus aureus and Acinetobacter baumannii
(SpringerOpen, 2025-06-06) Gan, Cristina; Langa Morales, Elisa; Ballestero Fernández, Diego; Pino Otín, Rosa
The use of natural products as antibiotic adjuvants to enhance efficacy and mitigate resistance is increasingly recognized as a promising strategy. This study explored five novel synergistic antimicrobial combinations (SACs) of carvacrol (CARV) and three already identified SACs of thymol (THY) with chloramphenicol, gentamicin, and streptomycin against Staphylococcus aureus and Acinetobacter baumannii, critical WHO-listed pathogens, and investigated their mechanisms of action and resistance-prevention capabilities. Despite being isomers, CARV and THY exhibited distinct synergistic effects and fractional inhibitory concentration index (FICI) values depending on the antibiotic and bacterial species. The SACs significantly reduced the required antibiotic dose by 4- to 16-fold, with FICI values ranging from 0.25 to 0.5. Growth kinetics revealed that SACs completely inhibited planktonic bacterial growth, outperforming antibiotics alone. Additionally, the SACs demonstrated efficacy in both inhibiting and eradicating biofilms of S. aureus and A. baumannii. Resistance development studies highlighted that neither THY nor CARV induced resistance in these pathogens. Moreover, SACs combining aminoglycosides with THY reduced the emergence of resistance in A. baumannii by up to 32-fold. In S. aureus, THY mitigated gentamicin resistance by 16-fold. CARV exhibited similar, albeit slightly less potent, effects. Mechanistic investigations revealed that THY and CARV exert antimicrobial action by multiple mechanisms, including bacterial membrane depolarization and disruption, efflux pump inhibition, disrupting ATP metabolism and mitigating oxidative stress induced by antibiotics. These findings highlight the potential of SACs to enhance antibiotic efficacy while preventing resistance, positioning them as strong candidates for innovative antimicrobial therapies against multidrug-resistant pathogens.
Trans-Cinnamaldehyde as an Environmentally Low-Impact Phytosanitary: Evaluation of Its Toxicity Toward Aquatic and Terrestrial Non-Target Species
(MPDI, 2026-05-16) Ferrando, Natalia; Langa Morales, Elisa; Botello-Morte, Laura; Rodríguez López, Pedro; Ballestero Fernández, Diego; Pino Otín, Rosa
Trans-cinnamaldehyde (CIN), the main component of cinnamon essential oil, is a promisingsustainable alternative to synthetic pesticides. Despite its use, ecotoxicological data on non-target species remain fragmented. This study systematically evaluates CIN’s acute toxicityacross multiple trophic levels to characterize the biological sensitivity and environmentalresponse of key organisms. Aquatic assays measured bioluminescence inhibition inAliivib-rio fischeriand immobilization inDaphnia magna. Terrestrial evaluations included lethalitytests onEisenia fetidaand root elongation inAllium cepa. Additionally, the impact on soiland river microbial communities was analyzed via Biolog EcoPlates™. Significant dose–response relationships were observed across all bioindicators (p< 0.0001).A. fischeriwas themost sensitive species (EC50= 1.428 mg·L−1), followed byD. magna(EC50= 4.533 mg·L−1).In terrestrial models,A. cepa(EC50= 11.644 mg·L−1) exhibited higher sensitivity thanE.fetida(LC50= 412.519 mg·kg−1). Microbial metabolic activity showed dose-dependentinhibition, particularly affecting carbohydrate and polymer degradation at high concen-trations. These findings define the first ecotoxicological benchmarks for CIN, establishingEC10and EC50values under standardized conditions. These data provide the necessarytoxicological constraints to ensure environmental safety in future field-scale applications ofthis natural compound
Bioactivity of Eugenol: A Potential Antibiotic Adjuvant with Minimal Ecotoxicological Impact
(MDPI, 2024-06) Ferrando, Natalia; Pino Otín, Rosa; Terrado, Eva; Ballestero Fernández, Diego; Langa Morales, Elisa
Combining commercial antibiotics with adjuvants to lower their minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) is vital in combating antimicrobial resistance. Evaluating the ecotoxicity of such compounds is crucial due to environmental and health risks. Here, eugenol was assessed as an adjuvant for 7 commercial antibiotics against 14 pathogenic bacteria in vitro, also examining its acute ecotoxicity on various soil and water organisms (microbiota, Vibrio fischeri, Daphnia magna, Eisenia foetida, and Allium cepa). Using microdilution methods, checkerboard assays, and kinetic studies, the MICs for eugenol were determined together with the nature of its combinations with antibiotics against bacteria, some unexposed to eugenol previously. The lethal dose for the non-target organisms was also determined, as well as the Average Well Color Development and the Community-Level Physiological Profiling for soil and water microbiota. Our findings indicate that eugenol significantly reduces MICs by 75 to 98%, which means that it could be a potent adjuvant. Ecotoxicological assessments showed eugenol to be less harmful to water and soil microbiota compared to studied antibiotics. While Vibrio fischeri and Daphnia magna were susceptible, Allium cepa and Eisenia foetida were minimally affected. Given that only 0.1% of eugenol is excreted by humans without metabolism, its environmental risk when used with antibiotics appears minimal.
Terpineol enhances antibiotic effectiveness and reduces resistance in clinically relevant bacteria
(Cell Press, 2025-10) Valenzuela, Antonio; Gan, Cristina; Ferrando, Natalia; Langa Morales, Elisa; Ballestero Fernández, Diego; Pino Otín, Rosa
Background and aim The synergistic interaction between natural compounds and existing antibiotics (ABXs) offers a promising strategy to enhance ABX efficacy while mitigating resistance. This study evaluated the potential of terpineol (TER), a monocyclic monoterpene of plant origin with antimicrobial properties, as an enhancer of antibiotic activity against 14 clinically and veterinary relevant bacterial strains, including ESKAPE pathogens identified by WHO as urgent targets. Experimental procedure The antimicrobial activity of TER and its synergistic effects with 13 commonly used antibiotics were assessed using the checkerboard microdilution method and isobologram representation, with growth kinetics and time-kill curves generated over 24 h. Key results TER showed antimicrobial activity against 14 tested bacteria. The lowest MIC was 0.25 mg/mL for Acinetobacter baumannii (WHO priority 1). TER was effective (MIC = 0.5 mg/mL) against various Gram-negative and positive bacteria, exhibiting bactericidal activity in all cases. TER formed additive and synergistic relationships with 11 antibiotics. Six combinations demonstrated synergy (FICi≤0.5), 24 showed additivity (0.5
Ecotoxicity and risk assessment of eight common antibiotics using soil and aquatic bioindicators
(Springer Nature, 2026-01-18) Gan, Cristina; Ranera, Beatriz; Pino Otín, Rosa; Langa Morales, Elisa; Ballestero Fernández, Diego
BackgroundThe extensive use of antibiotics in both human and veterinary medicine has resulted in their release into terrestrial and aquatic environments, raising concerns about ecological impacts and antimicrobial resistance. This study assesses the ecotoxicity and environmental risk of eight widely used antibiotics: amoxicillin, ampicillin, penicil‑lin, erythromycin, chloramphenicol, gentamicin, streptomycin, and tetracycline. Acute toxicity tests were conducted using five bioindicators spanning different trophic levels and environmental compartments: Aliivibrio fischeri, Daph-nia magna, Desmodesmus subspicatus, Eisenia fetida, and Allium cepa. EC₅₀ values were experimentally determined or sourced from literature to calculate predicted no‑effect concentrations (PNECs) and hazard quotients (HQs) for water and soil.ResultsToxicity varied considerably among species. A. fischeri was most sensitive to penicillin, while D. magnashowed highest sensitivity to chloramphenicol. In A. cepa, amoxicillin and gentamicin elicited the strongest phyto‑toxic responses. E. fetida exhibited no mortality at concentrations below 1000 mg/kg. HQ‑based risk assessment iden‑tified erythromycin, tetracycline, and amoxicillin as posing the greatest environmental risks, with HQ > 1 in both acute and chronic scenarios. Ampicillin consistently showed the lowest risk.Redundancy analysis indicated that the number of rotatable bonds was the most significant physicochemical predic‑tor of EC₅₀ values across species. This suggests that molecular flexibility, associated with structural promiscuity, may increase the potential for off‑target interactions.ConclusionsOverall, the study underscores the environmental risks posed by common antibiotics and highlights the relevance of molecular structure in predicting ecotoxicity. These insights support the development of targeted environmental management and regulatory frameworks.The apparent dissociation between the relatively low toxicity observed in individual non‑target organisms and the high environmental risk estimated for these compounds reveals that the true threat of antibiotics lies in their silent yet persistent erosion of ecosystem resilience, biodiversity, and ecological functions. These findings emphasize the need to consider sublethal and community‑level effects in environmental risk assessments.
Ecotoxicity of five veterinary antibiotics on indicator organisms and water and soil communities
(Elsevier, 2024-04) Pino Otín, Rosa; Valenzuela, Antonio; Gan, Cristina; Lorca, Guillermo; Ferrando, Natalia; Langa Morales, Elisa; Ballestero Fernández, Diego
This study explores the environmental effects of five common veterinary antibiotics widely detected in the environment, (chlortetracycline,CTC; oxytetracycline,OTC; florfenicol,FF; neomycin, NMC; and sulfadiazine, SDZ) on four bioindicators: Daphnia magna, Vibrio fischeri, Eisenia fetida, and Allium cepa, representing aquatic and soil environments. Additionally, microbial communities characterized through 16 S rRNA gene sequencing from a river and natural soil were exposed to the antibiotics to assess changes in population growth and metabolic profiles using Biolog EcoPlates™. Tetracyclines are harmful to Vibrio fisheri (LC 50 ranges of 15–25 µg/ mL), and the other three antibiotics seem to only affect D. magna, especially, SDZ. None of the antibiotics produced mortality in E. fetida at concentrations below 1000 mg/kg. NMC and CTC had the highest phytotoxicities in A. cepa (LC 50 = 97–174 µg/mL, respectively). Antibiotics significantly reduced bacterial metabolism at 0.1–10 µg/mL. From the highest to the lowest toxicity on aquatic communities: OTC > FF > SDZ ≈ CTC > NMC and on edaphic communities: CTC ≈ OTC > FF > SDZ > NMC. In river communities, OTC and FF caused substantial decreases in bacterial metabolism at low concentrations (0.1 µg/mL), impacting carbohydrates, amino acids (OTC), and polymers (FF). At 10 µg/mL and above, OTC, CTC, and FF significantly decreased metabolizing all tested metabolites. In soil communities, a more pronounced decrease in metabolizing ability, detectable at 0.1 µg/mL, particularly affected amines/amides and carboxylic and ketonic acids (p < 0.05). These new ecotoxicity findings underscore that the concentrations of these antibiotics in the environment can significantly impact both aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems.
Towards Antimicrobial Formulations of Repurposed Drugs and Cationic Surfactants: Efficacy, Cytotoxicity on Human Cell Lines, and Ecotoxicity in Aquatic Models
(MDPI, 2026-07-24) Monreal, Alida; Ballestero Fernández, Diego; Yus, Cristina; Mattar, Iman; Mendoza, Gracia; Langa Morales, Elisa; Pino Otín, Rosa; Arruebo, Miguel
Background: Antimicrobial combination therapies outperform traditional monotherapies by offering additive or synergetic effects, a broader spectrum of activity, enhanced efficacy against polymicrobial infections, and a reduced risk of resistance development and infection relapse. Methods: Herein, we have combined the chemotherapeutic antibiotic alkylating agent mitomycin C (MMC) with the wide-spectrum antiseptic octenidine hydrochloride (OCT). The non-specific mode of action via membrane disruption of the latter, together with the DNA-alkylating ability of the former, is here combined to produce bactericidal antibiotic-like mixtures against clinical isolates of Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus and uropathogenic Escherichia coli. The concentrations required for both antimicrobials to inhibit or eradicate bacterial biofilms as well as intracellular persisters are also determined here. The cytotoxicity of the selected combinations on eukaryotic cells was also evaluated in traditional 2D cultures and in 3D-fibroblast spheroids to mimic a physiologically relevant microenvironment present in topical infections. Finally, the ecotoxicity of the studied compounds was also evaluated through standardized bioassays using representative microorganisms commonly employed in environmental toxicity assessments such as Daphnia magna (D. magna) and Aliivibrio fischeri (A. fischeri). Results: Compared to monotherapy, these environmentally friendly antibiotic-like combinations at specific concentrations may achieve additive antimicrobial effects against planktonic, sessile, and intracellular pathogenic strains. However, the ecotoxicological response was bioindicator-dependent: the OCT–MMC combination reduced toxicity in A. fischeri, but not in D. magna, where toxicity was comparable to OCT alone, indicating OCT as the main driver. Thus, any reduction in ecotoxicity appears species-specific. Nonetheless, the use of lower doses may help minimize selective pressure for resistance. Conclusions: Collectively, these findings demonstrate that selected MMC–OCT combinations achieve antibacterial efficacy against planktonic, sessile, and intracellular pathogenic bacteria while preserving the viability of eukaryotic cells and exhibiting minimal toxicity toward standard ecotoxicological model organisms. Further studies are needed to guarantee the safe use of this combination at selected doses and to guarantee its non-systemic absorption after topical administration.
Effects of a Futsal-Specific Preventive Program on Interlimb Asymmetry and Injury Risk in Youth Male Futsal Players
(MDPI, 2026-08-26) Villanueva-Guerrero, Oscar; Travassos, Bruno; Albalad-Aiguabella, Rafael; Mainer Pardos, Elena
Interlimb asymmetry is relevant for monitoring neuromuscular function in athletes, but evidence on futsal-specific preventive strategies in youth players remains limited. This study examined the effects of a 20-week Futsal Preventive Program (FPP) on functional interlimb asymmetry and explored injury risk during a 9-month surveillance period. Sixtyseven youth male outfield players completed pre- and post-intervention assessments (control group, n = 36; experimental group, n = 31), while 79 players were included in the injury-risk analysis (control group, n = 41; experimental group, n = 38). The experimental group performed a 15 min neuromuscular warm-up weekly, while the control group continued its usual warm-up. Asymmetry was assessed using countermovement jump (CMJ), horizontal jump (HJ), and 505 change-of-direction (COD 505) tests. The program produced a task-specific reduction in COD 505 asymmetry compared with the control group (cluster-adjusted difference = −1.27 percentage points; 95% CI: −2.00 to −0.53; Bonferroniadjusted p = 0.03), whereas no significant intervention effects were observed for CMJ or HJ asymmetry. Across the full 9-month surveillance period, the crude cumulative injury-risk estimate was RR = 0.92 (95% CI: 0.59–1.45), with the confidence interval including the null value. These findings support a task-specific effect of the FPP on COD 505 asymmetry, without evidence of corresponding effects on CMJ or HJ asymmetry. Injury findings were descriptive and hypothesis-generating and do not establish preventive efficacy. Further studies with a larger number of randomized teams, greater weekly intervention exposure, and individual training and match exposure monitoring are warranted to clarify potential effects on injury incidence.
Influence of Match Location and Match Outcome on External Load Demands in Female Futsal Players
(MDPI, 2026-08-19) Albalad-Aiguabella, Rafael; Villanueva-Guerrero, Oscar; Gutiérrez-Logroño, Alejandra; Roso-Moliner, Alberto; Mainer Pardos, Elena
Contextual factors may influence external load demands during futsal competition, yet evidence in women’s futsal remains limited. This study aimed to analyse the influence of match location and match outcome, as well as their interaction, on external load variables in female futsal players. Fourteen national-level female outfield players from a Spanish Second Division team were monitored across 27 official matches during the 2024–2025 season. External load variables were recorded using wearable inertial measurement units and normalised per minute of effective playing time. A total of 191 valid player-match observations were analysed using linear mixed models, with player identity and match identity included as crossed random intercepts. Neither match location nor match outcome significantly influenced any of the external load variables analysed, and no significant match location × match outcome interactions were observed (all p > 0.05). Nevertheless, descriptive differences and effect sizes ranging from trivial to large were observed across the analysed variables. These findings indicate that external load demands in female futsal remain relatively stable across match locations and final match outcomes. Future research including larger samples and more detailed situational variables is required to further investigate the potential influence of contextual factors on external load demands in women’s futsal.
AI in Journalism: A Systematic Review of Media Literacy, Competencies, and Algorithmic Engagement
(MDPI, 2026-07-23) Tejedor, Santiago; Cervi, Laura; Villarejo -Carballido, Beatriz; Verón-Lassa, José Juan
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is redefining journalism, transforming news production, distribution, and consumption. Despite the growing adoption of AI in newsrooms, academic research remains fragmented and lacks a comprehensive overview of global trends, particularly regarding its implications for media literacy and disinformation. This article addresses this gap through a systematic literature review of publications on AI in journalism between 2020 and 2024, based on Scopus and Web of Science. The analysis shows a significant increase in research output since 2023, alongside a strong geographical concentration in Europe and North America, with limited representation from the Global South. The results identify six key thematic areas: automation of news production, algorithmic personalization, newsroom integration, ethical and regulatory challenges, disinformation, and journalism education. Across these themes, the findings reveal a shift from a predominantly technocentric perspective toward a competency-based approach, with increasing attention to media literacy. While AI is associated with efficiency and innovation, the literature consistently highlights concerns related to transparency, bias, editorial accountability, and the transformation of professional roles, as well as risks linked to misinformation and declining public trust. Importantly, the review shows that media literacy—particularly AI literacy—emerges as a transversal dimension, emphasizing the need for competencies that enable journalists and audiences to critically understand, evaluate, and engage with algorithmic systems. The study also identifies key gaps, including limited longitudinal research, scarce audience-centered approaches, insufficient interdisciplinary collaboration, and persistent deficiencies in AI-related training. By foregrounding literacy as a central analytical dimension, this article advances a more holistic understanding of AI in journalism and contributes to the development of a globally inclusive and competency-oriented research agenda.
Policies and Tax Systems for Regulating Vacant Houses: A Case Study on Spain and Japan
(J-STAGE, 2022) Baba, Hiroki; Ruiz-Varona, Ana; Asami, Yasushi
An increased number of vacant houses have been found in Spain and Japan in recent years, specifically in de-growth areas. This article explores the extent to which these two countries have promoted policies and tax systems to counteract this phenomenon. According to existing research, tax systems sometimes work as factors that encourage the increase of vacant houses. However, the systems in the two countries in question are dissimilar. We apply the divergence perspective for developing housing system typologies, and analyse vacant housing policy measures from the administrative perspective of Japan’s centralised unitary and Spain’s decentralised unitary state. As a result, while the Spanish taxation system may expect housing owners to circulate their properties in the real estate market, the duty schemes in Japan encourage homeowners to build or to hold onto their houses. Moreover, the recent vacant housing policies of both countries seem to actively decentralise taxation authorities, disclose information on vacant properties and take advantage of vacant spaces. More generally, vacant housing control in Spain is relevant to countries with decentralisation or even a federal system, which can control housing vacancy levels by the power of local governments. By contrast, the Japanese method of vacancy control applies to East Asian and socialist countries, where national governments can promptly implement policies. Moreover, the policy promoting a nationwide vacant house bank would help to mitigate information asymmetry.
Synodality and Public Opinion
(Pontificia Università della Santa Croce, 2023-05-01) González Gaitano, Norberto; Pérez-Martínez, Víctor Manuel
Against the backdrop of the Synod on synodality, the article offers an ecclesiological and communicative reflection regarding how the judgement of the faithful in the Church should be shaped and expressed according to the nature of the topics on which they are called upon to deal with: deposit of faith, Church governance and the realm of the debatable. The second part studies the participation of bishops’ conferences and the faithful in the synod process and the reception of the Synod in public opinion through the mass media. The three main conclusions of the empirical study are: 1) the participation has been scant, 2) for the Western mainstream press, this Synod is not newsworthy, 2) the analysis of the Catholic press coverage clearly shows that the difficult German Synod path has cast a shadow of suspicion on the universal Synod. There is no doubt that structural problems, also in terms of communication, are there, and they certainly stem from the novelty of an unprecedented ecclesial experiment.
La Comunicación Organizacional De Las Instituciones Militares En La Web 2.0
(Universidad Católica Andrés Bello, 2011-07-25) Pérez-Martínez, Víctor Manuel; Zurutuza-Muñoz, Cristina
El artículo investiga el uso de la Web 2.0 en veinte sitios Web institucionales de organizaciones militares (Ministerio de Defensa). La comunicación organizacional en la Red es un área estratégica para las instituciones en la actualidad. Por eso hay que utilizar todos los recursos de la Red en la construcción del mensaje. Se constata la tendencia a usar la Web 2.0 pero es necesario seguir integrando sus recursos en la comunicación institucional.
Differences by gender and origin in the representation of Afghan and Ukrainian refugees in the Spanish press (2002–2022)
(Taylor and Francis, 2025-10-16) Fernández-Romero, Cayetano; Prieto-Andrés, Antonio; Corral García, Alfonso
This study analyses the representation of Afghan and Ukrainian refugees in the Spanish press of reference—ABC, El País, El Mundo, and La Vanguardia—from an intersectional perspective of gender and origin and, therefore, of ethnicity and religion as well. Quantitative content analysis methodology was applied for the study, based on a corpus of 225 news units, deductively establishing a series of categories for the main topics and sources, in parallel with the application of three frame models, thus enabling an analysis of the similarities and differences in the representation of the two groups of refugees. Among the noteworthy results, the intersectional study by gender and origin provides significant results regarding the refugees, who are presented as homogeneous groups. Differences are thereby distinguished, ranging from a general humanitarian representation to an empathetic one in the case of Ukrainian women, hospitable regarding Afghan women (i.e. a representation that emphasises welcome, protection, and a moral duty to play host), and securitarian and threatening in the case of Afghan men (i.e. a representation focused on national security, portraying them as potential risks or as a threat to public order).
Parametric-based and automatized gis application to calculate energy savings of the building 2 envelope in rehabilitated nearly zero energy buildings (nZEB). case study of Zaragoza, Spain
(Elsevier, 2020-03-14) García-Ballano, Claudio Javier; Ruiz-Varona, Ana; Casas-Villarreal, Luis
In Spain, most existing housing units were constructed when there were only minimal regulations regarding energy efficiency. It was not until 1979 that transmittance values were established for different types of enclosures. However, 54.10% of current houses were constructed before 1979, similar values than most of the European countries. The objectives of the European 2020 strategy highlight the importance of rehabilitating urban environments. To date, few studies have considered the energy efficiency of buildings as a determinant of the energy vulnerability of specific areas. In this article, an automated and replicable GIS-based method to evaluate the energy savings generated from adapting the exterior envelope of buildings to achieve nZEB is proposed. The method is based on the analysis of existing cadastral data as main database and is applied to the specific case of Zaragoza, Spain. The results show that the saving energy potential vary from 30.6 to 57.9% at the building level and confirm differences in savings with respect to the age of the buildings and other variables. Findings suggest that the method would contribute not only to providing an automatized analysis of energy efficiency but also to improving the design of comprehensive renewal policies at different scales in cities
A comparison of generalised urban block 3D model variants considering attributes with an influence on urban analyses
(Copernicus, 2026-06) Domínguez-Lapeña, Alejandro; Béjar, Rubén; Ruiz-Varona, Ana
Three-dimensional (3D) city models support geometry-sensitive urban analyses related to energy demand, material stocks, and urban climate. While modelling decisions at the scale of individual buildings have been widely examined—particularly in relation to Levels of Detail (LOD)—the geometric specification of intermediate spatial units such as urban blocks remains weakly defined. In practice, block-level representations are often derived through implicit aggregation of building geometries, without explicitly assessing the generalisation strategies involved or their analytical implications. This study systematically evaluates alternative 3D urban block modelling variants derived from identical building-based cadastral data. Three 3D generalisation strategies are considered: footprint simplification, height simplification, and semantic grouping of envelope or façade elements. Their combinations generate 19 distinct configurations applied to a morphologically heterogeneous urban block in Zaragoza (Spain). For each variant, total built volume, exposed envelope area (surface), and geometric complexity (polygon count) are computed and compared. Results show that height simplification primarily affects volumetric estimates, whereas semantic grouping strongly reduces exposed surface area and geometric complexity without affecting volume. Footprint simplification exhibits intermediate effects across indicators. These findings demonstrate that block-level generalisation strategies significantly influence analytical outcomes and cannot be treated as neutral aggregation steps. The study provides a structured and reproducible framework for evaluating 3D urban block modelling variants in urban-scale analyses.

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