Determinants of inefficiency in the provision of public parks and gardens services

El artículo ofrece recomendaciones de política pública, como fomentar la cooperación entre municipios, aplicar tecnologías inteligentes y fortalecer los mecanismos de control ciudadano, con el fin de mejorar la eficiencia en la provisión de espacios verdes urbanos sostenibles e inclusivos.Este artículo analiza la eficiencia en la gestión de parques y jardines públicos en 202 municipios españoles con poblaciones entre 5.000 y 50.000 habitantes. A través del uso de Análisis Envolvente de Datos (DEA) con bootstrap doble, se calcula la eficiencia relativa de cada municipio y se identifican los determinantes clave de la ineficiencia. El estudio revela que existen grandes márgenes de mejora en la gestión municipal de estos servicios, ya que solo un 1 % de los municipios es eficiente bajo retornos constantes de escala. Entre los factores que mejoran la eficiencia están: la densidad poblacional, el nivel de ingresos y el valor catastral de las viviendas. Por el contrario, factores como una alta carga fiscal, la concentración política y un mayor porcentaje de inmigrantes se asocian con menores niveles de eficiencia.This study examines the efficiency of public parks and gardens management in 202 Spanish municipalities with populations between 5000 and 50,000 inhabitants. Using Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) with double bootstrapping, efficiency scores are estimated while correcting for bias and assessing key inefficiency determinants. The results indicate that only 1 % of municipalities achieve efficiency under constant returns to scale, while 10 % do so under variable returns, highlighting significant inefficiencies and the potential for resource optimisation. Several factors significantly influence efficiency. Higher population density (− 21.65), income levels (− 49.84), and cadastral property values (− 3.16) improve efficiency, likely due to economies of scale, increased citizen demand for service quality, and stronger financial oversight. Conversely, higher tax burdens (+0.2188), political concentration (+33.20), and a larger immigrant population (+90.99) correlate with lower efficiency, suggesting weakened expenditure control, reduced accountability, and increased pressure on public space management. The study proposes targeted policy recommendations to address these inefficiencies. Inter-municipal cooperation is encouraged to improve efficiency, particularly in smaller municipalities where shared services could reduce costs. Citizen oversight mechanisms should be reinforced to enhance governance transparency and accountability. Additionally, municipalities with high tax burdens or larger immigrant populations should implement strategies ensuring sustainable public space management. Smart technologies, such as IoT-based irrigation systems and automated maintenance, could further optimise efficiency. By integrating DEA with double bootstrapping, this study provides a robust framework for evaluating municipal efficiency. The findings offer insights for policymakers seeking to improve public resource management while ensuring sustainable and inclusive urban green spaces.Administración y Dirección de EmpresasCiencias AmbientalesCiencias de la ComunicaciónDerechoTurismoCiencias Sociales y de la ComunicaciónDerechoEconomía y Empres

Targeting Drug Resistance in Cancer: Dimethoxycurcumin as a Functional Antioxidant Targeting ABCC3

The development of new anticancer therapies remains challenging due to tumor heterogeneity and the frequent emergence of multidrug resistance (MDR). Natural products have garnered increasing attention as alternative or complementary therapeutic agents due to their bioactivity and reduced toxicity. Polyphenols, particularly curcumin and its derivatives, have shown promise in modulating signaling pathways, enhancing chemosensitivity, and overcoming drug resistance. The anticancer potential of dimethoxycurcumin, a chemically modified curcumin derivative identified through consensus fingerprint similarity screening, was investigated for its potential to inhibit ABCC3 (MRP3)—a member of the ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporter family implicated in drug efflux, tumor cell survival, and resistance. In vitro experiments demonstrated that dimethoxycurcumin significantly reduced cancer cell viability and colony formation, indicating a strong inhibitory effect on ABCC3 function. These results suggest that dimethoxycurcumin may sensitize cancer cells to chemotherapy by targeting resistance pathways. The data presented contribute to the growing body of evidence suggesting that bioactive plant-derived compounds, including chemically modified derivatives, may hold therapeutic potential in oncology by modulating multidrug resistance pathways. Targeting ABC transporters with natural compound derivatives could offer a promising strategy for developing more effective and less toxic anticancer therapies.FarmaciaCiencias de la Salu

Improving spinal alignment through innovative resistance training with outdoor fitness equipment in middle-aged and older adults: a randomized controlled trial

The main objective of this study was to analyze the effect of a resistance training program using outdoor fitness equipment (OFE) on sagittal spine disposition and pelvic tilt in middle-aged and older adults. One hundred and twenty-eight middle-aged and older adults were randomly assigned to the training (TG) or control group (CG). The TG trained for 8 weeks, with 2 weekly sessions of one hour of resistance circuit training with OFE. Before and after the intervention, the sagittal spine disposition and pelvic tilt in the relaxed standing and sitting positions were analyzed. The results showed that the TG obtained a significant reduction (p < 0.001) in all the curvatures of the sagittal spine disposition and pelvic tilt in the standing position after the intervention, in contrast to the CG, which only showed a significant reduction in pelvic tilt (p = 0.005). Regarding the sitting position, only the TG presented a significant decrease in lumbar lordosis (p < 0.001). In conclusion, resistance training with OFE may be useful in improving sagittal spine disposition in middle-aged and older adults. Given the availability of free OFE in parks, the present research provides elders with an accessible and effective training program to curb the effects of ageing on the sagittal spine disposition.Actividad Física y DeporteDeport

Destructive Leadership in Organizations: Empirical Studies on the Dark Triad of Personality and Its Interplay With Motivation, Satisfaction, and Development

For more than two decades, researchers have been showing an increasing interest in the construct of the Dark Triad of personality and its impact on organizations and individuals. The Dark Triad includes the subclinical dimensions of narcissism, Machiavellianism, and psychopathy, and has been empirically linked to destructive leadership and its malevolent outcomes. Much of the existing research has focused on the impact of leaders with high scores on the Dark Triad and their role in the organizational context. The aim of this doctoral thesis is to examine the underlying and regulatory influences, with a focus on the effects these leaders have on followers in terms of their motivation, satisfaction, and career development. For this purpose, an extensive literature review on destructive leadership, Self-Determination theory, and overarching prevalent theories was carried out; this was followed by four empirical studies. The first study (N = 469) focused on the role of followers¿ psychological capital and psychological safety and revealed a serial mediation for the relationship between dark leadership and the work-related basic need satisfaction of followers. The second study (N = 575) examined differences between two occupational groups, namely individuals in social jobs and non-social jobs regarding their types of motivation, and how they were influenced by destructive leadership. Several findings were drawn from this study. First, the two groups differed in nearly all the motivational types, but not in their levels of leaders¿ dark traits. Also, their autonomous types of motivation were found to be a mediator of the relationship between the Dark Triad of their leaders and their level of amotivation. For further examination, the sample was divided into four groups depending on the job type and the Dark Triad level of leaders. Results revealed significant differences among those four groups regarding individuals¿ life satisfaction, agreeableness, their own dark traits, and the Light Triad traits of themselves and their leaders. The third study (N = 647) focused on the impact of leaders¿ Dark Triad of personality on their followers¿ career development, with a focus on the influence on their core self-evaluations as an underlying mechanism. Results revealed that the influence of dark leaders on their followers¿ career development was almost entirely explained by their core self-evaluations, their intrinsic motivation, and their own light and dark character traits. Furthermore, the Dark Triad of personality was demonstrated as a moderator of the relationship between followers¿ intrinsic motivation and their career success, revealing its impact on their development within the organization. The fourth study consisted of data collected in the previous studies, as they all measured both the Dark Triad traits of leaders, as well as that of followers. The aim of this study was to examine the interplay of dark leaders and dark followers, and it was demonstrated that followers¿ dark traits mediated relationships in the workplace and beyond. Besides drawing overarching conclusions from the empirical studies and considering their implications for science and practice, the last section illustrates their limitations and suggestions for future research.Durante más de dos décadas, los investigadores han mostrado un creciente interés en el constructo de la Tríada Oscura de la personalidad y su impacto en las organizaciones y los individuos. La Tríada Oscura incluye las dimensiones subclínicas del narcisismo, maquiavelismo y psicopatía, y se ha vinculado empíricamente con el liderazgo destructivo y sus resultados malévolos. Gran parte de la investigación existente se ha centrado en el impacto de los líderes con altos puntajes en la Tríada Oscura y su papel en el contexto organizacional. El objetivo de esta tesis doctoral es examinar las influencias subyacentes y regulatorias con un enfoque en los efectos que estos líderes tienen sobre los seguidores en términos de su motivación, satisfacción y desarrollo profesional. Con este propósito, se realizó una extensa revisión de la literatura sobre liderazgo destructivo, la teoría de la autodeterminación y teorías prevalentes generales; esto fue seguido por cuatro estudios empíricos. El primer estudio (N = 469) se centró en el papel del capital psicológico y la seguridad psicológica de los seguidores y reveló una mediación en serie para la relación entre el liderazgo oscuro y la satisfacción de las necesidades básicas relacionadas con el trabajo de los seguidores. El segundo estudio (N = 575) examinó las diferencias entre dos grupos ocupacionales, a saber, individuos en trabajos sociales y trabajos no sociales, con respecto a sus tipos de motivación y cómo fueron influenciados por el liderazgo destructivo. De este estudio se extrajeron varios hallazgos. Primero, los dos grupos diferían en casi todos los tipos de motivación, pero no en sus niveles de rasgos oscuros de los líderes. Además, se encontró que sus tipos de motivación autónoma eran un mediador de la relación entre la Tríada Oscura de sus líderes y su nivel de amotivación. Para un examen más detallado, la muestra se dividió en cuatro grupos según el tipo de trabajo y el nivel de Tríada Oscura de los líderes. Los resultados revelaron diferencias significativas entre esos cuatro grupos en cuanto a la satisfacción con la vida de los individuos, su amabilidad, sus propios rasgos oscuros y los rasgos de la Tríada de Luz de ellos mismos y de sus líderes. El tercer estudio (N = 647) se centró en el impacto de la Tríada Oscura de la personalidad de los líderes en el desarrollo profesional de sus seguidores, con un enfoque en la influencia en sus autoevaluaciones centrales como un mecanismo subyacente. Los resultados revelaron que la influencia de los líderes oscuros en el desarrollo profesional de sus seguidores se explicaba casi en su totalidad por sus autoevaluaciones centrales, su motivación intrínseca y sus propios rasgos de carácter claros y oscuros. Además, se demostró que la Tríada Oscura de la personalidad era un moderador de la relación entre la motivación intrínseca de los seguidores y su éxito profesional, revelando su impacto en su desarrollo dentro de la organización. El cuarto estudio consistió en datos recopilados en los estudios anteriores, ya que todos ellos midieron tanto los rasgos de la Tríada Oscura de los líderes como de los seguidores. El objetivo de este estudio era examinar la interacción de líderes oscuros y seguidores oscuros, y se demostró que los rasgos oscuros de los seguidores mediaban las relaciones en el lugar de trabajo y más allá. Además de extraer conclusiones generales de los estudios empíricos y considerar sus implicaciones para la ciencia y la práctica, la última sección ilustra sus limitaciones y sugiere investigaciones futurasAdministración y Dirección de Empresa

Valor predictivo de la respuesta por PSA en el cáncer de próstata sensible a la castración

MedicinaMedicin

GreenTennis Literature Review Report

This document includes: A systematic review of over 120 scientific publications, official reports, and European initiatives related to environmental sustainability in sport. A detailed analysis of the main strategic areas for GreenTennis: energy efficiency, renewable energies, water management, carbon footprint reduction, sustainable mobility, environmental awareness, and heritage conservation. The identification of good practices applicable to historic tennis clubs, as well as critical gaps and recommendations for action. The outcomes of this work provide a solid technical and strategic basis for the development of the Sustainability Toolkit, the training programmes, and the evaluation methodologies that will be implemented throughout the project.Actividad Física y DeporteCiencias AmbientalesEuropean UnionDeport

Relationship Between Anthropometric Profile, Body Composition, and Physical Performance in Spanish Professional Female Soccer Players at Pre-Season Onset: A Cross-Sectional Study

Background: Body composition plays a key role in both anaerobic and aerobic performance in professional soccer. However, its relationship with physical performance in female players remains underexplored. Assessing these parameters at the beginning of the pre-season provides valuable insights for optimizing player readiness. This study investigates the correlation between anthropometric profile, body composition, and physical performance in professional female soccer players at pre-season onset. Additionally, it analyzes positional differences and their relation to the specific physical demands of women’s soccer. Methods: A cross-sectional study of thirty-four female soccer players (age: 23.06 ± 4.29 years, height: 164.15 ± 5.84 cm, weight: 58.39 ± 6.62 kg, and ∑6 skinfolds: 74.57 ± 18.48 mm) who performed anthropometric measurements, the Countermovement Jump (CMJ), Wingate Anaerobic Test (WAnT), and Yo-Yo Intermittent Recovery Level 1 (Yo-Yo IR1) on the first day of the pre-season. One-way ANOVA with Tukey’s post hoc test assessed positional differences, while Pearson’s or Spearman’s correlation coefficients evaluated relationships between anthropometric variables and performance outcomes. Results: Very high positive correlations were found between body and muscle mass with the power variables in CMJ and WAnT (r = 0.70–0.89; p < 0.001). An almost perfect correlation was observed between body mass and peak power in WAnT (r = 0.904; p < 0.001). In contrast, fat mass showed moderate negative correlations with jump height and aerobic performance (Yo-Yo IR1 distance) (r = 0.30–0.49; p < 0.04). Significant differences were observed in the mean (757.60 ± 95.59 W) and peak power (773.59 ± 101.88 W) of CMJ pre-WAnT, with goalkeepers showing higher values compared to defenders and midfielders (p < 0.05). Conclusions: Body composition significantly influences athletic performance, showing positive correlations of muscle and body mass with anaerobic power and capacity. In contrast, fat mass showed negative correlations with explosive strength, recovery, and aerobic capacity.Antecedentes: La composición corporal desempeña un papel fundamental tanto en el rendimiento anaeróbico como en el aeróbico en el fútbol profesional. Sin embargo, su relación con el rendimiento físico en las jugadoras sigue sin estar suficientemente estudiada. La evaluación de estos parámetros al comienzo de la pretemporada proporciona información valiosa para optimizar la preparación de las jugadoras. Este estudio investiga la correlación entre el perfil antropométrico, la composición corporal y el rendimiento físico en jugadoras de fútbol profesional al inicio de la pretemporada. Además, analiza las diferencias posicionales y su relación con las exigencias físicas específicas del fútbol femenino. Métodos: Estudio transversal de treinta y cuatro futbolistas femeninas (edad: 23,06 ± 4,29 años, altura: 164,15 ± 5,84 cm, peso: 58,39 ± 6,62 kg, y ∑6 pliegues cutáneos: 74,57 ± 18,48 mm) a las que se les realizaron mediciones antropométricas, el salto de contramovimiento (CMJ), la prueba anaeróbica de Wingate (WAnT) y el Yo-Yo Intermittent Recovery Level 1 (Yo-Yo IR1) el primer día de la pretemporada. Se evaluaron las diferencias posicionales mediante un ANOVA unidireccional con la prueba post hoc de Tukey, mientras que los coeficientes de correlación de Pearson o Spearman evaluaron las relaciones entre las variables antropométricas y los resultados de rendimiento. Resultados: Se encontraron correlaciones positivas muy altas entre la masa corporal y la masa muscular con las variables de potencia en CMJ y WAnT (r = 0,70-0,89; p < 0,001). Se observó una correlación casi perfecta entre la masa corporal y la potencia máxima en el WAnT (r = 0,904; p < 0,001). Por el contrario, la masa grasa mostró correlaciones negativas moderadas con la altura del salto y el rendimiento aeróbico (distancia Yo-Yo IR1) (r = 0,30-0,49; p < 0,04). Se observaron diferencias significativas en la media (757,60 ± 95,59 W) y la potencia máxima (773,59 ± 101,88 W) del CMJ pre-WAnT, con valores más altos en los porteros en comparación con los defensas y los centrocampistas (p < 0,05). Conclusiones: La composición corporal influye significativamente en el rendimiento deportivo, mostrando correlaciones positivas entre la masa muscular y corporal con la potencia y la capacidad anaeróbicas. Por el contrario, la masa grasa mostró correlaciones negativas con la fuerza explosiva, la recuperación y la capacidad aeróbica.Actividad Física y DeporteCiencias de la AlimentaciónCiencias de la Salu

Neuromuscular Responses to 5 K Time Trial Load Carried by Spanish Army Marines

One of the physical requirements for marines involves covering a specific dis tance while carrying individual combat gear, supplies, or other military equipment across challenging terrain. Training for this physically and mentally demanding task is a routine component of their preparation. However, further research is needed to better under stand the neuromuscular impact of such demanding efforts, strenuous maneuvers, and the recovery process in the subsequent days. Twenty-nine marines completed a 5 km time trial while carrying 24 kg of combat gear, undergoing evaluations at four time points: pre exercise, immediately post exercise, 24 h post exercise, and 48 h post exercise. Repeated measures ANOVA, paired samples t-test, and effect size (ES) analysis were conducted, presenting the results as the mean ± standard deviation (SD). The significance level was set at p ≤ 0.05. Several variables and their corresponding p-values demonstrated changes over time, including the following: the isometric mid-thigh pull (IMTP) (p = 0.001); coun termovement jump height (VJ CMJ) (p ≤ 0.001); rating of fatigue scale (ROF) (p ≤ 0.001); blood lactate (BL) levels (p ≤ 0.001); maximum pull-ups (PUmax) (p ≤ 0.001); body mass (BM) (p ≤ 0.001); dominant hand grip strength (DHGS) (p = 0.406); and non-dominant hand grip strength (NDHGS) (p = 0.805). Incident reports and perceived effort (IRPE) revealed a progressive and significant increase between the first and last kilometer of the test, specifically in perceived variables of fatigue, muscle pain, joint pain, shortness of breath, palpitations, excessive sweating, and muscle tremors (all p ≤ 0.001). These findings may contribute to optimizing training programs to better align with operational demands, thereby improving task performance and overall mission effectiveness. In conclusion, the military test had a significant neuromuscular impact on the body, initially resulting in the potentiation of absolute global isometric strength and lower-limb power. However, these values declined below the baseline levels at 24 and 48 h post test.Actividad Física y DeporteCIAR

La Segunda Guerra Mundial a través de la IA y el Chat GPT en 4º ESO

La Inteligencia Artificial ha revolucionado en los últimos años la enseñanza. En un sistema educativo cada vez más digitalizado, la asignatura de Geografía e Historia, caracterizada por un gran volumen de contenidos teóricos y la memorización, puede beneficiarse del uso de estas herramientas para hacer el aprendizaje más motivador, dinámico, colaborativo y activo para el alumnado. A través de una metodología activa y diversas estrategias educativas, se hará partícipes a los estudiantes en su propio proceso de enseñanza y aprendizaje en el tema tratado. El resultado del proyecto será que los estudiantes adquieran los conocimientos necesarios sobre la Segunda Guerra Mundial, identifiquen los protagonistas de la guerra, evalúen las consecuencias y desarrollen habilidades de investigación para profundizar en el suceso. En definitiva, existen posibilidades reales de utilizar la Inteligencia Artificial como recurso educativo para enriquecer la enseñanza de la Historia, mediante un uso responsable y guiado de la misma.Artificial Intelligence has revolutionized teaching in recent years. In an increasingly digitalized educational system, the subject of Geography and History, characterized by a large volume of theoretical content and memorization, can take advantage of the use of these tools in order to make learning more motivating, dynamic, collaborative, and active for students. Through an active methodology and various educational strategies, students will be involved in their own teaching and learning process on the subject covered. The result of the project will make students acquire the necessary knowledge about the Second World War, identify the protagonists of the war, assess the consequences, and develop research skills to explore deeper into the event. In short, there are real possibilities of using Artificial Intelligence as an educational resource to enrich the teaching of History, through its responsible and guided use.EducaciónEducació

Impact of Nursing Practice Environments in Work Engagement and Burnout: A Systematic Review

Background/Objectives: Work environment greatly affects nursing activities. This study aimed to explore the impact of the professional nursing environment on the risk of burnout symptomatology and work engagement (a burnout-moderating variable). Methods: A systematic review has been carried out. Selection criteria included cross-sectional studies that evaluated the professional nursing environment with the PES-NWI scale and also evaluated the levels of burnout and/or engagement in nurses. The PubMed, Scopus, Cinahl and WoS databases have been reviewed until November 2024, and potential articles manually selected by two researchers independently. Results: Eighty-four articles were selected, and after applying selection and exclusion criteria, 14 papers were finally included. Most studies were conducted in Europe. The quality evaluation was carried out using the JBI critical appraisal checklist. All retrieved studies focused on burnout, and only two works also evaluated work engagement. Conclusions: Overall, the trend indicates that a favorable professional environment was related to lower burnout symptoms, lower intentions to leave work and higher levels of work engagement. In addition, an adequate work environment was associated with less stress and higher quality of care, social support, professional development, leadership, nurse-doctor collaboration, nurse participation in hospital issues, staffing and job satisfaction.EnfermeríaPsicologíaCiencias de la Salu