Reflecting university image in the era of digitalization

The digital transformation of Higher Education institutions affects their teaching, research, and administrative functions, ultimately shaping their public image. This study examines the factors that influence graduates' perceptions of university image, focusing on socio-demographic characteristics, university experience, employment-related outcomes, and digitalization dimensions such as information quality, online communication, learning quality, social media presence, and electronic Word of Mouth (e-WOM). A nationwide survey was conducted among 600 Spanish graduates using structured questionnaires with validated scales. Data were analyzed using binary logistic regression. The findings reveal that graduate identification with the institution, the quality of shared information and websites, and e-WOM is significantly associated with the perceived image. Additionally, job market insertion plays a crucial role. The findings suggest the relevance of strategically managing digital presence and communication, especially on social media. By integrating digitalization into image-building strategies, the study offers a novel framework for understanding how institutional image is constructed in the digital era.Consejería de Universidad, Investigación e Innovación and ERDF Andalusia Program 2021–2027 - (C-SEJ-197-UGR23)Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities (Spain) - (PID2024-159497OB-I00

Turning plastic and biomass waste into adsorbents: CO2/CH4 separation and comparison with commercial carbons

Project PDC2022-133808-I00 (ADSORCHAR) was financed by MICIU/AEI /10.13039/501100011033 and the European Union Next Generation EU/ PRTR. The authors are also grateful to the external analysis services CIC (“Centro de Instrumentación Científica”) of the University of Granada.This work compares two commercial activated carbons (CC1 and CC2) with a novel lab-scale activated carbon (NC) produced from the co-pyrolysis of post-consumer plastic waste and olive cake, followed by physical activation with CO2. The materials were characterized by elemental analysis, proximate analysis, surface area measurements, XRD, and XPS. Elemental and proximate analyses revealed that CC2 possesses the highest carbon content (95.25 %), nitrogen doping (1.62 %), and lowest ash fraction (0.82 %). Textural analysis indicated that CC2 exhibits a high BET surface area (948.55 m2/g) and micropore area (780.84 m2/g), while CC1 showed a negligible surface area (2.82 m2/g), and NC demonstrated a moderate surface area (230.04 m2/g), indicating a poorly developed porous structure in both cases. Dynamic adsorption tests showed that CC2 presented the highest CO2 uptake (up to 2.90 mmol/g) and CO2/CH4 selectivity (2.40 in molar terms under biogas conditions), mainly attributed to its well-developed microporosity that favor physisorption. In contrast, NC showed lower CO2 adsorption (0.80 mmol/g) and higher CH4 uptake (0.93 mmol/g), resulting in poor selectivity (0.96), suggesting the need for further modification, such as surface functionalization or chemical activation. CC1, limited by its almost non-existent porosity, exhibited intermediate performance with comparable CO2 and CH4 uptakes (0.95 and 0.92 mmol/g, respectively) and modest selectivity (1.04), likely influenced by minor chemisorption on mineral impurities. Despite its lower CO2 adsorption capacity and selectivity, NC demonstrates high regeneration efficiency, making it suitable for repeated use in gas separation.MICIU/AEI /10.13039/501100011033 and the European Union Next Generation, PDC2022-133808-I00 (ADSORCHAR

The presence of pronunciation activities in English textbooks for Primary Education: A mixed-method study

Abstract Introduction: A careful analysis of the market for English textbooks for Primary Education in Spain reveals that, despite its breadth and variety, pronunciation teaching does not receive significant attention. In fact, it has often been neglected in favour of more traditional skills. Methodology: This mixed-method study employed a concurrent design, using a ten-question questionnaire developed by the researcher and validated by several experts. The sample consisted of textbooks from eight publishers, half Spanish and half international. The main objective was to identify how different publishers approached pronunciation activities in their textbooks. Results: The researcher conducted a Kruskal-Wallis test of the ten questions, analysing the results from the eight publishers for each question. The null hypothesis assumed that there was a normal distribution of data, while the alternative hypothesis posited that the means were different for each question. Discussion: The findings of this study confirm the research hypothesis, demonstrating that the publisher’s place of origin influences how pronunciation is treated in the textbooks. Conclusions: We examined how publishers included pronunciation in the textbooks. The study shows a clear relationship between the publisher’s country of origin and the emphasis placed on pronunciation in the textbook

Efficacy of a PP2A vaccine for Angiostrongylus costaricensis against rat lungworm disease caused by Angiostrongylus cantonensis in wild-caught rats (Rattus rattus) in Hawaii

The nematode Angiostrongylus cantonensis is a rat lungworm, a zoonotic pathogen that causes an emerging infectious disease known as neuroangiostrongyliasis or rat lungworm disease. This study evaluates the efficacy of a vaccine developed for a related species, Angiostrongylus costaricensis, to A. cantonensis in the definitive rat host. Wild-caught rats (Rattus rattus) (n = 28) were mated in captivity to produce uninfected F1 progeny. A total of 43 F1 rats were involved in this trial; 20 non-vaccinated, 21 vaccinated, and two unvaccinated, uninfected. F1 offspring in the vaccinated group were intranasally vaccinated with two doses of PP2 A vaccine, a serine/threonine phosphatase 2 A at a dose of 4 μg vaccine and 4 μg adjuvant/25 g body weight at >3 mos. of age. Unvaccinated rats similarly received 4 μg adjuvant/25 g body weight. Rats were gavaged with 50 L3 stage larvae at ~four weeks post-treatment. Necropsies were conducted at 47-50 days post-live challenge and spleen weight, spleen length, lung and heart weights, and the numbers of worms in heart and lungs were recorded. An average of 23.17 adult worms were found among all F1 rats. We found no significant differences between vaccinated and unvaccinated rats in rat body weight (p = 0.883), spleen weight (p = 0.963), spleen length (p = 0.830), lung weight (p = 0.830), heart weight (p = 0.849), and number of worms in heart and lungs (p = 0.621). A TaqMan™ Custom Array (Applied Biosystems) cytokine assay was used to evaluate gene expression of 12 different cytokines in spleen tissue from 23 rats and no significant differences in cytokine (CT) levels were observed between vaccinated and unvaccinated rats (p values range 0.154-0.988). Thus, the A. costaricensis PP2A vaccine, under these conditions, did not provide adequate protective immunity to guard against infection by A. cantonensis in wild rats.Hawaii State Legislature and the Daniel K. Inouye College of Pharmacy, University of Hawaii at Hilo, Hilo, HI, the USDA, APHIS, Wildlife Services, National Wildlife Research Center, and the University of Granada and the project ‘Studies of the immunoprotective capacity of a new recombinant antigen in experimental infections in gastrointestinal nematodes’, Ministry of Science, Government of Spain Reference: AGL2011-26098

Influence of 2-Hydroxyisocaproic Acid on Growth Factor Release From Dentin in Regenerative Endodontic Treatments. A Laboratory Study

This study aimed to assess the effect of 2-hydroxyisocaproic acid (HICA) on the TGF-β1, IGF-1, BMP-7, and VEGF-A release from root canal dentin, compared to calcium hydroxide (CH) and double antibiotic paste (DAP) in regenerative endodontic treatments (RET). Forty-eight single-canal teeth were prepared to mimic immature teeth and treated according to the RET protocol. Teeth were divided into three experimental (HICA, CH, and DAP) and one control (non-dressed) group. TGF-β1, BMP-7, IGF-1 and VEGF-A levels were measured using an ELISA kit on days 1 and 7. Significantly higher TGF-β1 release was found in the HICA and CH groups than in the other groups (p < 0.05). While the levels of growth factor release were notably higher on day 7 in the HICA group (p < 0.05), the values remained consistent across both time intervals within the control group. HICA proved to be effective as an intracanal medicament in enhancing the release of growth factors

Multidisciplinary investigations of earthflow processes in the differential erosion furrows morphostructural unit, Northern Rif (Morocco): case study of the Seikha landslide

In the Rif mountain chain, Slow earthflow processes affectthe clayey and flysch formations of the Tangier and Flysch structural units respectively. To understand the underlying geomorphological processes and the trigger-failure relationship between the local mediterranean climate conditions and the earthflow-like morphologies at the Differential Erosion Furrow (DEF) morphostructural unit, a case study is conducted at the Seikha earthflow. The methodology proposed uses a multidisciplinary approach, coupling in situ geophysical and geotechnical tests to study the geometry of the landslide and remote sensing techniques to monitor its activity. Our results indicate that on one hand, the cross-analysis of geological and geophysical results shows that landslide processes at the study area follow a typical terrestrial-style earthflow model, where the geological structures controlling the landscape’s evolution are orientated parallel to the longitudinal stress direction. Vertical and horizontal resistivity variations also allow reconstructing the retrogressive genetic processes responsible for older processes that contributed to the evolution of this hillslope in particular and the DEF morphostructural unit as a whole. On the other hand, the interpretation of multitemporal aerial photographs suggests that the Seikha landslide is in a dormant state and that its acceleration periods follow multiannual cyclic trends related to historic climate and base level fall variations. Seasonal Trends are also emphasized by SBAS (small baseline subset) inSAR (Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar) and borehole inclinometer results, which show evidence of slow gravitational deformation that can be accelerated during seasonal rainfall periods.En la cadena montañosa del Rif, los procesos lentos de earthflow (flujo de tierra) afectan a las formaciones arcillosas y flysch de las unidades estructurales de Tánger y Flysch, respectivamente. Para comprender los procesos geomorfológicos subyacentes y la relación entre los factores desencadenantes y la ruptura, en el contexto de las condiciones climáticas mediterráneas locales y las morfologías tipo earthflow observadas en la unidad morfoestructural de Surco de Erosión Diferencial (DEF, por sus siglas en inglés), se lleva a cabo un estudio de caso en el earthflow de Seikha. La metodología propuesta emplea un enfoque multidisciplinar que combina ensayos geofísicos y geotécnicos in situ para estudiar la geometría del deslizamiento, junto con técnicas de teledetección para monitorear su actividad. Nuestros resultados indican, por un lado, que el análisis cruzado de los datos geológicos y geofísicos muestra que los procesos de deslizamiento en el área de estudio siguen un modelo típico de earthflow de tipo terrestre, donde las estructuras geológicas que controlan la evolución del paisaje están orientadas en paralelo a la dirección del esfuerzo longitudinal. Las variaciones verticales y horizontales de resistividad permiten además reconstruir los procesos genéticos retrógrados responsables de eventos antiguos que contribuyeron a la evolución de esta ladera en particular y de la unidad morfoestructural DEF en su conjunto. Por otro lado, la interpretación de fotografías aéreas multitemporales sugiere que el deslizamiento de Seikha se encuentra en un estado latente (dormant) y que sus períodos de aceleración siguen tendencias cíclicas multianuales relacionadas con variaciones históricas del clima y del descenso del nivel de base. Las tendencias estacionales también se ponen de manifiesto mediante los resultados de SBAS (small baseline subset) InSAR (Radar Interferométrico de Apertura Sintética) y de inclinómetros en sondeos, los cuales evidencian una deformación gravitacional lenta que puede acelerarse durante los períodos de lluvias estacionales.Funding for this research was provided by the CNRST “Centre National de Recherche Scientifique et Technique” as part of the PPR2/205/65 project. Funding for open access publishing: Universidad de Granada/CBUA. The authors of this paper wish to express their sincere appreciation for the financial support received from these organizations

The persistence of gender roles in legal discourse facing the reform of the Moroccan Mudawwana

Proyecto PID2022-139657NB-I00 “Cambios legislativos en el Magreb central tras la Primavera Árabe: narrativas democratizadoras, libertades públicas y género” financiado por MICIUE AEI/10.13039/501100011033 y por FEDER, UE.El lenguaje es el instrumento fundamental que permite comunicar y moldear los valores, comportamientos y roles que distinguen a las personas en el ejercicio de las funciones sociales. La Constitución marroquí reconoce los derechos a la igualdad entre hombres y mujeres y a la no discriminación. Sin embargo, este reconocimiento formal resulta insuficiente en la práctica por lo que el lenguaje legal desempeña un papel esencial en la consecución real de los derechos. La Mudawwana representa un caso paradigmático de pervivencia de leyes discriminatorias en el ordenamiento jurídico marroquí. El principal objetivo de este trabajo es revisar el lenguaje del citado texto, ante el anuncio de su inminente reforma, desde la perspectiva feminista del análisis crítico del discurso jurídico para poner de manifiesto tanto las incoherencias y la presencia de términos y artículos sexistas como la capacidad transformadora del derecho.Language is the fundamental instrument for communicating and shaping the values, behaviours and roles that distinguish people in the exercise of social functions. The Moroccan Constitution recognises the rights to equality between men and women and to non-discrimination. However, this formal recognition is insufficient in practice in the actual realization of rights due to a range of factors among which the laws and the legal discourse play an essential role. The Mudawwana represents a paradigmatic case of the survival of discriminatory laws in the Moroccan legal system. The main objective of this paper is to review the language of the above-mentioned text and the most controversial legal figures, as well as the changes experimented in this law, in view of its imminent reform, from a feminist perspective to highlight both the inconsistencies and the presence of sexist terms and articles, as well as the transformative capacity of law.MICIUE/AEI/10.13039 /501100011033 PID2022-139657NB-I00FEDER, U

Quotients of skew polynomial rings: new constructions of division algebras and MRD codes

We achieve new results on skew polynomial rings and their quotients, including the first explicit example of a skew polynomial ring where the ratio of the degree of a skew polynomial to the degree of its bound is not extremal. These methods lead to the construction of new (not necessarily associative) division algebras and maximum rank distance (MRD) codes over both finite and infinite division rings. In particular, we construct new non-associative division algebras whose right nucleus is a central simple algebra having degree greater than 1. Over finite fields, we obtain new semifields and MRD codes for infinitely many choices of parameters. These families extend and contain many of the best previously known constructions.(GNSAGA - INdAM) - (E53C23001670001)Bando Galileo 2024 - (G24-216)MICIU/AEI/ 10.13039/501100011033 and FEDER - (PID2023-149565NB-I00

Desarrollo de elementos elásticos sostenibles e inteligentes para la monitorización de vías de ferrocarril

Las necesidades del transporte, tanto de personas como de mercancías, así como la competencia existente entre modos de transporte ha provocado, para poder satisfacer las necesidades del posible consumidor, un importante incremento en las velocidades de circulación de los trenes y de su capacidad de carga de mercancías. En los últimos años, la movilidad ha experimentado un crecimiento exponencial y con ello, la sobre-explotación de las infraestructuras sobre las que circulan los vehículos, requiriendo mayores inversiones en conservación para así poder asegurar su funcionalidad y seguridad. En este marco, actualmente existe la necesidad y tendencia hacia el desarrollo de materiales y tecnologías que permitan mejorar la operatividad y eficiencia del ferrocarril a través de la optimización de los tiempos, recursos y costes derivados de las actividades de mantenimiento (cada vez más altos debido a la sobre explotación de las infraestructuras). Por esta razón, el mantenimiento predictivo es una herramienta con una demanda creciente debido al gran potencial que presenta, permitiendo transformar las actividades de mantenimiento correctivo (generalmente más costosas) en mantenimiento preventivo (el cuál es posible realizar en las horas valle de uso de la infraestructura). El reto actual se centra en predecir estos fallos para establecer estrategias de mantenimiento preventivo. Para ello, es necesario el desarrollo de elementos que permitan llevar a cabo una monitorización continua de la vía a través de la implementación de elementos inteligentes que permitan transformar las actuaciones correctivas en predictivas, logrando así posicionar al sector del ferrocarril entre los principales modos de transporte, todo ello, sin olvidar la importancia de apostar por un desarrollo sostenible a través de la reducción en el consumo de materias primas y la apuesta por la reutilización y reciclaje de materiales. Es por ello, que la presente tesis tiene como objetivo principal el desarrollo de elementos elásticos sostenibles mediante el uso de materiales reciclados e inteligentes a través de la inclusión de sensores. Para la consecución de estos objetivos se han llevado a cabo una serie de etapas de trabajo que comprenden (i) el desarrollo y caracterización de materiales poliméricos reciclados para ser empleados en la fabricación de placas de asiento sostenibles, (ii) el diseño de placas de asiento con diferentes materiales reciclados y geometrías con el fin de obtener una amplia gama de soluciones elásticas sostenibles con distintas propiedades que puedan dar respuesta a las necesidades de la vía, (iii) la selección y calibración de los sensores más adecuados para su uso en las placas de asiento inteligentes y funcionales, (iv) el diseño placas de asiento sostenibles e inteligentes mediante la inclusión de sensores que permitan la monitorización de la vía y (v) la prueba y validación de la funcionalidad de los elementos elásticos sostenibles e inteligentes a través de ensayos a escala real.Tesis Univ. Granada.ECO-Smart Pads (Smart and Sustainable Resilient Pads for the Railway of the Future, RTI2018-102124-JIOO) research project, funded by the Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness of SpainHP-RAIL (Smart technologies & high performance materials for the next railway generation, RTC-2017-6510-4) Ministry of Science, Innovation and University of Spain and the Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness of Spai