Changes in guests’ hotel evaluations due to covid-19: The case of the world heritage city of Cuenca

Purpose - The COVID-19 pandemic has had an unprecedented impact on the tourism sector changing the guest satisfaction during hotel stays. In this paper, we analyse how this perception has changed considering various pandemic stages. Methodology - Using 1595 reviews for hotels in Cuenca left on the Booking platform, we analyse the changes in the ratings of the stay and identify the factors that have the greatest influence on customer satisfaction and dissatisfaction by conducting a ANOVA analysis. We also consider the urban/rural area, type of traveler, nationality, gender and room type. Findings - he main results show an improvement in guest ratings after the worst moments of the pandemic, albeit with lower scores than in 2019 and 2020, indicating that the services offered by the hotel are key elements for customer satisfaction. Therefore, hotel managers should continue on the path taken, as it seems to be producing results, and try to enhance the services offered to guests. Originality - The outbreak of the COVID -19 pandemic necessitates a detailed analysis of the changes in hotel ratings and hotel characteristics evaluated positively and negatively by guests. However, a review of the literature reveals a gap in this regard, especially when considering different points in time during the pandemic

Estudio científico del Mihrab de la antigua mezquita de Almería

En este trabajo se realiza un estudio de los distintos materiales empleados en la construcción, tanto originales como añadidos, las distintas intervenciones rea lizadas en el Mihrab de la antigua Mezquita de Almería. El estudio de las mues tras ha permitido determinar la naturaleza de cada una de ellas, así como la exis tencia de gran cantidad de sales (clomros y sulfatos en su mayoría). Asimismo, se ha obtenido información sobre su micromorfología. porosidad, mayor o me nor grado de cristalinidad y estado de alteración. Finalmente se ha comprobado la aplicación, en época reciente, de consolidantes que han sido responsables del desprendimiento superficial

Screening and Evaluation of Essential Oils from Mediterranean Aromatic Plants against the Mushroom Cobweb Disease, Cladobotryum mycophilum

The main aim of this study was to evaluate the use of essential oils (EOs) as an alternative to synthetic fungicides used in the control of cobweb disease of button mushroom (Agaricus bisporus) caused by Cladobotryum mycophilum. The EOs used were obtained by hydrodistillation from five Mediterranean aromatic species (Lavandula × intermedia, Salvia lavandulifolia, Satureja montana, Thymus mastichina, and Thymus vulgaris), analyzed by gas chromatography, and tested in vitro for their antifungal activity against C. mycophilum. In vitro bioassays showed that the EOs obtained from T. vulgaris and S. montana (ED50 = 35.5 and 42.8 mg L−1, respectively) were the most effective EOs for inhibiting the mycelial growth of C. mycophilum, and were also the most selective EOs between C. mycophilum and A. bisporus. The in vivo efficacy of T. vulgaris and S. montana EOs at two different concentrations (0.5 and 1%) were evaluated in two mushroom growing trials with C. mycophilum inoculation. The treatments involving T. vulgaris and S. montana EOs at the higher dose (1% concentration) were as effective as fungicide treatment. The effect of these EOs on mushroom productivity was tested in a mushroom cropping trial without inoculation. They had a strong fungitoxic effect at the first flush. However, a compensatory effect was observed by the end of the crop cycle and no differences were observed in biological efficiency between treatments. The main compounds found were carvacrol and p-cymene for S. montana, and p-cymene and thymol for T. vulgaris. These results suggest that T. vulgaris and S. montana EOs may be useful products to manage cobweb disease if used as part of an integrated pest management (IPM) program

A return to creativity: a measurement proposal for the case of Spain

En este trabajo se aborda la creatividad ligada al concepto de innovación pero fundamentada en la cultura y su principal objetivo es elaborar un índice de creatividad a partir de la propuesta realizada por el Informe KEA (2009), aplicable a España y sus Comunidades Autónomas, y que atendiendo a las circunstancias y condicionantes de nuestro territorio, pueda ofrecer algunas claves sobre las fortalezas y debilidades de España y sus territorios en este ámbito. Para ello se definen distintos indicadores representativos, agrupados en componentes que influyen en la creatividad: formativo, tecnológico y de innovación, de diversidad social, laboral, institucional, así como de oferta y demanda cultural. Mediante un análisis factorial por componentes principales se obtiene un índice global que permite comparar la posición relativa de cada comunidad Autónoma respecto a una media nacional. Las fuentes utilizadas proceden, fundamentalmente, del INE y del Ministerio de Educación, Cultura y Deporte, con un período de referencia situado entre 2005 y 2011. Los resultados indican que Madrid y Cataluña sobresalen como núcleos creativos pero que otras comunidades cuentan con potencial en diversos ámbitos. Este documento constituye una contribución a la literatura empírica sobre índices de creatividad en España, todavía escasa, que permita conocer más profundamente el componente creativo desde de una perspectiva integral, si bien desde un enfoque fundamentalmente cultural.In this work we deal with creativity linked to the concept of innovation but based on culture, and its principal objective is to elaborate an index of creativity from the proposal made by the KEA report (2009), applicable to Spain and its Autonomous Communities, and which, in line with the circumstances and determinants of our region, can offer some keys to the strengths and weaknesses of Spain and its territories in this field. In order to do this, different representative indicators are defined, grouped into components that have an influence on creativity: formative, technological and of innovation, of social, labour and institutional diversity, as well as cultural supply and demand. By means of a factorial analysis by main components, a global index is obtained which allows us to compare the relative position of each Autonomous Community with respect to the national average. The sources used come, fundamentally, from the INE (National Statistics Institute) and the Ministry of Education, Culture and Sport, with a reference period from between 2005 and 2011. The results indicate that Madrid and Catalonia stand out as nuclei of creativity but that other communities have a lot of potential in various fields. This document constitutes a contribution to the empirical literature on creativity indices in Spain, still scarce, that allows us to understand the creativity component in more depth, from an integral perspective, although from a fundamentally cultural point of view

Trace elements and C and N isotope composition in two mushroom species from a mine-spill contaminated site

Fungi play a key role in the functioning of soil in terrestrial ecosystems, and in particular in the remediation of degraded soils. The contribution of fungi to carbon and nutrient cycles, along with their capability to mobilise soil trace elements, is well-known. However, the importance of life history strategy for these functions has not yet been thoroughly studied. This study explored the soil-fungi relationship of two wild edible fungi, the ectomycorrhizal Laccaria laccata and the saprotroph Volvopluteus gloiocephalus. Fruiting bodies and surrounding soils in a mine-spill contaminated area were analysed. Isotope analyses revealed Laccaria laccata fruiting bodies were 15N-enriched when compared to Volvopluteus gloiocephalus, likely due to the transfer of 15N-depleted compounds to their host plant. Moreover, Laccaria laccata fruiting bodies δ13C values were closer to host plant values than surrounding soil, while Volvopluteus gloiocephalus matched the δ13C composition to that of the soil. Fungal species presented high bioaccumulation and concentrations of Cd and Cu in their fruiting bodies. Human consumption of these fruiting bodies may represent a toxicological risk due to their elevated Cd concentrations

Estudio longitudinal sobre redes sociales como método didáctico

This article gathers the perceptions of students on social networks, as a didactic method, with the aim of searching and designing didactic strategies to adapt the contents and methodology to the new technological context. The parti- cipants were university students of Early Childhood and Pri- mary Education in 2013-2014 and 2016-2017. A longitudinal study was conducted with a descriptive, non-experimental methodology and the semi-structured questionnaire used was validated through factorial and cluster analyses. The students from both degrees showed a polarization and dis- persion of opinions about social networks, which could be related to a more critical attitude toward their advantages and disadvantages.Este artículo recoge las percepciones de los estudiantes sobre las redes sociales como método didáctico, con el propósito de investigar y diseñar estrategias didácticas para adaptar los contenidos y la metodología al nuevo contexto tecnológico. Los participantes fueron estudiantes universitarios del pro- grama de Educación primaria y de la temprana infancia de los periodos 2013-2014 y 2016-2017. Se hizo un estudio lon- gitudinal con una metodología no-experimental, descriptiva y se validó un cuestionario semi-estructurado a través de aná- lisis factorial y de grupos. Los estudiantes de ambos periodos mostraron una polarización y dispersión de opiniones sobre las redes sociales, lo que podría estar relacionado con una actitud más crítica con respecto a sus ventajas y desventajas