Search Results (405)

This study explores the use of virtual reality (VR) and artificial intelligence (AI) to predict the presence of dyslexia in Italian and Spanish university students. In particular, the research investigates whether VR-derived data from Silent Reading (SR) tests and self-esteem assessments can differentiate between students that are affected by dyslexia and students that are not, employing machine learning (ML) algorithms. Participants completed VR-based tasks measuring reading performance and self-esteem. A preliminary statistical analysis (t-tests and Mann–Whitney tests) on these data was performed, to compare the obtained scores between individuals with and without dyslexia, revealing significant differences in completion time for the SR test, but not in accuracy, nor in self-esteem. Then, supervised ML models were trained and tested, demonstrating an ability to classify the presence/absence of dyslexia with an accuracy of 87.5% for Italian, 66.6% for Spanish, and 75.0% for the pooled group. These findings suggest that VR and ML can effectively be used as supporting tools for assessing dyslexia, particularly by capturing differences in task completion speed, but language-specific factors may influence classification accuracy. Full article

This study investigates how second language (L2) learners of Spanish identify the regional origin of native Spanish speakers and whether specific phonetic cues predict dialect identification accuracy across proficiency levels. Situated within a growing body of work on sociolinguistic competence, this research addresses the development of learners’ ability to use linguistic forms not only for communication but also for social interpretation. A dialect identification task was administered to 111 American English-speaking learners of Spanish and 19 native Spanish speakers. Participants heard sentence-length stimuli targeting regional phonetic features and selected the speaker’s country of origin. While L2 learners were able to identify regional dialects above chance, accuracy was low and significantly below that of native speakers. Higher-proficiency learners demonstrated improved identification, especially for speakers from Spain and Argentina, and relied more on salient phonetic cues (e.g., [θ], [ʃ]). No significant development was found for identification of Mexican or Puerto Rican varieties. Unlike native speakers, L2 learners did not show sensitivity to broader macrodialect groupings; instead, they frequently defaulted to high-exposure varieties (e.g., Spain, Mexico) regardless of the phonetic cues present. Findings suggest that sociophonetic perception in L2 Spanish develops gradually and unevenly, shaped by cue salience and exposure. Full article

Oxytocin (OT) has emerged as a central focus in stress regulation and animal welfare research. While commonly measured in blood, saliva, and urine, its presence in feces remains unexplored. Fecal OT (fOT) could be highly valuable for wildlife studies, where direct handling is impractical. This study explored OT detection in feces using lions (Panthera leo) as a model species. The objectives included developing a reliable fOT extraction protocol, describing baseline fOT patterns in captive lions, and evaluating its relationship with fecal glucocorticoid metabolites (fGM) under non-stressful conditions. Fecal samples from 16 lions in stable social groups across five Spanish zoos were collected over two to six weeks. A methanol-based extraction and commercial enzyme immunoassay were successfully validated for fOT quantification. Concentrations ranged from 3.00 to 296.64 ng OT/g of feces, with notable intra- and inter-individual variability. Age, sex, and contraceptive status had no significant influence on fOT (p > 0.05), but concentrations differed significantly between zoos (p < 0.001). No consistent relationship was found between fOT and fGM levels under baseline conditions. This study is the first to demonstrate OT detection in feces. The validated methodology provides a foundation for investigating fOT as a biomarker of stress and welfare in wild and domestic species. Full article

The family-centred Early Intervention model based on routines and natural environments has been widely supported by international evidence in recent decades. Within this framework, Family-Centred Practices (FCP) and their development in natural environments have emerged as an evidence-based intervention model of reference, promoting parental empowerment, shared decision-making, and functional intervention through daily routines. However, its effective implementation in real contexts presents multiple challenges, especially from the perspective of families receiving the service. Background/Objectives: This study explores the experiences, meanings, and assessments of Spanish families with children who have disabilities or developmental difficulties in relation to the application of these professional practices. This study is carried out in the Spanish context, since Campus Capacitas (Campus Capacitas—Catholic University of Valencia, Spain) has been implementing, in recent years, the family-centred model as a model of early intervention. Methods: A qualitative, descriptive, and interpretative methodology was used. Data collection was carried out through semi-structured interviews and discussion groups with 30 families from the 17 Spanish autonomous communities. Data analysis was carried out through thematic coding following criteria of qualitative rigour such as triangulation and theoretical saturation. Results: The findings show a significant gap between the theoretical model of family-centred practices and their practical application. Families who have experienced a clinical model criticise the absence of personalised intervention, unidirectional communication, as well as lack of participation in decision-making. In that sense, it is the different specialists of the early intervention team who are responsible for making intervention decisions. Therefore, these families demand more emotional and educational support. On the other hand, other families report positive experiences associated with collaborative, transdisciplinary, and home-based models based on a family-centred model. Conclusions: The results highlight the urgent need to move towards early intervention that strengthens the active role of families, promotes professional co-responsibility, and adapts to real child development environments, in line with international recommendations. Regarding future lines of research, we are committed to the development of longitudinal studies on the sustainable effects of interventions centred on families and on the global development of children and families. To carry out comparative studies between autonomous communities, to assess the influence of regulatory factors and regional resources on the practices implemented, as well as to carry out triangulation studies of the professional practices implemented, incorporating the perspectives of professionals and other intervention agents to enrich the analysis. Full article

Background/Objectives: The Wolf Motor Function Test (WMFT) is a standardised assessment tool used to evaluate upper limb (UL) performance in individuals with acquired brain injury (ABI). It consists of 15 timed movement tasks, two strength measures, and a functional ability scale that assesses the quality of movement from 0 to 5. This study aimed to translate and culturally adapt the WMFT for Spanish-speaking individuals with ABI. Methods: The translation and cultural adaptation process followed established guidelines and involved researchers from the Rey Juan Carlos University (URJC) and from the Investigación en Terapia Ocupacional (InTeO) group. A joint committee of experts from both research groups unified two previous versions into the final Spanish version of the WMFT. The pilot study included 60 ABI survivors, who were evaluated for the clarity and usability of the adapted test. Descriptive statistical analysis was conducted to evaluate participant characteristics and test performance, with the results summarised for both the less-affected and most-affected UL. Results: The final version of the tool features inclusive language and a unified administration procedure. In the pilot study, execution times were longer when using the most-affected UL, particularly for tasks involving object manipulation, while grip strength was lower. Conclusions: The Spanish version of the WMFT is a suitable tool for evaluating UL function in ABI survivors and shows promising clinical and research implications. Full article

Since 2014, the Paleoanthropology Group of the National Museum of Natural Sciences (CSIC), in collaboration with Equatoguinean researchers, has been conducting archeo-paleontological fieldwork in Equatorial Guinea, continuing a longstanding Spanish naturalist tradition in this region of West Central Africa. These multidisciplinary investigations, framed within an archeo-paleo-anthropological approach, aim primarily to identify early human occupation in the Central African rainforests. To date, robust evidence of Pleistocene human presence has been documented, particularly through lithic assemblages. Although the scarcity and fragmentation of well-dated sites in Central Africa complicate chronological placement, technological traits observed in the lithic industries recorded in Equatorial Guinea show clear affinities with the African Middle Stone Age (MSA). Complementary taphonomic analyses of faunal remains have been undertaken to better understand bone preservation and fossilization processes under tropical rainforest conditions, thereby contributing to the interpretation of archeological contexts. In parallel, ongoing primatological research within the project—focused on extant primates in their natural habitats—seeks to provide ethological models relevant to the study of hominin locomotor evolution. Notably, the project has led to the ecogeographic characterization of the Engong chimpanzee group in Monte Alén National Park, one of the country’s most pristine protected areas. Full article

Over a three-year R&D project, the perception of mobile phone use in Spanish secondary schools shifted from initial tolerance to increasingly prohibitive policies. Drawing on the Actor–Network Theory, this study examines how mobile phones—alongside institutional discourses and school and family concerns—acted as dynamic actants, shaping public and political responses. The research adopted a qualitative design combining policy and media document analysis, nine semi-structured interviews with key stakeholders, ten regional case studies, and twelve focus groups. The study concluded with a public multiplier event that engaged the broader educational community. The Madrid region, among the first to adopt a restrictive stance, contributed two school-based case studies and three focus groups with teachers, students, and families. Findings suggest that the turn toward prohibition was motivated less by pedagogical evidence than by cultural anxieties, consistent with what it conceptualizes as a techno-pessimistic shock. This shift mirrors the historical patterns of societal reaction to disruption and technological saturation. Rather than reinforcing binary framings of promotion versus prohibition, such moments invite critical reflection. The study argues for nuanced, evidence-based, and multilevel governance strategies to address the complex role of mobile technologies in education. Full article

The Spanish Group for Cancer Immuno-Biotherapies (GÉTICA) held the X Forum on Translational Immunology and Cancer Immunotherapy (FIT Cancer 10) from 14 to 16 March 2024, in Seville (Spain). FIT Cancer is the largest meeting uniquely focused on cancer immunotherapy in Spain and brings together clinicians and researchers, with expertise in the field of cancer immunology and immunotherapy. Here, we present abstracts submitted by GÉTICA’s members to the X Forum on Translational Immunology and Cancer Immunotherapy, which were divided into three topics: cell-based immunotherapies, novel therapeutic targets and strategies and clinical scenarios and potential biomarkers. Full article

Background: The aim of this scoping review is to analyze the health status of Roma and Sinti in Europe, highlighting the issues faced by children and women. In addition, we want to examine the access of these groups to health care services and to identify possible interventions to increase their use. Methods: Our research was conducted on Pubmed, Google Scholar, and the Trip Database. We selected articles written in English, Spanish, and Italian published since 2015. Results: Studies have shown that the health status of Roma and Sinti populations is generally worse than that of the rest of the population. Limited access to care is due to several specific factors, such as beliefs, traditions, and the lack of awareness of widespread direct and indirect discrimination against these groups by healthcare professionals. The studies reviewed have shown how mistrust can be broken down through multi-centered interventions linked to information, education, and communication through mediators able to interact with these populations, as well as through appropriate training of the health workers in charge. Conclusions: The health of the Roma and Sinti populations is commonly worse than that of the rest of the population. This is particularly true for the large proportion of people confined to suburban camps. However, the available evidence signals the low quality of life they experience and the need for interventions involving the communities and the establishment of ad hoc orientation or initial care contact points in the segregated areas. This could lead to an improvement in the integration of this population into the National Health Systems’ activities. Full article

This work proposes an end-to-end solution for leaf segmentation, disease detection, and damage quantification, specifically focusing on citrus crops. The primary motivation behind this research is to enable the early detection of phytosanitary problems, which directly impact the productivity and profitability of Spanish and Portuguese agricultural developments, while ensuring environmentally safe management practices. It integrates an onboard computing module for Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) using a Raspberry Pi 4 with Global Positioning System (GPS) and camera modules, allowing the real-time geolocation of images in citrus croplands. To address the lack of public data, a comprehensive database was created and manually labelled at the pixel level to provide accurate training data for a deep learning approach. To reduce annotation effort, we developed a custom automation algorithm for pixel-wise labelling in complex natural backgrounds. A SegNet architecture with a Visual Geometry Group 16 (VGG16) backbone was trained for the semantic, pixel-wise segmentation of citrus foliage. The model was successfully integrated as a modular component within a broader system architecture and was tested with UAV-acquired images, demonstrating accurate disease detection and quantification, even under varied conditions. The developed system provides a robust tool for the efficient monitoring of citrus crops in precision agriculture. Full article

This paper examines morphosyntactic agreement in gender and number within the spontaneous spoken discourse of Spanish-speaking adults with Williams syndrome (WS), compared to that of typically developing (TD) speakers. Data were collected through natural speech transcriptions from both WS and TD groups. The analysis was conducted using Netlang 1.0.0—a piece of corpus annotation software—based on Dependency Grammar, to capture agreement patterns among determiners, nouns, and adjectives. The findings reveal that WS speakers’ gender and number agreement patterns are closely aligned with those observed in TD speakers, with only minor variations, such as a slight tendency toward unmarked gender forms among TD participants. Additionally, error rates are low in both groups, suggesting that observed discrepancies might be due to individual variation rather than condition-specific deficits, even though the statistical power of the study is limited. These results contribute to the ongoing debate on language abilities in WS, indicating that individuals with WS produce morphosyntactic agreement similarly to individuals with TD. Further research with larger datasets is recommended to validate these results, as individual variability within the WS group underscores the need for a more nuanced approach to analysis. Full article

Background/Objectives: Overweight and obesity (OW/OB) in immigrant children is a complex multifactorial issue. This work aims to present the OW/OB profile and lifestyle habits of immigrant children and compare them with their native counterparts. Methods: A cross-sectional study (ASOMAD) was conducted in a representative sample of children aged 8–12 years in Madrid from 2020 to 2023. Parental origin, physical activity (PA), screen time, adherence to Mediterranean Diet, sleep, and body composition were assessed by validated methods. OW/OB was determined according to IOTF guidelines. T-tests, chi-square tests, and two-way ANOVA tests were applied based on the variables’ characteristics. Results: A total of 587 children (54% boys, aged 9.54 ± 1.19 y), 33.2% immigrants, were studied. OW/OB rate was higher in immigrants (39.7% boys and 37.4% girls) than in natives (18.0% boys and 17.7% girls) (p < 0.05). Immigrant boys were 30.64 ± 8.39 min/day less active than natives (p < 0.001). Both male and female immigrant children devoted considerably more weekday hours to screen time than natives (2.76 ± 2.75; 2.02 ± 2.47 vs. 2.09 ± 2.29; 1.32 ± 1.38; p < 0.05, respectively). Immigrant children consumed significantly less fish and olive oil and more pasta or rice almost every day (5 or more/week), ate at fast-food restaurants, consumed fewer dairy products and baked goods or pastries for breakfast (p < 0.05), and exhibited worse diet quality compared to Spanish ones. Conclusions: Immigrant children exhibited a higher prevalence of OW/OB, higher screen time, lower PA time, and ate less fish and olive oil and more pasta than natives. Additional research is required to explore the causes of these issues and enhance the lifestyle within this group. Full article

The present study addresses the need for valid and reliable tools to assess employability thinking among young people in training. In a labor market increasingly shaped by transversal skill demands, the objective was to construct and validate a scale adapted for secondary and post-secondary non-tertiary students. Grounded in strategic frameworks such as the Europe 2020 Strategy, the European Skills Agenda, and relevant Spanish legislation, an abbreviated version of the Graduate Skills and Attributes Scale (GSAS) was administered to a representative sample of 949 Andalusian students enrolled in compulsory secondary education, baccalaureate, or vocational training. A cross-sectional and exploratory research design was adopted, with all procedures conducted in accordance with ethical and legal standards and approved by the University of Granada’s ethics committee. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses were performed, leading to a refined 28-item version of the instrument. Items were grouped into four well-defined factors: ethical self-regulation and achievement orientation, effective communication and collaborative working, proactivity and commitment to learning, and analytical thinking and information handling. The factors demonstrated high internal consistency and structural validity. These findings indicate that the scale is a clear and effective tool for assessing employability-related competencies and may assist in the design of educational interventions aimed at improving students’ professional development. Full article

Background/Objectives: Muscle tissues are a common source of symptoms related to low back pain (LBP), with myofascial trigger points (MTrPs) being a significant contributor. Since previous meta-analyses support interventions targeting MTrPs for reducing pain and improving functional disability in patients with LBP, this review aimed to synthesize current knowledge on the prevalence of MTrPs in LBP patients. Methods: To conduct this systematic review, data were collected from PubMed, Cochrane, and Web of Science. Published articles at any time up to February 2025 that comprised descriptive, observational, or experimental studies in English/Spanish language reporting the prevalence of active or latent MTrPs in patients with LBP were eligible. After assessing the methodological quality, a structured and qualitative synthesis was conducted using a standardized form that captured participant characteristics, evaluated muscles, the number or percentage of active and latent MTrPs in each group, clinical features, summarized results, and conclusions. Results: Nine articles with acceptable methodological quality were included. The prevalence of active MTrPs in patients with LBP was quadratus lumborum (ranging from 30% to 55%), gluteus medius (from 34% to 45%), piriformis (42%), psoas (from 5% to 10%), and lumbar iliocostalis (from 33% to 38%). Latent MTrPs were most common in the gluteus medius (74%) and quadratus lumborum (14–17%), with the piriformis, psoas, and lumbar iliocostalis also affected. Conclusions: Active and latent MTrPs are common in muscles such as the quadratus lumborum, gluteus medius, and iliocostalis in individuals with LBP, with prevalence varying by pain chronicity and etiology. MTrPs in the gluteal region are more frequent in lumbosacral radiculopathy, suggesting a neurogenic-like component. Since the subjectivity of manual palpation and study heterogeneity limit generalizability of the results, future research should standardize diagnostic criteria of MTrPs to ensure the consistency of results. Full article

Adrenal cortex carcinoma (ACC) in children is a rare tumor that is probably of multifactorial origin and is mainly associated with genetic and environmental alterations. In the south and part of the southeast of Brazil, as well as in the Paraguayan region bordering the Brazilian State of Paraná, ACC prevalence is higher than in any other country, which is associated with the high prevalence of the TP53 p.R337H variant in Paraná (0.30%), Santa Catarina (0.249%), cities around Campinas-SP (0.21%), and the Paraguayan cities on the border with Paraná (0.05%). Recent research suggests that the co-segregation of XAF1-E134* and TP53-R337H mutations leads to a more aggressive cancer phenotype than TP53-R337H alone. Breast cancer may be mildly influenced by co-segregation with XAF1 p.E134*, and this variant can also confer risk for sarcoma. Objectives: The objectives of this study were to (1) estimate the prevalence of the germline TP53 p.R337H and XAF1 p.E134* variants in Paraguay (excluding cities on the border with Paraná State, Brazil) and (2) estimate whether the ethnic origin of TP53 p.R337H carriers in Paraguay is similar to that of ethnic groups in Paraná (possible Portuguese/Spanish origin). Materials and methods: DNA tests for the identification of TP53 p.R337H were carried out from 2016 to 2019 at the Bio-Materials Laboratory of Facultad Politecnica, UNA, and at the Research Center in Biotechnology and Informatics (CEBIOTEC), Asunción, Paraguay. Polymerase chain reaction followed by restriction enzyme digestion (PCR-RFLP) was used to identify TP53 p.R337H, and real-time PCR (RT-PCR) was employed for XAF1 p.E134*. Peripheral blood samples from 40,000 Paraguayan newborns (NBs) were used for the TP53 p.R337H tests. The XAF1 p.E134* tests (RT-PCR) were performed on samples from 2000 Paraguayan newborns at the Pelé Pequeno Principe Research Institute, Curitiba, PR, Brazil. Results: The TP53 p.R337H variant was not found in any of the 14 Paraguayan departments investigated. A total of 12 of the 2000 Paraguayan NBs were positive for one XAF1 p.E134* allele. Conclusions: The hypothesis of Spanish immigrants carrying p.R337H to Paraguay was disproved. TP53 p.R337H neonatal testing in Paraguay is not recommended, except when there are families with Brazilian ancestry presenting cancer cases. Additional epidemiological studies are required to determine the likelihood of the identified prevalence of the XAF1 p.E134* allele (1/153) in NBs from Paraguay without TP53 p.R337H to present cancer risk. This study complements the first national initiative for the DNA screening of newborns aimed at mapping the TP53 p.R337H and XAF1 p.E134* variants in Paraguay (based on the regions of residence of the newborns). Full article