The role of universities in making industrial districts more dynamic. A case study in Spain

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Improving SMES competitiveness reinforcing interorganisational networks in industrial clusters

Drawing on a social network approach this paper proposes a methodology that helps with the empowerment and development of interorganisational networks in clusters. Paper emphasizes the necessity of establishing relationships with other firms and external agents in order to empower the creation and diffusion of knowledge, through factors such as innovation. The aim of the proposed methodology is to know how required knowledge should be located and diffused to identify the opportunities motivating the creation of particular interorganisational networks. Similarly, it is also important to know how to determine which agents might to take advantage of these opportunities creating networks

Influence of the dimensions of the absorptive capacity in the development of new products in a context of industrial district: an empirical study to the case of the Valencian textile

El presente trabajo integra diversas perspectivas vinculadas a la competitividad empresarial como son la innovación, el territorio y la capacidad de absorción. Hemos pretendido contrastar el efecto de la capacidad de absorción sobre la innovación, dentro de un contexto de distrito industrial, donde el proceso innovador se ve afectado por unas condiciones específicas de acceso, asimilación y explotación de los recursos de conocimiento. Hemos estudiado la población de empresas que forman parte del distrito textil valenciano. Como principales conclusiones observamos que las exterioridades que la empresa recibe en forma de conocimiento, provenientes del entorno en que opera, junto a las habilidades necesarias, en nuestro caso las dimensiones particulares de la capacidad de absorción, benefician el desarrollo de la innovación en la empresaThis research reunites some fundamental aspects for firms’ competitiveness: innovation, territory and absorptive capacity. The objective of this research consists of studying how the absorptive capacity influences the innovation process, centering on the context of an industrial district, where the innovation process is affected by specific access, assimilation and knowledge resource exploitation conditions. We have studying the total population of companies that make up the Valencia textile district. We have found the following main conclusions: The externalities that the company receives in the form of knowledge originating from the environment in which it operates along with the necessary abilities, in our case the particular dimensions of the absorptive capacity, benefit the development of innovation in the compan

University in industrial districts in a changing competitive context. Analysis of the valencian textile industrial district

[EN] The purpose of this paper is to contribute to the debate on the role played by universities in industrial districts, faced with a situation of change in the competitive environment. We conduct a longitudinal study of a district with serious problems of competitiveness, using techniques of Social Network Analysis. The results show how the district has changed the distribution of its relational capital. In particular we detectan increasingly importance of relationships between companies and the University, evidenced by an increase in the density of relations between them, as well as a more central role played by university.[ES] La finalidad de este trabajo es contribuir al debate sobre el papel jugado por las universidades en los distritos industriales, ante una situación de cambio del entorno competitivo. Para ello realizamos un estudio longitudinal de un distrito con serios problemas de competitividad, mediante el uso de técnicas de Análisis de Redes Sociales. Los resultados nos muestran cómo el distrito ha cambiado en cuanto a la distribución de su capital relacional. En concreto se muestra una importancia creciente de las relaciones de las empresas del distrito con la universidad, justificado tanto por un aumento en la densidad de las mismas, así como por una mayor centralidad de su función.Capó-Vicedo, J.; Expósito Langa, M.; Molina Morales, FX. (2011). La universidad en los distritos industriales ante el cambio en el contexto competitivo. Análisis del distrito industrial textil valenciano. Investigaciones Regionales. 19:137-145. http://hdl.handle.net/10251/43851S1371451

Induction of detoxification systems in wild red mullet Mullus surmuletus after microplastic ingestion

Marine litter greatly affects marine species and ecosystems (1), however there is little evidence of physiological responses of vertebrates to plastic exposure. In this study, wild mullets Mullus surmuletus were obtained from fishing vessels operating in Mallorca Island (W Mediterranean). Stomach content analyses and identification under microscope determined that 28% of the samples had ingested microplastics. Liver samples of surmullets with and without microplastic ingestion were analysed to determine physiological effects. Results suggest an induction of the detoxification system in M. surmuletus Linnaeus, 1758 but no oxidative stress or cellular damage

Alterations in the abundance and co-occurrence of Akkermansia muciniphila and Faecalibacterium prausnitzii in the colonic mucosa of inflammatory bowel disease subjects

This work was funded by the Universitat de Girona projects MPCUdG2016-009 and GdRCompetUdG2017, and the Spanish Ministry of Education and Science through projects SAF2006-00414, SAF2010-15896 and SAF2013-43284-P, being the last co-funded by the European Regional Development. Dr. Sylvia H. Duncan acknowledges support from the Scottish Government Research and Environment Science and Analytical Services Division (RESAS).Peer reviewedPublisher PD

Uso de la revista digital como herramienta didáctica en los centros de secundaria

[EN] The new Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) are a resource, that well-used by teachers, can allow to the students to be motivated with regard to different specialties, such as science. Within the different ICTs that can be chosen, the Digital Magazine is a digital tool that would allow reaching several competences and achieve meaningful student learning. The development of this tool has been implemented among students of the Master's Degree in Teacher Training at the University of the Balearic Islands, as future teachers to assess the acceptance of this digital tool both in its use as teachers and as developed by students. A digital magazine was requested to be done by the students and, after its completion, a survey was carried out that revealed the positive and negative aspects of the tool selected for the educational use. In conclusion, the digital methodology provided was received with a high degree of satisfaction by the students of the master, who considered the use of Digital Magazines as an innovative, attractive, useful and motivating digital resource for secondary school students.[ES] Las nuevas Tecnologías de la Información y la Comunicación (TIC) son un recurso que bien utilizado por el profesorado puede permitir la motivación del alumnado con respecto a diferentes especialidades, como serían las ciencias. Dentro de las diferentes TIC que se pueden escoger, la revista digital supone una herramienta digital que permitiría alcanzar diversas competencias y conseguir un aprendizaje significativo del alumnado. El desarrollo de esta herramienta se ha implantado entre alumnado del máster de Formación de Profesorado de la Universidad de las Islas Baleares, como futuros profesores, para evaluar la aceptación de esta herramienta digital tanto en su utilización como docentes o como elaborada por su alumnado. Se solicitó la realización de una revista digital y, tras la finalización de la misma, se llevó a cabo una encuesta que permitió conocer los aspectos tantos positivos como negativos de la herramienta seleccionada para su uso docente. En conclusión, la metodología digital aportada fue recibida con alto grado de satisfacción por parte del alumnado del máster, que consideró el uso de las revistas digitales como un recurso digital innovador, atractivo, útil y motivador para los alumnos de educación secundaria.Tejada Gavela, S.; Pinya Fernández, S.; Capó Fiol, X.; Sureda Gomila, A. (2021). Uso de la revista digital como herramienta didáctica en los centros de secundaria. En IN-RED 2021: VII Congreso de Innovación Edicativa y Docencia en Red. Editorial Universitat Politècnica de València. 169-177. https://doi.org/10.4995/INRED2021.2021.13664OCS16917

BREAKING THE PARADIGM: MARINE SEDIMENTS HOLD TWO-FOLD MICROPLASTICS THAN SEA SURFACE WATERS AND ARE DOMINATED BY FIBERS

Marine compartments are often considered independent environments in studies on plastic pollution (Ali et al., 2021). Consequently, little is known about microplastic (MPs) distribution amongst those habitats closely linked. Here, we perform an interactive assessment of MPs abundance and composition from the pelagic habitat to beaches integrating shallow seafloor sediments of a coastal Mediterranean marine protected area and evaluating MPs ingestion in holothurians, echinoderms, molluscs, and fishes inhabiting the area. We observed a gradient in the accumulation of MPs from the sea surface (0.17 ± 0.39 MPs/m2) to the seafloor (76 ± 108 MPs/m2) and beach sediment (13418 ± 28787 MPs/m2), with a skip of two orders of magnitude. Microplastic abundances fit with those reported for more anthropized Mediterranean areas and suggest coastal environments as potential debris sinking areas. Fibers dominate all the studied habitats. Holothurians showed the highest general MPs and fibers ingestion occurrence (91%), with greater values (9.48 ± 8.05 MPs/individual and 8.24 ± 7.95 fibers/individual) than those reported previously (Bulleri et al., 2021). Considering ecological key role, species distribution, and MPs ingestion values, we suggest Holothuroidea as suitable bioindicators for plastic pollution, particularly for fibers. Fibers are composed primarily of cellulose acetate (29%), whereas styrofoam of polystyrene (64%), and films, fragments, and filaments of a variable percentage of polyethylene and polypropylene. Differences found in the polymer composition amongst plastics´ morphologies are reflected in the variability observed between habitats and marine organisms. Particularly the polymer composition of fibers coincides with that of one of the MPs ingested by invertebrates. Results suggest that shape is a key plastic characteristic in determining polymer distribution patterns along with habitats and in marine species. Finally, this study highlights once again the importance and urgency of local and global actions needed to mitigate plastic pollution and particularly fiber release into the marine environment

Diseño integrado de seminarios y prácticas de laboratorio por medio de un proyecto de investigación

[EN] Seminars in small groups can contribute to the loss of motivation of the students if they limit themselves to transmit information in a similar way to the theoretical classes or performing / correcting activities in a mechanical and repetitive way. The objective is to develop an integrated design of seminars and practices that are motivating and in which the student participates in the learning process actively. The project is part of the Ecological Biochemistry course, an optional subject for the fourth year of the Biology Degree. Throughout the seminar sessions, students learnt the parts of a research project and then develop one in a group, with the support of the teacher. Once the project was finished, a field trip was prepared to collect samples. Then, in the practical sessions, some of the determinations proposed in the project were carried out, and the results obtained were worked on in the last seminar sessions and presented as a poster. In conclusion, the integrated development of a research project in the seminar sessions with the laboratory practices and presentation of results has had a very positive evaluation by the students.[ES] Los seminarios en grupos reducidos pueden contribuir a la pérdida de motivación del alumnado si se limitan a transmitir información de forma similar a las clases teóricas o realizando / corrigiendo actividades de forma mecánica y repetitiva. El objetivo es desarrollar un diseño integrado de seminarios y prácticas que sean motivantes y donde el alumno participe de forma activa en el proceso de aprendizaje. El proyecto se enmarca dentro de la asignatura de Bioquímica Ecológica, asignatura optativa de cuarto curso del Grado de Biología. A lo largo de las sesiones de seminarios los alumnos aprendieron de qué partes consta un proyecto de investigación para luego elaborar uno de forma autónoma en grupo, contando con el apoyo del profesor. Una vez finalizado el proyecto, se preparó y realizó una salida de campo para recoger muestras. Seguidamente, en las sesiones prácticas se realizaron algunas de las determinaciones propuestas en el proyecto y, los resultados obtenidos se trabajaron en las últimas sesiones de seminarios y presentaron como póster. En conclusión, el desarrollo integrado de un proyecto de investigación en las sesiones de seminarios con las prácticas de laboratorio y presentación de resultados ha tenido una valoración muy positiva por parte de los estudiantes.Sureda, A.; Capó, X.; Pinya, S.; Ferriol, P.; Mateu-Vicens, G.; Tejada, S. (2021). Diseño integrado de seminarios y prácticas de laboratorio por medio de un proyecto de investigación. En IN-RED 2021: VII Congreso de Innovación Edicativa y Docencia en Red. Editorial Universitat Politècnica de València. 195-200. https://doi.org/10.4995/INRED2021.2021.1367319520