Social networks in tourist brands in the Valencian Community

El turismo es uno de los sectores más relevantes de la economía de la Comunidad Valenciana; sin embargo, desde 2009, se produce un importante descenso en la llegada de turistas que motivan la puesta en marcha de diversos planes estratégicos y de competitividad, con propuestas de comunicación en las que resulta fundamental la adaptación a las nuevas tecnologías. En este trabajo se analiza cómo están comunicando, y en qué redes sociales, las principales marcas turísticas de la Comunidad Valenciana: Benidorm, Castellón Mediterráneo, Costa Blanca y València Terra i Mar. Los resultados indican que estas redes se están utilizando más como un canal habitual de promoción y difusión de los productos turísticos, que para el objetivo que las ha hecho populares: la participación e interactividad con el público.Tourism is one of the most important economical sectors of the Valencian Community, but since 2009, there is a significant drop in tourists arrivals which motivates the implementation of several strategic and competitiveness plans, with new proposals of communication in which it is essential the adaptation to new technologies. This paper analyzes how they are communicating, what social networks are being used, leading tourist brands of Valencian Community: Benidorm, Castellón Mediterráneo, Costa Blanca and Valencia Terra i Mar. The results indicate that these networks are being used more as a normal channel of promotion and dissemination of tourist products, than for the purpose that made them popular: participation and interaction with the public.Este trabajo forma parte del proyecto I+D GV/2012/006 de la Conselleria de Educación de la Generalitat Valenciana —Estrategias y eficacia de la comunicación en el turismo de la Comunidad Valenciana—, dirigido por la Dra. Fernández Poyatos

Red de Innovación docente en Publicidad y Relaciones públicas en Turismo: uso de redes sociales en la docencia

Por segundo año consecutivo, se han utilizado las redes sociales como recurso de innovación docente en la asignatura Publicidad y Relaciones públicas, de tercero de grado de Turismo de la Universidad de Alicante, con el objetivo de mejorar las competencias de los alumnos en el uso de herramientas colaborativas 2.0. Así, se han implementado varios grupos de Facebook para fomentar la interacción entre el profesorado y los alumnos. Además, se ha iniciado en este curso 2013-2014 el uso de Twitter. Estas redes son un nuevo reto en el ámbito académico, ya que pueden ser útiles en los procesos educativos y pueden jugar un importante papel, ofreciendo nuevos contextos y posibilidades para mejorar el proceso de enseñanza-aprendizaje. Para evaluar si el uso de Facebook y Twitter ha sido positivo se ha hecho una encuesta para saber si los alumnos han percibido una mejora en su aprendizaje y su valoración sobre la utilidad de las redes sociales. Los resultados, de nuevo, apuntan a que repercute positivamente y a que hay una mayor interacción y un uso colaborativo en la red social

Neuraminidase-activated microglia compromise the viability of ependymocytes

Neuraminidase (NA) is a sialidase present in the envelope/wall of some virus/bacteria responsible for brain infections, such as flu, mumps or meningitis. The intracerebroventricular injection of NA in the rat brain provokes ependymal detachment and death, and an acute inflammatory process. Although inflammation reverses, ependymal lining is not regenerated. Complement system activation within the CSF contributes to ependymal damage, but is not the only cause (Granados-Duran et al, 2016). Here we aimed to investigate if microglial activation might also play a role. For this purpose we used pure isolated ependymocytes (Grondona et al, 2013) and ventricular wall explants, which were co-cultured with microglial cells, both in basal conditions and with agents that induce microglial activation: NA, LPS, or Pam3CSK4 (synthetic lipopeptide). The viability of the ependymal cells was assessed by trypan blue exclusion. The viability of isolated ependymocytes was reduced when NA or LPS were added to the culture, compared to controls without additives. In the absence of microglia, NA or LPS did not compromise viability significantly, indicating that microglia was involved in ependymocytes death. The addition of NA to cultured explants reduced ependymocytes viability only when microglial cells were present in the culture; a similar reduction was observed when LPS or Pam3CSK4 were added. Conversely, explants cultured in the absence of microglia did not suffer a significant decrease in ependymocytes viability upon NA addition to the medium. We hypothesized that cytokines released by activated microglia, such as IL1β or TNFα, could mediate ependymocytes death. RT-PCR performed in RNA obtained from pure ependymocytes confirmed the presence of IL1β and TNFα receptors in ependymal cells. Nevertheless further experiments are required to confirm this hypothesis. We conclude that microglia activated by NA mediates, at least in part, ependymal cell death, what might be relevant for neuroinflammatory diseases mediated by NA bearing virus/bacteria.Universidad de Málaga. Campus de Excelencia Internacional Andalucía Tech

Threading Through Macrocycles Enhances the Performance of Carbon Nanotubes as Polymer Fillers

In this work we study the reinforcement of polymers by mechanically interlocked derivatives of single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs). We compare the mechanical properties of fibers made of polymers and of composites with pristine single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs), mechanically interlocked derivatives of SWNTs (MINTs) and the corresponding supramolecular models. Improvements of both Young's modulus and tensile strength of up to 200 % were observed for the polystyrene-MINTs samples with an optimized loading of just 0.01 wt.%, while the supramolecular models with identical chemical composition and loading showed negligible or even detrimental influence. This behavior is found for three different types of SWNTs and two types of macrocycles. Molecular dynamics simulations show that the polymer adopts an elongated conformation parallel to the SWNT when interacting with MINT fillers, irrespective of the macrocycle chemical nature, whereas a more globular structure is taken upon facing with either pristine SWNTs or supramolecular models. The MINT composite architecture thus leads to a more efficient exploitation of the axial properties of the SWNTs and of the polymer chain at the interface, in agreement with experimental results. Our findings demonstrate that the mechanical bond imparts distinctive advantageous properties to SWNT derivatives as polymer fillers.Comment: 39 pages, 19 figure

Neuraminidase-induced neuroinflammation is largely dependent on microglial TLR4 receptor

The sialidase neuraminidase (NA) cleaves terminal sialic acid from glycoproteins and glycolipids. Among its various locations, it is present in the envelope/membrane of some bacteria/viruses (e.g. influenza virus), where it is involved in infectiveness and dispersion. The injection of NA within the brain lateral ventricle represents a model of acute sterile inflammation. The relevance of the toll-like receptors TLR2 and TLR4 (particularly those in microglial cells) in such process was investigated using mouse strains deficient in these receptors. In septofimbria and hypothalamus, IBA1-positive and IL-1β-positive cell counts increased after NA injection in wild type (WT) mice. In TLR4-/- mice such increases were largely abolished, while only slightly affected in TLR2-/- mice. Similarly, the NA-induced expression of IL-1β, TNFα and IL-6 (evaluated by qPCR) was completely blocked in TLR4-/- mice, and only partially reduced in TLR2-/- mice. Microglia was isolated from the three mouse strains and exposed to NA or to specific TLR2 and TLR4 agonists (Pam3CSK4 and LPS respectively) in vitro. NA induced a cytokine response (IL-1β, TNFα and IL-6) in WT microglia, but was unable to do so in TLR4-/- microglia; TLR2 deficiency partially affected the NA-induced microglia response. To investigate if such response of microglial cells to NA was dependent on the sialidase activity of the enzyme, WT microglia was exposed in vitro to NA previously inactivated with heat, or inhibited with two different sialidase inhibitors (oseltamivir phosphate and N-acetyl-2,3-dehydro-2-deoxyneuraminic acid). In all cases, NA- induced microglia activation was dependent on the intact sialidase activity of NA. Therefore, we conclude that NA is able to directly activate microglial cells, mostly through TLR4 receptor and due to its sialidase activity. Accordingly, the inflammatory reaction induced by NA in vivo is partially dependent on TLR2, while TLR4 plays a crucial role.Universidad de Málaga. Campus de Excelencia Internacional Andalucía Tech

Imagen producto-país y crisis en el sector hortícola español: clasificación e impacto en el mercado

[EN] This research provides a conceptual framework to analyse the concept of ‘crisis’ and its multiple origins in the Spanish horticultural sector, the largest horticultural exporter in Europe. For this purpose, this study provides a typology of crises and a classification according to their nature, reasons, and temporary impact. Consequently, this research reviews and chronologically classifies the harmful campaigns that have originated several of those crises. Additionally, the impact on the perceived product-country image is analysed through an empirical research based on the results of a survey of consumers in several European countries.[ES] Esta investigación proporciona un marco conceptual para analizar el concepto “crisis” y sus orígenes en el sector hortícola español, el mayor exportador hortícola de Europa. Para este propósito, este estudio proporciona una tipología de crisis y una clasificación de acuerdo con su naturaleza, motivos e impacto temporal. En consecuencia, esta investigación revisa y clasifica cronológicamente las campañas inter-nacionales perjudiciales que han originado varias de esas crisis. Además, el impacto en la imagen percibida del producto-país se analiza a través de una investigación empírica basada en los resultados de una encuesta dirigida a consumidores finales en varios países europeos.Serrano-Arcos, MM.; Pérez-Mesa, JC.; Sánchez-Fernández, R. (2018). Product-country image and crises in the Spanish horticultural sector: Classification and impact on the market. Economía Agraria y Recursos Naturales - Agricultural and Resource Economics. 18(1):111-133. doi:10.7201/earn.2018.01.05SWORD11113318

HOP, a Co-chaperone Involved in Response to Stress in Plants

Protein folding is an essential step for protein functionality. In eukaryotes this process is carried out by multiple chaperones that act in a cooperative manner to maintain the proteome homeostasis. Some of these chaperones are assisted during protein folding by different co-chaperones. One of these co-chaperones is HOP, the HSP70-HSP90 organizing protein. This assistant protein, due to its importance, has been deeply analyzed in other eukaryotes, but its function has only recently started to be envisaged in plants. In this kingdom, the role of HOP has been associated to plant response to different cellular, biotic and abiotic stresses. In this article, we analyze the current knowledge about HOP in eukaryotes, paying a special attention to the recently described roles of HOP in plants. In addition, we discuss the recent breakthroughs in the field and the possible new avenues for the study of plant HOP proteins in the future.Fil: Toribio, René. Universidad Politécnica de Madrid; EspañaFil: Mangano, Silvina. Universidad Politécnica de Madrid; España. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Parque Centenario. Instituto de Investigaciones Bioquímicas de Buenos Aires. Fundación Instituto Leloir. Instituto de Investigaciones Bioquímicas de Buenos Aires; ArgentinaFil: Fernández Bautista, Nuria. Universidad Politécnica de Madrid; EspañaFil: Muñoz, Alfonso. Universidad de Córdoba; EspañaFil: Castellano, M. Mar. Universidad Politécnica de Madrid; Españ

Social Learning Analytics en la Educación Superior. Una experiencia en el Grado de Educación Primaria

The concept of Learning Analytics, as we understand it today, is relatively new but the practice of evaluating user behavior is not innovative. For years, technological development, along with other educational aspects, have encouraged, developed and facilitated this practice as a way of providing a personalized quality experience to students. The main goal of this study, carried out in the Primary Education Degree of the University of Murcia, was to research, from the perspective of Social Learning Analytics, how students learn and collaborate in online environments, specifically through their use of social media. With the idea of improving and optimizing future teaching experiences, a pilot study was conducted using weblog, Twitter and Facebook to work with different topics on the subject. The method used in this research was a participant observation and the analysis performed was both quantitative, based mainly on the data gathered from the learning analytics, and qualitative (analyzing students’ content from comments). Results show that there was greater interaction on Facebook than weblogs, where students interacted to deal with aspects related to the learning process and the topic of the subject. This exchange of information grew during the development of the experience. In addition, learning analytics shows that there is a relationship between group members and their interaction and behavior in networks.El concepto de Learning Analytics es relativamente nuevo tal como lo entendemos hoy en día, pero la práctica de evaluar el comportamiento del usuario a través de registros previos de actividad no lo es tanto. Con el tiempo, los avances tecnológicos, junto con otros factores educativos han alentado, desarrollado y facilitado esta práctica para proporcionar una experiencia personalizada de calidad al alumnado. El objetivo general de este estudio, realizado en el Grado de Educación Primaria de la Universidad de Murcia, se centra en conocer desde la perspectiva de Social Learning Analytics, cómo aprende y colabora el alumnado en entornos virtuales, específicamente a través de medios sociales. Con la idea de mejorar y optimizar futuras experiencias docentes, se llevó a cabo un estudio piloto en el que se usó Facebook, Twitter y un blog grupal para el desarrollo de las tareas de la asignatura. El método empleado en esta investigación ha sido el de la observación participante y el tipo de análisis realizado ha sido tanto cuantitativo, basado principalmente en los datos obtenidos de las propias analíticas de aprendizaje, como cualitativo (análisis de contenido de las intervenciones y comentarios del alumnado). Los resultados obtenidos muestran que hubo una mayor interacción en Facebook que en el blog grupal, donde los alumnos interaccionaban para tratar aspectos relacionados con el proceso de aprendizaje y la temática de la asignatura. Este intercambio de información fue creciendo durante el desarrollo de la experiencia. Además, las analíticas de aprendizaje muestran que existe una relación en cuanto a los miembros del grupo y sus interacciones y comportamientos en las redes

SIZE-REACTIVITY OF DISSOLVED ORGANIC MATTER IN THE CAPE VERDE FRONTAL ZONE

Oral communicationDissolved organic matter (DOM) plays a major role in the recycling, export and sequestration of biogenic organic carbon, being a key component of ocean biogeochemical cycles and of the biological and microbial carbon pumps. Microbial degradation of DOM not only produces CO 2 but also generates dissolved molecules of decreasing bioavailability that can accumulate in the oceans for hundreds to thousands of years. The size-reactivity continuum (SRC) model is the conceptual framework to explain the DOM reactivity on a size basis, although field tests are still scarce and some of the pieces of this puzzle remain unclear. Taking advantage of the FLUXES-I cruise in the Cape Verde Frontal Zone (CVFZ), we have studied the size fractionated reactivity of the high (HMW; >1 KDa) and low (LMW; <1 KDa) molecular weight fractions of the DOM from surface down to 4000 m, using a high-efficiency and low-concentration-factor ultrafiltration cell. The wide ageing range covered by the water masses of the CVFZ makes it an excellent site to test the SRC model. Regarding the bulk C and N pools, the water masses with higher oxygen utilization were more depleted in HMW molecules, with a significant preference for the degradation of large N-containing compounds. Accordingly, preferential degradation of HMW fluorescent protein-like compounds was observed. In parallel, fluorescent humic-like compounds of both HMW and LMW were generated as by-product of the degradation of HMW organic compounds, and the remineralization of the DOM increases the aromaticy of both fractions, but especially the LMW one.ASL