A study of the relationship between parental mediation and adolescents' digital skills, online risks and online opportunities

In recent years, discussions have sparked about the risks and opportunities that digital technologies may have for adolescents. Some researchers argue that the best way to increase online opportunities and avoid online risks is to increase adolescents' digital skills. For this reason, the first goal of this study was to examine how adolescents' digital skills are related to their online opportunities and online risks behaviours. A second goal was to examine the influence of two ways of parental mediation (active and restrictive) on the level of teenagers’ digital skills, and subsequently their online opportunities and online risks. Finally, we intended to establish the validity and the structure of the Digital Literacy Scale. Using data from a cross-sectional survey of 1.446 Spanish secondary school pupils, we found that more digitally skilled adolescents take more opportunities, and experience more risks. Digital literacy mediates the relationship between restrictive (but not of active) parental mediation and online risks and opportunities. Furthermore, the Digital Literacy Scale was shown to be valid in terms of construct validity. The findings suggest that digital literacy remains essential as it lets teenagers take more opportunities, and that parents should opt for other ways of mediation rather than restrictive mediation

Hybrids Provide More Options for Fine-Tuning Flowering Time Responses of Winter Barley

Crop adaptation requires matching resource availability to plant development. Tight coordination of the plant cycle with prevailing environmental conditions is crucial to maximizing yield. It is expected that winters in temperate areas will become warmer, so the vernalization requirements of current cultivars can be desynchronized with the environment’s vernalizing potential. Therefore, current phenological ideotypes may not be optimum for future climatic conditions. Major genes conferring vernalization sensitivity and phenological responses in barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) are known, but some allelic combinations remain insufficiently evaluated. Furthermore, there is a lack of knowledge about flowering time in a hybrid context. To honor the promise of increased yield potentials, hybrid barley phenology must be studied, and the knowledge deployed in new cultivars. A set of three male and two female barley lines, as well as their six F1 hybrids, were studied in growth chambers, subjected to three vernalization treatments: complete (8 weeks), moderate (4 weeks), and low (2 weeks). Development was recorded up to flowering, and expression of major genes was assayed at key stages. We observed a gradation in responses to vernalization, mostly additive, concentrated in the phase until the initiation of stem elongation, and proportional to the allele constitution and dosage present in VRN-H1. These responses were further modulated by the presence of PPD-H2. The duration of the late reproductive phase presented more dominance toward earliness and was affected by the rich variety of alleles at VRN-H3. Our results provide further opportunities for fine-tuning total and phasal growth duration in hybrid barley, beyond what is currently feasible in inbred cultivars.his research was supported by the contract “Iberia region hybrid barley variety development and understanding effects of adaptation genes in hybrids,” between CSIC and Syngenta (Basel, Switzerland) Crop Protection AG, which included funding for MF-C scholarship

Testing successful Business Model using System Dynamics

[EN] In our increasingly globalised economy, managing continuous change whilst remaining competitive and dynamic has become a central issue for firms in the industrial sector. One of the elements for obtaining this competitiveness is the value creation model of the firm. The most important challenges in firms are characterised by dynamic complexity which makes it difficult to understand factors in their context. Consequently management and decision making is hindered (Antunes et al., 2011). Business models are characterised by complexity and dynamism. Performance of the firm is a complex topic determined by the large amount of variables that can be involved in the system, and the different effects that influence the system in the short and long term. Due to this complexity a systemic view is required, that is, an holistic view of the whole system. Such a systemic view enables managers to make decisions based on evidence rather than intuition and personal experiences, as they understand how the whole system works. Thus, the main aim of this research is to use an empirical tool such as System Dynamics (SD), to support and sustain firms in the identification of new constructs related to their Business Model (BM).Ganzarain, J.; Ruiz, M.; Igartua, J. (2019). Testing successful Business Model using System Dynamics. International Journal of Production Management and Engineering. 7(Número Especial):91-100. https://doi.org/10.4995/ijpme.2019.10807SWORD911007Número EspecialAldrich, H.E. (1999). Organizations Evolving Sage, C.A., Thousand Oaks.Amit, R.C. (2001). Value creation in e-business.Strategic Management Journal, 22. https://doi.org/10.1002/smj.187Andreini, D. & Bettinelli, C. (2007). Business Model Innovation: From Systematic Literature Review to Future Research Directions, Springer.Antunes, L.,Respicio, A., Balsa, J., & Coelho, H. (2011). Gaming and Simulations: Concepts, Methodologies, Tools and Applications, IGI Global.DeGregorio, G. (1999). Enterprise‐wide Requirements & Decision Management. INCOSE International Symposi-um, 9, 644-650. https://doi.org/10.1002/j.2334-5837.1999.tb00221.xDemil, B. & Lecocq, X. 2010. Business model evolution: In search of dynamic consistency. Long Range Plan-ning, 43, 227-246. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.lrp.2010.02.004Forrester, J. W. (1997). Industrial dynamics. Journal of the Operational Research Society, 48, 1037-1041. https://doi.org/10.1057/palgrave.jors.2600946García, J. M. (2017). Teoría y ejercicios prácticos de Dinámica de Sistemas para Vensim PLE, Spain, Juan Martin García.Giesen, E., Berman, S. J., Bell, R. & Blitz, A. 2007. Paths to success: Three ways to innovate your business mod-el. IBM Institute for Business Value, 23, 436-438.Kirkwood, C. C. (2013). System dynamics methods. (College of Business Arizona State University USA, Ed.), System Dynamics Methods.Magretta, J. (2002). Why business models matter. Harvard Business Review, 80, 86-87.Milgrom, P. R. (1992). Economics, organization and management, NJ, Prentice-Hall.Miller, D. (1996). Configurations revisited. Strategic Management J., 17 505-512. https://doi.org/10.1002/(SICI)1097-0266(199607)17:7%3C505::AID-SMJ852%3E3.0.CO;2-IMorecroft, J. (2015). Strategic modelling and business dynamics: a feedback systems approach, John Wiley & Sons., Ed. https://doi.org/10.1002/9781119176831Nair, S., Paulose, H., Palacios, M. & Tafur, J. 2013. Service orientation: Effectuating business model innovation. The Service Industries Journal, 33, 958-975. https://doi.org/10.1080/02642069.2013.746670Richardson, G. P., & Pugh III, A. I. (1981). Introduction To System Dynamics Modeling With DYNAMO. OR: Productivity Press.Schalk, R., Timmerman, V., & Van den heuveL, S. (2013). How strategic considerations influence decision making on e-HRM applications. Human Resource Management Review, 84-92. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.hrmr.2012.06.008Sterman, J.D. (2000). Business Dynamics: systems thinking and modeling for a complex world. Irwin-McGraw-Hill.Sterman, J. D. (2002). System Dynamics: Systems Thinking and Modeling for a Complex World. In Proceedings of the ESD Internal Symposium.Teece, D. J. 2010. Business models, business strategy and innovation. Long Range Planning, 43, 172-194. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.lrp.2009.07.003Warren, K. (2002). Competitive Strategy Dynamics.Weill, P. M., W. T; d'urso; Herman, G;Woerner, S; 2005. Do Some Business Models Perform Better than Others?, A Study of the 1000 Largest US Firms. Sloan School of Management, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, MIT Sloan School of Management , MIT Centre for Coordination Science .Yao, L., Liu, T., Chen, X., Mahdi, M., & Ni, J. (2018). An integrated method of life-cycle assessment and system dynamics for waste mobile phone management and recycling in China. Journal of Cleaner Production, 187, 852-862. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2018.03.195Zott, C. 2003. Dynamic capabilities and the emergence of intra-industry differential firm performance: Insights from a simulation study. Strategic Management Journal, 24(2), 97-125. https://doi.org/10.1002/smj.288Zott, C., and Amit, R. 2007. Business model design and the performance of entrepreneurial firms. Organization Science, 18(2), 181-199. https://doi.org/10.1287/orsc.1060.023

A neutron diffraction study and mode analysis of compounds of the system La_1−xSr_xFeO_3−xF_x (x=1, 0.8, 0.5, 0.2) and an investigation of their magnetic properties

AbstractWe report here a detailed study of the system La1−xSrxFeO3−xFx, by neutron powder diffraction- and magnetic-measurements. All the compounds are robust antiferromagnetics with ordering temperatures well above room temperature. Magnetic moments are shown to align parallel to the c-axis. FC-ZFC measurements indicate a small canting of the magnetic moments, resulting in a ferromagnetic component with a maximum for La0.5Sr0.5FeO2.5F0.5. We show that the system exhibits a composition-driven transition from a phase, for low fluorination levels (x≤0.5), with Pnma symmetry and the usual system of octahedral tiltings, to a phase with space group Imma for higher fluorine contents, where a correlated distortion of the oxygen octahedra plays a significant role. The consistency of the structural models, with respect to the expected continuity of the amplitudes of the different distortion modes and the invariance of their internal form, was monitored through the symmetry mode decomposition of the structures

The role of osmolarity adjusting agents in the regulation of encapsulated cell behavior to provide a safer and more predictable delivery of therapeutics

[Abstract] Transplantation of cells within alginate microspheres has been extensively studied for sustained drug delivery. However, the lack of control over cell behavior represents a major concern regarding the efficacy and the safety of the therapy. Here, we demonstrated that when formulating the biosystem, an adequate selection of osmolarity adjusting agents significantly contributes to the regulation of cell responses. Our data showed that these agents interact in the capsule formation process, influencing the alginate crosslinking degree. Therefore, when selecting inert or electrolyte-based osmolarity adjusting agents to encapsulate D1 multipotent mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs), alginate microcapsules with differing mechanical properties were obtained. Since mechanical forces acting on cells influence their behavior, contrasting cell responses were observed both, in vitro and in vivo. When employing mannitol as an inert osmolarity adjusting agent, microcapsules presented a more permissive matrix, allowing a tumoral-like behavior. This resulted in the formation of enormous cell-aggregates that presented necrotic cores and protruding peripheral cells, rendering the therapy unpredictable, dysfunctional, and unsafe. Conversely, the use of electrolyte osmolarity adjusting agents, including calcium or sodium, provided the capsule with a suitable crosslinking degree that established a tight control over cell proliferation and enabled an adequate therapeutic regimen in vivo. The crucial impact of these agents was confirmed when gene expression studies reported pivotal divergences not only in proliferative pathways, but also in genes involved in survival, migration, and differentiation. Altogether, our results prove osmolarity adjusting agents as an effective tool to regulate cell behavior and obtain safer and more predictable therapies.Gobierno Vasco; IT-907-16Universidad del País Vasco; UFI11/3

Large differences in gene expression responses to drought and heat stress between elite barley cultivar scarlett and a spanish landrace

23 Pags.- 6 Tabls.- 8 Figs. Copyright © 2017 Cantalapiedra, García-Pereira, Gracia, Igartua, Casas and Contreras-Moreira. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forms is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.Drought causes important losses in crop production every season. Improvement for drought tolerance could take advantage of the diversity held in germplasm collections, much of which has not been incorporated yet into modern breeding. Spanish landraces constitute a promising resource for barley breeding, as they were widely grown until last century and still show good yielding ability under stress. Here, we study the transcriptome expression landscape in two genotypes, an outstanding Spanish landrace-derived inbred line (SBCC073) and a modern cultivar (Scarlett). Gene expression of adult plants after prolonged stresses, either drought or drought combined with heat, was monitored. Transcriptome of mature leaves presented little changes under severe drought, whereas abundant gene expression changes were observed under combined mild drought and heat. Developing inflorescences of SBCC073 exhibited mostly unaltered gene expression, whereas numerous changes were found in the same tissues for Scarlett. Genotypic differences in physiological traits and gene expression patterns confirmed the different behavior of landrace SBCC073 and cultivar Scarlett under abiotic stress, suggesting that they responded to stress following different strategies. A comparison with related studies in barley, addressing gene expression responses to drought, revealed common biological processes, but moderate agreement regarding individual differentially expressed transcripts. Special emphasis was put in the search of co-expressed genes and underlying common regulatory motifs. Overall, 11 transcription factors were identified, and one of them matched cis-regulatory motifs discovered upstream of co-expressed genes involved in those responses.This work was funded by DGA - Obra Social La Caixa [grant number GA-LC-059-2011] and by the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness [projects AGL2010-21929, RFP-2012-00015-00-00 AGL2013-48756-R and AGL2016-80967-R]. Carlos P. Cantalapiedra is funded by [grant BES-2011-045905 linked to project AGL2010-21929].Peer reviewe

HvFT1 (VrnH3) drives latitudinal adaptation in Spanish barleys

29 Pag., 5 Tabl., 4 Fig. The definitive version is available at: http://www.springer.com/life+sciences/plant+sciences/journal/122Flowering time is an important factor in the adaptation of barley varieties to environmental conditions and maximizing yield potential (Boyd et al. 2003; Cockram et al. 2007a; Cuesta-Marcos et al. 2009), by synchronizing the plant cycle to the prevailing environmental conditions. Flowering time is a complex trait that shows an almost continuous variation in cereals. The investigation of the genetic control of flowering time in barley has benefited from the comparative use of floral pathways in Arabidopsis thaliana (Cockram et al. 2007a) and rice, via the identification of candidate genes through orthology. The variation in flowering time is mainly due to variations in genes regulated by day length (photoperiod) or long exposures to low temperature (vernalization) (Laurie et al. 1995; Trevaskis et al. 2003; Dubcovsky et al. 2005). In barley, three genes are responsible for the vernalization requirement: VrnH1 (isolated by map-based cloning in diploid wheat, Yan et al. 2003), VrnH2 (identified by positional cloning, Yan et al. 2004) and VrnH3 (identified by homology to a known gene from Arabidopsis thaliana, Yan et al. 2006). VrnH1 is induced by vernalization and promotes the transition from vegetative to reproductive development. VrnH2 is a floral repressor that delays flowering until the plants are vernalized. The VrnH3 gene seems to be orthologous to the A. thaliana floral pathway integrator FT (FLOWERING LOCUS T) gene (Yan et al. 2006; Faure et al. 2007; Turck et al. 2008; Kikuchi et al. 2009). In A. thaliana, FT expression increases in the leaves when plants are exposed to inductive day length. In barley, expression of orthologous HvFT1 (synonymous to VrnH3) is induced by long day conditions and promotes flowering (Hemming et al. 2008). The winter growth habit of barley requires the presence of a recessive VrnH1 allele, together with an active VrnH2 allele (Cockram et al. 2007b; Hemming et al. 2009). Vernalization induces VrnH1 under both short and long days, which then represses VrnH2. Distelfeld et al. (2009) reported that the interactions among the three vernalization genes generate a feedback regulatory loop that once started, leads to an irreversible induction of flowering. The function of HvFT1 has started to be unraveled only recently. There is now mounting evidence supporting the role of the FT protein in Arabidopsis (and corresponding proteins in other species) as an important part of the florigen (Corbesier et al. 2007; Tamaki et al. 2007). Kikuchi et al. (2009) presented strong evidence suggesting that HvFT1 plays a central role in promoting flowering, integrating the photoperiod and vernalization pathways. HvFT1 expression seems to be regulated by the major photoperiod response genes: PpdH1 under LD conditions and PpdH2 under SD conditions. There are evidences on the adaptive role played by VrnH1, VrnH2 and PpdH1 during the expansion of the crop, facilitating its adaptation to new agroecological niches (Cockram et al. 2007a; Jones et al. 2008). Does VrnH3-HvFT1 also have an adaptive role? We know that the phenotypic effect of HvFT1 on flowering time can be very large (Yan et al. 2006), and therefore may be an important factor for the final determination of barley flowering time. Other open questions on this gene are: to what environmental cue does VrnH3 respond, temperature or photoperiod? What effect does it have on flowering time under natural conditions? To address these questions, we analyzed the polymorphism and the phenotypic effect of this gene on a collection of Spanish barley landraces and its variation at the sequence level, and validated its effect on a segregating population.This work was supported by the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation (Projects AGL2007-63625 and RTA01-088-C3) and by the European Regional Development Fund. A Djemel was supported by a fellowship from IAMZ-CIHEAM. S Yahiaoui and L Ponce were supported by fellowships from AECID-Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation.Peer reviewe

A cluster of nucleotide-binding site-leucine-rich repeat genes resides in a barley powdery mildew resistance quantitative trait loci on 7HL

Powdery mildew causes severe yield losses in barley production worldwide. Although many resistance genes have been described, only a few have already been cloned. A strong QTL (quantitative trait locus) conferring resistance to a wide array of powdery mildew isolates was identified in a Spanish barley landrace on the long arm of chromosome 7H. Previous studies narrowed down the QTL position, but were unable to identify candidate genes or physically locate the resistance. In this study, the exome of three recombinant lines from a high-resolution mapping population was sequenced and analyzed, narrowing the position of the resistance down to a single physical contig. Closer inspection of the region revealed a cluster of closely related NBS-LRR (nucleotide-binding site–leucine-rich repeat containing protein) genes. Large differences were found between the resistant lines and the reference genome of cultivar Morex, in the form of PAV (presence-absence variation) in the composition of the NBS-LRR cluster. Finally, a template-guided assembly was performed and subsequent expression analysis revealed that one of the new assembled candidate genes is transcribed. In summary, the results suggest that NBS-LRR genes, absent from the reference and the susceptible genotypes, could be functional and responsible for the powdery mildew resistance. The procedure followed is an example of the use of NGS (next-generation sequencing) tools to tackle the challenges of gene cloning when the target gene is absent from the reference genome