¿Qué quieren las empresas de las universidades? Oportunidades de colaboración para desarrollar innovaciones

Universities are a key element of innovation systems, especially when they establish efficient mechanisms of knowledge exchange with companies. This article analyzes collaboration opportunities between universities and companies. The literature revision emphasizes the interest companies have in obtaining new knowledge, problem-solving assistance – with specialized services-, and personnel training. The research done in Puerto Rico based on interviews to academic researchers, entrepreneurs, and other persons linked to innovation systems, confirm the interest in those areas and highlight the opportunity to increase collaborations through flexible strategies by locals.Las universidades son un elemento clave en los sistemas de innovación, especialmente cuando se establecen mecanismos eficientes de transferencia de conocimientos con las empresas. Este artículo analiza oportunidades de colaboración entre universidades y empresas. La revisión de literatura enfatiza el interés de las empresas en obtener conocimiento nuevo, en la asistencia en la solución de problemas - con servicios especializados-, y en la formación de personal. El trabajo de investigación realizado en Puerto Rico, basado en entrevistas a investigadores académicos, empresarios y otras personas vinculadas al sistema de innovación, confirma el interés local en esas áreas y destaca la oportunidad de ampliar las colaboraciones mediante estrategias flexibles

¿Qué quieren las empresas de las universidades? Oportunidades de colaboración para desarrollar innovaciones

Universities are a key element of innovation systems, especially when they establish efficient mechanisms of knowledge exchange with companies. This article analyzes collaboration opportunities between universities and companies. The literature revision emphasizes the interest companies have in obtaining new knowledge, problem-solving assistance – with specialized services-, and personnel training. The research done in Puerto Rico based on interviews to academic researchers, entrepreneurs, and other persons linked to innovation systems, confirm the interest in those areas and highlight the opportunity to increase collaborations through flexible strategies by locals.Las universidades son un elemento clave en los sistemas de innovación, especialmente cuando se establecen mecanismos eficientes de transferencia de conocimientos con las empresas. Este artículo analiza oportunidades de colaboración entre universidades y empresas. La revisión de literatura enfatiza el interés de las empresas en obtener conocimiento nuevo, en la asistencia en la solución de problemas - con servicios especializados-, y en la formación de personal. El trabajo de investigación realizado en Puerto Rico, basado en entrevistas a investigadores académicos, empresarios y otras personas vinculadas al sistema de innovación, confirma el interés local en esas áreas y destaca la oportunidad de ampliar las colaboraciones mediante estrategias flexibles

Volatile Compound Profiling by HS-SPME/GC-MS-FID of a Core Olive Cultivar Collection as a Tool for Aroma Improvement of Virgin Olive Oil

Virgin olive oil (VOO) is the only food product requiring official sensory analysis to be classified in commercial categories, in which the evaluation of the aroma plays a very important role. The selection of parents, with the aim of obtaining new cultivars with improved oil aroma, is of paramount importance in olive breeding programs. We have assessed the volatile fraction by headspace-solid-phase microextraction/gas chromatography-mass spectrometry-flame ionization detection (HS-SPME/GC-MS-FID) and the deduced aroma properties of VOO from a core set of olive cultivars (Core-36) which possesses most of the genetic diversity found in the World Olive Germplasm Collection (IFAPA Alameda del Obispo) located in Cordoba, Spain. The VOO volatile fractions of Core-36 cultivars display a high level of variability. It is mostly made of compounds produced from polyunsaturated fatty acids through the lipoxygenase pathway, which confirms to be a general characteristic of the olive species (Olea europaea L.). The main group of volatile compounds in the oils was six straight-chain carbon compounds derived from linolenic acid, some of them being the main contributors to the aroma of the olive oils according to their odor activity values (OAV). The high level of variability found for the volatile fraction of the oils from Core-36 and, therefore, for the aroma odor notes, suggest that this core set may be a very useful tool for the choice of optimal parents in olive breeding programs in order to raise new cultivars with improved VOO aroma.This work was supported by the research projects AGL2011-24442 and AGL2015-67652-R from the Programa Nacional de Recursos y Tecnologias Agroalimentarias funded by the Government of Spain. We are grateful to Mar Pascual for her excellent technical assistance.We acknowledge support by the CSIC Open Access Publication Initiative through its Unit of Information Resources for Research (URICI)

Modification of 13-hydroperoxide lyase expression in olive affects plant growth and results in altered volatile profile

10 Páginas.-- 5 Figuras.-- 2 TablasThe C6 aldehydes, alcohols, and the corresponding esters are the most important compounds of virgin olive oil aroma. These C6 volatile compounds are synthesized via the 13-hydroperoxide lyase (13-HPL) branch of the lipoxygenase pathway. In this investigation, a functional analysis of the olive (Olea europaea L.) 13-HPL gene by its overexpression and silencing in olive transgenic lines was carried out. With this aim, sense and RNAi constructs of the olive 13-HPL gene were generated and used for the transformation of embryogenic olive cultures. Leaves from overexpressing lines showed a slight increase in 13-HPL gene expression, whereas RNAi lines exhibited a strong decrease in their transcript levels. Quantification of 13-HPL activity in two overexpressing and two RNAi lines showed a positive correlation with levels of transcripts. Interestingly, RNAi lines showed a high decrease in the content of C6 volatiles linked to a strong increase of C5 volatile compounds, altering the volatile profile in the leaves. In addition, the silencing of the 13-HPL gene severely affected plant growth and development. This investigation demonstrates the role of the 13-HPL gene in the biogenesis of olive volatile compounds and constitutes a functional genomics study in olive related to virgin olive oil quality.We acknowledge Prof. Manuel Mancha for his strong support at the beginning of the olive transformation studies, and for his continuous encouragement, which made it possible to undertake this collaborative research. This work was supported by the OLEAGEN Project funded by the Fundación Genoma España, Junta de Andalucía through Instituto de Investigación y Formación Agraria y Pesquera (IFAPA) and Corporación Tecnológica de Andalucía (CTA).Peer reviewe

The oleanolic acid derivative, 3-O-succinyl-28-O-benzyl oleanolate, induces apoptosis in B16–F10 melanoma cells via the mitochondrial apoptotic pathway

Oleanolic acid (1) is a pentacyclic triterpene present in olive pomace, which is known to induce apoptosis and to have anti-tumor properties; however, high concentrations of this product are necessary to produce cytotoxic effects. The 3-O-succinyl-28-O-benzyl oleanolate derivative (4) presents greater cytotoxicity and apoptosis effects than its natural precursor, oleanolic acid, or its benzyl derivative (2). This study examines the response of B16–F10 melanoma cells to treatment with compound 4, in comparison to 1 and 3. Our studies show that treatment with 4 results in a significant inhibition of cell proliferation in a dose-dependent manner and causes apoptotic cell death. At concentrations inhibiting cell growth by 50% and 80%, compound 4 induces strong G0/G1 cell-cycle arrest, around 72–95% apoptosis, and mitochondrial disturbances confirmed by FACS analysis, which probably involve the activation of the intrinsic apoptotic route. Morphological changes including cell shrinkage, chromatin condensation, and loss of nuclear architecture were also observed. In this report, we demonstrated for the first time that in melanoma cancer cells, compound 4 exerts a significant anti-proliferation effect by inducing the apoptotic process with mitochondrial depolarization. These findings support the role of compound 4 as a new, potential therapeutic tool against aberrant cell proliferation in melanoma.This study was supported by grants Group BIO 157 from the Technology and Innovation Council of the Andalucian regional government and AGL2006-12210-C03-02/ALI, SAF2005-01627, ISCIII-RTICC (RD06/0020/0046) from the Spanish government and European Union FEDER funds

Coeducación : una escuela hacia la igualdad

Mención honorífica de la convocatoria de premios 'Irene: la paz empieza en casa 2008'. Incluye resumen con las actividades realizadas en el proyectoPresenta un proyecto de coeducación para la igualdad de sexos realizado en el IES 'Reyes de España' en Linares (Jaén), entre los cursos 2006 y 2008. A través del proyecto se han introducido cambios que incluyen una perspectiva de género en la práctica docente buscando favorecer prácticas correctoras de estereotipos sexistas; planifica objetivos y actuaciones para corregir desigualdades y discriminaciones sexistas, promueve la autoformación y el trabajo en equipo; fomenta un uso no sexista del lenguaje; utiliza una metodología activa, participativa, significativa y lúdica; utiliza las nuevas tecnologías como edición de video, carteles, página web, presentaciones didácticas en PowerPoint e Impress, revistas digitales, ejercicios informáticos en software libre realizados con Flash, Graffitis, campañas publicitarias, periódico escolar, etc.; incorpora procedimientos de evaluación para valorar el grado de consecución de los objetivos establecidos; establece mecanismos de difusión escrita, informática y audiovisual a través de una página web; y utiliza materiales y recursos en español, francés e inglés.AndalucíaBiblioteca de Educación del Ministerio de Educación, Cultura y Deporte; Calle San Agustín, 5 - 3 Planta; 28014 Madrid; Tel. +34917748000; Fax +34917748026; [email protected]