International Management of Customer Orientation

This study investigates the role of customer orientation of service employees (COSE) and its influence on customer satisfaction and on electronic word of mouth (e-WOM), with a focus on international management. An empirical study was conducted amongst hotel customers with a final valid sample of 265 respondents. Digital capabilities have been included in the COSE model for the first time. Findings indicate that digital capabilities have a positive influence on customer satisfaction that is mediated by COSE. This study has also compared differences between international and national firms and also considered family businesses and non-family businesses. Results show that international hotels have a higher level of COSE than national hotels, mainly due to the technical skills of the employees, and the presence of a higher level of COSE in family businesses (FBs) rather than in non-family businesses (NFBs). Some contributions to academia and to international management have been discussed

Evaluation of Reference Genes in the Polyploid Complex Dianthus broteri (Caryophyllaceae) Using qPCR

Dianthus broteri is an endemic complex which is considered the largest polyploid series within the Dianthus genus. This polyploid species involves four cytotypes (2×, 4×, 6× and 12×) with spatial and ecological segregation. The study of gene expression in polyploid species must be very rigorous because of the effects of duplications on gene regulation. In these cases, real-time polymer-ase chain reaction (qPCR) is the most appropriate technique for determining the gene expression profile because of its high sensitivity. The relative quantification strategy using qPCR requires genes with stable expression, known as reference genes, for normalization. In this work, we evaluated the stability of 13 candidate genes to be considered reference genes in leaf and petal tissues in Dianthus broteri. Several statistical analyses were used to determine the most stable candidate genes: Bayesian analysis, network analysis based on equivalence tests, geNorm and BestKeeper algorithms. In the leaf tissue, the most stable candidate genes were TIP41, TIF5A, PP2A and SAMDC. Similarly, the most adequate reference genes were H3.1, TIP41, TIF5A and ACT7 in the petal tissue. Therefore, we suggest that the best reference genes to compare different ploidy levels for both tissues in D. broteri are TIP41 and TIF5A.Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación PGC2018-098358-B-I00Junta de Andalucía US-138123

Espacio EpD: una experiencia de desarrollo profesional docente

Describimos una experiencia realizada con un grupo de docentes de diversos niveles educativos: Educación Infantil, Educación Primaria, Educación Secundaria y Universidad, que, a través de un Proyecto de la ONG “Madre Coraje” han desarrollado un proceso de aprendizaje cooperativo en una plataforma digital para compartir experiencias en el diseño y experimentación de propuestas didácticas sobre Educación para el Desarrollo (ED). Entre los resultados destacamos las posibilidades que ofrecen las temáticas relacionadas con la ED para cambiar la concepción de los contenidos curriculares de los docentes, pasando de una visión centrada en el profesor y en su disciplina de referencia a una posición centrada en los alumnos y en sus intereses y necesidades.We describe an experience conducted with a group of teachers of different educational levels: kindergarten, primary school, secondary school and university, which, through a project of the NGO "Mother Courage" have developed a process of cooperative learning in a digital platform to share experiences in the design and testing of didactic proposals on Development Education (ED). The results highlight the potential of topics related to the ED to change the design of the curricula of teachers, moving from a teachercentered vision and discipline reference to a student-centered position and its interests and needs

Estudio Isotèrmico de Biosorción de Níquel en soluciones acuosas sintéticas utilizando biomasa seca del alga Chlorella sp

La contaminación causada por elementos potencialmente tóxicos (EPTs) en fuenteshídricas, es una problemática ambiental de gran importancia e interés mundial debido a las continuas descargas de residuos de origen antropogénicos al ambiente acuático. Uno de los métodos biológicos que resultan atractivos en la remoción de metales es la biosorción, la cual es más económica, efectiva y amigable con el medio ambiente si se compara con métodos físico-químicos. En el presente estudio se determinó la capacidad de bioadsorción de Ni (II) de soluciones acuosas sintéticas por la biomasa seca del alga Chlorella sp. También se realizó la cinética de bioadsorción, así como la influencia de la concentración inicial del metal. Se aplicaron los modelos de Freundlich y Langmuir para describir las isotermas de adsorción. Las isotermas experimentales de adsorción se ajustaron mejor al modelo de Freundlich (R 2 = 0,999). La capacidad máxima de biadsorción (Qmax) de la biomasa fue de 32,701 mg/g a temperatura ambiente 19 +/- 0,2°C y pH de la solución metálica. Por otro lado, el análisis FTIR para los grupos funcionales de la superficie de la biomasa reveló la existencia de grupos carboxilos, hidroxilos, carbonilos y aminos, los cuales son responsables de la bioadsorción de Ni (II

Six Collective Challenges for Sustainability of Almería Greenhouse Horticulture

Globally, current food consumption and trade are placing unprecedented demand on agricultural systems and increasing pressure on natural resources, requiring tradeoffs between food security and environmental impacts especially given the tension between market-driven agriculture and agro-ecological goals. In order to illustrate the wicked social, economic and environmental challenges and processes to find transformative solutions, we focus on the largest concentration of greenhouses in the world located in the semi-arid coastal plain of South-east Spain. Almería family farming, predominantly cooperative, greenhouse intensive production, commenced after the 1960s and has resulted in very significant social and economic benefits for the region, while also having important negative environmental and biodiversity impacts, as well as creating new social challenges. The system currently finds itself in a crisis of diminishing economic benefits and increasing environmental and social dilemmas. Here, we present the outcomes of multi-actor, transdisciplinary research to review and provide collective insights for solutions-oriented research on the sustainability of Almeria’s agricultural sector. The multi-actor, transdisciplinary process implemented collectively, and supported by scientific literature, identified six fundamental challenges to transitioning to an agricultural model that aims to ameliorate risks and avoid a systemic collapse, whilst balancing a concern for profitability with sustainability: (1) Governance based on a culture of shared responsibility for sustainability, (2) Sustainable and efficient use of water, (3) Biodiversity conservation, (4) Implementing a circular economy plan, (5) Technology and knowledge transfer, and (6) Image and identity. We conclude that the multi-actor transdisciplinary approach successfully facilitated the creation of a culture of shared responsibility among public, private, academic, and civil society actors. Notwithstanding plural values, challenges and solutions identified by consensus point to a nascent acknowledgement of the strategic necessity to locate agricultural economic activity within social and environmental spheres.This paper demonstrates the need to establish transdisciplinary multi-actor work-schemes to continue collaboration and research for the transition to an agro-ecological model as a means to remain competitive and to create value

La imagen y la narrativa como herramientas para el abordaje psicosocial en escenarios de violencia. Departamento Cundinamarca.

En el presente documento se elaborará en primer lugar un análisis del caso Edison Medina ejercicio propuesto en la guía de actividades del Diplomado de Acompañamiento Psicosocial en Escenarios de Violencia escogido en consenso entre los participantes del grupo, en segundo lugar, el análisis del caso Pandurí, un municipio colombiano destruido por un grupo armado al margen de la ley en el año 2003. El propósito es establecer una comprensión de la dimensión de las problemáticas expuestas, estableciendo claridad sobre los fenómenos de violencia que se generaron en los diferentes contextos, se busca la apropiación de conocimientos, habilidades, estrategias y transformación de las diferentes situaciones en crisis a causa de un evento traumático, y la apropiación de conceptos por medio de propuestas en las diferentes situaciones. El caso Edison Medina se aborda por medio de preguntas de tipo circulares, estratégicas y reflexivas, que contribuyen a una atención integral, orientadas a un acercamiento y evaluación psicosocial, ética y proactiva en la superación de las condiciones de victimización, cada pregunta justificada desde el contexto adecuado para generar una entrevista. Por otro lado en el caso Pandurí se pretende generar reflexiones que contribuyan a la recuperación de los miembros de esta comunidad afectada, como es la medición y evaluación de las consecuencias traumáticas asociada a la violencia colectiva, y el aprovechamiento de las capacidades que como seres humanos tenemos a través del afrontamiento y la resiliencia, identificados desde nuestro rol como futuros profesionales de Psicología, se pueden equiparar los constructos sociales que se generan a partir de eventos traumático provocados por sucesos violentos, y reconocimiento de las herramientas que se pueden utilizar en la atención e intervención en un ámbito social, que logren transformación de estas comunidades y restablecimiento de exceso o déficit emocionales producto de la crisis. Para el análisis del caso Pandurí, se proponen acciones de apoyo a las personas víctimas de la situación de crisis generadas por el acto criminal y se establecen estrategias de acompañamiento psicosocial, estableciendo transformación, memoria y subjetividad en la comunidad para lograr que afronten de la mejor manera la dificultad que se les ha presentado.In the present document an analysis of the Edison Medina exercise proposed in the activity guide of the Psychosocial Accompaniment Diploma in Violence Scenarios chosen in consensus among the participants of the group will be elaborated in the first place, in second place, the analysis of the Pandurí case, a Colombian municipality destroyed by an armed group outside the law in 2003. The purpose is to establish an understanding of the dimension of the problems exposed, establishing clarity about the phenomena of violence that were generated in different contexts, the appropriation of knowledge, skills, strategies and transformation of different situations in crisis is sought because of a traumatic event, the appropriation of concepts is sought through proposals in different situations. The Edison Medina case is addressed through questions of a circular, strategic and reflexive nature, which contribute to an integral attention, oriented towards an ethical and proactive approach to psychosocial evaluation in overcoming the conditions of victimization, each question justified from the context suitable to generate an interview. On the other hand, the Pandurí case aims to generate reflections that contribute to the recovery of the members of this affected community, such as the measurement and evaluation of the traumatic consequences associated with collective violence, and the use of the capacities that as human beings we have through coping and resilience, identified from our role as future professionals in Psychology, we can identify the social constructs that are generated from traumatic events caused by violent events, and recognition of the tools that can be used in the care and intervention in a social environment, that achieve transformation of these communities and reestablishment of emotional excess or deficit resulting from the crisis. For the analysis of the Pandurí case, support actions are proposed for the victims of the crisis situation generated by the criminal act and psychosocial accompaniment strategies are established, establishing transformation, memory and subjectivity in the community to ensure that they face the best way the difficulty that has been presented to them

In vivo conditional deletion of HDAC7 reveals its requirement to establish proper B lymphocyte identity and development

Class IIa histone deacetylase (HDAC) subfamily members are tissue-specific gene repressors with crucial roles in development and differentiation processes. A prominent example is HDAC7, a class IIa HDAC that shows a lymphoid-specific expression pattern within the hematopoietic system. In this study, we explored its potential role in B cell development by generating a conditional knockout mouse model. Our study demonstrates for the first time that HDAC7 deletion dramatically blocks early B cell development and gives rise to a severe lymphopenia in peripheral organs, while also leading to pro-B cell lineage promiscuity. We find that HDAC7 represses myeloid and T lymphocyte genes in B cell progenitors through interaction with myocyte enhancer factor 2C (MEFC2). In B cell progenitors, HDAC7 is recruited to promoters and enhancers of target genes, and its absence leads to increased enrichment of histone active marks. Our results prove that HDAC7 is a bona fide transcriptional repressor essential for B cell development

Risk and outcomes of COVID-19 in patients with multiple sclerosis

Background and purpose Limited information is available on incidence and outcomes of COVID-19 in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). This study investigated the risks of SARS-CoV-2 infection and COVID-19-related outcomes in patients with MS, and compared these with the general population. Methods A regional registry was created to collect data on incidence, hospitalization rates, intensive care unit admission, and death in patients with MS and COVID-19. National government outcomes and seroprevalence data were used for comparison. The study was conducted at 14 specialist MS treatment centers in Madrid, Spain, between February and May 2020. Results Two-hundred nineteen patients were included in the registry, 51 of whom were hospitalized with COVID-19. The mean age ± standard deviation was 45.3 ± 12.4 years, and the mean duration of MS was 11.9 ± 8.9 years. The infection incidence rate was lower in patients with MS than the general population (adjusted incidence rate ratio = 0.78, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.70–0.80), but hospitalization rates were higher (relative risk = 5.03, 95% CI = 3.76–6.62). Disease severity was generally low, with only one admission to an intensive care unit and five deaths. Males with MS had higher incidence rates and risk of hospitalization than females. No association was found between the use of any disease-modifying treatment and hospitalization risk. Conclusions Patients with MS do not appear to have greater risks of SARS-CoV-2 infection or severe COVID-19 outcomes compared with the general population. The decision to start or continue disease-modifying treatment should be based on a careful risk–benefit assessment.post-print996 K

Second Workshop on Atlantic chub mackerel (Scomber colias) (WKCOLIAS2)

The Atlantic chub mackerel Scomber colias has become an increasingly important commercial species in the European Atlantic waters in the last 10–15 years, probably through an expansion process from NW African waters and due to market needs. However, at present there are no assessment or advice requirements. In the WK framework, available information of the species in the West Atlantic waters has been compiled in order to evaluate possible geographical differences and trends, and the feasibility to describe its population structure. Though the Atlantic chub mackerel is not routinely included among the target species in the acoustic surveys performed in the Atlantic Iberian waters and the Mediterranean Sea, a synoptic overview of the species is possible over all its West Atlantic distribution. Moreover, the data available have indicated latitudinal trends, mainly in the landings’ length composition, L50 and the spawning periods. Nevertheless, even if some degree of connectivity likely exists and migrations are occurring between adjacent areas, some subunits could be considered for management purposes. From the assessment models’ trials carried out, the results or reference points obtained for the European fisheries cannot be retained at present. Therefore, continuing collating information from fisheries and biological sampling of the species, obtaining reliable biomass estimations from scientific surveys and identifying management units seem the main priorities to address in future research work and in case of assessment requirements