Riesgos de la comunicación interactiva en la población adolescente: diagnóstico e intervención de alfabetización digital

[EN]The present thesis dissertation has several original contributions. First, we have validated the Digital Literacy Scale. Despite some room for improvement in the measurement, we argue that, even in its current state, this is a valid and reliable instrument for measuring digital skills in adolescents and, as such, fills a gap in the field of digital literacy research. Second, to our knowledge this is the first study to examine how digital skills mediate the relationship between parental mediation and online risks and online opportunities. Our study builds a theoretical model explaining the mediation role of adolescents’ digital skills on the relationship between parental mediation and online risks and opportunities. Thus, our research helps us understand how digital skills have a mediating role between (restrictive) parental behaviours and adolescents’ online experiences that previous studies have not addressed. Third, this study shows that narrative persuasion and mobile learning can be combined successfully for promoting online safety and developing digital literacy in young people, and that mobile learning can be effective regardless of adolescents’ individual characteristics. As for every study, the present doctoral thesis suffers from several limitations that should be considered in future studies. Therefore, future research should look for improvement of the scale; should investigate relationships between parental mediation, digital skills, online opportunities and online risks longitudinally; and should test the developed theoretical model in other countries. Despite these limitations, we consider that this dissertation sheds light on the research on digital literacy in adolescents by developing a useful tool for measuring this construct and by highlighting its importance for an effective use of information and communication technology.[ES]La presente tesis doctoral proporciona varias contribuciones originales. En primer lugar, a través del primer estudio empírico hemos validado la Escala de Alfabetización Digital. A pesar de existir margen de mejora en dicha herramienta metodológica, consideramos que en su estado actual es una herramienta válida y fiable para medir competencias digitales en adolescentes y, de esta forma, llena un vacío en la investigación en alfabetización digital. En segundo lugar, según nuestro conocimiento, este es el primer estudio que examina como las competencias digitales median en la relación entre mediación parental y riesgos y oportunidades online. De esta forma, nuestra investigación construye un modelo teórico que explica el rol de mediador de las competencias digitales de los adolescentes en la relación entre mediación parental y riesgos y oportunidades. Así, nuestra investigación ayuda a explicar cómo las competencias digitales tienen un rol mediador entre las iniciativas de mediación (restrictiva) y las experiencias online de los adolescentes que ningún estudio previo había analizado. En tercer lugar, esta investigación demuestra que la persuasión narrativa y el aprendizaje móvil pueden combinarse de forma exitosa para promover la seguridad online y desarrollar la alfabetización digital en la población adolescente; y que el aprendizaje móvil puede ser efectivo independientemente de las características individuales de los adolescentes. Como en cualquier investigación, la presente tesis doctoral sufre de algunas limitaciones que deberán ser tenidas en cuentas en investigaciones futuras. Así, los próximos estudios deberían tratar de mejorar la escala; deberían investigar la relación entre mediación parental, competencias digitales, oportunidades online y riesgos online de forma longitudinal; y deberían testar el modelo teórico desarrollado en otros países o contextos culturales. A pesar de estas limitaciones, consideramos que esta tesis arroja luz en la investigación sobre alfabetización digital en adolescentes al desarrollar una herramienta para medir este constructo y al destacar su importancia para poder llevar a cabo un uso efectivo de las tecnologías de la información y la comunicación

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

[EN]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

Riesgos de la comunicación interactiva en adolescentes: propuesta de alfabetización digital

[POR]Este artigo apresenta um projeto de tese que visa aumentar as competências digitais dos adolescentes através de uma proposta de diagnóstico e intervenção de alfabetização digital. Os jovens estão cada vez mais utilizando tecnologias interativas e sua aceitação do ambiente digital é muito amplo, mas neste ambiente, há uma série de inconvenientes e perigos que são particularmente preocupantes no caso de menores: a exposição à pornografia, cyber bullying, assédio sexual, o envio de fotos ou vídeos pessoais com conteúdo sexual, contato com desconhecidos e representação. Nesta situação, você não deve privar os adolescentes de comunicação interativa e tecnologias digitais, mas darlhes competências digitais para que possam utilizálos com segurança

Risks of Interactive Communication. A Digital Literacy proposal

[EN]In recent years, adolescents have increased the use of interactive technologies. These children have more and more technological equipment and they commonly use interactive communication. This type of communication offers many possibilities and benefits to the users, but it also involves disadvantages and dangers that are of particular concern in the case of minors: exposure to pornography, cyberbullying, sexual harassment or grooming, sexting, contact with strangers… In this situation, we should not deprive adolescents of the use of digital technologies and interactive communication. The solution is to provide them with digital skills so they can use these tools safely. Therefore, this project aims to increase the digital skills of adolescents with a proposal for diagnosis and intervention of digital literacy. This project will be implemented through three phases. In the first phase we will make a survey to find the level of digital skills of children. To do this, we will create and validate a scale of digital skills. In the second phase we want to check if the digital literacy influences on the degree of gratification obtained with digital contents. To do this, we will conduct an experiment. The goal is to know if the process for getting children safer involves a restriction of the opportunities and advantages of the online world. Finally, in the third phase we will consider the results of the two previous studies to develop a mobile app to digitally literate. To develop this application we will build on the theories of persuasion and the strategy of entertainment-education. This last phase will be carried out by an experiment. Through it we would check if this application is effective for digitally literate, and more specifically, whether the narrative persuasion is effective for persuading and educating

ANALYSIS OF THE PRE-INJECTION CONFIGURATION IN A MARINE ENGINE THROUGH SEVERAL MCDM TECHNIQUES

The present manuscript describes a computational model employed to characterize the performance and emissions of a commercial marine diesel engine. This model analyzes several pre-injection parameters, such as starting instant, quantity, and duration. The goal is to reduce nitrogen oxides (NOx), as well as its effect on emissions and consumption. Since some of the parameters considered have opposite effects on the results, the present work proposes a MCDM (Multiple-Criteria Decision Making) methodology to determine the most adequate pre-injection configuration. An important issue in MCDM models is the data normalization process. This operation is necessary to convert the available data into a non-dimensional common scale, thus allowing ranking and rating alternatives. It is important to select a suitable normalization technique, and several methods exist in the literature. This work considers five well-known normalization procedures: linear max, linear max-min, linear sum, vector, and logarithmic normalization. As to the solution technique, the study considers three MCDM models: WSM (Weighted Sum Method), WPM (Weighted Product Method) and TOPSIS (Technique for Order Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution). The linear max, linear sum, vector, and logarithmic normalization procedures brought the same result: -22º CA ATDC pre-injection starting instant, 25% pre-injection quantity and 1-2º CA pre-injection duration. Nevertheless, the linear max min normalization procedure provided a result, which is different from the others and not recommended

Cellular localization of ROS and NO in olive reproductive tissues during flower development

14 pages, 9 figures, 14 additional files.[Background] Recent studies have shown that reactive oxygen species (ROS) and nitric oxide (NO) are involved in the signalling processes taking place during the interactions pollen-pistil in several plants. The olive tree (Olea europaea L.) is an important crop in Mediterranean countries. It is a dicotyledonous species, with a certain level of self-incompatibility, fertilisation preferentially allogamous, and with an incompatibility system of the gametophytic type not well determined yet. The purpose of the present study was to determine whether relevant ROS and NO are present in the stigmatic surface and other reproductive tissues in the olive over different key developmental stages of the reproductive process. This is a first approach to find out the putative function of these signalling molecules in the regulation of the interaction pollen-stigma.[Results] The presence of ROS and NO was analyzed in the olive floral organs throughout five developmental stages by using histochemical analysis at light microscopy, as well as different fluorochromes, ROS and NO scavengers and a NO donor by confocal laser scanning microscopy. The "green bud" stage and the period including the end of the "recently opened flower" and the "dehiscent anther" stages displayed higher concentrations of the mentioned chemical species. The stigmatic surface (particularly the papillae and the stigma exudate), the anther tissues and the pollen grains and pollen tubes were the tissues accumulating most ROS and NO. The mature pollen grains emitted NO through the apertural regions and the pollen tubes. In contrast, none of these species were detected in the style or the ovary.[Conclusion] The results obtained clearly demonstrate that both ROS and NO are produced in the olive reproductive organs in a stage- and tissue- specific manner. The biological significance of the presence of these products may differ between early flowering stages (defence functions) and stages where there is an intense interaction between pollen and pistil which may determine the presence of a receptive phase in the stigma. The study confirms the enhanced production of NO by pollen grains and tubes during the receptive phase, and the decrease in the presence of ROS when NO is actively produced.This work was supported by research projects P06-AGR-01719 (Junta de Andalucía) and BFU2008-00629 (MCI). AZ thanks the CSIC for providing a JAE grant.Peer reviewe

Effects of narrative-persuasive frames on Twitter regarding blood donation: pride versus empathy and people versus numbers

Blood donation in Spain is an altruistic, voluntary and unpaid process. Despite its social and health significance, this process has suffered a standstill in recent years that has been aggravated by the coronavirus pandemic. To promote the generation of new donors, it is necessary to carry out campaigns aimed at younger age groups to improve the information they have and reduce their fears. This research analyses the effectiveness of different frames of a persuasive narrative to increase blood donation. These frames have been constructed from two variables: an emotional appeal (empathy awakened by a recipient protagonist versus the pride experienced by a donor protagonist) and the identification of the beneficiary of the donation (identifiable victim versus generic beneficiary). The manipulated narratives incorporate features of edutainment and are adapted to the tone and language of the target population, young people, in the format of a Twitter thread. To test the effectiveness of these narratives, an experimental study was conducted among 600 participants aged 18–30 years. The results show the effectiveness of the emotional appeal, specifically in the threads that are led by a recipient of the blood donation. This appeal induces greater identification among people who perceive themselves as a little or somewhat similar to the protagonist. This outcome in turn positively affects information recall, the intention to share the message and the attitude towards donation, and reduces the perceived risk. All in all, it increases the donation intention. The data confirm a moderated mediation model with identification as a mediator and similarity as a moderator. On the contrary, no statistically significant effects were found regarding the second manipulated variable. No evidence was found that the use of an identifiable beneficiary in the donation appeal obtained better results than the call to donate supported by generic data

Involvement of Climatic Factors in the Allergen Expression in Olive Pollen

This work was supported by the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation (MICINN) (ERDF-cofinanced projects AGL2008-00517, BFU2011-22779 and PIE-200840I186) and the Junta de Andalucía (ERDF-cofinanced projects P2010-CVI5767 and P2010-AGR6274).Peer reviewe

Numerical analysis of emissions from marine engines using alternative fuels

The current restrictions on emissions from marine engines, particularly sulphur oxides (SOx ), nitrogen oxides (NOx ) and carbon dioxide (CO2 ), are compelling the shipping industry to a change of tendency. In the recent years, many primary and secondary reduction techniques have been proposed and employed in marine engines. Nevertheless, the increasingly restrictive legislation makes it very difficult to continue developing efficient eduction procedures at competitive prices. According to this, the paper presents the possibility to employ alternative fuels. A numerical model was developed to analyze the combustion process and emissions using oil fuel, natural gas and hydrogen. A commercial marine engine was studied, the Wärtsilä 6L 46. It was found, that hydrogen is the cleanest fuel regarding CO2 , hydrocarbons (HC) and carbon monoxide (CO). Nevertheless, it is very expensive for marine applications. Natural gas is cheaper and cleaner than fuel oil regarding CO2 and CO emissions. Still, natural gas emits more NOx and HC than oil fuel. SOx depends basically on the sulphur content of each particular fuel.S

La Convención Mundial sobre los Derechos de las Personas con Discapacidad: reflexiones en torno a la Educación Inclusiva en tiempos de crisis

La Convención sobre los Derechos de las Personas con Discapacidad (2006,, entró en vigor el 3 de mayo del 2008), en su artículo 24, configura el derecho a la educación desde la perspectiva de derechos humanos, sobre la base de la igualdad de oportunidades y la no discriminación y de acuerdo con el modelo social de la discapacidad presente en toda la Convención. Este artículo obliga a los Estados a garantizar un sistema educativo inclusivo. La actual crisis económica hace que nos planteamos, unas reflexiones que favorezcan la inclusión educativa y que no siempre tienen que suponer ampliación de la dotación económica, sino optimizar ideas fuerzas y recursos. Presentamos algunas ideas fuerzas y dentro de ellas indicadores para su desarrollo, entre los que destacamos: Saber de dónde venimos y hacia dónde vamos. Mejorar el sistema educativo en general; Defender modelos de inclusión educativa acordes con la convención en un sistema educativo más eficiente, sin renunciar a la equidad. Asumir responsabilidades y participación. Compromiso con una formación – capacitación de calidad. Nuevas tecnologías con accesibilidad universal y diseño para todos. Control y seguimiento; instaurando la cultura del seguimiento continuo, y evaluación de la gestión pública participativa y participada.The Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (2006...took effect on May 3, 2008), in Article 24, frames the right to education from the point of view of human rights, equal opportunities and no discrimination, according to the social model of disability present throughout the Convention. The Inclusive Education System is required by law and the States must assure this. The current economic crisis force us to think some thoughts to help inclusive education that does not necessarily increase the financial support but the optimization of ideas, forces and resources. We propose some ideas and within them some indicators to develop among which we highlight the following: to know where we come from and where we are going ; to improve the overall education system; to defend inclusion models according to the Convention in the context of a more efficient educational system but without sacrificing the equality; to assume responsibilities and participation; commitment to quality training; universal access to new technologies; control and monitoring, establish the culture of continuous monitoring and participatory evaluation of public management