Tendencias y desafíos de las marcas globales. Nuevas expectativas sobre el rol del comunicador corporativo

En este artículo el autor realiza una recorrida de los temas salientes que surgieron de la novena edición del Communication Consortium, evento anual en el que participan representantes de comunicación de las empresas estadounidenses líderes en sus industrias, con el objetivo de compartir las mejores prácticas de relaciones públicas, y analizar las tendencias y los desafíos de las comunicaciones corporativas. A fines de 2009, en New Brunswick, Nueva Jersey, 80 especialistas de comunicación representantes de las empresas 3M, AIG, American Express, General Electric, General Motors, IBM, Johnson&Johnson y Procter&Gamble, debatieron a lo largo de tres días. El tema central se enfocó en las nuevas realidades comunicacionalesque están generando la integración global, el uso masivo de la tecnología y los cambios en elcomportamiento social que prácticamente están reformulando el cómo, dónde y cuándo las instituciones y las personas se comunican, redefiniendo así el alcance de la función de la comunicación para fortalecer las marcas, construir alianzas y reforzar las relaciones, para contribuir a los resultados de negocio de las compañías.In this article the author makes a review on the main subjects arose from the ninth edition of the Communication Consortium, annual event in which participates American companies communication leaders representing their industries, with the aim of sharing the best practices of public relations, and analyzing the trends and the challenges of corporate communications. By the end of 2009, in New Brunswick, New Jersey, 80 representing specialists of communication of 3M, AIG, American Express, General Electric, General Motors, IBM, Johnson& Johnson and Procter& Gamble, debated throughout three days. The central subject focused in the new communicational realities generated by global integration, the massive use of the technology and the changes in the social behavior that they are practically reformulating how, where and when the institutions and the people communicate, redefining therefore the reach of the function of the communication to fortify the brands, to construct alliances and to reinforce the relations, to contribute to the results of companies business.Neste artigo o autor percorre temas que surgiram da nona edição do CommunicationConsortium, evento anual no que participam representantes de comunicação das empresas dosEstados Unidos líderes em suas indústrias, com o objetivo de compartilhar as melhores práticasde relações públicas, e analisar as tendências e os desafios das comunicações corporativas. A finsde 2009, em New Brunswick, Nova Jersey, 80 especialistas de comunicação representantes dasempresas 3M, AIG, American Express, Geral Electric, Geral Motors, IBM, Johnson&Johnsone Procter&Gamble, debateram ao longo de três dias. O tema central se enfocou nas novasrealidades comunicacionales que estão gerando a integração global, o uso em massa datecnologia e as mudanças no comportamento social que praticamente estão reformulando ocomo, onde e quando as instituições e as pessoas se comunicam, redefinindo assim o alcanceda função da comunicação para fortalecer as marcas, construir alianças e reforçar as relações,para contribuir aos resultados de negócio das companhias

Uma abordagem problemas críticos ambientais anos subjacente ao eletrônico lixo gerado

La problemática ambiental generada por los residuos de aparatos eléctricos y electrónicos depositados en la basura y posteriormente en rellenos sanitarios causa serios problemas de salud. Debido a esto, se reconoce como una deficiencia en los asuntos ambientales la educación orientada a contenidos que poco contribuye en la formación de personas críticas frente a aspectos ambientales. La educación ambiental, debe articular diversas áreas de conocimiento y orientarlas a trabajar las problemáticas en forma global e individual, en las clases se deben jugar con temáticas y actores reales. La propuesta de esta reflexión es la articulación de pedagogías críticas, educación ambiental y las tecnologías de la información y las comunicaciones como una nueva región del conocimiento que incluya el lado afectivo ambiental.Environmental problems caused by waste electrical and electronic equipment waste deposited in landfills and subsequently cause serious health problems. Because of this, it is recognized as problematic in environmental issues-oriented content that contributes little to the formation of critics against environmental aspects education. Environmental education must articulate different areas of knowledge and guide them to work the problem globally and individually, classrooms should play with thematic and real actors. The proposal of this reflection is the articulation of critical pedagogies, environmental education and information technology and communications as a new area of knowledge that includes the affective environmental side.Problemas ambientais causados pelo Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment resíduos depositados em aterros sanitários e, posteriormente, causar problemas de saúde graves. Devido a isso, É reconhecida como uma deficiência em questões ambientais conteúdo orientado para a educação que pouco contribui para a formação de críticas contra os aspectos ambientais. A educação ambiental deve articular diferentes áreas do conhecimento e orientá-los para trabalhar o problema global e individualmente, em sala de aula deve ser jogado com temas e atores reais. A proposta desta reflexão é a articulação de pedagogias críticas, educação ambiental e de tecnologia da informação e comunicação como uma nova área de conhecimento que inclui o lado ambiental afetiva

Cardiovascular risk in early psychosis. Relationship with inflammation and clinical features 6 months after diagnosis

Background: We aimed to investigate the state of cardiovascular risk/protection factors in early psychosis patients. Methods: A total 119 subjects were recruited during the first year after their first episode of psychosis. Eighty-five of these subjects were followed during the next 6 months. Cardiovascular risk/protection factors were measured in plasma and co-variated by sociodemographic/clinical characteristics. Multiple linear regression models detected the change of each biological marker from baseline to follow-up in relation to clinical scales, antipsychotic medication, and pro-/antiinflammatory mediators. Results: Glycosylated hemoglobin is a state biomarker in first episode of psychosis follow-up patients and inversely correlated to the Global Assessment of Functioning scale. We found opposite alterations in the levels of VCAM-1 and E-selectin in first episode of psychosis baseline conditions compared with control that were absent in the first episode of psychosis follow-up group. Adiponectin levels decreased in a continuum in both pathological time points studied. E-Selectin plasma levels were inversely related to total antipsychotic equivalents and adiponectin levels inversely co-related to the Global Assessment of Functioning scale. Finally, adiponectin levels were directly related to antiinflammatory nuclear receptor PPARγ expression in first episode of psychosis baseline conditions and to proinflammatory nuclear factor nuclear factor κB activity in follow-up conditions, respectively. Conclusions: Our results support the need for integrating cardiovascular healthcare very early after the first episode of psychosis

The influence of oxytocin and prolactin during a first-episode of psychosis: the implication of sex differences, clinical features and cognitive performance

Background: Approximately 3% of the population suffers a first episode of psychosis (FEP), and a high percentage of these patients subsequently relapse. Because the clinical course following a FEP is hard to predict, it is of interest to identify cognitive and biological markers that will help improve the diagnosis, treatment, and outcome of such events and to define new therapeutic targets. Here we analyzed the plasma oxytocin and prolactin levels during an FEP, assessing their correlation with clinical and cognitive features. Methods: The oxytocin and prolactin in plasma was measured in 120 FEP patients and 106 healthy controls, all of whom were subjected to a clinical and neuropsychological assessment. Most patients were under antipsychotics. Statistical analyses aimed to identify factors associated with the FEP and to search for associations between the variables. This study is preliminary and exploratory because the P-values were not corrected for multiple comparisons. Results: FEP patients had less oxytocin, more prolactin, and a poor premorbid IQ, and they performed worse in sustained attention. Male patients with higher prolactin levels experienced more severe psychotic symptoms and required higher doses of antipsychotics. Low oxytocin was associated with poor sustained attention in women, whereas low oxytocin and high prolactin in men correlated with better performance in sustained attention. Conclusion: Low oxytocin, high prolactin, and poor premorbid IQ and sustained attention are factors associated with an FEP, representing potential therapeutic targets in these patients. These biological factors and cognitive domains might play an important role during a FEP, which could help us to develop new strategies that improve the outcomes of this disorder and that should perhaps be gender specific

The Influence of Oxytocin and Prolactin During a First Episode of Psychosis: The Implication of Sex Differences, Clinical Features, and Cognitive Performance

Background Approximately 3% of the population suffers a first episode of psychosis (FEP), and a high percentage of these patients subsequently relapse. Because the clinical course following a FEP is hard to predict, it is of interest to identify cognitive and biological markers that will help improve the diagnosis, treatment, and outcome of such events and to define new therapeutic targets. Here we analyzed the plasma oxytocin and prolactin levels during an FEP, assessing their correlation with clinical and cognitive features. Methods The oxytocin and prolactin in plasma was measured in 120 FEP patients and 106 healthy controls, all of whom were subjected to a clinical and neuropsychological assessment. Most patients were under antipsychotics. Statistical analyses aimed to identify factors associated with the FEP and to search for associations between the variables. This study is preliminary and exploratory because the P-values were not corrected for multiple comparisons. Results FEP patients had less oxytocin, more prolactin, and a poor premorbid IQ, and they performed worse in sustained attention. Male patients with higher prolactin levels experienced more severe psychotic symptoms and required higher doses of antipsychotics. Low oxytocin was associated with poor sustained attention in women, whereas low oxytocin and high prolactin in men correlated with better performance in sustained attention. Conclusion Low oxytocin, high prolactin, and poor premorbid IQ and sustained attention are factors associated with an FEP, representing potential therapeutic targets in these patients. These biological factors and cognitive domains might play an important role during a FEP, which could help us to develop new strategies that improve the outcomes of this disorder and that should perhaps be gender specific

COEDU-IN Project: an inclusive co-educational project for teaching computational thinking and digital skills at early ages

Learning to program is the new literacy of the 21st century. Computational thinking, closely related to programming, requires thinking and solving problems with different levels of abstraction and is independent of hardware devices. The early childhood education stage provides teachers with the opportunity to lay the foundations for a comprehensive quality education using innovative tools and technologies. Educational robotics in early childhood education becomes a tool that facilitates the acquisition of knowledge to children, playfully, based on the principles of interactivity, social interrelationships, collaborative work, creativity, constructivist and constructionist learning, and a student-centered didactic approach, allowing in turn that student can acquire digital competencies and develop logical and computational thinking in an underlying way. This project explores the current state of teaching and learning computational thinking and programming in early childhood education in an inclusive manner. Moreover, the lack of diversity and inequality is particularly latent in science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) fields. Therefore, this work considers this problem and presents an inclusive coeducation approach to this new literacy, eliminating gender stereotypes and extending them to people with Down syndrome and hospitalized minors

Altered retinal structure and function in Spinocerebellar ataxia type 3

Spinocerebellar ataxia type 3 (SCA3) is an autosomal dominant neurodegenerative disorder caused by expansion of a polyglutamine (polyQ)-encoding CAG repeat in the ATXN3 gene. Because the ATXN3 protein regulates photoreceptor ciliogenesis and phagocytosis, we aimed to explore whether expanded polyQ ATXN3 impacts retinal function and integrity in SCA3 patients and transgenic mice. We evaluated the retinal structure and function in five patients with SCA3 and in a transgenic mouse model of this disease (YACMJD84.2, Q84) using optical coherence tomography (OCT) and electroretinogram (ERG). In the transgenic mice, we further: a) determined the retinal expression pattern of ATXN3 and the distribution of cones and rods using immunofluorescence (IF); and b) assessed the retinal ultrastructure using transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Some patients with SCA3 in our cohort revealed: i) reduced central macular thickness indirectly correlated with disease duration; ii) decreased thickness of the macula and the ganglion cell layer, and reduced macula volume inversely correlated with disease severity (SARA score); and iii) electrophysiological dysfunction of cones, rods, and inner retinal cells. Transgenic mice replicated the human OCT and ERG findings with aged homozygous Q84/Q84 mice showing a stronger phenotype accompanied by further thinning of the outer nuclear layer and photoreceptor layer and highly reduced cone and rod activities, thus supporting severe retinal dysfunction in these mice. In addition, Q84 mice showed progressive accumulation of ATXN3-positive aggregates throughout several retinal layers and depletion of cones alongside the disease course. TEM analysis of aged Q84/Q84 mouse retinas supported the ATXN3 aggregation findings by revealing the presence of high number of negative electron dense puncta in ganglion cells, inner plexiform and inner nuclear layers, and showed further thinning of the outer plexiform layer, thickening of the retinal pigment epithelium and elongation of apical microvilli. Our results indicate that retinal alterations detected by non-invasive eye examination using OCT and ERG could represent a biological marker of disease progression and severity in patients with SCA3

Urinary MicroRNA Profiling in the Nephropathy of Type 1 Diabetes

Background: Patients with Type 1 Diabetes (T1D) are particularly vulnerable to development of Diabetic nephropathy (DN) leading to End Stage Renal Disease. Hence a better understanding of the factors affecting kidney disease progression in T1D is urgently needed. In recent years microRNAs have emerged as important post-transcriptional regulators of gene expression in many different health conditions. We hypothesized that urinary microRNA profile of patients will differ in the different stages of diabetic renal disease. Methods and Findings: We studied urine microRNA profiles with qPCR in 40 T1D with >20 year follow up 10 who never developed renal disease (N) matched against 10 patients who went on to develop overt nephropathy (DN), 10 patients with intermittent microalbuminuria (IMA) matched against 10 patients with persistent (PMA) microalbuminuria. A Bayesian procedure was used to normalize and convert raw signals to expression ratios. We applied formal statistical techniques to translate fold changes to profiles of microRNA targets which were then used to make inferences about biological pathways in the Gene Ontology and REACTOME structured vocabularies. A total of 27 microRNAs were found to be present at significantly different levels in different stages of untreated nephropathy. These microRNAs mapped to overlapping pathways pertaining to growth factor signaling and renal fibrosis known to be targeted in diabetic kidney disease. Conclusions: Urinary microRNA profiles differ across the different stages of diabetic nephropathy. Previous work using experimental, clinical chemistry or biopsy samples has demonstrated differential expression of many of these microRNAs in a variety of chronic renal conditions and diabetes. Combining expression ratios of microRNAs with formal inferences about their predicted mRNA targets and associated biological pathways may yield useful markers for early diagnosis and risk stratification of DN in T1D by inferring the alteration of renal molecular processes. © 2013 Argyropoulos et al