Sociedad de consumo e impacto político y medioambiental: análisis de las campañas realizadas con estudiantes de la Universidad de Valladolid

Este trabajo de Fin de Grado tiene una doble finalidad, por un lado, pretende estudiar los discursos que los estudiantes de la Universidad de Valladolid articulan en torno al consumo político y por otro lado, conocer el impacto de las actividades de sensibilización sobre consumo político que se han llevado a cabo en la UVa. Partiendo de la base de que la concienciación y la sensibilización son claves para generar ciudadanos críticos que sean capaces de comprender de manera global los problemas asociados al modo de producción y consumo de las sociedades capitalistas actuales y tomar decisiones con respecto al mercado que puedan estar determinadas por estimaciones de orden social, político, medioambiental o social, se insiste en la necesidad de un compromiso coherente e integral de la UVa con el consumo crítico.Grado en Educación Socia

Causes and success of brand deletions. The role of brand orientation

La eliminación de una marca es una decisión crítica dentro de la estrategia de marketing de una empresa. Pese a que en los últimos años muchas organizaciones han tomado este tipo de decisión y han acometido drásticos programas de eliminación de marcas, la literatura sobre este tema es muy escasa y fragmentada, y son múltiples las cuestiones que se deben abordar. Concretamente, en este trabajo nos proponemos examinar la influencia de las causas de eliminación de una marca –previamente clasificadas en proactivas y reactivas– en el éxito de la decisión. Además, exploramos el efecto que la orientación a la marca tiene en la mayor o menor ocurrencia de eliminaciones por causas proactivas o reactivas. Implícitamente, en el trabajo proponemos que la orientación a la marca tendrá un doble efecto indirecto positivo en el éxito de una eliminación. En primer lugar, a través de incremento de eliminaciones exitosas que ocurren por causas proactivas y, en segundo, por la reducción de eliminaciones no exitosas que sobrevienen por causas reactivas. La propuesta investigadora que realizamos se testa sobre una muestra de 155 casos de eliminación de marca. Los análisis preliminares indican que la orientación a la marca contribuye al éxito a través de la adopción de eliminaciones enfocadas en el aprovechamiento de oportunidades de la marca, tales como un mayor ajuste estratégico o unos menores costes de oportunidad. Además, la orientación a la marca previene de realizar eliminaciones simplemente por causas problemáticas, eliminaciones que no acaban arrojando grandes resultados.Brand deletion (BD) is a critical decision within a firm’s marketing strategy. Despite in recent years many organizations have pruned their brand portfolios and undertaken drastic BD programs, the literature on this topic is extremely scarce and fragmented, and several issues of BD can be investigated. This research is primarily concerned with the study of the impact of BD causes –previously classified as proactive versus reactive– on BD success. In addition, we explore the effect of the firm’s brand orientation on the occurrence of deletions by proactive versus reactive causes. Implicitly, we suggest that brand orientation will have a double positive indirect effect on BD success: first, through the increase of successful BDs due to proactive causes and, second, by the reduction of unsuccessful BDs precipitated by reactive causes. Our research proposal is tested on a sample of 155 cases of BD. Preliminary findings indicate that brand orientation contributes to the BD success through the adoption of BDs focused on taking advantage of brand opportunities, such as searching for a better strategic fit or avoiding opportunity costs. Besides, brand orientation prevents deletions due to merely problematic causes, deletions that, after all, do not generate success

Minimizing the negative impact of brand deletion

Producción CientíficaPurpose: This research is primarily concerned with studying the impact of brand workers' problems on brand deletion (BD) outcomes. The authors also analyze how the level of consensus achieved during BD adoption and implementation influences the impact of brand workers' problems on BD outcomes. Design/methodology/approach: A questionnaire was designed to obtain data from a representative sample of 155 real cases of BD. Findings: Findings indicate that in contexts where workers feel their jobs are threatened or challenged, BD success may be undermined. However, the company does possess one important mechanism that can alleviate the negative impact of brand workers' problems: empowering them to pave the way toward consensus-building. Results do not support a negative effect of brand workers' problems on BD time efficiency or any effect of BD time efficiency on BD's contribution to a firm's economic performance. Practical implications: Managers must be aware that problems derived from brand workers' actions are especially harmful for the company when there is no consensus, such that managers must prevent deletion from occurring under these circumstances. Originality/value: This pioneering study proposes and empirically validates the relationship between brand workers' problems and BD success and BD time efficiency, moderated by consensus.Junta de Castilla y León (Project VA219P20)Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación (Project PID2021-123004NB-I00

Do proactive and reactive causes to delete a brand impact deletion success? The role of brand orientation

Producción CientíficaOne critical decision concerning a firm´s brand portfolio management is brand deletion (BD). Although many organizations have recently undertaken drastic BD programs and pruned their brand portfolios, the literature on this topic remains extremely scarce and fragmented. Our work focuses on studying the impact of BD causes –previously classified as proactive versus reactive– on BD success. How the firm’s brand orientation affects the incidence of proactive versus reactive deletions is also explored. Implicitly, we suggest that brand orientation exerts a positive indirect effect on BD success through increased successful BDs due to proactive causes. We test our research proposal on a sample comprising 155 cases of BD. Findings indicate that brand orientation contributes to BD success through the proactive adoption of BDs focused on taking advantage of brand opportunities, such as searching for a better strategic fit or avoiding opportunity costs. Moreover, brand orientation prevents deletions by reactive or problematic causes, deletions which, after all, do not generate success. In sum, brand oriented firms seek to prevent rather than fix any problems derived from maintaining inadequate brands in their portfolio.Fondo Social Europeo (proyecto ORDEN EDU/828/2014)Junta de Castilla y León (ORDEN EDU/828/2014)Ministerio de Economía y Competetitividad (proyecto ECO2017-86628-P)Fondo europeo de desarrollo regional (proyecto VA112P17)Junta de Castilla y León (proyecto VA085G18

Spatial Memory Training Counteracts Hippocampal GIRK Channel Decrease in the Transgenic APPSw,Ind J9 Alzheimer's Disease Mouse Model

This work was supported by grants BFU2017-82494-P, PID2020-115823-GB100 funded by MCIN/AEI/10.13039/501100011033, and SBPLY/21/180501/000150 funded by JCCM and ERDF A way of making Europe, to LJD and JDNL; and grant PID2019-106615RB-I00 and Instituto de Salud Carlos III (CIBERNED CB06/05/0042) to CAS. AC held a Margarita Salas Postdoctoral Research Fellow funded by European Union NextGenerationEU/PRTR.G-protein-gated inwardly rectifying potassium (GIRK) channels are critical determinants of neuronal excitability. They have been proposed as potential targets to restore excitatory/inhibitory balance in acute amyloidosis models, where hyperexcitability is a hallmark. However, the role of GIRK signaling in transgenic mice models of Alzheimer's disease (AD) is largely unknown. Here, we study whether progressive amyloid-β (Aβ) accumulation in the hippocampus during aging alters GIRK channel expression in mutant β-amyloid precursor protein (APP J9) transgenic AD mice. Additionally, we examine the impact of spatial memory training in a hippocampal-dependent task, on protein expression of GIRK subunits and Regulator of G-protein signaling 7 (RGS7) in the hippocampus of APP J9 mice. Firstly, we found a reduction in GIRK2 expression (the main neuronal GIRK channels subunit) in the hippocampus of 6-month-old APP J9 mice. Moreover, we found an aging effect on GIRK2 and GIRK3 subunits in both wild type (WT) and APP J9 mice. Finally, when 6-month-old animals were challenged to a spatial memory training, GIRK2 expression in the APP J9 mice were normalized to WT levels. Together, our results support the evidence that GIRK2 could account for the excitatory/inhibitory neurotransmission imbalance found in AD models, and training in a cognitive hippocampal dependent task may have therapeutic benefits of reversing this effect and lessen early AD deficits

How to build a brand-oriented family firm: The impact of socioemotional wealth (SEW) dimensions

Producción CientíficaLiterature has recently increased its attention on brand management in family firms. Blurring boundaries between family and business, divergent interests of family and non-family members, or a peculiar strategic decision-making framework in which the family’s socioemotional wealth (SEW) may be prioritized make brand management particularly complex. We contribute to the literature through a pioneering study of the benefits of brand orientation for family firm performance, and by examining how the different SEW dimensions drive the adoption of a brand-oriented culture in this kind of firm. Empirical findings from a representative sample of 120 Chilean family firms reveal the positive impact on brand orientation of binding social ties, renewal of family bonds, and identification with the family firm, and confirm that brand orientation enhances performance. Brand orientation thus emerges as a key, yet hitherto neglected, mediating factor to reconcile SEW preservation with economic performance, which entails relevant theoretical and managerial implications.Junta de Castilla y León - FEDER [VA219P20]Ministerio de Economía, Industria y Competitividad [PID2021-123004NB-I00

Sinorhizobium fredii Strains HH103 and NGR234 Form Nitrogen Fixing Nodules With Diverse Wild Soybeans (Glycine soja) From Central China but Are Ineffective on Northern China Accessions

Sinorhizobium fredii indigenous populations are prevalent in provinces of Central China whereas Bradyrhizobium species (Bradyrhizobium japonicum, B. diazoefficiens, B. elkanii, and others) are more abundant in northern and southern provinces. The symbiotic properties of different soybean rhizobia have been investigated with 40 different wild soybean (Glycine soja) accessions from China, Japan, Russia, and South Korea. Bradyrhizobial strains nodulated all the wild soybeans tested, albeit efficiency of nitrogen fixation varied considerably among accessions. The symbiotic capacity of S. fredii HH103 with wild soybeans from Central China was clearly better than with the accessions found elsewhere. S. fredii NGR234, the rhizobial strain showing the broadest host range ever described, also formed nitrogen-fixing nodules with different G. soja accessions from Central China. To our knowledge, this is the first report describing an effective symbiosis between S. fredii NGR234 and G. soja. Mobilization of the S. fredii HH103 symbiotic plasmid to a NGR234 pSym-cured derivative (strain NGR234C) yielded transconjugants that formed ineffective nodules with G. max cv. Williams 82 and G. soja accession CH4. By contrast, transfer of the symbiotic plasmid pNGR234a to a pSym-cured derivative of S. fredii USDA193 generated transconjugants that effectively nodulated G. soja accession CH4 but failed to nodulate with G. max cv. Williams 82. These results indicate that intra-specific transference of the S. fredii symbiotic plasmids generates new strains with unpredictable symbiotic properties, probably due to the occurrence of new combinations of symbiotic signals.España, Junta de Andalucía P11-CVI-7500España Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad BIO2016-78409-

Redundant roles of the phosphatidate phosphatase family in triacylglycerol synthesis in human adipocytes.

AIMS/HYPOTHESIS: In mammals, the evolutionary conserved family of Mg(2+)-dependent phosphatidate phosphatases (PAP1), involved in phospholipid and triacylglycerol synthesis, consists of lipin-1, lipin-2 and lipin-3. While mutations in the murine Lpin1 gene cause lipodystrophy and its knockdown in mouse 3T3-L1 cells impairs adipogenesis, deleterious mutations of human LPIN1 do not affect adipose tissue distribution. However, reduced LPIN1 and PAP1 activity has been described in participants with type 2 diabetes. We aimed to characterise the roles of all lipin family members in human adipose tissue and adipogenesis. METHODS: The expression of the lipin family was analysed in adipose tissue in a cross-sectional study. Moreover, the effects of lipin small interfering RNA (siRNA)-mediated depletion on in vitro human adipogenesis were assessed. RESULTS: Adipose tissue gene expression of the lipin family is altered in type 2 diabetes. Depletion of every lipin family member in a human Simpson-Golabi-Behmel syndrome (SGBS) pre-adipocyte cell line, alters expression levels of adipogenic transcription factors and lipid biosynthesis genes in early stages of differentiation. Lipin-1 knockdown alone causes a 95% depletion of PAP1 activity. Despite the reduced PAP1 activity and alterations in early adipogenesis, lipin-silenced cells differentiate and accumulate neutral lipids. Even combinatorial knockdown of lipins shows mild effects on triacylglycerol accumulation in mature adipocytes. CONCLUSIONS/INTERPRETATION: Overall, our data support the hypothesis of alternative pathways for triacylglycerol synthesis in human adipocytes under conditions of repressed lipin expression. We propose that induction of alternative lipid phosphate phosphatases, along with the inhibition of lipid hydrolysis, contributes to the maintenance of triacylglycerol content to near normal levels.This study was supported by research grants from the ‘Instituto de Salud Carlos III’ (ISCIII, Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness) (PI10/00967 and CP11/0 0021 to MM); the R. Barri Private Foundation (PV12142S to MM); the Medical Research Council (G0701446 to SS); and National Institutes of Health Grant (GM028140 to GMC). CIBER de Diabetes y Enfermedades Metabólicas asociadas (CB07708/0012) is an initiative of the ISCIII. MM acknowledges support from the ‘Miguel Servet’ tenure track programme (CP11/00021), from the Fondo de Investigación Sanitaria (FIS) co-financed by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), and supported by a Salvador de Madariaga Mobility fellowship from the Spanish Ministry of Education (PR2011-0584). AT is the recipient of a FI-DGR fellowship (9015-97318/2012) from the Agència de Gestió d’Ajuts Universitaris i de Recerca (AGAUR)This is the author accepted manuscript. It is currently under an indefinite embargo pending publication by Springer

Reactor biológico anóxico-anaerobio para la eliminación de nutrientes de aguas residuales.

Reactor biológico para eliminación de nutrientes de aguas residuales caracterizado por estar compartimentado verticalmente en tres zonas, Anóxica, Anaerobia y de Clarificación, que cumplen las funciones de eliminación biológica de materia orgánica y fósforo, desnitrificación y decantación. Flujo de agua residual ascendente al producirse la entrada en la zona inferior Anaerobia, y salida en la zona superior de Clarificación. Se ha de instalar precediendo a otro proceso aerobio para nitrificación y afino de materia orgánica cuyo efluente se recircula para producir las condiciones anóxicas. Dispone de sistemas de mezcla y agitación de las zonas Anaerobia y Anóxica, y recirculación de sólidos entre ambas. Se reducen y simplifican las instalaciones necesarias para tratamiento de aguas residuales con eliminación de nutrientes. No se produce consumo de reactivos. Se optimiza el aprovechamiento de la materia orgánica del agua residual. Se obtiene un efluente con baja carga contaminante.Solicitud: 201000058 (12.01.2010)Nº Pub. de Solicitud: ES2338979A1 (13.05.2010)Nº de Patente: ES2338979B2 (23.09.2010

Evaluating radiological response in pancreatic neuroendocrine tumours treated with sunitinib : comparison of Choi versus RECIST criteria (CRIPNET_ GETNE1504 study)

The purpose of our study was to analyse the usefulness of Choi criteria versus RECIST in patients with pancreatic neuroendocrine tumours (PanNETs) treated with sunitinib. A multicentre, prospective study was conducted in 10 Spanish centres. Computed tomographies, at least every 6 months, were centrally evaluated until tumour progression. One hundred and seven patients were included. Median progression-free survival (PFS) by RECIST and Choi were 11.42 (95% confidence interval [CI], 9.7-15.9) and 15.8 months (95% CI, 13.9-25.7). PFS by Choi (Kendall's τ = 0.72) exhibited greater correlation with overall survival (OS) than PFS by RECIST (Kendall's τ = 0.43). RECIST incorrectly estimated prognosis in 49.6%. Partial response rate increased from 12.8% to 47.4% with Choi criteria. Twenty-four percent of patients with progressive disease according to Choi had stable disease as per RECIST, overestimating treatment effect. Choi criteria predicted PFS/OS. Changes in attenuation occurred early and accounted for 21% of the variations in tumour volume. Attenuation and tumour growth rate (TGR) were associated with improved survival. Choi criteria were able to capture sunitinib's activity in a clinically significant manner better than RECIST; their implementation in standard clinical practice shall be strongly considered in PanNET patients treated with this drug