Iniciación a la robótica mediante la reutilización de proyectos realizados

Castellà: Este proyecto pretende acercar a los alumnos el concepto de la robótica y la programación de forma que se involucren en el tema mediante la creación de “automatismos” a partir de un robot. Con materiales que existen en la propia aula de tecnología se pretende su reaprovechamiento a fin de poder realizar proyectos de mayor envergadura sin prestar demasiado tiempo al montaje de los elementos ya que se pretende reutilizar proyectos realizados en cursos anteriores a fin de poder centrarse en la realización de las prácticas. La intención es despertar su curiosidad por la creación e innovación, atendiendo a sus necesidades ya que ellos mismos según unas bases irán haciendo evolucionar sus proyectos dependiendo de sus capacidades, así poder atender a la diversidad de alumnado del aula. Se pretende realizar mediante el uso de la metodología como el ABP (Aprendizaje Basado en Problemas) y el sistema de diagramas de flujo, que aprendan a trabajar de forma autónoma y puedan intercambiar información entre ellos de forma sencilla. La metodología que se pretende emplear es la realización de proyectos de forma grupal para fomentar el espíritu de trabajo en grupo

THE ROLE OF FIRMS AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP ON LOCAL DEVELOPMENT

The present paper considers and analyzes the role of management and entrepreneurship on the firm and region sustainability. This relation was explored in terms of managers’ behaviour related to three aspects of sustainable development, namely, economic, social and environmental.Through a questionnaire survey of 251 micro, small and medium firms in Vale do Sousa region located in the Northern Portugal, it was discovered that, contrary to what most of literature presents, managers are putting in first place the environmental aspect of sustainability, followed by the social aspect, and the economic as the last one. These results lead to a characterization of firms as being sustainable, but with a risk-averse and non innovative behaviour on the part of the firms’ management.small firms, entrepreneurship, sustainability

The arogenate dehydratase ADT2 is essential for seed development in Arabidopsis

Phenylalanine (Phe) biosynthesis in plants is a key process, as Phe serves as precursor of proteins and phenylpropanoids. The prephenate pathway connects chorismate, final product of the shikimate pathway, with the biosynthesis of Phe and Tyr. Two alternative routes of Phe biosynthesis have been reported: one depending of arogenate, and the other of phenylpyruvate. Whereas the arogenate pathway is considered the main route, the role of the phenylpyruvate pathway remains unclear. Here, we report that the deficiency in ADT2, a bifunctional arogenate dehydratase (ADT)/ prephenate dehydratase (PDT) enzyme, causes embryo arrest and seed abortion. This result makes a clear distinction between the essential role of ADT2 and the five remaining ADTs from Arabidopsis, which display mostly overlapping functions. We have found that PHA2, a monofunctional PDT from yeast, restores the adt2 phenotype when is targeted within the plastids, but not when is expressed in the cytosol. Similar results can be obtained by expressing ADT3, a monofunctional ADT. These results suggest that Phe can be synthesized from phenylpyruvate or arogenate when the bifunctional ADT2 is replaced by other ADT or PDT enzymes during seed formation, highlighting the importance of Phe for embryo development, and providing further insights into the plasticity of Phe biosynthesis.Universidad de Málaga. Campus de Excelencia Internacional Andalucía Tech

Multidisciplinary teaching of Biotechnology and Omics sciences

In the last years, there was a great boom in the Omics fields that have developed as multidisciplinary sciences. They use laboratory techniques related to Biology and Chemistry but also Bioinformatics tools. However, the developmental progress of these disciplines has led that much of undergraduate studies related to Biology have curricula that become outdated. From this point of view, it is necessary to focus the students to the fundamentals and techniques of complementary disciplines that will be essentials for the understanding of the Omics sciences. In the present work, we have developed a new teaching approach for Biochemistry, Biology and Bioinformatics students. They formed interdisciplinary working groups. These groups have prepared and presented communications about different techniques or methods in Molecular Biology, Omics or Bioinformatics participating in a technical meeting. This learning strategy “I do and I learn” has enabled to the students a first contact with the scientific communication including the approach to the scientific literature to acquire technical knowledge. The cooperation between students from different disciplines has enriched their point of view and even has been used in some practical master’s works.Universidad de Málaga. Campus de Excelencia Internacional Andalucía Tech

Sistemas de innovación y promoción tecnológica regional y local en el Brasil

Reconhecer a importância do conhecimento para o desenvolvimento econômico renovou os debates sobre o tema do desenvolvimento regional. O Sistema Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (SNDCT) articula sistemas setoriais, redes de organizações e estruturas estaduais e municipais de inovação, conduzindo iniciativas voltadas à promoção tecnológica de regiões e localidades, tais como cadeias produtivas, parques tecnológicos e incubadoras de empresas; plataformas tecnológicas e arranjos produtivos e as redes de tecnologia. Estados e Municípios contam com novos elementos para a discussão de estratégias de desenvolvimento e para a definição de medidas e projetos de crescimento econômico. _________________________________________________________________________________ ABSTRACTThe relevance of knowledge for economic development renovates the debates about regional development. The National Science and Technology Development System (SNDCT) articulates sectorial systems, networks and state and municipal structures for innovation besides leading directed initiatives for technology promotion of regions and localities, such as productive chains, technology parks and business incubators, technology platforms and productive arrangements and technology networks. State and counties count on new elements for development strategies and economic growth projects. __________________________________________________________________________________ RÉSUMÉReconnaître l'importance de la connaissance pour le développement économique a renouvelé les débats sur le thème du développement régional. Le système National de Développement Scientifique et Technologique (SNDCT) articule des systèmes sectoriels, des réseaux d'organisations et des structures provinciales et municipales de l'innovation, qui conduit des initiatives dirigées vers la promotion technologique des régions et localités, comme les chaînes de productions, parques technologiques et couveuses d'entreprises, plates-formes technologiques et arrangements productifs et les réseaux de technologie. Provinces et municipes comptent sur de nouveaux éléments pour la discussion des stratégies de développement et pour la définition de mesures et de projets de croissance économique. _________________________________________________________________________________ RESUMENReconocer la importancia del conocimiento para el desarrollo económico renovó los debates sobre el tema del desarrollo regional. El Sistema Nacional de Desarrollo Científico y Tecnológico (SNDCT) articula sistemas sectoriales, redes de organizaciones y estructuras estatales y municipales de innovación, conduciendo iniciativas volcadas a la promoción tecnológica de regiones y localidades, tales como cadenas productivas, parques tecnológicos e incubadoras de empresas; plataformas tecnológicas y condicionamientos productivos y las redes de tecnología. Estados y Municipios cuentan con nuevos elementos para la discusión de estrategias de desarrollo y para la definición de medidas y proyectos de crecimiento económico

Biochemical regulation of arginine biosynthesis in plants

Arginine plays a relevant role in plant metabolism due to its importance as building block of proteins but also as precursor of multiple secondary metabolites, polyamines and nitric oxide. Importantly, arginine frequently plays an essential role as a major nitrogen storage form in seeds and other vegetative tissues and its mobilization provides an efficient flux of nitrogen for different physiological processes [1][2][3]. Despite its importance, the biochemical regulation and kinetics of the enzymes involved in arginine biosynthesis remains poorly characterized in plants. In this work, we provide new knowledge about the biochemical regulation of the three enzymes involved in the last steps of the arginine pathway: ornithine transcarbamoylase (OTC), argininosuccinate synthetase (ASSY), and argininosuccinate lyase (ASL). Our results indicate that these enzymes are regulated by the concentration of different amino acids and metabolites, including arginine, suggesting that feedback regulatory loops could play and important role in the homeostasis of this amino acid. Besides, these regulatory mechanisms seem to have been subjected to a progressive refinement during the evolution of land plants, pointing towards a coevolution with the higher requirements of arginine in seed plants.Universidad de Málaga. Campus de Excelencia Internacional Andalucía Tech