The Symbiosis Interactome: a computational approach reveals novel components, functional interactions and modules in Sinorhizobium meliloti

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p><it>Rhizobium</it>-Legume symbiosis is an attractive biological process that has been studied for decades because of its importance in agriculture. However, this system has undergone extensive study and although many of the major factors underpinning the process have been discovered using traditional methods, much remains to be discovered.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Here we present an analysis of the 'Symbiosis Interactome' using novel computational methods in order to address the complex dynamic interactions between proteins involved in the symbiosis of the model bacteria <it>Sinorhizobium meliloti </it>with its plant hosts. Our study constitutes the first large-scale analysis attempting to reconstruct this complex biological process, and to identify novel proteins involved in establishing symbiosis. We identified 263 novel proteins potentially associated with the Symbiosis Interactome. The topology of the Symbiosis Interactome was used to guide experimental techniques attempting to validate novel proteins involved in different stages of symbiosis. The contribution of a set of novel proteins was tested analyzing the symbiotic properties of several <it>S. meliloti </it>mutants. We found mutants with altered symbiotic phenotypes suggesting novel proteins that provide key complementary roles for symbiosis.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Our 'systems-based model' represents a novel framework for studying host-microbe interactions, provides a theoretical basis for further experimental validations, and can also be applied to the study of other complex processes such as diseases.</p

Implementing the European Sports Leadership Programme: A vehicle to help development graduate workplace competencies

This research was part of a large intervention study implementing the European Sports Leadership Programme (ESLP). This paper reports the outcomes of the qualitative study that employed focus groups to assess the students’ perceptions of the 15 competencies determined according to the Framework for qualifications of the European Higher Education Area, before and after the ESLP. Focus groups were carried out at each of the five universities. The ESLP involved university students working as a sports leader for 24 months with the aim to engage more students in university sport, whilst they took part in a graduate employability programme. Each university recruited five sports leaders in their second year at university, to deliver 10 new sport and recreational activities targeting the wider inactive or semi-active student population. Findings highlighted that Organization and planning, Oral and written communication, Development of planning and decision making, and Teamworking, followed closely by Emotional control and Adapting to new situations, were the most commonly reported competencies. They affirmed that this programme had helped to develop these competencies. Use of information, communication and technology, Communication in a foreign language, Research and Emotional control were the most common competencies that students stated they needed to improve further. This research found that implementing the ESLP helped to develop students’ perceptions of their workplace and career competencies. The ESLP is therefore, recommended as one approach to helping universities to develop student’s workplace and career competencies

Effects of a sport leadership programme on the perceptions of university students about their leadership competencies (Efectos de un programa de liderazgo deportivo sobre las percepciones de alumnado universitario)

The main purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of a sport leadership programme (ESLP) on variables related to the leaders’ perception regarding instrumental, personal, and systemic skills in university students. In doing so, the second purpose was to analyse the trans-cultural validity of the Cuestionario de Evaluación de Competencias Transversales de Grado (CECTGRA). Participated 61 students as leaders, 25 mentors and 25 employers, from five European countries. The design was pre-test-post-test, following a longitudinal approach of 24 months to evaluate the effects of the ESLP on variables related to the leader’s perception. An adaptation of the CECTGRA was administered. The questionnaire was valid and reliable to know the effects of the ESLP on the students’ perceptions. However, the sports leaders did not improve their perceptions of competence regarding development, mastery and relevance after the application of the programme. From the finding of this study it is recommended to improve the programme based on the leadership competencies to develop, the teaching-learning methodologies to follow, the activities to implement, and the roles to determine

Effect of a sport leadership programme on students’ perception of their professional development as a measure of involvement

The European Union stresses the importance of sport as a tool for social and economic development, although there are still few intervention programmes that have been analyzed, it is justified that this type of programme should be carried out in universities. The main objective of this intervention was to analyze whether significant differences would occur after the programme intervention in the analyzed transversal competences of the student volunteers as a measure of involvement. Participated 61 university students (29 female and 32 males, Mage = 23.20 years, SDage = 9.79). Two tests were carried out, at the beginning of the intervention (pre-test) and after 24 months of the intervention (post-test). There were improvements from pre-test to post-test in organization and planning (Δ = .07, d = .35), management of knowledge and information (Δ = .10, d = .32), emotional control (Δ = .09, d = .39), autonomous work (Δ = 0.03, d = .40) and adaptation to new situations (Δ = 0.01, d = .35). According to the effect sizes, the differences were significant in practical terms. Consequently, this means that the students were more involved regarding the pre-test measures. The present work was the first one carried out enacting a European programme on sport leadership assessed on students’ own perception of relevance about their competences as a measure of involvement. In future studies it must be analyzed the actual effect of this program on participants’ competences.peer-reviewe

Efectos de un programa de liderazgo deportivo sobre las percepciones de alumnado universitario acerca de sus competencias como líderes

The main purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of a sport leadership programme (ESLP) on varia-bles related to the leaders’ perception regarding instru-mental, personal, and systemic skills in university students. In doing so, the second purpose was to analyse the trans-cultural validity of the Cuestionario de Evaluación de Com-petencias Transversales de Grado (CECTGRA). Participated 61 students as leaders, 25 mentors and 25 employers, from five European countries. The design was pre-test-post-test, following a longitudinal approach of 24 months to eva-luate the effects of the ESLP on variables related to the leader’s perception. An adaptation of the CECTGRA was administered. The questionnaire was valid and reliable to know the effects of the ESLP on the students’ perceptions. However, the sports leaders did not improve their percep-tions of competence regarding development, mastery and relevance after the application of the programme. From the finding of this study it is recommended to improve the programme based on the leadership competencies to de-velop, the teaching-learning methodologies to follow, the activities to implement, and the roles to determineEl objetivo principal fue evaluar el efecto de un programa de liderazgo deportivo (ESLP) sobre variables relacionadas con la percepción de lo líderes acerca de sus habilidades instrumentales, personales y sistémicas con alumnado universitario. Para ello, fue necesario analizar la validez transcultural del Cuestionario de Evaluación de Competencias Transversales de Grado (CECTGRA). Participaron 61 alumnos como líderes, 25 mentores y 25 empleadores de cinco países europeos. El diseño fue pre-test-post-test, siguiendo un enfoque longitudinal de 24 meses para evaluar los efectos del ESLP sobre variables relacionadas con las percepciones de los líderes. Una adaptación del CECTGRA fue contestado en las evaluaciones pre-test-post-test. El cuestionario fue válido y fiable para saber los efectos del ESLP sobre las percepciones de los estudiantes. Sin embargo, los líderes deportivos no mejoraron sus percepciones de competencia respecto a desarrollo, dominio y relevancia tras la aplicación del programa. A partir de estos resultados, se recomienda mejorar el programa a partir de las competencias de liderazgo a desarrollar, las metodologías de enseñanza-aprendizaje a seguir, las actividades a implementar y los roles a determinarActividad Física y Deport

Understanding dual career views of European university athletes: The more than gold project focus groups

Previous studies have found that student-athletes (S-As) have difficulties in achieving dual career (DC) success. However, no studies have analysed the opinion of the S-As on the functioning of DC with a qualitative methodology. The aim of the present work was to collect the opinions of elite university S-As in relation to DC policy adopted by their academic institutions in different European countries. In total, 77 athletes (F = 35, M = 42; age range: 20-25 years) participated in 15 national face-to-face focus groups in five different countries, to discuss aspects that higher education institutes should implement in relation to: 1) the athletes' needs; 2) assistance/tutorship: 2) curricula requirements; 3) financial support; 4) logistic support; 5) social support; and 6) dual career policies. Fifty of the athletes competed in individual sports and twenty-seven team sports. Of them, 57 was enrolled at undergraduate, 17 was enrolled in a master and 3 in a PhD. The athletes were presented with 13 open-ended questions one by one, and were ensured freedom to interact. All the discussions were recorded. After this, a general discussion took place in which the participants identified and agreed on a final list of statements from their focus group deemed to be relevant to DC athletes as university students. Then, at a consensus meeting, the findings were combined, repetitions were eliminated, and fragmented statements were condensed into broader ones. A final list of 31 statements, organized in six related content units, were identified in relation to the athletes' needs (n = 5), assistance/tutorship (n = 5), curricula requirements (n = 4), financial support (n = 4), logistic support (n = 4), social support (n = 6), and DC policies (n = 3), respectively. In conclusion, this cross-national qualitative research study synthesized the S-As views about their needs and the most relevant DC policies and provisions that higher education institutes should provide to ensure them with positive academic experiences towards the achievement of a degree

Percepción de la influencia del modelo Estport en la carrera dual de los estudiantes-deportistas en universidades de España e Italia

The objective of the present study was to analyze the influence of the Estport model implemented in universities in Spain and Italy, after intervention in an academic year. 153 student-athletes participated, 109 Spaniards and 44 Italians, with ages between 17 and 48 years (M = 23.62; DT = 4.31) of different sports level: amateur (25.4%), semi-professional (42.8%), and professional (31.8%). The ESTPORT questionnaire on the perception of university students-high-level athletes about the dual career was used. The Italian athletes perceived more barriers than the Spanish and in general, the men perceived more barriers than the women. Regarding the perception of aid tools and sports mentoring, there are no significant differences between countries and gender, a similar perception of the influence of the Estport model could suppose it.El objetivo del presente estudio fue analizar la influencia del modelo Estport a través de la evaluación de las percepciones de los deportistas en cuanto a barreras, herramientas de ayuda y el tutor deportivo. La intervención tuvo una duración de un curso académico universitario en universidades de España e Italia. Participaron 153 estudiantes-deportistas, 109 españoles y 44 italianos, con edades comprendidas entre los 17 y 48 años (M = 23.62; DT = 4.31) de distinto nivel deportivo: amateur (25.4%), semi-profesional (42.8%) y profesional (31.8%). Se utilizó el cuestionario de percepción de los estudiantes universitarios-deportistas de alto nivel sobre la carrera dual. Los deportistas italianos percibieron más barreras que los españoles y, en general, los hombres percibieron más barreras que las mujeres. Con respecto a la percepción de las herramientas de ayuda y la tutoría deportiva, no existieron diferencias significativas entre países y género, lo que podría suponer una percepción similar de la influencia del modelo Estport

Effects of a sport leadership programme on the perceptions of university students about their leadership competencies

The main purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of a sport leadership programme (ESLP) on variables related to the leaders’ perception regarding instrumental, personal, and systemic skills in university students. In doing so, the second purpose was to analyse the trans-cultural validity of the Cuestionario de Evaluación de Competencias Transversales de Grado (CECTGRA). Participated 61 students as leaders, 25 mentors and 25 employers, from five European countries. The design was pre-test-post-test, following a longitudinal approach of 24 months to evaluate the effects of the ESLP on variables related to the leader’s perception. An adaptation of the CECTGRA was administered. The questionnaire was valid and reliable to know the effects of the ESLP on the students’ perceptions. However, the sports leaders did not improve their perceptions of competence regarding development, mastery and relevance after the application of the programme. From the finding of this study it is recommended to improve the programme based on the leadership competencies to develop, the teaching-learning methodologies to follow, the activities to implement, and the roles to determine.===El objetivo principal fue evaluar el efecto de un programa de liderazgo deportivo (ESLP) sobre variables relacionadas con la percepción de lo líderes acerca de sus habilidades instrumentales, personales y sistémicas con alumnado universitario. Para ello, fue necesario analizar la validez transcultural del Cuestionario de Evaluación de Competencias Transversales de Grado (CECTGRA). Participaron 61 alumnos como líderes, 25 mentores y 25 empleadores de cinco países europeos. El diseño fue pre-test-post-test, siguiendo un enfoque longitudinal de 24 meses para evaluar los efectos del ESLP sobre variables relacionadas con las percepciones de los líderes. Una adaptación del CECTGRA fue contestado en las evaluaciones pre-test-post-test. El cuestionario fue válido y fiable para saber los efectos del ESLP sobre las percepciones de los estudiantes. Sin embargo, los líderes deportivos no mejoraron sus percepciones de competencia respecto a desarrollo, dominio y relevancia tras la aplicación del programa. A partir de estos resultados, se recomienda mejorar el programa a partir de las competencias de liderazgo a desarrollar, las metodologías de enseñanza-aprendizaje a seguir, las actividades a implementar y los roles a determinar

Dual Careers of Athletes During COVID-19 Lockdown

This study aimed to investigate the student-athletes' capability to face the academic, sport, and social challenges during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) lockdown and to disclose novel aspects of dual careers. A 32-item online survey encompassing demographic characteristics, sport and university engagement, support and dual-career benefits, physical activity, sitting time, and the time deemed necessary to recover the previous level of performance was developed. Four hundred sixty-seven student-athletes (males: 57%, females: 43%) from 11 countries, competing in 49 different sports (individual: 63.4%, team: 36.6%) at regional (17.5%), national (43.3%), and international (39.2%) levels, and enrolled at high school (21.9%) and university (78.1%) levels completed the survey. During the lockdown, the respondents decreased the time dedicated to sport and academics, although they maintained an active lifestyle. Student-athletes from countries under severe contagion were more likely to train at home, dedicate to academics, and receive support from the coach but less likely receive support from their teachers. With respect to their team sport counterparts, athletes competing in individual sports trained more and were more likely to receive support from their coaches. International athletes showed the highest training time and support from their coaches and as student-athletes. High school students received more support from their coaches and teachers, whereas university students were more likely considering dual careers useful to cope with the COVID-19 pandemic. This study substantiates the relevant role of competitive sports participation in the maintenance of active lifestyles, with student-athletes considering home training and e-learning valuable resources during the lockdown. Furthermore, their sport and academic commitments helped student-athletes cope with the emergency of the COVID-19 pandemic