Political economy of China and US value chains in Latin America

In this paper, I aim to provide empirical evidence about how an efficient integration into global value chains can promote economic growth through industrial upgrading and prevention of external imbalances in Latin America (LATAM). I define US-China political economics in this region for the period from 1998 to 2015. The research uses TiVA raw data that I obtained from the UNCTAD-EORA database for the US, China, and nine major economies in LATAM.   The development of global value chains has brought unprecedented alternatives for commercial alliances and industrial strategies to developing countries. An effective integration of LATAM onto global value chains through forward linkages or increases in indirect value added (DVX) can strengthen both their industrial development and manufacturing industries to achieve the macroeconomic goal of long-term economic growth. China as the world’s fastest growing economy when trade is measured by the value added has stimulated forward linkages and economic development throughout several developing countries within the ASEAN+3, EU -13, and LATAM since 1998. However, strategic competition with the US has prevented China from further expanding its value chain to LATAM. Therefore, the whole region endures a peripherical position in relation to global value chains, as it is still too reliant on lower value-added investments in extractive industries. Yet strengthening TiVA exchanges with China, along with the US, is critical to broadening the alternatives for a sound and sustainable economic development in LATAM

Restrictive ID policies: implications for health equity

We wish to thank Synod Community Services for their critical work to develop, support, and implement a local government-issued ID in Washtenaw County, MI. We also thank Yousef Rabhi of the Michigan House of Representatives and Janelle Fa'aola of the Washtenaw ID Task Force, Lawrence Kestenbaum of the Washtenaw County Clerk's Office, Sherriff Jerry Clayton of the Washtenaw County Sherriff's Office, and the Washtenaw ID Task Force for their tireless commitment to developing and supporting the successful implementation of the Washtenaw ID. Additionally, we thank Vicenta Vargas and Skye Hillier for their contributions to the Washtenaw ID evaluation. We thank the Curtis Center for Research and Evaluation at the University of Michigan School of Social Work, the National Center for Institutional Diversity at the University of Michigan, and the University of California-Irvine Department of Chicano/Latino Studies and Program in Public Health for their support of the Washtenaw ID community-academic research partnership. Finally, we thank the reviewers for their helpful comments on earlier drafts of this manuscript. (Curtis Center for Research and Evaluation at the University of Michigan School of Social Work; National Center for Institutional Diversity at the University of Michigan; University of California-Irvine Department of Chicano/Latino Studies; Program in Public Health)https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/s10903-017-0579-3.pdfPublished versio

Georecursos en el entorno de Molina de Aragón (provincia de Guadalajara): una alternativa al aula

La Comarca del Señorío de Molina (Guadalajara) posee una notable geodiversidad y un enorme potencial para el desarrollo de actividades didácticas e interpretativas. En este trabajo se describen algunas actividades basadas en la infraestructura presente y en los valores naturales de la zona, haciendo especial hincapié en la geología y en su papel en la configuración del paisaje. El objetivo principal es meramente didáctico a nivel de universidad. En este sentido se consideran no sólo aspectos geológicos, sino también aspectos de gestión y protección

Crystal Structure of the Hemochromatosis Protein HFE and Characterization of Its Interaction with Transferrin Receptor

AbstractHFE is an MHC-related protein that is mutated in the iron-overload disease hereditary hemochromatosis. HFE binds to transferrin receptor (TfR) and reduces its affinity for iron-loaded transferrin, implicating HFE in iron metabolism. The 2.6 Å crystal structure of HFE reveals the locations of hemochromatosis mutations and a patch of histidines that could be involved in pH-dependent interactions. We also demonstrate that soluble TfR and HFE bind tightly at the basic pH of the cell surface, but not at the acidic pH of intracellular vesicles. TfR:HFE stoichiometry (2:1) differs from TfR:transferrin stoichiometry (2:2), implying a different mode of binding for HFE and transferrin to TfR, consistent with our demonstration that HFE, transferrin, and TfR form a ternary complex

Transcriptional Dynamics and Candidate Genes Involved in Pod Maturation of Common Bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.)

The authors want to thank the research facilities provided by the Campus de Excelencia Internacional Agroalimentario (CeiA3).Pod maturation of common bean relies upon complex gene expression changes, which in turn are crucial for seed formation and dispersal. Hence, dissecting the transcriptional regulation of pod maturation would be of great significance for breeding programs. In this study, a comprehensive characterization of expression changes has been performed in two common bean cultivars (ancient and modern) by analyzing the transcriptomes of five developmental pod stages, from fruit setting to maturation. RNA-seq analysis allowed for the identification of key genes shared by both accessions, which in turn were homologous to known Arabidopsis maturation genes and furthermore showed a similar expression pattern along the maturation process. Gene- expression changes suggested a role in promoting an accelerated breakdown of photosynthetic and ribosomal machinery associated with chlorophyll degradation and early activation of alpha-linolenic acid metabolism. A further study of transcription factors and their DNA binding sites revealed three candidate genes whose functions may play a dominant role in regulating pod maturation. Altogether, this research identifies the first maturation gene set reported in common bean so far and contributes to a better understanding of the dynamic mechanisms of pod maturation, providing potentially useful information for genomic-assisted breeding of common bean yield and pod quality attributes.Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovacion y Universidades (MCIU/AEI/FEDER, UE) AGL2017-88174-R RTC2017-6198-2 AGL2017-88702-C2-2-RJunta de Andalucia 612

Herschel / HIFI observations of CO, H2O and NH3 in Mon R2

Context. Mon R2 is the only ultracompact HII region (UCHII) where the associated photon-dominated region (PDR) can be resolved with Herschel. Due to its brightness and proximity, it is the best source to investigate the chemistry and physics of highly UV-irradiated PDRs. Aims. Our goal is to estimate the abundance of H2O and NH3 in this region and investigate their origin. Methods. We present new observations obtained with HIFI and the IRAM-30m telescope. Using a large velocity gradient approach, we model the line intensities and derive an average abundance of H2O and NH3 across the region. Finally, we model the line profiles with a non-local radiative transfer model and compare these results with the abundance predicted by the Meudon PDR code. Results. The variations of the line profiles and intensities indicate complex geometrical and kinematical patterns. The H2O lines present a strong absorption at the ambient velocity and emission in high velocity wings towards the HII region. The spatial distribution of the o-H2^18O line shows that the its emission arises in the PDR surrounding the HII region. By modeling the o-H2^18O emission we derive a mean abundance of o-H2O of ~10^-8 relative to H2. The ortho-H2O abundance is however larger, ~1x10^-7, in the high velocity wings. Possible explanations for this larger abundance include an expanding hot PDR and/or an outflow. Ammonia seems to be present only in the envelope with an average abundance of ~2x10^-9 relative to H2. Conclusions. The Meudon PDR code can account for the measured water abundance in the high velocity gas as long as we assume that it originates from a <1 mag hot expanding layer of the PDR, i.e. that the outflow has only a minor contribution to this emission. To explain the abundances in the rest of the cloud the molecular freeze out and grain surface chemistry would need to be included.Comment: 12 pages, 7 figures, 3 tables. Accepted for publication in A&A. Abstract shortened. Updated references, language editing applied in v

Detection of 4765 MHz OH Emission in a Pre-Planetary Nebula -- CRL 618

Jets and outflows are ubiquitous phenomena in astrophysics, found in our Galaxy in diverse environments, from the formation of stars to late-type stellar objects. We present observations conducted with the 305m Arecibo Telescope of the pre-planetary nebula CRL 618 (Westbrook Nebula) - a well studied late-type star that has developed bipolar jets. The observations resulted in the first detection of 4765 MHz OH in a late-type stellar object. The line was narrow (FWHM ~ 0.6 km/s) and ~40 km/s blueshifted with respect to the systemic velocity, which suggests association with the expanding jets/bullets in CRL 618. We also report non-detection at Arecibo of any other OH transition between 1 and 9 GHz. The non-detections were obtained during the observations in 2008, when the 4765 MHz OH line was first discovered, and also in 2015 when the 4765 MHz OH line was not detected. Our data indicate that the 4765 MHz OH line was a variable maser. Modeling of the 4765 MHz OH detection and non-detection of the other transitions is consistent with the physical conditions expected in CRL 618. The 4765 MHz OH maser could originate from dissociation of H2O by shocks after sublimation of icy objects in this dying carbon-rich stellar system, although other alternatives such as OH in an oxygen-rich circumstellar region associated with a binary companion are also possible.Comment: 16 pages, 2 figure

Molecular jets driven by high-mass protostars: a detailed study of the IRAS 20126+4104 jet

We present here an extensive analysis of the protostellar jet driven by IRAS 20126+4104, deriving the kinematical, dynamical, and physical conditions of the H2 gas along the flow. The jet has been investigated by means of near-IR H2 and [FeII] narrow-band imaging, high resolution spectroscopy of the 1-0S(1) line (2.12 um), NIR (0.9-2.5 um) low resolution spectroscopy, along with ISO-SWS and LWS spectra (from 2.4 to 200 um). The flow shows a complex morphology. In addition to the large-scale jet precession presented in previous studies, we detect a small-scale wiggling close to the source, that may indicate the presence of a multiple system. The peak radial velocities of the H2 knots range from -42 to -14 km s^-1 in the blue lobe, and from -8 to 47 km s^-1 in the red lobe. The low resolution spectra are rich in H_2 emission, and relatively faint [FeII] (NIR), [OI] and [CII] (FIR) emission is observed in the region close to the source. A warm H2 gas component has an average excitation temperature that ranges between 2000 K and 2500 K. Additionally, the ISO-SWS spectrum reveals the presence of a cold component (520 K), that strongly contributes to the radiative cooling of the flow and plays a major role in the dynamics of the flow. The estimated L(H2) of the jet is 8.2+/-0.7 L_sun, suggesting that IRAS20126+4104 has an accretion rate significantly increased compared to low-mass YSOs. This is also supported by the derived mass flux rate from the H2 lines (Mflux(H2)~7.5x10^-4 M_sun yr^-1). The comparison between the H2 and the outflow parameters strongly indicates that the jet is driving, at least partially, the outflow. As already found for low-mass protostellar jets, the measured H2 outflow luminosity is tightly related to the source bolometric luminosity.Comment: 16 pages, 12 figures. A&A accepte

Basophil activation test is a complementary tool in the diagnosis of immediate reactions to platinum salts and taxanes

Background Delabelling pathways offer confirmatory diagnosis and can prevent unnecessary second-line therapies or drug desensitization procedures after chemotherapeutic hypersensitivity reactions (CHT-HSRs). However, these pathways rely on risky in vivo tests. Data on whether in vitro tests could be helpful are scarce. We assessed the role of basophil activation test (BAT) in the diagnosis of HSRs to platin salts (PSs) and taxanes (TXs) in a well-defined population featuring varied endophenotypes and severities of HSRs. Methods We conducted a 3-year-long multicentric, prospective study with 121 suspected-immediate CHT-HSR patients. The allergy workup included clinical history (initial reaction based on Type I, cytokine release syndrome, and mixed phenotype's symptoms and if unable to fit in any of these, as “indeterminate”), skin testing (ST), and drug provocation testing (DPT), provided risk assessment was favorable. Final diagnosis classified patients as “hypersensitive,” “non-hypersensitive,” or “inconclusive.” We performed BAT using CD63 and CD203c as activation markers in patients and controls. Patients underwent DPT regardless of BAT results to prevent bias. Results ST positivity significantly correlated with skin involvement, Type I phenotype, cancer recurrence, and lifetime exposures before reactions. DPTs were negative in all indeterminate phenotype patients (p = .02) and those considered low-risk, whereas they were negative in 62% moderate-risk patients. 55% were confirmed as hypersensitive (mainly Type I reactions, p < .0001), 24% as non-hypersensitive (mainly TXs and indeterminate phenotypes), and 21% as inconclusive. BAT showed 79% sensitivity in Type I IgE-mediated reactions to PSs with a high correlation to ST.Funding for open access charge: Universidad de Málaga / CBUA. This work was supported by the Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII) of the Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness (MINECO), grants co-founded by Fondo Europeo de Desarrollo Regional—FEDER for the Thematic Networks and Co-operative Research Centres: PI22/01119; PI18/00095; RETICS ARADYAL RD16/0006/0001, RICORS REI (RD21/0002/0008); Biobank network RD09/0076/00112; Biobank platform PT13/0010/0006; Andalusian Regional Ministry of Economy and Knowledge (grants PI-0076-2019). G.B. is a clinical investigator (B-0007-2022), research contract by Andalusian Regional Ministry Health. A.A. thanks Senior Postdoctoral Contract (RH-0099-2020) from Andalusian Regional Ministry of Health (co-funded by European Social Fund [ESF]: “Andalucía se mueve con Europa”) and “Nicolas Monardes” research contract by Andalusian Regional Ministry Health (C1-0007-2023). CLM holds a P-FIS contract (FI23/00027) by ISCIII. SCS holds a predoctoral contract by Andalusian Regional Goverment (PREDOC_01545). CM holds a “Nicolas Monardes” research contract by Andalusian Regional Ministry Health (RC-0004-2021)