Supply-side school improvement and the learning achievement of the poorest children in indigenous and rural schools - the case of PARE

In the past, research findings indicated that most of the differences in student learning were due to socioeconomic factors, and that, therefore, the effect of direct educational interventions to reduce learning inequality was very limited. However, the authors show that learning achievement could increase through appropriately designed, and reasonably well-implemented interventions. An examination of Mexico's PARE program reveals that an increase in learning achievement could be possible for rural, and indigenous schools. The authors'overall conclusion is that supply-side interventions can have substantial effects on the learning achievement of children in indigenous, and rural schools in poor areas. But greater attention needs to be paid to the poorest of the disadvantaged children. This positive conclusion, however, should be tempered by results of the urban sample, confirming earlier findings of the negative relationship between PARE, and student learning growth.Public Health Promotion,Teaching and Learning,Educational Sciences,Primary Education,Health Monitoring&Evaluation,Teachingand Learning,Primary Education,Gender and Education,Educational Sciences,Health Monitoring&Evaluation

The institutional vs. the academic definition of the quality of work life. What is the focus of the European Commission?

In recent years, we have seen how the quality of work life has been focused and defined by the European Commission (EC). In our study we compare the EC definition with the academic one and try to see how close they are. We also analyse the possibility of applying the institutional definition to the Spanish case through the development of specific indicators. Our main conclusions are that QWL is increasingly important for policy makers. In addition, it is essential to have objective indicators and to conduct surveys in order to reliably measure QWL.

On the use of transparent formulae to allocate federal education transfers

One of the key questions that arise in discussions of education decentralization, is how federal education resources should be allocated among the various states, and within states, among communities or schools. In general, there are two approaches: (1) bilateral negotiations between the federal government and states with little transparency as to the rules, and (2) formula-based distribution. The authors show that, based on econometric analysis on federal education transfers data in Mexico, the former approach can lead to allocation results that appear contrary to stated policy objectives like equity improvement and greater social inclusion in education. The authors then argue that contrary to common belief, the use of capitation, or per student allocation can improve not only efficiency but also equity. They present a theoretical model to analyze this hypothesis. The authors discuss several variations of the capitation formula, and present an analysis of the characteristics of the winners, and losers of their application, using Mexico as an illustration.Teaching and Learning,Public Health Promotion,National Governance,Primary Education,Health Monitoring&Evaluation,Primary Education,Teaching and Learning,National Governance,Gender and Education,Health Monitoring&Evaluation

Microbial profiling of a suppressiveness-induced agricultural soil amended with composted almond shells lead to isolation of new biocontrol agents

Vida et al., 2016. Microbial profiling of a suppressiveness-induced agricultural soil amended with composted almond shells lead to isolation of new biocontrol agents. Biological and integrated control of plant pathogens IOBC-WPRS Bulletin Vol. 117, 2016 pp. 140-143This study focused on the microbial profile present in an agricultural soil that becomes suppressive after the application of composted almond shells (AS) as organic amendments. The role of microbes in the suppression of Rosellinia necatrix, the causative agent of avocado white root rot, was determined after heat-treatment and complementation experiments with different types of soil. Bacterial and fungal profiles based on the 16S rRNA gene and ITS sequencing, the soil under the influence of composted almond shells revealed an increase in Proteobacteria and Ascomycota groups, as well as a reduction in Acidobacteria and Xylariales (where R. necatrix is allocated). Complementary to these findings, functional analysis by GeoChip 4.6 confirmed the improvement of a group of specific probes included in the “soil benefit” category was present only in AS-amended soils, corresponding to specific microorganisms previously described as potential biocontrol agents, such as Pseudomonas spp., Burkholderia spp. or Actinobacteria. Based in such data, a model for the microbial-based suppressiveness is proposed and further isolation of representative microorganisms were performed.Universidad de Málaga. Campus de Excelencia Internacional Andalucía Tech

Omics for Investigating Chitosan as an Antifungal and Gene Modulator

Chitosan is a biopolymer with a wide range of applications. The use of chitosan in clinical medicine to control infections by fungal pathogens such as Candida spp. is one of its most promising applications in view of the reduced number of antifungals available. Chitosan increases intracellular oxidative stress, then permeabilizes the plasma membrane of sensitive filamentous fungus Neurospora crassa and yeast. Transcriptomics reveals plasma membrane homeostasis and oxidative metabolism genes as key players in the response of fungi to chitosan. A lipase and a monosaccharide transporter, both inner plasma membrane proteins, and a glutathione transferase are main chitosan targets in N. crassa. Biocontrol fungi such as Pochonia chlamydosporia have a low content of polyunsaturated free fatty acids in their plasma membranes and are resistant to chitosan. Genome sequencing of P. chlamydosporia reveals a wide gene machinery to degrade and assimilate chitosan. Chitosan increases P. chlamydosporia sporulation and enhances parasitism of plant parasitic nematodes by the fungus. Omics studies allow understanding the mode of action of chitosan and help its development as an antifungal and gene modulator.This work was supported by Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness Grant AGL 2015 66833-R and a sabbatical grant (PR2015-00087) to Luis V. Lopez-Llorca

The actual and potential aroma of winemaking grapes

This review intends to rationalize the knowledge related to the aroma of grapes and to the aroma of wine with specific origin in molecules formed in grapes. The actual flavor of grapes is formed by the few free aroma molecules already found in the pulp and in the skin, plus by those aroma molecules quickly formed by enzymatic/catalytic reactions. The review covers key aroma components of aromatic grapes, raisins and raisinized grapes, and the aroma components responsible from green and vegetal notes. This knowledge is used to explain the flavor properties of neutral grapes. The aroma potential of grape is the consequence of five different systems/pools of specific aroma precursors that during fermentation and/or aging, release wine varietal aroma. In total, 27 relevant wine aroma compounds can be considered that proceed from grape specific precursors. Some of them are immediately formed during fermentation, while some others require long aging time to accumulate. Precursors are glycosides, glutathionyl and cysteinyl conjugates, and other non-volatile molecules

Fitolabook …30 years dreaming, thinking, researching and discovering together

Fitolabook, es una obra inspiradora, escrita con el corazón en la mano. Nos muestra las vivencias de un grupo de jóvenes durante la ejecución de sus proyectos de Tesis Doctoral. Fitolabook, es una historia contada por sus actores, en una retrospectiva cargada de emociones, anécdotas, vivencias y reflexiones, de cuánto y cómo impactó la etapa de realización de sus proyectos de Tesis en sus vidas. Fitolabook, nos demuestra que se puede hacer ciencia de la buena, con humanidad. Es un ejemplo de cómo se pueden compartir resultados y alcanzar las metas individuales. El contenido de la obra es sólo un ejemplo de los múltiples recuerdos que pueden despertarse en la memoria al leer esta obra sui generis. Esos recuerdos no son sólo para los que nos relacionamos con el Fitolab en estos treinta años, sino también para aquellos amigos lectores que hayan vivido experiencias similares en otros equipos de trabajo en cualquier lugar.Fitolabook, is an inspiring work, written heart in hand. This book shows the experiences of a group of young researchers during the course of their PhD projects. Fitolabook, is a story told by its actors, in a retrospective loaded with emotions, anecdotes, experiences and reflections. It tells us how much and how their lives changed when they performed their PhD projects. Fitolabook, shows us that good leading edge science can be performed with humanity. It is an example of how you can both share results yet achieve your own goals. What it is shown in this book is just a sample of the numerous memories that can be awaken not just for the ones of us whom have been in touch with the Fitolab for the last thirty years, but also to our fellow readers which have experienced similar situations in other working teams elsewhere

Experimental food subsidies keep eagles inside protected areas: implications for conservation and resource management

The conservation and management of mobile species, populations and dynamic habitats, presents significant challenges since such species face diverse threats during various stages of their life cycle. Protected areas (PAs) are essential tools in conservation efforts, aiming to preserve native species and their habitats. However, larger mobile animals, such as the Bonelli's eagle (Aquila fasciata), may require much larger areas outside PAs for essential life moments, including foraging, resting, and wintering. As a result, the efficacy of PAs in conserving such species may be questionable. We designed an experiment in an eastern Spain PA that is home to nesting Bonelli's eagles to determine if increasing food availability through experimental feeding within the PA could result in an effective reduction of space use outside the protected area by the eagles and lead to reduce death risk. Over the period of 2016 to 2021, we tracked 10 Bonelli's eagles from six different territories using GPS-GSM transmitters. We evaluated their space use before, during, and after the feeding experiment. Our results indicate that the availability of food within PAs restricted the eagles' movement, resulting in a higher concentration of locations inside the PAs. The eagles spent less time outside the PAs when they were fed and less time in highly human-dominated habitats. Consequently, this reduced mortality risks that were higher outside the PAs. Our findings suggest that management decisions aimed at increasing food availability within PAs, could be critical in conserving endangered species populations such as the Bonelli's eagle in Mediterranean landscapes

Deciphering the suppressive soil microbiota from an avocado crop

Comunicación en pósterDifferent strategies based on ecological principles have been approached in sustainable agriculture causing positive effects, including the induction of soil suppressiveness against a wide range of soilborne pathogens. Suppressiveness against the phytopathogenic fungus Rosellinia necatrix was observed after the application of composted almond shells in avocado crops. Previous works have analyzed the use of this traditional strategy and applied new microbial community analysis techniques in order to help in the identification of targeted sustainable agricultural strategies. These studies have focused on the microbial profile from an induced-suppressive soil where the soil microbiome had a proven essential role. Microbial profiles based on the 16S rRNA gene and ITS regions sequencing were analysed and an increase in Gammaproteobacteria and Dothideomycetes groups, as well as a reduction in Xylariales (where R. necatrix is allocated) were observed. These results led to the bacterial isolation of different groups of Gammaproteobacteria from this suppressive soil in order to identify new strains with biological control properties. Different characterization tests were performed, and a final selection of representative strains belonging to the genus Pseudomonas and related groups showed, all of them, plant disease protection abilities. Moreover, using previously described biological control agents against R. necatrix, a bacterial synthetic community have been design in order to improve the knowledge of the multitrophic interactions that occur during biological control process.This work was supported by Plan Nacional I+D+I (MINECO, Spain) (AGL2014-52518-C2-IR) and co-financed by FEDER funds (EU). C.Vida was supported by a PhD fellowship from the FPI program of MINECO. Universidad de Málaga. Campus de Excelencia Internacional Andalucía Tech

Isolation, characterization and selection of Pseudomonas spp. as biological control agents from a suppressive soil

Bacterial profile from a suppressive soil against Rosellinia necatrix, fungal pathogen of avocado roots, were obtained by 16S rRNA gene sequencing. The results revealed a significant increase in the bacterial class of Gammaproteobacteria, especially in some antagonistic representatives of Pseudomonas spp. For this reason, a collection of 246 bacterial isolates was obtained from this suppressive soil in order to identify new strains with antifungal activity against this fungal phytopathogen. First, we performed an isolation on a selective medium for Pseudomonas-like microorganisms. Then, we used different characterization tests in order to analyse the bacterial collection, including the identification of the general metabolic profile of glucose, the profiling of antifungals produced, both the putative production of antifungal compounds and lytic exoenzymes, as well as the evaluation of traits related with beneficial effects on plants. A final selection of representative strains resulted in antifungal isolates belonging to the genus Pseudomonas and related groups. These selected strains were tested for plant protection by an in vivo experiment using avocado and wheat plants challenged by the pathogen R. necatrix, showing all of them an antifungal ability and plant disease protection.This work was supported by Plan Nacional I+D+I from MINECO (Spain) (AGL2014-52518-C2-IR) and co-financed by FEDER funds (EU). C.Vida was supported by a PhD fellowship from the FPI program of MINECO.Universidad de Málaga. Campus de Excelencia Internacional Andalucía Tech