Foreign Banks and Credit Volatility: The Case of Latin American Countries

Foreign bank presence has substantially increased in Latin America during the second half of the 1990s, which has prompted an intense debate on its banking and macroeconomic consequences. In this paper, we apply ARCH techniques to jointly estimate the impact of foreign bank presence on the level and volatility of real credit in a panel of eight Latin American countries, using quarterly data over the period 1995:1-2001:4. Results show that, together with financial development, foreign bank presence has contributed to reduce real credit volatility, improving the buffer shock function of the banking sector. This finding is consistent with the fact that foreign banks are typically well diversified institutions holding higher quality assets and having access to a broad set of liquidity sources. Keywords: foreign banks; credit volatility; Latin America; panel data; ARCH techniquesForeign Banks; Credit Volatility; Latin America; Panel Data; ARCH techniques

Does 3D phenotyping yield substantial insights in the genetics of the mouse mandible shape?

11 pagesInternational audienceWe describe the application of high-resolution 3D microcomputed tomography, together with 3D landmarks and geometric morphometrics, to validate and further improve previous quantitative genetic studies that reported QTL responsible for variation in the mandible shape of laboratory mice using a new backcross between C57BL/6J and A/J inbred strains. Despite the increasing availability of 3D imaging techniques, artificial flattening of the mandible by 2D imaging techniques seems at first an acceptable compromise for large-scale phenotyping protocols, thanks to an abundance of low-cost digital imaging systems such as microscopes or digital cameras. We evaluated the gain of information from considering explicitly this additional third dimension, and also from capturing variation on the bone surface where no precise anatomical landmark can be marked. Multivariate QTL mapping conducted with different landmark configurations (2D vs. 3D; manual vs. semilandmarks) broadly agreed with the findings of previous studies. Significantly more QTL (23) were identified and more precisely mapped when the mandible shape was captured with a large set of semilandmarks coupled with manual landmarks. It appears that finer phenotypic characterization of the mandibular shape with 3D landmarks, along with higher density genotyping, yields better insights into the genetic architecture of mandibular development. Most of the main variation is, nonetheless, preferentially embedded in the natural 2D plane of the hemi-mandible, reinforcing the results of earlier influential investigations

Le patrimoine par l'image : socio-sémiotique des centres d'interprétation et de l'architecture et du patrimoine

peer reviewedLe développement des centres d’interprétation de l’architecture et du patrimoine (CIAP) invite à s’interroger sur le média-exposition dans des espaces d’exposition où les objets sont par définition absents. À partir d’une analyse socio-sémiotique de deux exemples de CIAP (Annecy et Chambéry), il est possible de montrer comment la présentation et la représentation du patrimoine dans ces deux expositions pallient le manque d’objet par le recours à des images. Celles-ci sont à la fois des documents visuels (photographies, cartes postales…) exposés dans les différentes salles mais aussi des « images » construites par la mise en forme scénographique de l’espace. La logique communicationnelle inspirée par la théorie de l’interprétation prend alors comme préalable les images mentales du visiteur pour faire réagir ce dernier en le confrontant à d’autres représentations du territoire

Colorectal cancer population screening programs worldwide in 2016: An update

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most commonly diagnosed cancer in the world. The incidence and mortality show wide geographical variations. Screening is recommended to reduce both incidence and mortality. However, there are significant differences among studies in implementation strategies and detection. This review aimed to present the results and strategies of different screening programs worldwide. We reviewed the literature on national and international screening programs published in PubMed, on web pages, and in clinical guidelines. CRC Screening programs are currently underway in most European countries, Canada, specific regions in North and South America, Asia, and Oceania. The most extensive screening strategies were based on fecal occult blood testing, and more recently, the fecal immunochemical test (FIT). Participation in screening has varied greatly among different programs. The Netherlands showed the highest participation rate (68.2%) and some areas of Canada showed the lowest (16%). Participation rates were highest among women and in programs that used the FIT test. Men exhibited the greatest number of positive results. The FIT test has been the most widely used screening program worldwide. The advent of this test has increased participation rates and the detection of positive results

Data modeling as a main source of discrepancies in single and multiple marker association methods

Genome-wide association studies have successfully identified several loci underlying complex diseases in humans. The development of high density SNP maps in domestic animal species should allow the detection of QTLs for economically important traits through association studies with much higher accuracy than traditional linkage analysis. Here we report the association analysis of the dataset simulated for the XII QTL-MAS meeting (Uppsala). We used two strategies, single marker association and haplotype-based association (Blossoc) that were applied to i) the raw data, and ii) the data corrected for infinitesimal, sex and generation effects. Both methods performed similarly in detecting the most strongly associated SNPs, about ten loci in total. The most significant ones were located in chromosomes 1, 4 and 5. Overall, the largest differences were found between corrected and raw data, rather than between single and multiple marker analysis. The use of raw data increased greatly the number of significant loci, but possibly also the rate of false positives. Bootstrap model aggregation removed most of discrepancies between adjusted and raw data when SMA was employed. Model choice should be carefully considered in genome-wide association studies

Atmospheric gravitational tides of Earth-like planets orbiting low-mass stars

Temperate terrestrial planets orbiting low-mass stars are subject to strong tidal forces. The effects of gravitational tides on the solid planet and that of atmospheric thermal tides have been studied, but the direct impact of gravitational tides on the atmosphere itself has so far been ignored. We first develop a simplified analytic theory of tides acting on the atmosphere of a planet. We then implement gravitational tides into a general circulation model of a static-ocean planet in a short-period orbit around a low-mass star -- the results agree with our analytic theory. Because atmospheric tides and solid-body tides share a scaling with the semi-major axis, we show that there is a maximum amplitude of the atmospheric tide that a terrestrial planet can experience while still having a solid surface; Proxima Centauri b is the poster child for a planet that could be geophysically Earth-like but with atmospheric tides more than 500$\times$ stronger than Earth's. In this most extreme scenario, we show that atmospheric tides significantly impact the planet's meteorology -- but not its climate. Two possible modest climate impacts are enhanced longitudinal heat transport and cooling of the lowest atmospheric layers. The strong radiative forcing of such planets dominates over gravitational tides, unlike moons of cold giant planets, such as Titan. We speculate that atmospheric tides could be climatologically important on planets where the altitude of maximal tidal forcing coincides with the altitude of cloud formation and that the effect could be detectable for non-Earth-like planets subject to even greater tides

Un territoire standardisé : les expériences Airbnb

editorial reviewedL’entreprise Airbnb propose depuis 2016 des expériences en complément de son offre d’hébergement, promettant une rencontre unique avec un territoire et ses habitants. L’analyse de cette promesse, à partir de sa diffusion en ligne sur le site internet d’Airbnb, montre que cette idée d’expérience s’inscrit dans et reproduit les cadres touristiques traditionnelles. Ainsi, contrairement à la promesse de découverte inédite, la standardisation de l’offre des expériences condense l’expérience du territoire

An experimental and theoretical study of unsteady flow (gust) effects on structures

The gust wind tunnel at IDR, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid (UPM), has been enhanced and the impact of the modification has been characterized. Several flow quality configurations have been tested. The problems in measuring gusty winds with Pitot tubes have been considered. Experimental results have been obtained and compared with theoretically calculated results (based on potential flow theory). A theoretical correction term has been proposed for unsteady flow measurements obtained with Pitot tubes. The effect of unsteady flow on structures and laying bodies on the ground has been also considered. A theoretical model has been proposed for a semi-circular cylinder and experimental tests have been performed to study the unsteady flow effects, which can help in clarifying the phenomenon

An experimental and theoretical study of unsteady flow (gust) effects on structures

The gust wind tunnel at IDR, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid (UPM), has been enhanced and the impact of the modification has been characterized. Several flow quality configurations have been tested. The problems in measuring gusty winds with Pitot tubes have been considered. Experimental results have been obtained and compared with theoretically calculated results (based on potential flow theory). A theoretical correction term has been proposed for unsteady flow measurements obtained with Pitot tubes. The effect of unsteady flow on structures and laying bodies on the ground has been also considered. A theoretical model has been proposed for a semi-circular cylinder and experimental tests have been performed to study the unsteady flow effects, which can help in clarifying the phenomenon

Limitation and challenges in using pancreatic cancer-derived organoids as a preclinical tool

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is a dismaldisease with a fast evolution and unpredictable treatmentresponse. Nowadays, FOLFIRINOX and gemcitabine are the preferred treatments with a response rateof 33% and 11%, respectively. This poor patient responsehas been associated with an inefficient/non-personalizedtreatment allocation. Consequently, developing a rapidand efficient preclinical tool to test tumor drug sensitivityfor each patient is hugely needed. Biopsy patient-derivedorganoid (PDO) appears to be a promising tool for devel-oping individualized treatments for patients with PDAC.Several PDO-based platforms are in development world-wide as a guide to optimize therapy by directing tailored treatments.Fil: Fraunhoffer Navarro, Nicolas Alejandro. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay. Centro de Estudios Farmacológicos y Botánicos. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Medicina. Centro de Estudios Farmacológicos y Botánicos; Argentina. Aix-Marseille University; FranciaFil: Abuelafia, Analía Meilerman. Aix-Marseille University; FranciaFil: Dusetti, Nelson. Aix-Marseille University; FranciaFil: Iovanna, Juan Lucio. Aix-Marseille University; Franci