Interdependence and Contagion: an Analysis of Information Transmission in Latin America's Stock Markets

This paper brings evidences about the hypotheses of financial crisis contagion over Latin American stock markets in the 90's using a multivariate GARCH model. Beside the traditional volatility structure, we added a leverage term like GJR framework in order to avoid problems due to the use of conditional correlation as a measure of relationship between stock markets. The results show the existence of contagion only during the Asian (1997) and the Russian (1998) crises. The consequences of the Brazilian crisis (1999) can be identified as a result of interdependence among Latin American markets, while the crises of Mexico (1994) and Argentina (2001) show a specific mechanism of propagation. This result raises questions about the "contagion" and "interdependence" concepts' adequacy for the analysis of information transmission among stock markets.

Imperfect Rationality and Inflationary Inertia: A New Estimation of the Phillips Curve for Brazil

This paper presents some new estimates for the relationship between inflation and unemployment in Brazil based on a new Keynesian hypothesis about the behavior of the economy. Four main hypotheses are tested and sustained throughout the study: i) agents do not have perfect rationality; ii) the imperfection in the agents expectations generating process may be an important factor in explaining the high persistence (inertia) of Brazilian inflation; iii) inflation does have an autonomous inertial component, without linkage to shocks in individual markets; iv) a non-linear relationship between inflation and unemployment is able to provide better explanations for the inflation-unemployment relationship in the Brazilian economy in the last 12 years. While the first two hypotheses are tested using a Markov Switching based model of regime changes, the remaining two are tested in a context of a convex Phillips Curve estimated using the Kalman filter. Despite the methodological and estimation improvements provided in the paper, the impulse-response functions for the monetary policy presented the same properties shown in the literature that uses Brazilian dataPhillips Curve; Expectations; Inflation; NAIRU-gap; Markov Switching Models; Kalman Filter; SUR

Le tarsie prospettiche rinascimentali

L'osservazione delle tarsie “architettoniche” e “urbane” ha posto la domanda circa la natura delle immagini ivi rappresentate. Le prospettive intagliate sono puramente esercizi prospettici? E se lo sono, quali finalità hanno? Hanno un'attinenza con le scene teatrali o ritraggono forse luoghi reali o ideali di brani di città? Gli spazi urbani e le architetture rappresentate sono regolati da un proporzionamento logico e corretto? La spiegazione di tali rappresentazioni è da ricercare nell'idea di vedute di città ideali: esse danno luogo a vere e proprie invenzioni architettoniche, talora con l'aggiunta di elementi reali, ma più spesso del tutto fittizi, il tutto nell'alveo di quello stile architettonico che si configurava quale frutto maturo della raffinata cultura rinascimentale

Determination of CKM phases γ and −2βs from charmless two-body decays of beauty mesons

An important task of the modern research in particle physicsis is to measure the properties of the Cabibbo-Kobayashi-Maskawa (CKM)matrix. The CKM matrix governs the mixing between mass and flavour eigenstates of quarks and is responsible of the breaking of the CP symmetry in the Standard Model (SM), hence, in the very end, of the imbalance between matter and anti-matter in the Universe. Probing the consistency and the unitarity of the CKM matrix is fundamental to verify the validity of the SM and to look for physics beyond. Using the measurements of CP-violation parameters and branching ratios of the B0→π+π−, B0→π0π0, B+→π+π0 and B0s→K+K− decays, a bayesian analysis is performed to determine two parameters of the CKM matrix: the angle γ and the mixing phase, −2βs, of the B0s meson

SINEUPs, a new class of antisense long non-coding RNAs that enhance synthesis of target proteins in cells: molecular mechanisms and applications

Thanks to continuous advances in sequencing technologies, we know that a huge number of non-coding RNAs are transcribed from mammalian genomes. Of these, long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) represent the widest and most heterogeneous class. An increasing number of studies are unveiling lncRNA functions, supporting their active role in regulating gene expression. Regardless of lncRNAs specific functional features, their organization into discrete domains seems to represent a common denominator. Through such domains lncRNAs can recruit and coordinate the activity of multiple effectors, thus working as \u201cflexible modular scaffolds\u201d. This model has globally driven towards the quest for regulatory elements within lncRNAs, with a special attention on functional cues deriving from RNA folding. Since transposable elements (TEs) represent 40% of nucleotides of lncRNA sequences, they have been proposed as candidate functional modules. Carrieri and colleagues recently reported that an embedded inverted SINEB2 element acts as a functional domain in antisense (AS) Uchl1, an AS lncRNA able to increase translation of partially-overlapping protein-coding sense Uchl1 mRNA. AS Uchl1 regulatory properties depend on two RNA domains. A 5' overlapping sequence to the sense transcript is the Binding Domain (BD) and drives specificity of action. An embedded inverted SINEB2 element functions as Effector Domain (ED) conferring translational activation power. AS Uchl1 is the representative member of a new class of lncRNAs, named SINEUPs, as they rely on a SINEB2 element to UP-regulate translation. AS Uchl1 activity can be transferred to a synthetic construct by manipulating the AS sequence in the BD, suggesting the potential use of AS Uchl1- derived synthetic SINEUPs as tools to increase translation of selected targets. This work was the first example of a specific biological function assigned to an embedded TE leading to the hypothesis that embedded TEs provide functional modules to lncRNAs. A major limit to the application of SINEUPs is represented by the poor knowledge of the basic mechanisms underlying the biological activity of the ED. A crucial challenge becomes the identification of secondary structures that may confer characteristic protein binding properties. Protein partners would modulate SINEUPs action and contribute to achieve specific functional outputs. In this thesis, I focus on understanding the molecular basis of SINEUPs activity in cells and I discuss the potential applications of synthetic SINEUPs as translation enhancers. First, I investigated the structural basis for translation activation mediated by the ED of SINEUPs. I pointed out that specific structural regions, containing a short terminal hairpin, are involved in the ability of natural and synthetic SINEUPs to increase translation of target mRNAs. Next, I identified protein partners modulating the activity of SINEUPs in cells. I found that AS Uchl1 interacts with the interleukin enhancer-binding factor 3 (ILF3) and that the presence of the inverted SINEB2 favors binding in vivo. In particular, I demonstrated that the AS Uchl1-embedded TEs, inverted SINEB2 and Alu, direct AS Uchl1 localization to ILF3-containing complexes, thus contributing to AS Uchl1 bias towards nuclear localization. I thus suggest that nuclear retention could represent a possible mechanism regulating SINEUP activity. I also validated the scalability of synthetic SINEUPs as tools to increase protein synthesis of targets of choice. I showed that SINEUP technology can be adapted to a broader number of targets, with interesting potential applications in different fields, from biotechnology to therapy. SINEUPs function in an array of cell lines and can be efficiently directed toward N-terminally tagged proteins. Their biological activity is retained in a miniaturized version within the range of small RNAs length. Their modular structure can be exploited to successfully design synthetic SINEUPs against selected endogenous targets, supporting their efficacy as tools to modulate gene expression in vitro and in vivo. Hence, I propose SINEUPs as versatile tools to enhance translation of mRNAs of choice

Some ultrastructural features of the vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhiza in the grapevine

A morphological analysis using transmission and scanning electron microscopy was carried out about the mycorrhizal roots of grapevine, grown in the field. Only the most common features of the endophyte, i.e. intercellular hyphae and arbuscules, were studied. The intercellular hyphae spreading the infection showed a protoplasm endowed with nuclei, mitochondria, vacuoles with dense globules and bacteria-like microorganisms. After the penetration inside the host cell, many fungal branches were found. The so formed arbuscule filled up the whole cortical cell. The different stages of the arbuscular deterioration were observed and described. The infected host cell showed beyond the usual organelles plastids with starch in close contact with the endophyte. Quelques caractéristiques ultrastructurelles des mycorrhizes du type vésiculairearbusculaire de la vigne On a étudié au moyen de microscopes electroniques à transmission et à balayage la morphologie de racines mycorrhizées prélevées dans les vignobles. L'attention a été concentrée sur les formes les plus répandues de l'endophyte, c'est-à-dire les hyphes intercellulaires et les arbuscules. Les hyphes intercellulaires, qui transmettent l'infection, ont un protoplasme muni de noyaux, de mitochondries, de vacuoles avec des globules sombres aux électrons et des micro-organismes semblables à des bactéries. A la suite de la pénétration dans la cellule de la plante-hôte, l'hyphe forme plusieures branches. L'arbuscule ainsi formé remplit complètement la cellule corticale. On a pu observer et décrire les différentes phases de dégradation de l'arbuscule. Les cellules de l'hôte infectées montrent outre les organelles normales des plastides avec de l'amidon en contact étmit avec l'endophyte

Spiritual Attitudes and Values in Young Children

Research has shown that spirituality is an important function of a child’s social, emotional, and personal development. Nevertheless, minimal research exists on spiritual attitudes and values in young children. This study examined children’s development and spirituality using a modified version of the Attitudes and Values Questionnaire (AVQ). The Australian Council for Educational Research (ACER) developed the AVQ with the dimensions of Conscience, Compassion, Social Growth, Emotional Growth, Service to Others, Commitment to God, and Commitment to Jesus. Commitment to God and Commitment to Jesus were optional dimensions later added by ACER to focus specifically on Christian principles. Following permission from ACER to adapt the AVQ for younger children, the questionnaire was modified using the Flesch-Kincaid Readability Scale to allow for better question comprehension among the young participants, ages 5–14. Researchers contacted family members and various Christian schools in their home states across the eastern United States and asked if they would be willing to administer the modified AVQ to their students. The intention was to expand upon knowledge about young children’s attitudes and values related to Christian spirituality. Specifically, the researchers were trying to find if there may be relationships among children’s view of self, view of others, and spirituality. Correlations were run in order to determine if different dimensions, particularly the social growth dimensions and the Christian dimensions, were significantly related. A correlation chart compared all variables and the results indicated that there were strong correlations among the dimensions

Models of governance of public services: empirical and behavioural analysis of 'econs' and 'humans'

How can individuals best be encouraged to take more responsibility for their well-being and their environment or to behave more ethically in their business transactions? Across the world, governments are showing a growing interest in using behavioural economic research to inform the design of nudges which, some suggest, might encourage citizens to adopt beneficial patterns of behaviour. In this fascinating collection, leading academic economists, psychologists and philosophers reflect on how behavioural economic findings can be used to help inform the design of policy initiatives in the areas of health, education, the environment, personal finances and worker remuneration. Each chapter is accompanied by a shorter 'response' that provides critical commentary and an alternative perspective. This accessible book will interest academic researchers, graduate students and policy-makers across a range of disciplinary perspectives. A selection of the world's leading behavioural economists apply behavioural science research to practical policy concerns in the areas of health, education, the environment, personal finances and worker remuneration Will appeal to people across a range of disciplinary backgrounds - students, practitioners and policy makers who are interested in the contributions that behavioural economics can make. Each chapter is accompanied by a shorter 'response' to provide commentary and an alternative perspective to help readers engage more fully with the issues raised