Towards the bridging of molecular genetics data across Xenopus species

Indexación: ScopusBackground: The clawed African frog Xenopus laevis has been one of the main vertebrate models for studies in developmental biology. However, for genetic studies, Xenopus tropicalis has been the experimental model of choice because it shorter life cycle and due to a more tractable genome that does not result from genome duplication as in the case of X. laevis. Today, although still organized in a large number of scaffolds, nearly 85 % of X. tropicalis and 89 % of X. laevis genomes have been sequenced. There is expectation for a comparative physical map that can be used as a Rosetta Stone between X. laevis genetic studies and X. tropicalis genomic research. Results: In this work, we have mapped using coarse-grained alignment the 18 chromosomes of X. laevis, release 9.1, on the 10 reference scaffolds representing the haploid genome of X. tropicalis, release 9.0. After validating the mapping with theoretical data, and estimating reference averages of genome sequence identity, 37 to 44 % between the two species, we have carried out a synteny analysis for 2,112 orthologous genes. We found that 99.6 % of genes are in the same organization. Conclusions: Taken together, our results make possible to establish the correspondence between 62 and 65.5 % of both genomes, percentage of identity, synteny and automatic annotation of transcripts of both species, providing a new and more comprehensive tool for comparative analysis of these two species, by allowing to bridge molecular genetics data among them.https://bmcgenomics.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12864-016-2440-

The sovereign yield curve and credit ratings in GIIPS

© 2020 International Review of Finance Ltd. 2020 This paper studies the impact of sovereign credit rating and outlook changes on the shape of the sovereign yield curve using data for five European countries, namely, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Portugal, and Spain, known as the GIIPS for the period of 2001–2016. We use the dynamic Nelson–Siegel model to estimate the level, slope, and curvature of the yield curve. Subsequently, we employ the vector autoregressive model to estimate the effect of sovereign rating and outlook changes on the sovereign yield curve. We find a significant effect of rating downgrades and an insignificant effect of rating upgrades in all five countries; however, the results for the effect of changes in outlook status are mixed. Our results remain robust to various sensitivity tests

Prácticas directivas que favorecen el rol de los padres en la educación de sus hijos

El compromiso de la familia con la escuela favorece el aprendizaje de los alumnos, y cada vez es más necesario que las escuelas se ocupen de fortalecer esta relación. El propósito de esta investigación, mediante una revisión sistemática de la literatura, es explorar los factores mediadores a través los cuales el liderazgo escolar puede influir para mejorar la colaboración entre la familia y la escuela, identificando patrones de acciones a través de las cuales los líderes escolares, sean directivos o docentes, pueden contribuir para mejorar el compromiso y desempeño de los padres. Se concluye que es necesario profundizar la investigación sobre las prácticas directivas que incorporen la participación de los profesores, con foco en las relación de los padres con sus hijos, para que éstos puedan mejorar su desempeño en la educación de sus hijos, y así darle sentido a las actividades de la escuela en las que se involucra la familia

Syndecan 4 interacts genetically with Vangl2 to regulate neural tube closure and planar cell polarity

Syndecan 4 (Sdc4) is a cell-surface heparan sulfate proteoglycan (HSPG) that regulates gastrulation, neural tube closure and directed neural crest migration in Xenopus development. To determine whether Sdc4 participates in Wnt/PCP signaling during mouse development, we evaluated a possible interaction between a null mutation of Sdc4 and the loop-tail allele of Vangl2. Sdc4 is expressed in multiple tissues, but particularly in the non-neural ectoderm, hindgut and otic vesicles. Sdc4;Vangl2Lp compound mutant mice have defective spinal neural tube closure, disrupted orientation of the stereocilia bundles in the cochlea and delayed wound healing, demonstrating a strong genetic interaction. In Xenopus, co-injection of suboptimal amounts of Sdc4 and Vangl2 morpholinos resulted in a significantly greater proportion of embryos with defective neural tube closure than each individual morpholino alone. To probe the mechanism of this interaction, we overexpressed or knocked down Vangl2 function in HEK293 cells. The Sdc4 and Vangl2 proteins colocalize, and Vangl2, particularly the Vangl2Lp mutant form, diminishes Sdc4 protein levels. Conversely, Vangl2 knockdown enhances Sdc4 protein levels. Overall HSPG steady-state levels were regulated by Vangl2, suggesting a molecular mechanism for the genetic interaction in which Vangl2Lp/+ enhances the Sdc4-null phenotype. This could be mediated via heparan sulfate residues, as Vangl2Lp/+ embryos fail to initiate neural tube closure and develop craniorachischisis (usually seen only in Vangl2Lp/Lp) when cultured in the presence of chlorate, a sulfation inhibitor. These results demonstrate that Sdc4 can participate in the Wnt/PCP pathway, unveiling its importance during neural tube closure in mammalian embryos

Saberes y poder en un espacio escolar conflictivo : un estudio etnográfico

Este texto se presentó como comunicación al II Congreso Internacional de Etnografía y Educación: Migraciones y Ciudadanías. Universidad Autónoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, 5-8 Septiembre 2008.El sector público en Europa se encuentra desde los finales de los años 70 en una fase de reestructuración (Castells 1998; Esping-Anderson, 1990, 1996; Norrie & Goodson 2005). En ese contexto, la educación y la sanidad pública, en tanto que ejes principales del Estado de Bienestar, sufren las consecuencias de discursos neoliberales que promueven su descentralización y mercantilización (Beach 2005). Estos procesos afectan de forma directa el trabajo y el conocimiento profesional de docentes y enfermeros, que ven su práctica y su autonomía cada más amenazadas por dinámicas de mercado que promueven la desprofesionalización y el control de la eficiencia por parte de las autoridades públicas. (Goodson & Hargreaves, 1996; Troman, 2000).El proyecto de investigación europeo Profknow: Professional Knowledge - Restructuring work and life between state and citizens in Europe, tiene como principal objetivo analizar los efectos de estos procesos de reestructuración en la vida profesional de aquellas personas que trabajan en el sector público. Concretamente, propone prestar atención al conocimiento profesional, las condiciones laborales y las experiencias que se generan en la profesión docente y de enfermería en Europa en la actualidad, teniendo en cuenta los cambios habidos en el Estado de Bienestar. Este estudio, en el que participan investigadores del campo de la educación de siete países (Finlandia, Suecia, Irlanda, Reino Unido, Grecia, Portugal y España) ha sido financiado por el VI Programa Marco de la Unión Europea, y se encuentra actualmente en su fase final de ejecución (2004-2007). Nuestro propósito con esta comunicación es presentar parte de la investigación realizada en España. En concreto proponemos compartir algunos de los resultados del estudio etnográfico que llevamos a cabo en un Centro de Actuación Educativa Preferente (CAEP), de la ciudad de Barcelona. La experiencia de esta escuela y sus maestras nos han permitido reflexionar en torno a las múltiples dimensiones y facetas de las relaciones que se tejen en un espacio escolar considerado difícil y conflictivo, y sobre cómo las diversas situaciones ahí vividas - en el aula, en el claustro, en el barrio - pueden llegar a ser generadoras de conocimientos y saberes profesionales y personales

Bad governance:How privatization increases corruption in the developing world

International organizations have become key actors in the fight against corruption. Among these organizations, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) maintains a powerful position over borrowing countries in its ability to mandate far‐ranging policy reforms – so‐called “conditionalities” – in exchange for access to financial assistance. While IMF pressure can force the implementation of anti‐corruption policies, potentially reducing corruption, other IMF policy measures, such as the privatization of state‐owned enterprises, can create rent‐extraction opportunities and limit the capacity of state institutions to limit corrupt behavior. To test these mechanisms, we conduct instrumental‐variable regression analysis using an original dataset on IMF conditionality for up to 141 developing countries from 1982 to 2014. We find that conditions to privatize state‐owned enterprises exert significant detrimental effects on corruption control. Conversely, other areas of IMF intervention are not consistently related to corruption abatement. These findings offer policy lessons regarding the design of conditionality, which should avoid large‐scale privatization, especially under conditions of weak accountability

Foreign direct investment and institutional reform : evidence and an application to Portugal

We examine the role of geographic, economic, and institutional factors in attracting Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in Europe, using a cross-section of inward bilateral investments. We estimate and assess the expected benefits, the required reform efforts, and the efficiency of reform options corresponding to a con- vergence of Portuguese institutions to EU standards. We conclude that improving home institutions is likely to have a quantitatively very significant role in attracting FDI. Geographical and market size factors also play a role. Reforms promoting the independence of financial institutions and a leaner bureaucracy, lowering political risk and corruption, and improving the investment code may significantly affect the amount of bilateral inward FDI that is targeted to Portugal.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio