Evaluating Labor Market Reforms: A General Equilibrium Approach

Job security provisions are commonly invoked to explain the high and persistent European unemployment rates. This belief has led several countries to reform their labor markets and liberalize the use of fixed-term contracts. Despite how common such contracts have become after deregulation, there is a lack of quantitative analysis of their impact on the economy. To fill this gap, we build a general equilibrium model with heterogeneous agents and firing costs in the tradition of Hopenhayn and Rogerson (1993). We calibrate our model to Spanish data, choosing in part parameters estimated with firm-level longitudinal data. Spain is particularly interesting, since its labor regulations are among the most protective in the OECD, and both its unemployment and its share of fixed-term employment are the highest. We find that fixed term contracts increase unemployment, reduce output, and raise productivity. The welfare effects are ambiguous.Fixed-term contracts, Firing costs, General equilibrium, Heterogeneous agents

EVALUATING LABOR MARKET REFORMS: A GENERAL EQUILIBRIUM APPROACH

Job security provisions are commonly invoked to explain the high and persistent European unemployment rates. This belief has led several countries to reform their labor markets and liberalize the use of fixed-term contracts. Despite how common such contracts have become after deregulation, there is a lack of quantitative analysis of their impact on the economy. To fill this gap, we build a general equilibrium model with heterogeneous agents and firing costs in the tradition of Hopenhayn and Rogerson (1983). We calibrate our model to Spanish data, choosing in part parameters estimated with firm-level longitudinal data. Spain is particularly interesting, since its labor regulations are among the most protective in the OECD, and both its unemployment and its share of fixed-term employment are the highest. We find that fixedterm contracts increase unemployment, reduce output, and raise productivity. The welfare effects are ambiguous.

La protección al empleo en España : evolución y consecuencias

Este trabajo se centra en la influencia de las regulaciones del mercado de trabajo en el funcionamiento de éste. Para ello, describe las reformas laborales ocurridas en Europa en las dos últimas décadas, con especial atención al mercado de trabajo español. A este mercado, que ha registrado históricamente las mayores tasas de paro de la OCDE, su grado de protección al empleo lo ha situado como uno de los mercados de trabajo menos flexible del mundo. Se investigan las consecuencias de la protección al empleo en España tanto a nivel micro como macroeconómico. Asimismo, se describen las principales características de la economía española y los desafíos y problemas a los que se enfrenta su mercado de trabajo en el futuro próximoLos autores agradecen la financiación del Ministerio de Educación y Ciencia a través de los proyectos SEJ2006-05710/ECON y SEJ2005-03470/ECON, respectivamentePublicad

Extending Qualitative Spatial Theories with Emergent Spatial Concepts: An Automated Reasoning Approach

Qualitative Spatial Reasoning is an exciting research field of the Knowledge Representation and Reasoning paradigm whose application often requires the extension, refinement or combination of existent theories (as well as the associated calculus). This paper addresses the issue of the sound spatial interpretation of formal extensions of such theories; particularly the interpretation of the extension and the desired representational features. The paper shows how to interpret certain kinds of extensions of Region Connection Calculus (RCC) theory. We also show how to rebuild the qualitative calculus of these extensions.Junta de Andalucía TIC-606

A versatile trigger and synchronization module with IEEE1588 capabilities and EPICS support.

Event timing and synchronization are two key aspects to improve in the implementation of distributed data acquisition (dDAQ) systems such as the ones used in fusion experiments. It is also of great importance the integration of dDAQ in control and measurement networks. This paper analyzes the applicability of the IEEE1588 and EPICS standards to solve these problems, and presents a hardware module implementation based in both of them that allow adding these functionalities to any DAQ. The IEEE1588 standard facilitates the integration of event timing and synchronization mechanisms in distributed data acquisition systems based on IEEE 803.3 (Ethernet). An optimal implementation of such system requires the use of network interface devices which include specific hardware resources devoted to the IEE1588 functionalities. Unfortunately, this is not the approach followed in most of the large number of applications available nowadays. Therefore, most solutions are based in software and use standard hardware network interfaces. This paper presents the development of a hardware module (GI2E) with IEEE1588 capabilities which includes USB, RS232, RS485 and CAN interfaces. This permits to integrate any DAQ element that uses these interfaces in dDAQ systems in an efficient and simple way. The module has been developed with Motorola's Coldfire MCF5234 processor and National Semiconductors's PHY DP83640T, providing it with the possibility to implement the PTP protocol of IEEE1588 by hardware, and therefore increasing its performance over other implementations based in software. To facilitate the integration of the dDAQ system in control and measurement networks the module includes a basic Input/Output Controller (IOC) functionality of the Experimental Physics and Industrial Control System (EPICS) architecture. The paper discusses the implementation details of this module and presents its applications in advanced dDAQ applications in the fusion community

Comparative performance of diffused junction indium phosphide solar cells

A comparison is made between indium phosphide solar cells whose p-n junctions were processed by open tube capped diffusion, and closed tube uncapped diffusion, of sulfur into Czochralski grown p-type substrates. Air mass zero, total area, efficiencies ranged from 10 to 14.2 percent, the latter value attributed to cells processed by capped diffusion. The radiation resistance of these latter cells was slightly better, under 1 MeV electron irradiation. However, rather than being process dependent, the difference in radiation resistance could be attributed to the effects of increased base dopant concentration. In agreement with previous results, both cells exhibited radiation resistance superior to that of gallium arsenide. The lowest temperature dependency of maximum power was exhibited by the cells prepared by open tube capped diffusion. Contrary to previous results, no correlation was found between open circuit voltage and the temperature dependency of Pmax. It was concluded that additional process optimization was necessary before concluding that one process was better than another

Molecular Modeling of Adsorption of 5-Aminosalicylic Acid in the Halloysite Nanotube

Halloysite nanotubes are becoming interesting materials for drug delivery. The knowledge of surface interactions is important for optimizing this application. The aim of this work is to perform a computational study of the interaction between 5-aminosalicylic acid (5-ASA) drug and halloysite nanotubes for the development of modified drug delivery systems. The optimization of this nanotube and the adsorption of different conformers of the 5-ASA drug on the internal surface of halloysite in the presence and absence of water were performed using quantum mechanical calculations by using Density Functional Theory (DFT) and methods based on atomistic force fields for molecular modeling, respectively.This work is funded by the Andalusian Government projects (RNM1897) and the MINECO project FIS2016-77692-C2-2P. It also supported by the Egyptian Cultural Affairs and Missions Sector (Plan 2013-2014), Ministry of Higher Education

Taras y desventuras de la figura del viejo entremesil de Quevedo

This paper will analyze the figure of the old man —a character amply rooted in literature and folklore— in Francisco de Quevedo’s interludes. Contrary to the perception of old age as a time of experience and wisdom, proper to other Quevedo’s works, in these texts the passing of time is primarily a reason for mockery. The presence of the old man amounts to that of a caricatured nincompoop. Compared to his female counterpart, however, the satire of the old man is toned down. We can even gather an authorial intention to show sympathy towards this impaired character, whose misfortunes are often, in fact, caused by a woman. The old man can be traced back to similar counterparts from interludes by Lope de Rueda and Cervantes. Although Quevedo does not add new or particular attributes to the character, he does present a peculiar and parodic roster of old codgers afflicted by myriad faults and frailties, and taunted not only by their own kin but also by society at large.Tomando como referencia el corpus de los entremeses de Francisco de Quevedo, se pretende mostrar el perfil de la figura del viejo, de amplias raíces folklóricas y literarias. Frente a la visión de la vejez como etapa vital de reflexión, experiencia y sabiduría, propia de otras obras quevedianas, en estos textos el paso del tiempo es en esencia un motivo de solfa, y la presencia del anciano equivale a la de un pelele caricaturizado. Sin embargo, en contraste con su homóloga femenina, la sátira es menor cuantitativa y cualitativamente e incluso puede adivinarse la intención de provocar cierta compasión hacia su desventura física y moral, muchas veces provocada precisamente por una mujer. Las fuentes teatrales más próximas de la figura son los personajes de ciertos entremeses de Lope de Rueda y de Cervantes; aunque Quevedo no añade al personaje ningún rasgo nuevo ni particular, sí consigue un peculiar y paródico desfile de vejetes que arrastran sus defectos físicos y morales en medio de la chanza de sus familiares y deudos y por ende de toda la sociedad

Application of a DNA analysis method for the cultivar identification of grape musts and experimental and commercial wines of Vitis vinifera L. using microsatellite markers

A DNA-based method has been applied to the identification of several musts and wines using microsatellite markers. DNA was extracted from the solid phases of sixteen monovarietal and five multivarietal musts (mixtures of two musts down to a 4:1 proportion) and they were genotyped at seven microsatellites through a multiplex PCR reaction and automated fluorescent detection. PCR multiplexing was successful in monovarietal musts, but should be used with caution with at least some markers and in multivarietal musts. The same extraction and detection methods were unsuccessfully applied to the solid and liquid phases of five monovarietal commercial wines, even after using different concentration procedures. Nucleic acids presence was then studied in a recent must, during the fermentation process, and during the subsequent steps of winemaking. Genotyping was possible in the resulting experimental wine until decanting, when the particles in suspension were removed. These results suggest that wine authentication through DNA analysis is not possible in commercial wines, in the tested conditions

Differential expression of CD300a/c on human TH1 and TH17 cells

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Human memory CD4⁺T cells can be either CD300a/c⁺or CD300a/c^-and subsequent analyses showed that CD4⁺effector memory T (T_EM) cells are mostly CD300a/c⁺, whereas CD4⁺central memory T (T_CM) cells have similar frequencies of CD300a/c⁺and CD300a/c^-cells.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Extensive phenotypical and functional characterization showed that in both T_CMand T_EMcells, the CD300a/c⁺subset contained a higher number of T_H1 (IFN-γ producing) cells. Alternatively, T_H17 (IL-17a producing) cells tend to be CD300a/c^-, especially in the T_EMsubset. Further characterization of the IL-17a⁺cells showed that cells that produce only this cytokine are mostly CD300a/c^-, while cells that produce IL-17a in combination with other cytokines, especially IFN-γ, are mostly CD300a/c⁺, indicating that the expression of this receptor is associated with cells that produce IFN-γ. Co-ligation of the TCR and CD300a/c in CD4⁺T cells inhibited Ca²⁺mobilization evoked by TCR ligation alone and modulated IFN-γ production on T_H1 polarized cells.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>We conclude that the CD300a/c receptors are differentially expressed on human T_H1 and T_H17 cells and that their ligation is capable of modulating TCR mediated signals.</p