Visible Wavelength Astro-Comb

We demonstrate a tunable laser frequency comb operating near 420 nm with mode spacing of 20-50 GHz, usable bandwidth of 15 nm and output power per line of ~20 nW. Using the TRES spectrograph at the Fred Lawrence Whipple Observatory, we characterize this system to an accuracy below 1m/s, suitable for calibrating high-resolution astrophysical spectrographs used, e.g., in exoplanet studies.AstronomyPhysic

Biogenic porous silica and silicon sourced from Mexican Giant Horsetail (Equisetum myriochaetum) and their application as supports for enzyme immobilization

Porous silica-based materials are attractive for biomedical applications due to their biocompatibility and biodegradable character. In addition, inorganic supports such as porous silicon are being developed due to integrated circuit chip compatibility and tunable properties leading to a wide range of multidisciplinary applications. In this contribution, biosilica extracted from a rarely studied plant material (Equisetum Myriochaetum), its conversion to silicon and the potential for both materials to be used as supports for enzyme immobilization are investigated. E. myriochaetum was subject to conventional acid digestion to extract biogenic silica with a % yield remarkably higher (up to 3 times) than for other Equisetum sp. (i.e. E. Arvense). The surface area of the isolated silica was ∼400 m2/g, suitable for biotechnological applications. Biogenic silicon was obtained by magnesiothermic reduction. The materials were characterized by SEM-EDX, XRD, FT-IR, ICP-OES, TGA and BET analysis and did not contain significant levels of class 1 heavy elements (such as Pb, Cd, Hg and As). Two commercial peroxidases, horseradish peroxidase (HRP) and Coprinus cinereus peroxidase (CiP) were immobilized onto the biogenic materials using three different functionalization routes: (A) carbodiimide, (B) amine + glutaraldehyde and (C) amine + carbodiimide. Although both biogenic silica and porous silicon could be used as supports differences in behaviour were observed for the two enzymes. For HRP, loading onto biogenic silica via the glutaraldehyde immobilization technique (route B) was most effective. The loading of CiP showed a much higher peroxidase activity onto porous silicon than silica functionalized by the carbodiimide method (route A). From the properties of the extracted materials obtained from Equisetum Myriochaetum and the immobilization results observed, these materials appear to be promising for industrial and biomedical applications

Belize: A Review of Public Expenditures.

This study undertakes a broad-based evaluation of public expenditures in Belize in order to identify ways of enhancing economic and social gains from public services. It reviews the budgeting and financial management systems used to translate public finances into public services, with a focus on social services that meet the needs and demands of the people of Belize. The study will show that although budget system and budget performance issues themselves yield a large menu of potential budget reforms, recent adverse macroeconomic developments in Belize arising out of persistent government deficits and debt build up currently dominate the government¿s financial and budgeting options and affect the choices that can be made in reforming the budget system. Some immediate problems facing the Belize economy are outlined

THE UNEMPLOYMENT EXPERIENCE OF INDIVIDUALS

In this study we examine the unemployment experience of workers who became unemployed during the period 1972 through 1979 in the 19 regions across the country, a group that represents about 58 per cent of the Canadian labour force. The employment/unemployment experience of workers over this eight-year period was derived from a data base constructed from the one-in ten sample of the administrative records kept by the Department of Employment and Immigration concerning Unemployment Insurance (UI) claims, Records of Employment and certain income tax records of individuals in Canada. Direct estimates were made of variables such as number of unemployment spells, the duration of these spells, the proportion of these spells covered by UI benefits and the unemployment rate experienced by individuals over the study period. We were then able to compare the structure and relative hardship of unemployment in a region, as indicated by the results, with the view gained by comparing the overall unemployment rates of various regions.unemployment experience, regional unemployment, labor markets, Canada

AN OVERVIEW OF ISSUES RELATED TO EMPLOYMENT POLICY IN CANADA

While employment policy in Canada has on specific occasions undertaken varied tasks, three principal objectives have consistently been part of the Canadian Government’s policy over the past three decades. First, there has been a commitment to maintaining a low rate of unemployment. Second, there has been a desire to attain a high degree of interpersonal income equity. Third, the preservation of the historical pattern of population across regions within Canada has been an implicit or explicit goal. This paper explores the implications of these policies for the performance of the Canadian labour market.employment policy, objectives implications, Canada

DO THOSE UNEMPLOYED LONGER WORK LONGER?

The analysis of the relationship of the average durations of employment and unemployment spells across labor force participants over an extended period is used to study the long-run structure of unemployment. Based on this relationship, how the unemployment rates of individuals vary with their average durations of unemployment and employment and with their frequencies of unemployment spells can be found. These relationships are derived graphically and algebraically, and are estimated, controlling for differences in age, sex, labor market experience and degree of seasonality of employment, for a sample of workers experiencing frequent unemployment spells over an extended period in labor force. The sample is drawn from a data base giving the week-by-week labor market experience over an eight-year period (1972-79) for Canadian workers claiming unemployment insurance. With the exception of young inexperienced workers, a positive relationship was found between the average durations of employment and unemployment experienced by these individuals: those who are unemployed longer also tend to work longer. As a result, those with shorter average durations of unemployment tend to have the higher frequencies of unemployment spells and the lower individual unemployment rates. Hence, the counter intuitive relationship arises that those workers with higher turnover rates have the lower individual unemployment rates among this group of frequently unemployed individuals. It is suggested that this observed pattern of employment and unemployment is consistent with many of these workers making voluntary ( if not precise) choices about the proportion of time they want to be employed and unemployed over the longer run given the labor market incentives they face, particularly those provided by the unemployment insurance system.unemployment, insurance incentives, Canada

PATTERNS OF DURATION OF EMPLOYMENT AND UNEMPLOYMENT

This study examines the durations of unemployment and employment for those in Canada who experience some unemployment between 1972 and 1979. This analysis was carried out using the UIC-ROE data base developed from the administrative records of the Unemployment Insurance Commission. This data base covers a time period sufficiently long to allow this analysis to be made with observed rather than estimated durations of employment/unemployment spells for the first time in Canada.employment, unemployment, Canada

LABOUR ADJUSTMENT - AN OVERVIEW OF PROBLEMS AND POLICIES

This paper provides an overview of labour adjustments situations in Canada, the incentives to adjust from the perspective of the workers and the costs and benefits to the economy of different labour adjustment problems and policies. Conceptual models and estimation procedures for arriving at the costs and benefits of various adjustment programs are discussed. Where possible actual estimates are presented or referenced to give the dimensions of adjustment problems and potential gains from adjustment policies.labor adjustment, labor policies, Canada