Five characteristics of youth unemployment in Europe

Current levels of youth unemployment need to be understood in the context of increased labor market flexibility, an expansion of higher education, youth migration, and family legacies of long-term unemployment. Compared with previous recessions, European-wide policies and investments have significantly increased with attempts to support national policies. By mapping these developments and debates, we illustrate the different factors shaping the future of European labor markets. We argue that understanding youth unemployment requires a holistic approach that combines an analysis of changes in the economic sphere around labor market flexibility, skills attainment, and employer demand, as well as understanding the impact of family legacies affecting increasingly polarized trajectories for young people today. The success of EU policy initiatives and investments will be shaped by the ability of national actors to implement these effectively

Compressibility of lipid mixtures studied by calorimetry and ultrasonic velocity measurements

Ultrasonic velocity and heat capacity temperature profiles of various lipid mixtures have been recorded with high accuracy. This included mixtures of phophatidylcholines with different chain length as well as phosphatidylcholine mixtures with diacyl glycerides. Following previous studies relating the heat capacity to the isothermal compressibility of lipids close to the chain melting transition, we found that the measured ultrasonic velocities are very similar to those calculated from the heat capacity. This implies that we are able to determine the compressibility changes from the excess heat capacity and the heat capacity changes from ultrasonic velocity measurements. The sound velocity and heat capacity traces are discussed with respect to the phase diagrams of the lipid mixtures

Compressibility of lipid mixtures studied by calorimetry and ultrasonic velocity measurements

Ultrasonic velocity and heat capacity temperature profiles of various lipid mixtures have been recorded with high accuracy. This included mixtures of phophatidylcholines with different chain length as well as phosphatidylcholine mixtures with diacyl glycerides. Following previous studies relating the heat capacity to the isothermal compressibility of lipids close to the chain melting transition, we found that the measured ultrasonic velocities are very similar to those calculated from the heat capacity. This implies that we are able to determine the compressibility changes from the excess heat capacity and the heat capacity changes from ultrasonic velocity measurements. The sound velocity and heat capacity traces are discussed with respect to the phase diagrams of the lipid mixtures

Effect of a nutrient-enriched drink on dietary intake and nutritional status in institutionalised elderly

Objective: (1) To determine whether nutritional supplementation (energy and micronutrients) in institutionalised elderly has a positive effect on dietary intake and nutritional status. (2) To investigate whether individuals tend to compensate for the energy content of the intervention product by decreasing their habitual food consumption. Methods: A 24-week, randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, intervention trial in homes for the elderly (n=3), in nursing homes (n=3) and 'mixed' homes (n=3) in The Netherlands. Institutionalised elderly people (n=176) older than 60 years of age, with a body mass index 30 kg/m2 and a Mini-Mental State Examination score of 10 points or higher, randomly received a nutrient-enriched drink or a placebo drink twice a day during 24 weeks in addition to their usual diet. Allocation to treatment took into account of sex, the Mini-Mental State Examination score and the plasma homocysteine level. Body weight and several nutrition-related analyses in fasting blood samples were measured in all participants. Data on dietary intake were collected in a subsample (n=66). Results: A significantly favourable effect (