Labour productivity of young and adult temporary workers and youth unemployment: a cross-country analysis

The latest crisis has exacerbated two negative macroeconomic phenomena, particularly in Southern Europe. The size and persistence of youth unemployment has become unacceptable after 2010. Stagnation in labour productivity instead goes back to the ‘90s, but it has not improved since then and even worsen with the crisis. In this paper we analysed these two macroeconomic features, using aggregate data, in relation to labour market characteristics. Reforms of regulation, in many countries over the past twenty years, introduced a set of newly designed job contracts that allowed the use of temporary work. At the same time, Employment Protection Regulation encompassed temporary workers too. The availability of new contracts and EPLT changed the incentives of firms to vary their labour needs, and to invest in new technology. Eventually, this should have an impact on labour productivity and unemployment. We distinguished between temporary young and adult workers and, conditional to the level of employment protection, we estimate their labour productivity and the correlation with the rate of youth unemployment. We use macroeconomic data for countries within groups (former Euro zone countries, Euro-zone plus Russia, OECD, G7, G8). Preliminary evidence shows that the share of adult temporary workers clearly and negatively affects labour productivity, no matter the group of countries

Trabajo, migraciones y riesgo hídrico : Semejanzas y diferencias en los modos de pensar, sentir y actuar en contextos de pobreza urbana

La presente ponencia pretende adentrarse en el conocimiento de las trayectorias de vulnerabilidad que se despliegan en ámbitos de la vida cotidiana de sujetos que tienen restringido el acceso a sus derechos y limitadas sus posibilidades. A sabiendas que se trata de situaciones caracterizadas por su heterogeneidad y multidimensionalidad, intentaremos igualmente introducirnos, en los modos en que los sujetos piensan, sienten y actúan sus condiciones de vida, desde una mirada centrada en identificar rupturas y continuidades en los procesos de configuración territoriales. El presente estudio compara dos barrios de la ciudad de Santa Fe, indagando la situación de hogares con larga trayectoria de vida en la pobreza, los que han registrado un empeoramiento en sus condiciones de vida, vinculado a las consecuencias producidas por las políticas socioeconómicas de las últimas décadas. Es el resultado de dos proyectos de investigación y extensión de cátedra, (Año 2007, 2008, 2009). Siendo el primero de carácter sociodemográfico, nos habilitó un basamento cuantitativo, para luego diagramar una proyección de corte cualitativo, cuya riqueza es valorada en términos de percepciones, creencias y representaciones de los sujetos – objetos de la presente investigación. Las fuentes de datos utilizadas (encuestas, registro etnográfico, entrevistas e historias de vida), fueron interpretados desde el corpus teórico seleccionado por el equipo de investigación desde diferentes enfoques epistémicos.Facultad de Humanidades y Ciencias de la Educació

Gold-coated superparamagnetic nanoparticles for single methyl discrimination in DNA aptamers

Au- and iron-based magnetic nanoparticles (NPs) are promising NPs for biomedical applications due to their unique properties. The combination of a gold coating over a magnetic core puts together the benefits from adding the magnetic properties to the robust chemistry provided by the thiol functionalization of gold. Here, the use of Au-coated magnetic NPs for molecular detection of a single methylation in DNA aptamer is described. Binding of α-thrombin to two aptamers conjugated to these NPs causes aggregation, a phenomenon that can be observed by UV, DLS and MRI. These techniques discriminate a single methylation in one of the aptamers, preventing aggregation due to the inability of α-thrombin to recognize it. A parallel study with gold and ferromagnetic NPs is detailed, concluding that the Au coating of FexOy NP does not affect their performance and that they are suitable as complex biosensors. These results prove the high detection potency of Au-coated SPIONs for biomedical applications especially for DNA repair detection.The Communities MULTIFUN (contract NMP4-LA-2011-262943) and by “Ministerio Ciencia e Innovación” (grants CTQ-2010-20541-C03-03 and CTQ2014-52588-R) are acknowledged for financial support. Maria Tintoré was supported by a pre-doctoral fellowship (FPI) and a short stay grant (EEBB) from MINECO. Carme Fàbrega is grateful to Fundació La Marató de TV3 (20132032) for a research contract. We thank Dr. Susana Vilchez from the Surface Chemistry group at IQAC-CSIC for her help with the DLS experiments. Laura Polito thanks RSPPTECH—Convenzione Operativa inserita nella Raccolta Convenzioni e Contratti della Regione Lombardia (grant number 18095/RU) and the Italian Ministero dell’Università e della Ricerca (MIUR) (PRIN 2010–2011, contract number 2010JMAZML_003). We acknowledge support by the CSIC Open Access Publication Initiative through its Unit of Information Resources for Research (URICI)Peer reviewe

Definition of input data to assess GHG default emissions from biofuels in EU legislation

Directive EU 2018/2001 on the promotion of the use of energy from renewable sources has been officially ratified in December 2018 for the post-2020 framework. It is a new iteration of the Renewable Energy Directive RED, the so-called ‘recast’, work on which began in 2016. The Directive fixes a minimum requirement for greenhouse gas (GHG) savings for biofuels and bioliquids for the period from 2021 to 2030, and sets the rules for calculating the greenhouse impact of biofuels, bioliquids and their fossil fuels comparators. To help economic operators to declare the GHG emission savings of their products, default and typical values for a number of specific pathways are listed in the annexes of the RED-recast (Annex V). The EC Joint Research Center (JRC) is in charge of defining input values to be used for the calculation of default GHG emissions for biofuels, bioliquids, solid and gaseous biomass pathways. An update of the GHG emissions in Annex V has been carried out for the new Directive on the Promotion of the Use of Energy from Renewable Sources (Directive 2018/2001), for the post-2020 framework. This report describes the assumptions made by the JRC when compiling the new updated data set used to calculate default and typical GHG emissions for the different biofuels pathways as proposed in the new directive.JRC.C.2-Energy Efficiency and Renewable

LA FLORA E LA MESOFAUNA DI SATRIANUM

Il sito di Satrianum si dispone tra le due vallate del Melandro e del Noce, in connessione con un’articolata rete idrografica facente capo ai fiumi Agri e Basento . Tutta l’area che circonda l’altura, è caratterizzata da terreni che si dispiegano tra gli 800 e i 600 m. s.l.m., e presenta un habitat montano ideale per le colture cerealicole, per le distese boschive e per la pastorizia. Notizie del sito si attestano fin dall’età altomedievale (Agiografia di San Laviero, 1162). In età normanna la città aveva un dominus e la sede vescovile come testimoniano le fonti documentarie. L’impianto insediativo si presenta racchiuso da mura di cinta, con all’ interno, oltre alle strutture abitative, i due poli del potere politico e religioso: la torre, a pianta quadrata, ubicata in posizione decentrata rispetto all’insediamento, e la cattedrale. L’abbandono di Satrianum avvenne nel corso del XV secolo, probabilmente a seguito di un grave evento sismico ma continuò ad essere frequentato in maniera sporadica fino al XVIII secolo. Nell’ottica di comprendere e ricreare un ambiente passato è stata effettuata una ricognizione e l’identificazione della flora e della mesofauna esistente. Alla fine è stato realizzato un erbario e un insettario

Measurements on hydrophobic and hydrophilic surfaces using a porous gamma alumina nanoparticle aggregate mounted on Atomic Force Microscopy cantilevers

Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) measurements are extensively used for a detailed understanding ofmolecular and surface forces. In this study, we present a technique for measuring such forces, using an AFM cantilever attached with a porous gamma alumina nanoparticle aggregate. The modified cantilever was used to measure the forces of interaction of the aggregate with hydrophilic and hydrophobic surfaces. A strong force of attraction was observed between the aggregate and hydrophilic surfaces when the aggregate was kept dry. However, the force of interaction on the aggregate in wet form (water filled in pores) was larger when the adjoining surface had hydrophobic characteristics. The results presented in this study show the versatility of the current technique and indicate its usefulness in directly characterizing hydrophilic/ hydrophobic properties of nano-scale surfaces and patterns

Segmental Maternal UPD of Chromosome 7q in a Patient With Pendred and Silver Russell Syndromes-Like Features

Pendred syndrome (PS) is an autosomal recessive disorder due to mutations in the SLC26A4 gene (chr7q22. 3) and characterized by sensorineural hearing loss and variable thyroid phenotype. Silver-Russell syndrome (SRS) is a heterogeneous imprinting disorder including severe intrauterine and postnatal growth retardation, and dysmorphic features. Maternal uniparental disomy of either the whole chromosome 7 (upd(7)mat) or 7q (upd(7q)mat) is one of the multiple mechanisms impacting the expression of imprinted genes in SRS, and is associated with milder clinical features. Here, we report genetic and clinical characterization of a female child with PS, postnatal growth retardation, and minor dysmorphic features. A gross homozygous deletion of SLC26A4 exons 17-20 was suspected by Sanger sequencing and then confirmed by array-CGH. Moreover, an insertion of about 1 kb of the CCDC126 gene (7p15.3), which does not appear to be clinically relevant, was detected. The possible occurrence of a balanced rearrangement between 7p and 7q was excluded. The absence of the deletion in the father led to the investigation of upd, and microsatellite segregation analysis revealed a segmental 7q (upd(7q)mat), leading to SLC26A4 homozygosity and responsible for both PS and SRS-like traits. The proband matched 3 out of 6 major SRS criteria. In conclusion, this is the first report of uniparental isodisomy encompassing almost the whole long arm of chromosome 7 resulting in PS and SRS-like features. Whereas, the inner ear phenotype of PS is typical, the clinical features suggestive of SRS might have been overlooked

ARTEFACTS: How do we want to deal with the future of our one and only planet?

The European Commission’s Science and Knowledge Service, the Joint Research Centre (JRC), decided to try working hand-in-hand with leading European science centres and museums. Behind this decision was the idea that the JRC could better support EU Institutions in engaging with the European public. The fact that European Union policies are firmly based on scientific evidence is a strong message which the JRC is uniquely able to illustrate. Such a collaboration would not only provide a platform to explain the benefits of EU policies to our daily lives but also provide an opportunity for European citizens to engage by taking a more active part in the EU policy making process for the future. A PILOT PROGRAMME To test the idea, the JRC launched an experimental programme to work with science museums: a perfect partner for three compelling reasons. Firstly, they attract a large and growing number of visitors. Leading science museums in Europe have typically 500 000 visitors per year. Furthermore, they are based in large European cities and attract local visitors as well as tourists from across Europe and beyond. The second reason for working with museums is that they have mastered the art of how to communicate key elements of sophisticated arguments across to the public and making complex topics of public interest readily accessible. That is a high-value added skill and a crucial part of the valorisation of public-funded research, never to be underestimated. Finally museums are, at present, undergoing something of a renaissance. Museums today are vibrant environments offering new techniques and technologies to both inform and entertain, and attract visitors of all demographics.JRC.H.2-Knowledge Management Methodologies, Communities and Disseminatio