Using Firm-Level Data to Assess Gender Wage Discrimination in the Belgian Labour Market

In this paper we explore a matched employer-employee data set to investigate the presence of gender wage discrimination in the Belgian private economy labour market. We identify and measure gender wage discrimination from firm-level data using a labour index decomposition pioneered by Hellerstein and Neumark (1995), which allows us to compare direct estimates of a gender productivity differential with those of a gender labour costs differential. We take advantage of the panel structure of the data set and identify gender wage discrimination from within-firm variation. Moreover, inspired by recent developments in the production function estimation literature, we address the problem of endogeneity in input choice using a structural production function estimator (Levinsohn and Petrin, 2003). Our results suggest that there is no gender wage discrimination inside private firms located in Belgium.labour productivity; wages; gender discrimination; structural production function estimation; panel data

Curved Graphene Nanoribbons: Structure and Dynamics of Carbon Nanobelts

Carbon nanoribbons (CNRs) are graphene (planar) structures with large aspect ratio. Carbon nanobelts (CNBs) are small graphene nanoribbons rolled up into spiral-like structures, i. e., carbon nanoscrolls (CNSs) with large aspect ratio. In this work we investigated the energetics and dynamical aspects of CNBs formed from rolling up CNRs. We have carried out molecular dynamics simulations using reactive empirical bond-order potentials. Our results show that similarly to CNSs, CNBs formation is dominated by two major energy contribution, the increase in the elastic energy due to the bending of the initial planar configuration (decreasing structural stability) and the energetic gain due to van der Waals interactions of the overlapping surface of the rolled layers (increasing structural stability). Beyond a critical diameter value these scrolled structures can be even more stable (in terms of energy) than their equivalent planar configurations. In contrast to CNSs that require energy assisted processes (sonication, chemical reactions, etc.) to be formed, CNBs can be spontaneously formed from low temperature driven processes. Long CNBs (length of $\sim$ 30.0 nm) tend to exhibit self-folded racket-like conformations with formation dynamics very similar to the one observed for long carbon nanotubes. Shorter CNBs will be more likely to form perfect scrolled structures. Possible synthetic routes to fabricate CNBs from graphene membranes are also addressed

Emoções e promoção da saúde

Ser capaz de gerir os próprios afectos bem como as relações inter-sociais ao longo do tempo, são a proposta do estudo que a seguir se apresenta. Parte-se do pressuposto que uma das formas mais profundas de assegurar a Promoção da Saúde intra e interpessoal, é aprender a tornar-se emocionalmente competente (Veiga Branco, 2004; 2007). Ser emocionalmente competente é ser capaz de encontrar soluções, a partir de recursos internos que emergem das emoções, e substancialmente da gestão das emoções e da automotivação que os sujeitos podem encontrar. Este conjunto de destrezas parece potencializar a percepção de uma vida psicoafectiva à qual parecem estar ligados o êxito social, individual, sucesso profissional e felicidade conjugal (Goleman, 1995; 2000). A Promoção e Educação para a Saúde insere o bem-estar da pessoa como um todo, o que envolve: o homem é razão, mas também emoção. Métodos Estudo exploratório, quantitativo e transversal. Utiliza o instrumento desenvolvido para estudos anteriores “Escala Veiga de Competência Emocional” (EVCE), (Veiga Branco, 2004, a),b) e 2007), cujas respostas – submetidas à Análise de Componentes Principais e analisadas por Alpha de Cronbach – foram tratadas através do programa SPSS 13.0. A amostra do estudo é constituída por 183 sujeitos, com idades compreendidas entre os 18 e77 anos, residentes em Bragança. Destes, 58 eram do sexo masculino e 125 do sexo feminino. Objectivos: Conhecer e analisar o perfil de Competência Emocional de uma amostra da população de Bragança; Identificar as diferenças entre os estudos apresentados no construto e os dados recolhidos no trabalho empírico.Resultados Qual é o Perfil de Competência Emocional encontrado? Verifica-se que os estudantes Pouco Frequentemente vivem a Auto-consciência de Fenómenos Emocionais. Também fazem a Gestão de Emoções com Pouca Frequência tal como a Auto motivação. Mas têm a percepção que Por Norma, vivem a Empatia e a Gestão de Emoções em Grupo. Todavia é preocupante que ocorram frequentemente Alterações relacionadas e racionais (x 3,80+ dp1.6); e que Por norma, 25% dos estudantes vivam uma Percepção negativa de si: ruminação e absorção emocional (x 3.17+ dp 1,53); e sobretudo que 20% dos estudantes adopte por norma as Estratégias: isolamento, intrusão, explosão e percepção de perigos (x 3,27+ dp 1,60); e ainda que 20% se sintam Iliteratos e manipulados por pensamentos negativos (x 3,07+ dp 1,50). Estes resultados apontam para alguma necessidade de intervenção em Educação Emocional

A Complex Case of Cholestasis in a Patient with ABCB4 and ABCB11 Mutations

The low-phospholipid-associated cholelithiasis (LPAC) syndrome is a form of symptomatic cholelithiasis occurring in young adults, characterized by recurrence of symptoms after cholecystectomy and presence of hepatolithiasis. The case refers to a healthy 39-year-old Caucasian male who presented with abdominal pain and jaundice. His blood tests showed conjugated hyperbilirubinemia and elevated liver enzymes (total bilirubin 6.65 mg/dL, γ-glutamyltransferase 699 IU/L) and abdominal computed tomography revealed dilation of common bile duct and left intrahepatic ducts. Magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography identified choledocholithiasis, retrieved by endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography, after which there was a worsening of jaundice (total bilirubin 23 mg/dL), which persisted for several weeks, possibly due to ciprofloxacin toxicity. After an extensive workup including liver biopsy, the identification of two foci of hepatolithiasis on reevaluation abdominal ultrasound raised the hypothesis of LPAC syndrome and the patient was started on ursodeoxycholic acid, with remarkable improvement. Genetic testing identified the mutation c.1954A>G (p.Arg652Gly) in ABCB4 gene (homozygous) and c.1331T>C (p.Val444Ala) in ABCB11 gene (heterozygous). In conclusion, we describe the unique case of an adult male with choledocholithiasis, hepatolithiasis, and persistent conjugated hyperbilirubinemia after retrieval of stones, fulfilling the criteria for LPAC syndrome and with possible superimposed drug-induced liver injury, in whom ABCB4 and ABCB11 mutations were found, both of which had not been previously described in association with LPAC.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

HST's view of the youngest massive stars in the Magellanic Clouds

Accurate physical parameters of newborn massive stars are essential ingredients to shed light on their formation, which is still an unsolved problem. The rare class of compact H II regions in the Magellanic Clouds (MCs), termed ``high-excitation blobs'' (HEBs), presents a unique opportunity to acquire this information. These objects (~ 4" to 10", ~ 1 to 3 pc, in diameter) harbor the youngest massive stars of the OB association/molecular cloud complexes in the MCs accessible through high-resolution near-IR and optical techniques. We present a brief overview of the results obtained with HST mainly on two HEBs, one in the LMC (N159-5) and the other in the SMC (N81).Comment: 5 pages, to appear in the Proceedings of the 41st ESLAB Symposium "The Impact of HST on European Astronomy", 29 May to 1 June 2007, ESTEC, Noordwijk, Netherlands; eds. Guido De Marchi and Duccio Macchett