Evaluating Job Search Programs for Old and Young Individuals: Heterogeneous Impact on Unemployment Duration

This paper exploits an area-based pilot experiment to identify average treatment effects on unemployment duration of treated individuals of two active labor market programs implemented in Portugal. We focus on the short-term heterogeneous impact on two subpopulations of unemployed individuals: young (targeted by the Inserjovem program) and old (targeted by the Reage program). We show that the latter program has a small and positive impact (reduction) on unemployment duration of workers finding a job upon participation, whereas the impact of Inserjovem is generally negative (extended durations). These results are robust to a wide variety of constructions of quasi-experimental settings and estimators. The identification of heterogeneous effects showed that the program results were less satisfactory for young workers, for those over 40 and for the less educated. Women also benefited less from the programs. The results seem to improve slightly for young workers in the 2nd semester of implementation, but they deteriorate in the medium term. The lack of wage subsidies in the Portuguese programs may explain the minor impacts obtained, when compared to similar programs

Shock formation in electron-ion plasmas: mechanism and timing

We analyse the full shock formation process in electron-ion plasmas in theory and simulations. It is accepted that electromagnetic shocks in initially unmagnetised relativistic plasmas are triggered by the filamentation instability. However, the transition from the first unstable phase to the quasi-steady shock is still missing. We derive a theoretical model for the shock formation time, taking into account the filament merging in the non-linear phase of the filamentation instability. This process is much slower than in electron-positron pair shocks, so that the shock formation is longer by a factor proportional to sqrt(m_i/m_e) ln(m_i/m_e)

Ground-state configuration of neutron-rich ³⁵Al via Coulomb breakup

The ground-state configuration of ³⁵Al has been studied via Coulomb dissociation (CD) using the LAND-FRS setup (GSI, Darmstadt) at a relativistic energy of ~ 403 MeV/nucleon. The measured inclusive differential CD cross section for ³⁵Al, integrated up to 5.0 MeV relative energy between the ³³Al core and the neutron using a Pb target, is 78(13) mb. The exclusive measured CD cross section that populates various excited states of ³³Al is 29(7) mb. The differential CD cross section of ³⁵Al -> ³⁴Al + n has been interpreted in the light of a direct breakup model, and it suggests that the possible ground-state spin and parity of ³⁵Al could be, tentatively, 1/2⁺ or 3/2⁺ or 5/2⁺. The valence neutrons, in the ground state of ³⁵Al, may occupy a combination of either l = 3,0 or l = 1,2 orbitals coupled with the ³⁴Al core in the ground and isomeric state(s), respectively. This hints of a particle-hole configuration of the neutron across the magic shell gaps at N = 20,28 which suggests narrowing the magic shell gap. If the 5/2⁺ is the ground-state spin-parity of ³⁵Al as suggested in the literature, then the major ground-state configuration of ³⁵Al is a combination of ³⁴Al (g. s.; 4⁻) circle times ν_(p_(3/2)) and ³⁴Al (isomer; 1⁺) circle times ν _(d_(3/2)) states. The result from this experiment has been compared with that from a previous knockout measurement and a calculation using the SDPF-M interaction

On their way to the North: larval performance of Hemigrapsus sanguineus invasive to the European coast. A comparison with the native European population of Carcinus maenas

The Asian shore crab Hemigrapsus sanguineus has become invasive in North Europe and it co-occurs and competes with the native European shore crab Carcinus maenas. Both species develop through a feeding and dispersive larval phase characterised by several zoeal and a settling megalopa stage. Larvae of marine crabs are vulnerable to food limitation and warming has the potential to exacerbate the negative effects of food limitation on survival and growth. We quantified the combined effects of temperature and food limitation on larval performance (survival and growth) of H. sanguineus and we compared our results with those reported on performance of C. maenas larvae, under the same experimental design and methodology. Larvae from four females of H. sanguineus collected on Helgoland (North Sea) were experimentally reared from hatching to megalopa, at four temperatures (range 15–24 °C) and two food conditions (permanent vs. daily limited access to food). Larval survival of H. sanguineus was low at 15 °C and increased with temperature, in contrast to the high survival reported for C. maenas larvae in the range 15–24 °C. Food limitation reduced survival and body mass of H. sanguineus larvae at all temperatures, but without evidence of the exacerbating effect caused by high temperatures and reported for C. maenas. By contrast, high temperature (24 °C) mitigated the negative effect of food limitation on body mass on H. sanguineus larvae. Advantages of H. sanguineus over C. maenas appear especially under the increased temperatures expected from climate change

A large set of microsatellites for the highly invasive earthworm Amynthas corticis predicted from low coverage genomes

Invasive species can significantly affect local biodiversity and create important challenges for conservation. They usually present an outstanding plasticity that permits the adaptation to the new environments. Understanding their genetic background is fundamental to better comprehend invasion dynamics and elaborate proper management plans as well to infer population and evolutionary patterns. Here, we present a reasonable set of tools for the study of a highly invasive earthworm, the megascolecid Amynthas corticis. We designed in silico a large set of primers targeting microsatellite regions (ca. 9400) from two low coverage genomes presented here. This study provides 154 high quality primer pairs targeting polymorphic repeats conserved in two Amynthas corticis mitochondrial lineages. From this dataset, a set of primer pairs (15) was validated by polymerase chain reaction with 86% consistent amplification, confirming the accuracy of the in silico prediction. Nine of the primer pairs tested were selected for population genetics and presented polymorphism in the studied populations, thus showing promising potential for future studies of this global invasive species. The nuclear markers used in this study appear to recapitulate and complement the mitochondrial relationships found in a previous study. Interestingly, all genotyped individuals showed at least one triploid locus profile among the tested loci, which may be evidence of polyploidy associated to their life history, in particular to asexual reproduction by parthenogenesis

Combined proteomic and transcriptomic analysis identifies differentially expressed pathway associated to pinus radiata needle maturation. (Comunicación)

Comunicaciones a congreso

Combined proteomic and transcriptomic analysis identifies differentially expressed pathways associated to Pinus Radiata needle maduration. (Poster)

Comunicaciones a congreso

Aquaculture stakeholders role in fisheries co-management

[EN] Industrial aquaculture has become one of the main protagonists both on the coasts and in international policy aimed at regulating matters concerning the sea. This new role is reflected in the recently adopted Common Fisheries Policy of the European Union, where the need to promote the sector and the involvement with other local actors, specifically artisanal fishers, is highlighted. However, the official promotion of this activity could be overvaluing its benefits while, at the same time, undervaluing the new barriers that it is introducing in fisheries co-management. Centered in Valencian Community (Spain) and through a qualitative methodology, this paper examines the views and positions of stakeholders directly involved in aquaculture activity (biologists, aquaculture businessmen and policy managers) on the possibilities of joint participation. It is concluded, that eroding the detected mistrust among stakeholders through "hybrid forms of participation" would be a necessary prerequisite to setting up a common framework for involvement leading to an effective co-management.The authors would like to thank the Spanish Economy and Competitiveness Ministry for its support through the Research Project (CSO2013-41972-P).Martínez Novo, R.; Lizcano-Fernández, E.; Herrera Racionero, P.; Miret Pastor, LG. (2017). Aquaculture stakeholders role in fisheries co-management. Marine Policy. 76:130-135. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpol.2016.11.015S1301357