Wage growth and job mobility in the United Kingdom and Germany

Using data from the British Household Panel Survey for 1991-99 and the German Socio-Economic Panel for 1984-99, the authors investigate job mobility and estimate the returns to tenure and experience. Job mobility was higher in the United Kingdom than in Germany. Returns to experience also seem to have been substantially higher in the United Kingdom, where the wage gain associated with ten years of labor market experience was around 80%, compared to 35% in Germany. The low returns to labor market experience in Germany appear to have been accountable to one group of workers: those with apprenticeship training, who tended to receive fairly high starting wages but to experience relatively low wage growth thereafter. Wage growth due to labor market experience was similar between the two countries for the other skill groups. Returns to tenure were close to zero in both countries

The impact of minimum wages on youth employment in Portugal

From January 1, 1987, the legal minimum wage for workers aged 18 and 19 in Portugal was uprated to the full adult rate, generating a 49.3% increase between 1986 and 1987 in the legal minimum wage for this age group. This shock is used as a ?natural experiment? to evaluate the impact of the minimum wage change on teenagers? employment by using a large firm level micro-data set. It is shown that by comparing the employment growth of 18-19 year old workers with their 20-25 year old counterparts one can identify the employment effects of the minimum wage hike. The same comparisons are done with 30-35 year old workers. This study finds that the rise in the minimum wage significantly reduced employment. This conclusion is reinforced by evidence showing that these employment effects are concentrated in firms more likely to be affected by the change in the law

Improved production of lutein and β-carotene by thermal and light intensity upshifts in the marine microalga Tetraselmis sp. CTP4

The industrial microalga Tetraselmis sp. CTP4 is a promising candidate for aquaculture feed, novel food, cosmeceutical and nutraceutical due to its balanced biochemical profile. To further upgrade its biomass value, carotenogenesis was investigated by testing four environmental factors, namely temperature, light intensity, salinity and nutrient availability over different growth stages. The most important factor for carotenoid induction in this species is a sufficient supply of nitrates leading to an exponential growth of the cells. Furthermore, high temperatures of over 30 degrees C compared to lower temperatures (10 and 20 degrees C) induced the accumulation of carotenoids in this species. Remarkably, the two different branches of carotenoid synthesis were regulated depending on different light intensities. Contents of beta-carotene were 3-fold higher under low light intensities (33 mu mol m(-2) s(-1)) while lutein contents increased 1.5-fold under higher light intensities (170 and 280 mu mol m(-2) s(-1)). Nevertheless, highest contents of carotenoids (8.48 +/- 0.47 mg g(-1) DW) were found upon a thermal upshift from 20 degrees C to 35 degrees C after only two days at a light intensity of 170 mu mol m(-2) s(-1). Under these conditions, high contents of both lutein and beta-carotene were reached accounting for 3.17 +/- 0.18 and 3.21 +/- 0.18 mg g(-1) DW, respectively. This study indicates that Tetraselmis sp. CTP4 could be a sustainable source of lutein and beta-carotene at locations where a robust, euryhaline, thermotolerant microalgal strain is required.Funding Agency Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology UID/Multi/04326/2019 SFRH/BD/115325/2016 SFRH/BD/140143/2018 SFRH/BD/105541/2014 0055 ALGARED+ 05 INTERREG V-A -Espana Portugal project national Portuguese funding PPBI-POCI-01-0145-FEDER-22122 Nord Universityinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Fermentation profile and microbial population in soybean silages with inoculant and powdered molasses

Fermentation profile and microbial population were assessed in soybean silages without any additive (control), with inoculant (I), with I + powdered molasses (I+M), and with powdered molasses only (M). Soybean plants were harvested at the R6 stage and ensiled in 2kg-capacity laboratory silos. The additives were added to the natural matter base of silages. The assessed fermentation periods were 1, 3, 7, 14, 28, and 56 days. A 4×6 factorial arrangement (4 additives × 6 fermentation periods) in a completely randomized design with 3 replicates was used. Lactic, acetic, and butyric acids concentrations were influenced by additives and periods (P< 0.05). It was observed higher lactic acid values to control silages, on the 56 th day. Lower average values of acetic and butyric acids were observed to I+M and M silages. It was observed quadratic effect to pH values with a reduction estimated of 0.5504, 0.5358, 0.6312 and 0.6680 units to pH values to control, I, I+M, and M silages in the first 10 days. A maximum lactic acid bacteria population was observed at the 28 th day of fermentation in silages with inoculant. The inoculant and powdered molasses improve the fermentation profile of soybean silages

Flashing LEDs for microalgal production

Flashing lights are next-generation tools to mitigate light attenuation and increase the photosynthetic efficiency of microalgal cultivation systems illuminated by light-emitting diodes (LEDs). Optimal flashing light conditions depend on the reaction kinetics and properties of the linear electron transfer chain, energy dissipation, and storage mechanisms of a phototroph. In particular, extremely short and intense light flashes potentially mitigate light attenuation in photobioreactors without impairing photosynthesis. Intelligently controlling flashing light units and selecting electronic components can maximize light emission and energy efficiency. We discuss the biological, physical, and technical properties of flashing lights for algal production. We combine recent findings about photosynthetic pathways, self-shading in photobioreactors, and developments in solid-state technology towards the biotechnological application of LEDs to microalgal production.Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT, Portugal) [CCMAR/Multi/04326/2013]Nord UniversityNordland County Government (project Bioteknologi en framtidsrettet naering)INTERREG V-A Espana-Portugal project [0055 ALGARED + 5E]Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology [SFRH/BD/105541/2014, SFRH/BD/115325/2016]info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Genetic Factors that Determine the Meat Fatty Acids Composition

In relation the nutritional attributes of beef meat quality, the composition of fatty acid is important not only because it affects the meat palatability, but also it can affect the human health. The fatty acids harmful to human health have received attenuating attention in recent years. Some studies, with taurine breed, have shown that there is a genetic variation for the trait fatty acid profile of the meat and, therefore, the possibility of genetic improvement of this trait in beef cattle. Meantime, in zebu cattle, the genetic parameter estimates for fatty acid profile are scarce. Furthermore, the trait meat fatty acid profile is something difficult and costly to measure and for this kind of trait is indicated the use of genomic selection, which is a type of marker-assisted selection. The objective of this chapter is showing the genetic variability of meat fatty acid profile different cattle breeds and makes an approach of the implement models and methods that use genomic information to improve the fatty acid composition of beef meat

Potential for macro and micronutrients extraction from tomato plants with different soil water stresses

Different tomato cultivars may present differentiated water needs, making it indispensable to study water demand. Thus, the objective of this work was to evaluate the influence of six water stresses in the soil on the extraction potential of macro and micronutrients in the aerial part of tomato in vegetative stage, cultivar ‘Dominador’ F1, under protected cultivation and drip. The experiment was installed in a greenhouse with a randomized block design with four replications. The treatments consisted of six soil water stresses as indicative of the time of irrigation. The preset stresses were 20, 45, 70, 95, 120 and 145 kPa at 20 cm depth. At 140 days after transplanting, the variables evaluated were: the macro and micronutrient content of shoots. The results showed that to obtain higher levels of macro (P and S) and micronutrients (B and Cu) of the total aerial part of the ‘Dominador’ tomato plant F1, it was obtained at a voltage of 20 kPa, and its value was reduced linearly with the increase of the water tension in the soil

Two-stage lipid induction in the microalga tetraselmis striata CTP4 upon exposure to different abiotic stresses

Tetraselmis striata CTP4 is a euryhaline, robust, fast-growing microalga suitable for wastewater treatment and industrial production. Lipid production was induced through a two-stage cultivation strategy: a 1st stage under standard growth-promoting conditions (100 mu mol photons m- 2 s- 1, salinity 36 ppt and 20 degrees C) to achieve high biomass concentration and a 2nd stage of 6 days for lipid induction by the application of abiotic stresses such as nutrient depletion, high light intensity (200 and 400 mu mol photons m- 2 s- 1), high salinity (75 and 100 ppt), and extreme temperatures (5 and 35 degrees C). Although nutrient depletion always resulted in a decrease in biomass productivity, it had also the highest impact on lipid induction. The highest lipid content (43.2%) and lipid productivity (29.2 mg L-1 d-1) were obtained using a combination of nutrient depletion and high light intensity (400 mu mol m- 2 s- 1). The fatty acid profile was mainly composed of C16:0 (palmitic), C18:1 (oleic) and C18:2 (linoleic) acids. The low content of unsaturated fatty acids and absence of C18:3 (linolenic) acid render the oil of this microalga suitable for biodiesel production, a renewable source of energy.LA/P/0101/2020info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Trends and strategies to enhance triacylglycerols and high-value compounds in microalgae

Microalgae are important sources of triacylglycerols (TAGs) and high-value compounds such as carotenoids and long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LC-PUFAs). TAGs are feedstocks for biofuels or edible oils; carotenoids are used as pigments in the food and feed industries; and LC-PUFAs are beneficial for human health, being also key to the correct development of fish in aquaculture. Current trends in microalgal biotechnology propose the combined production of biofuels with high-value compounds to turn large-scale production of microalgal biomass into an economically feasible venture. As TAGs, carotenoids and LC-PUFAs are lipophilic biomolecules, they not only share biosynthetic precursors and storage sinks, but also their regulation often depends on common environmental stimuli. In general, stressful conditions favor carotenoid and TAGs biosynthesis, whereas the highest accumulation of LC-PUFAs is usually obtained under conditions promoting growth. However, there are known exceptions to these general rules, as a few species are able to accumulate LC-PUFAs under low light, low temperature or long-term stress conditions. Thus, future research on how microalgae sense, transduce and respond to environmental stress will be crucial to understand how the biosynthesis and storage of these lipophilic molecules are regulated. The use of high-throughput methods (e.g. fluorescent activated cell sorting) will provide an excellent opportunity to isolate triple-producers, i.e. microalgae able to accumulate high levels of LC-PUFAs, carotenoids and TAGs simultaneously. Comparative transcriptomics between wild type and tripleproducers could then be used to identify key gene products involved in the regulation of these biomolecules even in microalgal species not amenable to reverse genetics. This combined approach could be a major step towards a better understanding of the microalgal metabolism under different stress conditions. Moreover, the generation of triple-producers would be essential to raise the biomass value in a biorefinery setting and contribute to meet the world's rising demand for food, feed and energy.Foundation for Science and Technology (Portugal) through research programme [CCMAR/Multi/04326/2013]doctoral research grants [SFRH/BD/105541/2014, SFRH/BD/115325/2016]Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness [AGL2016-74866-C3-02]CEIMARNord University and Nordland County Government project Bioteknologi-en framtidsrettet noeringinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Incidência do míldio em cebola sob adubação mineral e orgânica.

Analisou-se a relação entre adubação mineral e orgânica sobre a incidência de míldio (Peronospora destructor) em cebola (Allium cepa). O trabalho constituiu-se de dois experimentos localizados em Ituporanga, conduzidos entre agosto e dezembro de 1998. O experimento 1, com fontes orgânicas, constou dos tratamentos: esterco de suínos, esterco de aves, composto, esterco de peru e húmus, na dosagem de 75 kg/ha de N; esterco de suínos, na dosagem de 37,5 kg/ha de N; adubação mineral, 30-120-60 kg/ha de N-P2O5-K2O; 60-240-120 kg/ha de N-P2O5-K2O e testemunha sem adubação. O experimento 2 constou dos tratamentos: fontes minerais, 30-120-60 kg/ha de N-P2O5-K2O; 90-360-180 kg/ha de N-P2O5-K2O; 75 kg/ha de N; 225 kg/ha de N; 80 kg/ha de P2O5; 240 kg/ha de P2O5; 60 kg/ha de K2O; 180 kg/ha de K2O; esterco de suínos + fosfato natural, em três combinações, 7,9+0,1, 15,7+0,2 e 47,2+0,6 t/ha, respectivamente; testemunha sem adubação. Não houve diferença entre as fontes mineral e orgânica sobre a incidência de míldio. A relação entre nutrientes e doença foi variável entre datas de amostragem e distinta para fontes minerais e orgânicas