Some unpleasant arithmetics of regional unemployment in the EU. Are there any lessons for EMU?

Several studies have documented the weak response of regional wage differentials and labour mobility following region-specific (“idiosyncraticâ€) shocks in the average of the EU countries. This has been often taken as evidence of the rigidity of labour markets in European countries, as opposed to the flexibility of the USA. However, as such shocks by definition average to zero, one cannot make an explicit link between the (lack of) adjustment at regional level and aggregate unemployment. Moreover, the emphasis on the reaction to short-run idiosyncratic shocks is unlikely to explain the permanent differentials across regions, which characterise the regional distribution of unemployment in many EU countries. This paper tries to provide a better understanding of the regional distribution of unemployment and why region-specific shocks can matter for aggregate unemployment. It does so by explicitly considering the possibility of asymmetric reactions, so that unemployment rises more in poorer areas suffering an adverse shock than it declines in richer regions experiencing a favourable shock. The reason behind such asymmetries is the presence of a wage floor in the poorer regions resulting from policy centralisation, as for instance in the case of a national unemployment compensation system, which provides benefits that are uniform across regions. If such a mechanism is at work, aggregate unemployment tends to be “inflated†by region-specific shocks that are inequality- increasing. After presenting an illustrative model of the mechanism, the paper proposes a simple measure of the resulting “excess unemploymentâ€, based on the difference between the average (national) unemployment rate and the unemployment rate of the median region. It also examines the relationship between regional asymmetries in unemployment and the dispersion of productivity across regions, taken as proxy of the inequality-increasing shocks. The evidence, while not entirely conclusive, justifies two tentative policy conclusions, which are particularly relevant in the context of EMU: a) to avoid centralisation of labour market institutions at the EU level that may end up inflating aggregate unemployment; b) to effectively deploy regional policies to combat inequality- increasing shocks.regional policy, unemployment, disparities

Some Unpleasant Arithmetics of Regional Unemployment in the EU. Are there any lessons for EMU? European Commission Forward Studies Unit, 1999

Several studies have documented the weak response of regional wage differentials and labour mobility following region-specific ("idiosyncratic ") shocks in the average of the EU countries. This has been often taken as evidence of the rigidity of labour markets in European countries, as opposed to the flexibility of the USA. However, as such shocks by definition average to zero, one cannot make an explicit link between the (lack of) adjustment at regional level and aggregate unemployment. Moreover, the emphasis on the reaction to short-run idiosyncratic shocks is unlikely to explain the permanent differentials across regions, which characterise the regional distribution of unemployment in many EU countries. This paper tries to provide a better understanding of the regional distribution of unemployment and why region-specific shocks can matter for aggregate unemployment. It does so by explicitly considering the possibility of asymmetric reactions, so that unemployment rises more in poorer areas suffering an adverse shock than it declines in richer regions experiencing a favourable shock. The reason behind such asymmetries is the presence of a wage floor in the poorer regions resulting from policy centralisation, as for instance in the case of a national unemployment compensation system, which provides benefits that are uniform across regions. If such a mechanism is at work, aggregate unemployment tends to be "inflated" by region-specific shocks that are inequality-increasing. After presenting an illustrative model of the mechanism, the paper proposes a simple measure of the resulting "excess unemployment ", based on the difference between the average (national) unemployment rate and the unemployment rate of the median region. It also examines the relationship between regional asymmetries in unemployment and the dispersion of productivity across regions, taken as proxy of the inequality-increasing shocks. The evidence, while not entirely conclusive, justifies two tentative policy conclusions, which are particularly relevant in the context of EMU: a) to avoid centralisation of labour market institutions at the EU level that may end up inflating aggregate unemployment; b) to effectively deploy regional policies to combat inequality- increasing shocks

Analysis Of Low Temperature Impact Fracture Data Of Thermoplastic Polymers

Impact fracture toughness of polypropylene (PP) blends, high density polyethylene (HDPE) and rubber toughened polymethylmethacrylate (RTPMMA) has been studied by means of three-point bending falling weight impact testing at different temperatures ranging from -60 degrees C to room temperature using the cleavage fracture toughness, JC parameter [ASTM E1820-99a]. The latter Fracture Mechanics methodology was chosen due to its simplicity [Fasce et al., 2003]. Traces of the impact tests were analyzed using an inverse methodology just proposed by Pettarin et al. (2003). This methodology makes it possible to obtain from a three-point bending instrumented impact test the mechanical response of the material, discarding the dynamic effects associated with the test. The results show that the average JC values calculated with treated and untreated data are similar for a given material, while the standard deviations are larger when the calculations are made with the untreated data. It is clear that the inverse methodology used to correct the data reduces error propagation, giving place to more precise estimations, and therefore more reliable JC values

Synthesis and Mechanical Properties of Laminates Based on Phenolic Resins Modified with Sodium Lignosulfonate

The reduction of phenol and/or formaldehyde consumption during phenolic resin synthesis is of great technological and scientific interest because of its economic and environmental implications. In this work, the addition of sodium lignosulfonate as par-tial replacement of phenol in the phenolic resol base resins used for decorative laminates production is experimentally studied. The work involves: i) the characterization and reactivation of lignosulfonate, ii) the industrial synthesis of traditional and modified resoles by replacement of 10%w/w of phenol, iii) the industrial impregnation of Kraft-type papers with the produced resins, iv) the production of laminates at laboratory and industrial scale, and, v) the measurement of their final properties. Tensile, bending and impact strength were evaluated. Modified laminates exhibited mechanical properties statistically comparable with those of traditional laminates. Industrial tests were carried out at Centro S.A, San Francisco, Córdoba.Fil: Taverna, María Eugenia. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Santa Fe. Instituto de Desarrollo Tecnológico para la Industria Química. Universidad Nacional del Litoral. Instituto de Desarrollo Tecnológico para la Industria Química; ArgentinaFil: Orellao, R.. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Mar del Plata. Instituto de Investigaciones en Ciencia y Tecnología de Materiales. Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata. Facultad de Ingeniería. Instituto de Investigaciones en Ciencia y Tecnología de Materiales; ArgentinaFil: Moran, Juan Ignacio. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Mar del Plata. Instituto de Investigaciones en Ciencia y Tecnología de Materiales. Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata. Facultad de Ingeniería. Instituto de Investigaciones en Ciencia y Tecnología de Materiales; ArgentinaFil: Frontini, Patricia Maria. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Mar del Plata. Instituto de Investigaciones en Ciencia y Tecnología de Materiales. Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata. Facultad de Ingeniería. Instituto de Investigaciones en Ciencia y Tecnología de Materiales; ArgentinaFil: Nicolau, Veronica Viviana. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Santa Fe. Instituto de Desarrollo Tecnológico para la Industria Química. Universidad Nacional del Litoral. Instituto de Desarrollo Tecnológico para la Industria Química; ArgentinaFil: Estenoz, Diana Alejandra. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Santa Fe. Instituto de Desarrollo Tecnológico para la Industria Química. Universidad Nacional del Litoral. Instituto de Desarrollo Tecnológico para la Industria Química; Argentin

Synergistic effects of nanoclay and SGF on tribological and dynamic properties of polypropylene composites

In recent year’s polymer/layered silicate (PLS) nanocomposites have attracted great interest, both in industry and in academia, because they often exhibit remarkable improvement in materials properties when compared with virgin polymer or conventional micro and macrocomposites. These improvements can include high moduli, increased strength and heat resistance, decreased gas permeability and flammability, and increased biodegradability of biodegradable polymers. However these properties are strongly influenced by how the clay is dispersed in the polymer. In this study the synergistic effects in PP+short glass fiber+nanoclay systems in the tribogical and dynamic properties in injection mouldings were analysed. The materials used were a Polypropylene Homopolymer, Nanoclay (montmorillonite layer silicate) for Polyolefin Nanocomposites in percentages of 2%, 6% and 10% and a Polypropylene Homopolymer with content of 10% and 30% of glass fiber reinforced. The various materials systems were characterized in terms of dynamic properties and tribological properties. Several tests were conducted which includes the measurements of coefficient of friction in conditions similar to the ejection phase in injection moulding process. The microstructure of the mouldings was characterized by DSC. Polymer properties are determined by the incorporation of nanoclays, SGF and by processing. Moreover influencing the microstructure of the mouldings and a synergistic effect of the nano and micro reinforcements are also observed

Physical activity and mental health in Covid-19 times: an editorial

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Hospital and community pharmacists' perceptions of which competences are important for their practice

The objective of the PHAR-QA (Quality assurance in European pharmacy education and training) project was to investigate how competence-based learning could be applied to a healthcare, sectoral profession such as pharmacy. This is the first study on evaluation of competences from the pharmacists’ perspective using an improved Delphi method with a large number of respondents from all over Europe. This paper looks at the way in which hospital pharmacists rank the fundamental competences for pharmacy practice. European hospital pharmacists (n = 152) ranked 68 competences for pharmacy practice of two types (personal and patient care), arranged into 13 clusters. Results were compared to those obtained from community pharmacists (n = 258). Generally, hospital and community pharmacists rank competences in a similar way. Nevertheless, differences can be detected. The higher focus of hospital pharmacists on knowledge of the different areas of science as well as on laboratory tests reflects the idea of a hospital pharmacy specialisation. The difference is also visible in the field of drug production. This is a necessary competence in hospitals with requests for drugs for rare diseases, as well as paediatric and oncologic drugs. Hospital pharmacists give entrepreneurship a lower score, but cost-effectiveness a higher one than community pharmacists. This reflects the reality of pharmacy practice where community pharmacists have to act as entrepreneurs, and hospital pharmacists are managers staying within drug budgets. The results are discussed in the light of a “hospital pharmacy” specialisation

Motivation and anxiety during the second COVID-19 lockdown in gym exercisers: The mediating role of affects and satisfaction with life

The present study aimed to analyze the association between motivation (self-determined and non-self-determined motivation), positive and negative affect, life satisfaction and state-anxiety in a sample of gym exercisers, during the 2nd COVID-19 lockdown in Portugal. Also, we aimed to analyze the possible mediating role of positive and negative affect and life satisfaction in the relationship between motivation and levels of state-anxiety. A total of 201 gym participants (30.42 ± 11.22) were enrolled in the present study, of which 116 (57.7%) were women and 85 (42.3%) were men. The survey included sociodemographic data as well as the subsequently validated instruments: the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, the Positive and Negative Affect Schedule, and the Satisfaction with Life Scale. The results revealed a positive association between state-anxiety and negative affect (r = .69), controlled motivation (r = .33), and autonomous motivation (r = .25). Still, state-anxiety was negatively associated with positive affect (r = -.40) and with satisfaction with life (r = -.43),. In addition, the results of mediation analysis, revealed inconsistent mediation of positive affect and life satisfaction in the relationship between autonomous motivation and state-anxiety. However, a total mediation was observed through negative affect and life satisfaction in the relationship between controlled motivation and anxiety since the indirect effect (β = .27) is higher than the direct effect (β = .06). Overall, the results reinforce that positive affect and satisfaction with life could act as a possible buffer against state-anxiety in gym exercisers and, thus, should be considered in future interventions and studies.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Adipocyte browning and higher mitochondrial function in peri-adrenal but not subcutaneous fat in pheochromocytoma

Context: Patients with pheochromocytoma (pheo) show presence of multilocular adipocytes that express uncoupling protein (UCP) 1 within periadrenal (pADR) and omental (OME) fat depots. It has been hypothesized that this is due to adrenergic stimulation by catecholamines produced by the pheo tumors. Objective: To characterize the prevalence and respiratory activity of brown-like adipocytes within pADR, OME and subcutaneous (SC) fat depots in human adult pheo patients. Design: This was an observational cohort study. Setting: University hospital. Patients: We studied 46 patients who underwent surgery for benign adrenal tumors (21pheos and 25 controls with adrenocortical adenomas). Main outcome measure: We characterized adipocyte browning in pADR, SC, and OME fat depots for histological and immunohistological features, mitochondrial respiration rate, and gene expression. We also determined circulating levels of catecholamines and other browning-related hormones. Results: 11 of 21 pheo pADR adipose samples, but only 1 of 25 pADR samples from control patients, exhibited multilocular adipocytes. The pADR browning phenotype was associated with higher plasma catecholamines and raised UCP1. Mitochondria from multilocular pADR fat of pheo patients exhibited increased rates of coupled and uncoupled respiration. Global gene expression analysis in pADR fat revealed enrichment in β-oxidation genes in pheo patients with multilocular adipocytes. No SC or OME fat depots exhibited aspects of browning. Conclusion: Browning of the pADR depot occurred in half of pheo patients and was associated with increased catecholamines and mitochondrial activity. No browning was detected in other fat depots, suggesting that other factors are required to promote browning in these depots

Low birth weight and longitudinal trends of cardiovascular risk factor variables from childhood to adolescence: the bogalusa heart study

BACKGROUND: Several studies have linked low birth weight to adverse levels of cardiovascular risk factors and related diseases. However, information is sparse at a community level in the U.S. general population regarding the effects of low birth weight on the longitudinal trends in cardiovascular risk factor variables measured concurrently from childhood to adolescence. METHODS: Longitudinal analysis was performed retrospectively on data collected from the Bogalusa Heart Study cohort (n = 1141; 57% white, 43% black) followed from childhood to adolescence by repeated surveys between 1973 and 1996. Subjects were categorized into low birth weight (below the race-specific 10(th )percentile; n = 123) and control (between race-specific 50–75(th )percentile; n = 296) groups. RESULTS: Low birth weight group vs control group had lower mean HDL cholesterol (p = 0.05) and higher LDL cholesterol (p = 0.05) during childhood (ages 4–11 years); higher glucose (p = 0.02) during adolescence. Yearly rates of change from childhood to adolescence in systolic blood pressure (p = 0.02), LDL cholesterol (p = 0.05), and glucose (p = 0.07) were faster, and body mass index (p = 0.03) slower among the low birth weight group. In a multivariate analysis, low birth weight was related independently and adversely to longitudinal trends in systolic blood pressure (p = 0.004), triglycerides (p = 0.03), and glucose (p = 0.07), regardless of race or gender. These adverse associations became amplified with age. CONCLUSIONS: Low birth weight is characterized by adverse developmental trends in metabolic and hemodynamic variables during childhood and adolescence; and thus, it may be an early risk factor in this regard