215 research outputs found
An Illustration of the Returns to Training Programmes: The Evaluation of the “Qualifying Contract" in France
We evaluate the labour market outcomes of a French training programme for youth, using a non-experimental sample of individuals who completed their studies (or dropped out) in 1998 and were observed until 2003. We use propensity score matching to estimate the impact of participation on three outcome variables: the net monthly wage, the monthly income and the probability of employment. We find a positive impact of participation on all three outcome variables. Non parametric robustness checks confirmed our results. We explain these results, which contrast with those of previous French studies, by the very strong training content of the programme.active labour market programmes, training programmes for youth, propensity score matching
Reemployment and substitution effects from increased activation: Evidence from times of crisis
Although activation services such as monitoring, training, or job subsidies have been shown to increase exits from unemployment, there is little comprehensive evidence about the effects of activation during recessions. Here we evaluate a large activation programme introduced in Portugal in 2012, a time of very high unemployment. This programme required specific unemployment benefit recipients to meet jobcentre caseworkers and then participate in active labour market policies. Our analysis draws on rich longitudinal data, the programme’s focus on those unemployed for at least six months, and fuzzy regression discontinuity methods. We find that, despite the weak labour market, the programme is very successful as it doubles the monthly reemployment probability. The results are robust to a number of checks, including a falsification exercise based on pre-programme data and an analysis of non-employment and income effects. Moreover, in a novel IV approach using information on all unemployed, we find no evidence of substitution effects such as decreased transitions to employment amongst non-eligible individuals.N/
WISC-III – Análise e comparação entre crianças portuguesas e angolanas
info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio
Phytochemical screening, cytotoxicity and acute toxicity of Annona vepretorum Mart (Annonaceae) leaf extracts
Purpose: To investigate the phytochemistry, cytotoxicity and acute toxicity of leaf extracts from Annona vepretorum.Methods: The crude extracts were obtained by maceration with hexane and methanol. The crude methanol extract was suspended in a 3:7 (v/v) mixture of methanol (MeOH) and water (H2O) and partitioned with hexane, chloroform (CHCl3) and ethyl acetate (AcOEt) in ascending order of polarity to obtain the respective extracts. In the investigation of phytochemical profile, the extracts were evaluated on thin layer chromatography (TLC) plates of silica gel. Cytotoxicity was tested using 3-(4,5-dimethyl-2-thiazolyl)-2,5-diphenyl-2H-tetrazolium bromide (MTT) and (3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-5-(3-carboxymethoxyphenyl)-2-(4-sulfophenyl)-2H-tetrazolium) (MTS) assays against tumor cell lines, viz,HCT-116 (colon), SF-295 (brain), HL-60 (leukemic) and Sarcoma-180. Acute toxicity study was performed by administration of a single oral dose of 2 g/kg body weight of the extracts to mice and the animals were observed for 14 days.Results: Phytochemical screening results showed that A. vepretorum extracts contain alkaloids, flavonoids and terpenes. Methanol and chloroform extracts exhibited high cytotoxic activity against HCT-116, HL-60 and Sarcoma-180. Moreover, the extracts displayed low toxicity in mice, as no deaths and pronounced toxic effects were observed.Conclusion: A. vepretorum contains a variety of secondary metabolites which may confer on this species high cytotoxic activity. In addition, the oral administration of the extracts produced low toxicity in mice.Keywords: Annonaceae, Annona vepretorum, Phytochemistry, Tumor cell lines, Acute toxicit
Alteração da coloração das brácteas de Heliconian bihai em diferentes temperaturas de armazenamento.
Development of electrospun photocatalytic TiO2-polyamide-12 nanocomposites
Titanium dioxide (TiO2) in different forms such as films, fibers or particles are being extensively studied
for removal of contaminants from aquatic environments due to its outstanding photocatalytic activity.
This work reports the development of TiO2-polyamide 12 electrospun fiber mats. A systematic study on
the influence of electrospun processing parameters on polymer fiber morphology was performed. It was
observed that the average fiber diameter is mainly influenced by polymer concentration and average
fiber diameters between 404 ± 82 nm and 1442 ± 360 nm were obtained. Polyamide-12 (PA-12) was
used as a polymer matrix and electrospun with 0, 10 and 20 wt% of TiO2. It was observed that the filler
does not change the average fiber diameter, being similar to that observed for neat PA-12 fibers processed
under the same experimental conditions. The TiO2 were particles dispensed not only in the bulk
of the polymeric matrix but also on the surface of the fibers, especially for the samples with higher filler
contents. Neat and nanocomposite electrospun samples show a hydrophobic behavior and a degree of
crystallinity of ~25%.
The photocatalytic performance of the processed samples was measured by following the degradation
capability of a chosen dye, methylene blue (MB). Results show that the nanocomposite samples have a
remarkable photocatalytic activity, especially the one with a higher load of TiO2 particles (20 wt%), with
all MB being removed from the solution after 100 min.This work was supported by FEDER through the COMPETE
Program and by the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology
(FCT) in the framework of the Strategic Project PEST-C/FIS/
UI607/2014, and CNPq (Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento
Científico e Tecnol ogico e Brazil). The authors also thank funding
from “Matepro eOptimizing Materials and Processes”, ref. NORTE-
07-0124-FEDER-000037”, co-funded by the “Programa Operacional
Regional do Norte” (ON.2 e O Novo Norte), under the “Quadro de
Refer^encia Estrat egico Nacional” (QREN), through the “Fundo
Europeu de Desenvolvimento Regional” (FEDER). PM thanks the
FCT for the, SFRH/BD/98616/2013 grant. VS and SLM also thank
support from the COST Action MP1206 “Electrospun Nano-fibers for bio inspired composite materials and innovative industrial applications”.
VS thanks the EIS Faculty at UOW for the starting grant
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