"Macroeconomic stabilization in a heterogeneous monetary union: some insights into the effects of fiscal policy coordination"

This paper studies the effects the fiscal coordination can have in terms of macroeconomic stabilization in a monetary Union which is heterogeneous at the level of the mechanisms of monetary policy transmission. We will use a static Keynesian model in a closed monetary Union and will prove that the stabilization effectiveness depends mainly on the type and origin of the economic shocks affecting the Union members (demand or supply shocks, domestic or foreign shocks) and on the extent of the Union's structural heterogeneity. In the case of the demand shocks, the fiscal policy coordination proves to be an optimal shock absorber only for the countries to which these shocks are specific. In the case of the supply shocks, it can represent an efficient instrument of stabilization especially if the Union''s structural heterogeneity is weak.

On a Convexity Preserving Integral Operator

MSC 2010: 30C45, 30A20, 34C40In this paper we determine conditions an analytic function g needs to satisfy in order that the function Fgiven by (1) be convex

A Review Study of Psychometric Functioning of a Picture Scale to Assess Joy in Childhood

The early emergence of emotional understanding by means of facial expressions allows the assessmentof basic emotions from young ages through pictures or photographs of human faces. Thisevaluation strategy allows children, with limited language to reveal feelings that neither investigatorsnor clinicians would be able to obtain verbally. The present work presents a non-verbal activityaimed at testing children?s joy. It is based on a visual analogue scale integrated by sevenpictures of infant facial expressions. This scale has the advantage of presenting an animated design,more friendly and appealing than simplified face scales. Its psychometric functioning, revisedfrom different studies, demonstrates that it is a reliable and valid alternative to analyze the experienceof joy in small children.Fil: Oros, Laura Beatriz. Universidad de la Cuenca del Plata. Secretaria de Politicas del Conocimiento. Instituto de Investigaciones Científicas (sede Posadas); Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Richaud, Maria Cristina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Saavedra 15. Centro Interdisciplinario de Investigaciones en Psicología Matemática y Experimental Dr. Horacio J. A. Rimoldi; Argentin

HOW DOES SECTOR CONCENTRATION EVOLVE AT COUNTRY AND REGION LEVELS? THE EUROPEAN CASE

This paper analyzes the evolution of the three main economic sectors – agriculture, industry and services – at the level of European countries and regions. We base our analysis on the Theil index constructed using European gross value added data for 23 EU countries and compare it to regional data for a ten-year period (from 1995 to 2004). Our results show that the most difficult challenges posed by the unequal concentration in the main sectors appear at the wider region not the country level. It will therefore be necessary to devise new regional policies that take into account these disparities.sectors analysis, spatial concentration, European regions, Theil index, integration

Entrapment of glucoamylase by sol-gel technique in PhTES/TEOS hybrid matrixes

Mesoporous silica particles were prepared by the sol-gel method from different alkoxysilane precursors and used as a host matrix for encapsulation of glucoamylase, an enzyme widely used in fermentative industry. The aim was to investigate the physico-chemical properties of the different silica powders and their effect on the enzyme kinetics. The encapsulated enzymes followed Michaelis-Menten kinetics. The Michaelis constant (KM) and the maximum rate of starch hydrolysis reaction (Vmax) were calculated according to the Michaelis-Menten and Lineweaver-Burke plots. The values of the Michaelis constant (KM) of the encapsulated enzymes were higher than those of the free enzyme. The temperature and pH infl uence on the activity of free and immobilized glucoamylase were also compared. The results of this study show that the enzymes immobilized in organic/inorganic hybrid silica matrixes (obtained by the sol-gel method), allowing the entrapped glucoamylase to retain its biological activity, are suitable for many different applications, (medicinal, clinical, analytical)

PRELIMINARY STUDY FOR USING VINYLTRIACETOXYSILANE AS PRECURSOR IN ENZYME IMMOBILIZATION BASED ON SOL-GEL METHOD

During the last years, sol-gel technology has become a well-established method for the preparation of catalytic active monoliths, bulk, particles and thin films. One reason for the increasing research activities in this field is the opportunity to obtain versatile hybrid materials by incorporation of different molecules, like dyes, enzymes, whole cells, chemicals and drugs. The aim of this research was to evaluate the suitability of vinyltriacetoxysilane (VTAS) as precursor in sol-gel enzyme immobilization and the physicochemical characterization of the final products (silica xerogels)

Performance of immobilized bacterial alpha-amylases in methyltriethoxsilane / tetraetoxysilane sol-gel matrices

The large number of studies related to the field of biomolecules encapsulation in sol-gel hosts clearly indicates that this approach can be considered as a powerful alternative to traditional encapsulation procedures involving biopolymer hosts. In this study, α-amylase was immobilized, by using the sol-gel technique, in silica particles obtained from hydrolysis and polycondensation of tetraethoxysilane (TEOS) and a mixture of methyltriethoxysilane (MTES) and tetraethoxysilane. The influence of the pH and temperature of free and immobilized α-amylase were compared. It was shown that the relative activities of immobilized enzymes are higher than those of free enzymes over broader pH and temperature ranges. The Michaelis constant and the maximum rate of starch hydrolysis reaction were calculated by fitting the experimental data to the Michaelis-Menten equation. It was found that KM and Vmax values of the immobilized enzyme were smaller than those of the free enzyme

Familie, Kirche und Schule - wichtige Faktoren in der Verwirklichung einer religiösen Erziehung

Die rumänischen Schulen zeigen ein immer wachsendes Interesse gegenüber einer religiös-moralischen Erziehung. Die wirtschaftliche Krise bringt mit sich auch eine spürbare moralische Krise. Die Lösungen für die gegenwärtigen Probleme der Jugendlichen und der Gesellschaft müssen im Inneren des Christentums gesucht werden, denn diese stammen aus der immer gültigen Lehre der Kirche und der religiösen Lehre. Der moralische Wiederaufbau der Gesellschaft ist heutzutage das Hauptziel der religiös-moralischen Erziehung der rumänischen Schule. In diesem Sinne haben die religiöse Erziehung und der Religionsunterricht in den Schulen eine überragende Rolle (auch wenn einige die Entfernung des Religionsunterrichts aus dem jetzigen Schulcurriculum vorschlagen), denn sie baut auf Liebe, Vertrauen, Kommunikation und Meinungsfreiheit. Der Zweck der religiös-moralischen Erziehung ist es, durch all die oben benannten Mittel religiös-moralische Tugenden zu schaffen. Damit religiöse Erziehung das gewollte Endergebnis erreicht, muss es eine sehr enge Zusammenarbeit zwischen den wichtigen Faktoren der Erziehung geben: zwischen Familie, Schule und Kirche. Die Schule ersetzt den Mangel an religiös-moralischer Erziehung in der Familie und die Kirche vollendet die Arbeit der Schule durch die Teilnahme am Gottesdienst. Zwecks der Schaffung einer inneren Harmonie erzeugen Schule, Familie und Kirche Umgebungen, in denen sich die Jugendlichen weiterbilden und informieren können, in denen sie Unterstützung, Verständnis und moralische Lebensmodelle finden können. (DIPF/Verlag)Romanian schools show an increasing interest towards religious and moral education. The financial and economical crisis caused a moral crisis too. One must search for the solutions for the present problems of the younger generation and of the society inside of Christianity; for the solutions derive from the universal doctrines of the church and the religious doctrines. The religious and moral education of the society has become the main objective of Romanian schools. Religious education and religion class have in this sense a very important role (although some people suggest the elimination of religion class from the present curriculum), since they are built on love, trust, communication and freedom of opinion. The goal of a religious and moral education is to achieve through all the formerly named means a human being with important religious and moral features. To achieve the goals of religious education, there must be a pretty close collaboration between the most important factors of education, namely: family, school and church. School can substitute features of moral education that the family had failed to pass to the children and the church can accomplish the work of the school by introducing pupils to the mystery of the religious cult. To accomplish an inner harmony, children must be surrounded by an environment that gives them the chance and the opportunity to find new information and to further educate them. School, church and family try to create such kinds of environments for children which are characterized by encouragement, understanding and moral life models. All the above mentioned factors must operate together and not isolated. Only by coordinating the educational functions can we hope for an authentic intellectual and spiritual education of people and of society. (DIPF/Orig.