The views of student-results of the survey

In 2010, We have conducted a survey among the students of the Institute of Political Science at the University of Education in Krakow (Poland). Students of all years and disciplines were included (political science, public administration, international relations), and all types of studies (full-time, weekend-time), that are given at the Institute of Political Science Students from places where university teaches them only on weekends are also represented, from places where university teach students only on weekends: Tarnów, Limanowa and Koczanowa (Lesser Poland Region). When you are citing the document, use the following link http://essuir.sumdu.edu.ua/handle/123456789/3126

Public-private wage gaps : is civil-servant human capital sector-specific?

What would be the counterfactual wage of civil servants if they were employed in the private sector? Using the French European Household panel, we present a new approach to the wage differential between the public and the private sectors. We estimate a model, which controls both for selection into employment, and for self-selection into the public sector. We also introduce unobserved heterogeneity in the propensity to be employed in either job sector, and in the sector-specific productivity. Evidence based on the counterfactual distributions suggests a large public-private wage premium for low public wages. This conclusion also holds for women but may be explained by a weaker discrimination in the public sector. Unlike women, most male civil servants would earn more in the private sector.counterfactual distributions, wage differentials, public and private sector, unobserved heterogeneity

The Impact of Government-Sponsored Training Programs on the Labor Market Transitions of Disadvantaged Men

Dans ce travail, nous cherchons à déterminer l'impact des mesures actives d'insertion sur les transitions des jeunes prestataires masculins de l'aide de dernier recours sur le marché du travail. La richesse des données à notre disposition nous permet de recréer de façon très détaillée l'historique de chaque prestataire sur une période relativement longue. Nous avons recours à un modèle de durée en temps continue pour estimer la densité des durées observées dans plus de sept états différents. L'endogénéité de la présence dans une mesure active est explicitement prise en compte. Nous analysons la sensibilité des paramètres estimés en comparant les résultats d'un modèle non-paramétrique standard avec ceux de plusieurs modèles paramétriques à deux ou trois facteurs de charge. Nos résultats montrent que les jeunes hommes peu scolarisés qui participent à des mesures actives destinées aux prestataires d'aide de dernier recours ont davantage de difficultés à s'intégrer au marché du travail que ceux qui ne participent pas à des telles mesures. En revanche, les mesures d'insertion offertes dans le cadre du programme d'assurance-emploi semblent donner de meilleurs résultats. De façon générale, la durée dans chacun des sept états considérés est sensible aux variables considérées dans l'analyse, soient les prestations d'aide de dernier recours, le salaire minimum, et le taux de chômage. The analysis focuses on the impact of government-sponsored training programs aimed at disadvantaged male youths on their labour market transitions. The richness of the data at our disposal allows us to recreate very detailed individual histories over a relatively long period. We use a continuous time duration model to estimate the density of duration times in as many as seven states, controlling for the endogeneity of an individual's training status. We investigate the sensitivity of the parameter estimates by comparing a typical non-parametric specification with a series of parametric two-factor loading models, as well as a parametric three-factor loading model. Our results show that young, poorly educated males who participate in welfare training programs do worse on the labour market than those who do not participate. On the other hand, participation in unemployment training programs provides them some benefits. In general, we find that duration times in any of the seven states considered are sensitive to variations in program parameters such as welfare benefits, policy variables such as the minimum wage rate, and in the economic environment as proxied by the unemployment rate.Modèle de durée multi-états multi-épisodes, hétérogénéité non-paramétrique, mesures active d'insertion, aide de dernier recours, multi-state multi-episods duration model, non-parametric heterogeneity, training programs, welfare

Dynamics and cosmological constraints on Brans-Dicke cosmology

We investigate observational constraints on the Brans-Dicke cosmological model using observational data coming from distant supernovae type Ia, the Hubble function $H(z)$ measurements, information coming from the Alcock-Paczy{\'n}ski test, and baryon acoustic oscillations. Our analysis is based on the modified Friedmann function resulting form dynamical investigations of Brans-Dicke cosmology in the vicinity of a de Sitter state. The qualitative theory of dynamical systems enables us to obtain three different behaviors in the vicinity of this state. We find for a linear approach to the de Sitter state $\omega_{\textrm{BD}}=-0.8606^{+0.8281}_{-0.1341}$, for an oscillatory approach to the de Sitter state $\omega_{\textrm{BD}}=-1.1103^{+0.1872}_{-0.1729}$, and for the transient de Sitter state represented by a saddle-type critical point $\omega_{\textrm{BD}}=-2.3837^{+0.4588}_{-4.5459}$. We obtain the mass of the Brans-Dicke scalar field at the present epoch as $m_{\phi}\sim H_{0}$. The Bayesian methods of model comparison are used to discriminate between obtained models. We show that observational data point toward vales of the $\omega_{\textrm{BD}}$ parameter close to the value suggested by the low-energy limit of the bosonic string theory.Comment: 13 pages, 5 figs; (v2) new analysis, refs. added, PhysRevD (in press

Dynamic modeling of fertility and labour market participation of married or cohabiting women

We jointly model fertility and participation decisions of women who live in couple using a dynamic model. In this paper we analyze the labour supply and the fertility decisions of married or cohabiting women in France, Spain, Germany, UK and Denmark. We estimate, for the period going from 1994 to 2001, a dynamic bivariate probit model with random effects using the ECHP (European Community Household Panel) and using a simulated maximum likelihood estimator. These estimates are made on an annual basis taking into account the initial conditions problem. The decisions of participation and fertility of women who live in couple depend on the individual characteristics (observed or unobserved) and are characterized by a significant state dependence. Our results suggest that the decisions of employment and fertility cannot be modeled separately. The difference of fertility across these countries is explained by individual characteristics and variations of social and fiscal policies across countries. However, the unobserved components of heterogeneity also play a central role in the observed differences across countries. We show the importance of the permanent income component in the participation decision. Random effects are negatively correlated across the equations of the model. Consequently, women who, a priori, prefer to have a higher consumption have weaker preferences for fertility.Participation, Heterogeneity, Simulation based estimation, Panel data

Engineering of Therapeutic Proteins Production in Escherichia coli

Low cost and simplicity of cultivating bacteria make the E. coli expression system a preferable choice for production of therapeutic proteins both on a lab scale and in industry. In addition straightforward recombinant DNA technology offers engineering tools to produce protein molecules with modified features. The lack of posttranslational modification mechanisms in bacterial cells such as glycosylation, proteolytic protein maturation or limited capacity for formation of disulfide bridges may, to a certain extent, be overcome with protein engineering. Protein engineering is also often employed to improve protein stability or to modulate its biological action. More sophisticated modifications may be achieved by genetic fusions of two proteins. This article presents a variety of examples of genetic engineering of therapeutic proteins. It emphasizes the importance of designing a construct without any unnecessary amino acid residues

Assessing the Impact of Non-Response on the Treatment Effect in the Canadian Self-Sufficiency Experiment

In Canada, a policy aiming at helping single parents on social assistance become self-reliant was implemented on an experimental basis. The Self-Sufficiency Entry Effects Demonstration randomly selected a sample of 4,134 single parents who had applied for welfare between January 1994 and March 1995. It turned out only 3,315 took part in the experiment despite a 50% chance of receiving a generous, time-limited, earnings supplement conditional on finding a full-time jobs and leaving income assistance within a year. The purpose of this paper is to determine whether a non-response rate as high as 20% is likely to bias the measurement of the treatment effect. We compare the estimated impact of the program using experimental data only to that obtained using additional data on individuals not taking part in the experiment. We write the likelihood of various sets of information and obtain relevant estimates of program impact on welfare spell durations. We find strong evidence of non-response bias in the data. When we correct for the bias, we find that estimates that rely on experimental data only significantly underestimate the true impact of the program.Social experiment, non-response bias, duration model, social assistance

The Impact of Government-Sponsored Training Programs on the Labor Market Transitions of Disadvantaged Men

The analysis focuses on the impact of government-sponsored training programs aimed at disadvantaged male youths on their labour market transitions. The richness of the data at our disposal allows us to recreate very detailed individual histories over a relatively long period. We use a continuous time duration model to estimate the density of duration times in as many as seven states, controlling for the endogeneity of an individual s training status. We investigate the sensitivity of the parameter estimates by comparing a typical non-parametric specification with a series of parametric two-factor loading models, as well as a parametric three-factor loading model. Our results show that young, poorly educated males who participate in welfare training programs do worse on the labour market than those who do not participate. On the other hand, participation in unemployment training programs provides them some benefits. In general, we find that duration times in any of the seven states considered are sensitive to variations in program parameters such as welfare benefits, policy variables such as the minimum wage rate, and in the economic environment as proxied by the unemployment rate. Dans cet article, nous cherchons à déterminer l'impact des mesures actives d'insertion sur les transitions des jeunes prestataires masculins de l'aide de dernier recours sur le marché du travail. La richesse des données à notre disposition nous permet de recréer de façon très détaillée l'historique de chaque prestataire sur une période relativement longue. Nous avons recours à un modèle de durée en temps continue pour estimer la densité des durées observées dans plus de sept états différents. L'endogénéité de la présence dans une mesure active est explicitement prise en compte. Nous analysons la sensibilité des paramètres estimés en comparant les résultats d'un modèle non-paramétrique standard avec ceux de plusieurs modèles paramétriques à deux ou trois facteurs de charge. Nos résultats montrent que les jeunes hommes peu scolarisés qui participent à des mesures actives destinées aux prestataires d'aide de dernier recours ont davantage de difficultés à s'intégrer au marché du travail que ceux qui ne participent pas à des telles mesures. En revanche, les mesures d'insertion offertes dans le cadre du programme d'assurance-emploi semblent donner de meilleurs résultats. De façon générale, la durée dans chacun des sept états considérés est sensible aux variables considérées dans l'analyse, soient les prestations d'aide de dernier recours, le salaire minimum, et le taux de chômage.Multi-state multi-episods duration model, non-parametric heterogeneity, training programs, welfare, Modèle de durée multi-états multi-épisodes, hétérogénéité non-paramétrique, mesures active d'insertion, aide de dernier recours

Constraining Palatini cosmological models using GRB data

New constraints on previously investigated Palatini cosmological models [arXiv:1109.3420] have been obtained by adding Gamma Ray Burst data [arXiv:1205.2954].Comment: 4 pages, 5 figure

Assessing the Impact of Non-Response on the Treatment Effect in the Canadian Self-Sufficiency Experiment

In Canada, a policy aiming at helping single parents on social assistance become self-reliant was implemented on an experimental basis. The Self-Sufficiency Entry Effects Demonstration randomly selected a sample of 4 134 single parents who had applied for welfare between January 1994 and March 1995. It turned out only 3 315 took part in the experiment despite a 50% chance of receiving a generous, time-limited, earnings supplement conditional on finding a full-time jobs and leaving income assistance within a year. The purpose of this paper is to determine whether a non-response rate as high as 20% is likely to bias the measurement of the treatment effect. We compare the estimated impact of the program using experimental data only to that obtained using additional data on individuals not taking part in the experiment. We write the likelihood of various sets of information and obtain relevant estimates of program impact on welfare spell durations. We find strong evidence of non-response bias in the data. When we correct for the bias, we find that estimates that rely on experimental data only significantly underestimate the true impact of the program. Au Canada, une politique publique visant à aider les familles monoparentales bénéficiaires de l'aide sociale à s'insérer sur le marché du travail a été mise en place sur une base expérimentale. Ainsi, plus de 4134 chefs de familles monoparentales qui étaient entrés à l'aide sociale entre janvier 1994 et mars 1995 ont été échantillonnés aléatoirement pour faire partie du projet d'Autosuffisance (PAS). Seulement 3315 d'entre eux ont accepté de participer à cette expérimentation alors qu'ils avaient, dans le cadre de l'expérience, 50% de chance de disposer d'un supplément de revenu relativement important mais limité dans le temps. Les personnes qui ont fait partie du groupe de traitement ont pu recevoir ce supplément dès lors qu'elles ont quitté l'aide sociale pour occuper un emploi à temps plein. Dans cet article, nous cherchons à déterminer si un refus de participer à cette expérience de l'ordre de 20% est susceptible d'avoir biaisé l'estimation de l'impact du supplément de revenu. Nous comparons l'effet estimé du traitement en utilisant l'échantillon expérimental seulement avec celui obtenu en utilisant des données additionnelles sur les individus qui ne prennent pas part à l'expérience. Nous écrivons la fonction de vraisemblance et obtenons une estimation de l'impact de ce programme sur la distribution de la durée de séjour à l'aide sociale. Nous mettons en évidence l'existence d'un biais de non-réponse. Nous corrigeons ce biais en tenant compte de la décision de participation et nous montrons que les estimations de l'effet du supplément de revenu obtenues à partir de l'échantillon expérimental seulement sous-estiment de façon importante l'impact du programme.Social experiment, non-response bias, duration model, social assistance, Expémentation sociale, biais de non-réponse, modèle de durée, aide-sociale