Universidade Nova de Lisboa

This paper examines the impact of an experiment in North Macedonia in which vulnerable unemployed individuals applying to a subsidized employment program were randomly selected to attend job interviews. Employers hiring a new employee from the target population receive a subsidy covering the wage cost of the worker for the first six months. Using administrative employment data, we find that attending the job interview led to an increase of 15 percentage points in the likelihood of being employed 3.5 years after the start of the intervention. We also find positive and statistically significant effects on individuals' non-cognitive and work-related skills.

Bank complexity is often associated with risk, due to moral hazard and agency problems. At the same time, complexity may be linked to diversification and scale economies, thus leading to less risk. In this paper, we provide empirical evidence on the relationship between bank complexity and risk-taking. We find a positive relationship between geographical complexity and bank risk. Banks that operate in more countries, both through banks and non-banks, have riskier balance sheets and more non-performing loans. Further, banks that operate in Africa have higher risk levels due to larger volatility of returns. The link between structural complexity and bank risk is weaker, but generally negative. Our results suggest that moral hazard and agency problems may be more acute when banks operate in many geographies and in emerging market economies. In contrast, the results are consistent with diversification and scale benefits arising from operating in more business areas.

Ribosomes are large macromolecular complexes responsible for the translation process. During the course of ribosome biogenesis and protein synthesis, extra-ribosomal factors interact with the ribosome or its subunits to assist in these vital processes. Here we describe a method to isolate and analyze not only bacterial ribosomes but also their associated factors, providing insights into translation regulation. This detailed protocol allows the separation and monitoring of the ribosomal species and their interacting partners along a sucrose density gradient. Simultaneously, fractionation of the gradient allows for the recovery of 70S ribosomes and its subunits enabling a wide range of downstream applications. This protocol can be easily adapted to ribosome-related studies in other species or for separating other macromolecular complexes.

Toluene (C7 H8 ) has a stable benzene ring structure and inert C(sp3 )-H bonds, making its deep mineralization a significant challenge. Here, we prepared a C-doping zinc hydroxystannate photocatalyst (ZHS-C5) by a simple microwave method, showing excellent performance (degradation rate of 91.25%) in the mineralization of C7 H8 into CO2 . A series of characterization experiments reveal the unique molecular structure of ZHS-C5, with C being doped into the gaps of the ZHS crystal, forming C = O bonds with surface lattice oxygen, and generating oxygen vacancies (OVs), leading to a redistribution of electrons. Experimental and theoretical results elucidate the reason for the improved photocatalytic activity, as the interstitial C-doping can effectively transfer electrons to O2 through p -orbital hybridization, enhancing O2 adsorption and activation to form O2 -. Additionally, OVs can efficiently adsorb C7 H8 , and using activated O2 - from adjacent C sites, mineralize it into CO2 and H2 O. This avoids quenching due to long-distance radical transfer, improving the efficiency of radical utilization. Finally, the detection of oxidation products using in situ infrared technology proposes a possible oxidation pathway for C7 H8 . This work may shed light on the design of efficient photocatalysts for C7 H8 mineralization. (c) 2025 Published by Elsevier Ltd on behalf of The editorial office of Journal of Materials Science & Technology.

While renewable electricity is widely recognized as key to achieving climate goals, its broader contribution to a sustainable and just energy transition remains underexplored. Several studies assess the effect of renewables on individual outcomes, but few adopt an integrated approach that captures the multiple dimensions of environmental sustainability, social well-being, and economic development. This study addresses this gap by exploring the effects of renewable electricity expansion in five key indicators, serving as proxies of environmental, economic and social justice, within the EU-27 and UK from 2007–2022. The analysis employs panel data models with fixed effects, incorporating lagged values of renewable electricity generation by technology type to assess cross-country and temporal dynamics. Findings indicate renewable electricity reduces greenhouse gas emissions, confirming its climate mitigation potential, and contributes positively to economic growth and employment, with solar technologies showing the largest association with job creation, followed by wind. The analysis, however, finds no significant effect on income inequality (measured by Gini Index), and only marginal impacts on household electricity prices. These results suggest that while renewable deployment may advance environmental and economic goals, its contribution to greater social equity is less evident, underscoring the importance of policies that explicitly integrate decarbonization with distributive justice and affordability. Future research should further explore the differentiated social impacts of renewable deployment across income groups, and household types, providing a stronger empirical basis for designing energy transitions that are not only sustainable but also just.