Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The spatial division of precarious labour across the European Union regions: A composite index analysis of the 2008/2009 global economic crisis effects and COVID-19 initial implications

The successive crises of the 21st century (2008/2009 global recession, COVID-19) have significantly affected the organisation of work and increased the flexibilisation and precarisation of labour, reflecting the changing needs of capital accumulation. Although employment reorganisation is unevenly distributed across space, the link between labour precarisation and cities or regions has not been studied in depth, with most research efforts focusing on the national scale. This article enriches the emerging literature for composite indices of labour market change by constructing an index of labour precarity at the regional scale. It estimates the very Flexible Contractual Arrangements Composite Index in the NUTS2 regions of the European Union from 2008 to 2020 to provide a comparative analysis of the impact of the global recession of 2008/2009 and the initial implications of COVID-19. The findings highlight a persistent division between peripheral and core regions. High precarity is a persistent feature of less developed regions, although it is also increasing significantly in urbanised, economically advanced regions. As found, the degree of labour precarity of a regional labour market is the complex result of national factors as well as regional characteristics such as specialisation, remoteness, path dependency, and local institutional practises and population dynamics.
Work, Jobs and Well-Being Across the Millennium

This paper uses repeated cross-section data ISSP data from 1989, 1997 and 2005 to consider movements in job quality. It is first underlined that not having a job when you want one is a major source of low well-being. Second, job values have remained fairly stable over time, although workers seem to give increasing importance to the more social aspects of jobs: useful and helpful jobs. The central finding of the paper is that, following a substantial fall between 1989 and 1997, subjective measures of job quality have mostly bounced back between 1997 and 2005. Overall job satisfaction is higher in 2005 than it was in 1989. Last, the rate of self-employment has been falling gently in ISSP data; even so three to four times as many people say they would prefer to be self-employed than are actually self-employed. As the self-employed are more satisfied than are employees, one consistent interpretation of the above is that the barriers to self-employment have grown in recent years.
Substrate-Specific Simulations of Atrial Fibrillation Reproducing Electrophysiological Clinical Markers

Digital Twins able to reproduce patient-specific electrical patterns during atrial fibrillation (AF) could help to identify the optimal therapy. Calibration of atrial simulation parameters is mandatory to reproduce observed clinical markers such as cycle length (CL) or conduction velocity (CV). A realistic 3D atrial anatomy including fiber orientation, conduction anisotropy and ion channel heterogeneities across atrial regions was built to simulate AF patterns. Functional reentries were simulated under different degrees of electrical remodeling and tissue diffusion (healthy to chronic AF), then CV and CL were measured at different atrial regions. The heterogeneous model allowed to simulate differences in transmembrane potential curves as reported in bibliography. As expected, CV at atrial regions increases with increasing diffusion, whereas CL decreases with electrical remodeling, from healthy to chronic AF substrate. Electrical remodeling and diffusion factors can be used to calibrate AF models to clinically measured CV and CL markers. This will permit Digital Twins to reproduce the patient-specific electrophysiological patterns simulating AF progression and test potential therapies.
Validation of the coupled physical-biogeochemical ocean model NEMO-SCOBI for the North Sea-Baltic Sea system

The North Sea and the Baltic Sea still experience eutrophication and deoxygenation in spite of large international efforts to mitigate such environmental problems. Due to the highly different oceanographic frameworks of the two seas, modelling efforts so far mainly focused either on one or the other Sea making it difficult to study inter-basin exchange of mass and energy. Here, we present an ocean model (NEMO-Nordic) coupled to the Swedish Coastal and Ocean Biogeochemical model 5 (SCOBI), which covers the North Sea, the Skagerrak-Kattegat transition zone and the Baltic Sea. We address its validity to further investigate biogeochemical changes in the North Sea-Baltic Sea system. The model reproduces the long-term temporal trends, the temporal variability, the yearly averages and the general spatial distribution of all assessed biogeochemical parameters. It is particularly suitable to be used in future multi-stressor studies such as to evaluate combined climate and nutrient forcing scenarios. In particular, the model performance is best for oxygen and phosphate concentrations. However, important 10 seasonal and spatial differences for chlorophyll-a and nitrate are seen between model results and observations in coastal areas of the southeastern North Sea, the Skagerrak-Kattegat transition zone, the Gulf of Riga, the Gulf of Finland and the Gulf of Bothnia. These are partially linked to different local processes and biogeochemical forcing that lead to a general overestimation of nitrate. The validation of our model results for individual areas are in agreement with policy management assessment areas, which gives an added value to better contribute to international programs aiming to reduce eutrophication in the Baltic 15 Sea-North Sea system.
Development of the material database for the VirtRoll computer system dedicated to design of an optimal hot strip rolling technology

The paper describes the material database, which was developed and included in the VirtRoll computer system dedicated to the design of optimal hot strip rolling technologies. The structure and functionalities of the database are described in the first part of the paper. The integration between the database and the system through the Scalarm platform is described next. Following chapters are dedicated to generation of material data, which are included in the database. These data are coefficients in material models, which include flow stress models, microstructure evolution models, phase transformation models and mechanical properties models. Several models of various complexity and various predictive capabilities were chosen for each mentioned phenomenon. All are mean field models to allow fast simulation of the whole manufacturing chain. Modern steel grades were selected as the case studies. Experimental tests performed to generate the data composed plastometric tests, stress relaxation tests and dilatometric tests. Inverse analysis was applied to determine the coefficients in the model. Discussion of results focused on validation and on new aspects of models recapitulates the paper.
Pengaruh Struktur Modal Terhadap Nilai Perusahaan Dengan Profitabilitas Sebagai Variabel Intervening

Penelitian ini merupakan penelitian kuantitatif yang bertujuan untuk mengetahui pengaruh variabel struktur modal terhadap nilai perusahaan dengan profitabilitas sebagai variabel intervening perusahaan Properti, Real Estate dan Konstruksi yang terdaftar di BEI selama tahun 2015-2017. Penelitian ini menggunakan sebanyak 41 perusahaan sampel yang dipilih dengan metode purposive sampling. Pengujian hipotesis dalam penelitian ini menggunakan Regresi Data Panel dan Teknik Analisis Jalur dengan program Eviews dan tingkat signifikansi 5% (0,05). Hasil dari pengujian diperoleh (1) terdapat pengaruh positif dan signifikan variabel struktur modal terhadap profitabilitas, (2) terdapat pengaruh positif dan signifikan variabel struktur modal terhadap nilai perusahaan, (3) terdapat pengaruh positif dan signifikan variabel profitabilitas terhadap nilai perusahaan, (4) tidak terdapat pengaruh signifikan variabel struktur modal terhadap nilai perusahaan melalui profitabilitas.
Credit constraints and growth in a global economy Working paper

We show that in an open-economy OLG model, the interaction between growth differentials and household credit constraints, more severe in fast-growing countries, can explain three prominent global trends: a divergence in private saving rates between advanced and emerging economies, large net capital outflows from the latter, and a sustained decline in the world interest rate. Micro-level evidence on the evolution of age-saving profiles in the U.S. and China corroborates our mechanism. Quantitatively, our model explains about 40 percent of the divergence in aggregate saving rates, and a significant portion of the variations in age-saving profiles across countries and over time. JEL Classification: F21, F32, F41
Shimware: Toward Practical Security Retrofitting for Monolithic Firmware Images

In today’s era of the Internet of Things, we are surrounded by security- and safety-critical, network-connected devices. In parallel with the rise in attacks on such devices, we have also seen an increase in devices that are abandoned, reached the end of their support periods, or will not otherwise receive future security updates. While this issue exists for a wide array of devices, those that use monolithic firmware, where the code and data are opaquely intermixed, have traditionally been difficult to examine and protect. In this paper, we explore the challenges of retrofitting monolithic firmware images with new security measures. First, we outline the steps any analyst must take to retrofit firmware, and show that previous work is missing crucial aspects of the process, which are required for a practical solution. We then automate three of these aspects—locating attacker-controlled input, a safe retrofit injection location, and self-checks preventing modifications—through the use of novel automated program analysis techniques. We assemble these analyses into a system, Shimware, that can simplify and facilitate the process of creating a retrofitted firmware image, once the vulnerability is identified. To evaluate Shimware, we employ both a synthetic evaluation and actual retrofitting of three case study devices: a networked bench power supply, a Bluetooth-enabled cardiac implant monitor, and a high-end programmable logic controller (PLC). Not only could our system identify the correct sources of input, injection locations, and self-checks, but it injected payloads to correct serious safety and security-critical vulnerabilities in these devices.
Assessing Thrombocytopenia and Chronic Liver Disease in Southeast Asia: A Multicentric Cross-Sectional Study

Background This multicentric cross-sectional study aimed to examine the prevalence of thrombocytopenia (TCP) and investigate the various causes of chronic liver disease (CLD) across 15 Southeast Asian (India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh) tertiary care centers over a three-month period. The study focused on assessing the fibrosis index (FI) and Model for End-Stage Liver Disease (MELD)-sodium (Na) score's capacity to grade and predict the progression and outcomes of patients with already diagnosed CLD. Methods The cross-sectional study enrolled 377 CLD patients. The study utilized admission registries from 15 tertiary care hospitals in Southeast Asia, spanning from April 2023 to June 2023. Various descriptive variables were collected, including gender, tobacco use (specifically, chewed tobacco), underlying etiology, presence of anemia, leukopenia, pancytopenia, infectious state, and liver cirrhosis diagnosed via traditional ultrasonography. This study examined liver failure indicators, including alanine transaminase levels, compensation status, TCP, and liver transplant (LT) listing. The MELD-Na score was the focus of frequency and percentage analysis. MELD-Na and FI medians and standard deviations were provided. Results The study of 377 patients with CLD found that TCP was present in 4% of patients and leukopenia was present in 12% of patients. The risk of TCP was significantly higher in leukopenic patients (89.5%) than in non-leukopenic patients (52.5%) (p = 0.003). The most common CLD cause was undiagnosable (31%), followed by autoimmune (26%), hepatitis C virus (21%), hepatitis B virus (14%), and schistosomiasis (8%). The majority of patients (98%) had decompensated liver disease. Of the patients, 64% had TCP, while 36% did not. The illness severity indicators MELD score and FI had mean ± SD values of 16.89 ± 6.42 and 4.1 ± 1.06, respectively. Similarly, the prevalence of LT needs among traditional ultrasonography-diagnosed cirrhotic patients was 83.1%, compared to 59.6% among non-cirrhotic patients (p = 0.001). Conclusion Leukopenia and TCP may be linked, which may affect CLD treatment and prognosis in this population. Non-invasive indicators like the FI and MELD-Na score can detect liver fibrosis and severity without invasive procedures, enhancing patient management. These findings highlight the need to improve early diagnosis methods for CLD in Southeast Asia and raise awareness among clinicians about effective diagnostic strategies for non-infectious causes of CLD.
What is the Chance that the Equity Premium Varies over Time ? Evidence from Predictive Regressions

We examine the evidence on excess stock return predictability in a Bayesian setting in which the investor faces uncertainty about both the existence and strength of predictability. When we apply our methods to the dividend-price ratio, we find that even investors who are quite skeptical about the existence of predictability sharply modify their views in favor of predictability when confronted by the historical time series of returns and predictor variables. Correctly taking into account the stochastic properties of the regressor has a dramatic impact on inference, particularly over the 2000-2005 period.
Journal of Econometrics

Please cite this article as: D. Pettenuzzo, R. Sabbatucci and A. Timmermann, Dividend suspensions and cash flows during the Covid-19 pandemic: A dynamic econometric model. Journal of Econometrics (2023), https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jeconom. 2022.11. 008.
Landscape perspectives on agricultural intensification and biodiversity – ecosystem service management

Understanding the negative and positive effects of agricultural land use for the conservation of biodiversity, and its relation to ecosystem services, needs a landscape perspective. Agriculture can contribute to the conservation of high-diversity systems, which may provide important ecosystem services such as pollination and biological control via complementarity and sampling effects. Land-use management is often focused on few species and local processes, but in dynamic, agricultural landscapes, only a diversity of insurance species may guarantee resilience (the capacity to reorganize after disturbance). Interacting species experience their surrounding landscape at different spatial scales, which influences trophic interactions. Structurally complex landscapes enhance local diversity in agroecosystems, which may compensate for local high-intensity management. Organisms with high-dispersal abilities appear to drive these biodiversity patterns and ecosystem services, because of their recolonization ability and larger resources experienced. Agri-environment schemes (incentives for farmers to benefit the environment) need to broaden their perspective and to take the different responses to schemes in simple (high impact) and complex (low impact) agricultural landscapes into account. In simple landscapes, local allocation of habitat is more important than in complex landscapes, which are in total at risk. However, little knowledge of the relative importance of local and landscape management for biodiversity and its relation to ecosystem services make reliable recommendations difficult.
Heart Rate Variability during Sleep-Related Wake Phases in REM Sleep Behavior Disorder

Autonomic dysfunction can be observed in people with neurodegenerative diseases. This study explores heart rate variability (HRV) in idiopathic rapid eye movement (REM) sleep behaviour disorder (iRBD), RBD patients with Parkinson's disease (PD-RBD), and control group (CG). The focus is on wake states before and after sleep, acquired during overnight polysomnography. A total of 18 CG, 20 iRBD, and 20 PD-RBD subjects, underwent polysomnographic exams with at least 6 hours of sleep. A 5-min ECG signal was obtained during the two awake phases, and analysed for time, frequency, and non-linear indexes. Non-parametric statistical analysis was employed to evaluate intra-group behaviours. Significant differences were found in time and frequency domain indexes, in PD-RBD and iRBD groups, associated with an increased HRV in the wake after sleep compared to wake before sleep onset (p<0.05 to p<0.0001). Similarly, in the same groups, a significant reduction in nonlinear indexes was found during the last wake stage (p<0.01), but not in CG. As such, RBD may cause an increase in parasympathetic activities in both phases, regardless the presence of Parkinson's disease.
Murray State's Digital Commons Murray State's Digital Commons

Atmospheric factors within a retail environment provide efficient and effective methods for influencing customer behavior. Drawing on the concept of sensory compensation, this research investigates how ambient lighting influences taste perceptions. Three studies demonstrate that dim lighting enhances taste perceptions. The results of Studies 1a and 1b provide support that low lighting positively influences consumers’ perceived taste of single taste dimension foods (e.g., sweet). Study 2 shows the number of taste dimensions (e.g., sweet vs. sweet and salty) stimulated serves as a boundary condition, attenuating the significant effect of dim lighting on taste perceptions.
By-catch and discards of the european purse seinetuna fishery in the Indian Ocean : estimation and characteristics for the 2003-2007 period

By-catch and tuna discards estimation and characteristics for the various species groups are presented for the European purse seine tuna fishery (France and Spain) for the period 2003-2007. Data were collected through French and Spanish observer programs representing a total of 1,958 observed fishing sets. Total by-catch and tuna discards estimation were derived from a stratification based on fishing mode, seasons (quarters) and spatial area. The estimation relied on raising factors based on major commercial tuna catch expressed in tons per 1000 t of tuna landed. Total tuna discards and by-catch was estimated to be about 9,585 t corresponding to 35.5 t per 1000 t of tuna landed. Tuna discards represents 54 % (19.2 t/1000 t) of the total amount, followed by fishes (33.7 %, 12.0 t/1000 t), sharks (10.1, 3.6 t/1000 t), billfishes (1.5 %, 0.5 t/1000 t), and rays (0.7 %, 0.2 t/1000 t). By-catch species composition, main species length and sex structure, and percentage of utilization are also presented. Total by-catch estimates and ratios are compared with those previously published in the literature. The issue raised by the choice of a consistent extrapolation method is finally discussed.
Place of Work and Place of Residence : Informal Hiring Networks and Labor Market Outcomes

We use a novel dataset and research design to empirically detect the effect of social interactions among neighbors on labor market outcomes. Specifically, using Census data that characterize residential and employment locations down to the city block, we examine whether individuals residing in the same block are more likely to work together than those in nearby but not identical blocks. We find significant evidence of social interactions: residing on the same versus nearby blocks increases the probability of working together by over 50 percent. We also provide evidence as to which types of matches between individuals result in greater levels of referrals. These findings are robust across various specifications intended to address concerns related to sorting and reverse causation. Further, our estimated match effects have a significant impact on a wide range of labor market outcomes more generally including employment and wages. * The authors are grateful for helpful suggestions and comments from Joe Altonji, Pat Bajari, Ed Glaeser, Rob McMillan, Ken Wolpin, and seminar participants at Boston College, Columbia, the NY Fed, NYU, Southern Methodist, Stanford and Yale. Shihe Fu, Matthew Kondratowicz, and Anupam Nanda have provided excellent research assistance. The authors are grateful to the Department of Housing and Urban Development, the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, and the Center for Real Estate and Urban Economic Studies at the University of Connecticut for financial support. The research in this paper was conducted while the authors were Special Sworn Status researchers of the U.S. Census Bureau at the Boston Census Research Data Center (BRDC). Research results and conclusions expressed are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Census Bureau. This paper has been screened to insure that no confidential data are revealed. The views and opinions offered in this paper do not necessarily reflect the position of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, the Federal Reserve System, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development or any other agency of the U.S. Government. Corresponding author: Giorgio Topa, Domestic Research, FRBNY, 33 Liberty Street, NY, NY 10045.
Ho Chi Minh City University of technology and education students' satisfaction with e-wallet service

Based on the sample survey data of 289 students of Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology and Education (HCMUTE) from February to May 2021, the paper has focused on analyzing the factors affecting the satisfaction of HCMUTE students with e-wallet services. The results show that students of Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology and Education have been using e-wallet services widely, with a high degree of satisfaction. The study also reveals that, a variety of factors influence the satisfaction of HCMUTE students such as convenience (Std. Error 0.050, Sig. =0.000); safety and security (Std. Error =0.055, Sig. =0.000); reliability (Std. Error 0,057, Sig. =0.000); policy to approach customers/employees (Std. Error 0.040, Sig. =0.000; frequency of use (Std. Error 0.043, Sig. =0.000).
ScholarWorks SJSU ScholarWorks

Output from idealized simulations of a squall line are compared with in situ aircraft-based observations from the Deep Convective Clouds and Chemistry campaign. Relative humidity distributions around convection are compared between 1-Hz aircraft observations ( ’ 250-m horizontal scale) and simulations using a double-moment bulk microphysics scheme at three horizontal grid spacings: D x 5 0.25, 1, and 4km. The comparisons focus on the horizontal extent of ice supersaturated regions (ISSRs), the maximum and average relative humidity with respect to ice (RHi) in ISSRs, and the ice microphysical properties during cirrus cloud evolution, with simulations at 0.25 and 1km providing better results than the 4-km simulation. Within the ISSRs, all the simulations represent the dominant contributions of water vapor horizontal heterogeneities to ISSR formation on average, but with larger variabilities in such contributions than the observations. The best results are produced by a D x 5 0.25-km simulation with the RHi threshold for initiating ice nucleation increased to 130%, which improves almost all the ISSR characteristics and allows for larger magnitude and frequencyof icesupersaturation(ISS) . 8%. Thissimulationalso allowsmoreoccurrencesof clear-skyISSRs and a higher spatial fraction of ISS for in-cloud conditions, which are consistent with the observations. These improvements are not reproduced by modifying other ice microphysical processes, such as a factor-of-2 reduction in the ice nuclei concentration; a factor-of-10 reduction in the vapor deposition rate; turning off heterogeneous contact and immersion freezing; or turning off homogeneous freezing of liquid water.