Modelling flexible thrust performance for trajectory prediction applications in ATM

Reduced thrust operations are of widespread use nowadays due to their inherit benefits for engine conservation. Therefore, in order to enable realistic simulation of air traffic management (ATM) scenarios for purposes such as noise and emissions assessment, a model for reduced thrust is required. This paper proposes a methodology for modelling flexible thrust by combining an assumed temperature (AT) polynomial model identified from manufacturer take-off performance data and public thrust models taken from typical ATM performance databases. The advantage of the proposed AT model is that it only depends on the take-off conditions —runway length, airport altitude, temperature, wind, etc. The results derived from this methodology were compared to simulation data obtained from manufacturer’s take-off performance tools and databases. This comparison revealed that the polynomial model provides AT estimations with sufficient accuracy for their use in ATM simulation. The Base of Aircraft Data (BADA) and the Aircraft Noise and Performance (ANP) database were chosen as representative of aircraft performance models commonly used in ATM simulation. It was observed that there is no significant degradation of the overall accuracy of their thrust models when using AT, while there is a correct capture of the corresponding thrust reduction.Peer ReviewedPostprint (published version

Eligibility of External Credit Assessment Institutions

The Basel Committee on Banking Supervision in 1999 issued a draft New Basel Capital Accord (Basel 2). Its principles are to be incorporated into the European legislation and into the Czech banking regulations. The Standardised Approach to calculating the capital requirement for credit risk is newly based on external credit assessments (ratings). Banking regulators and supervisors have to be prepared for the process of determining eligible credit assessment institutions (ECAIs) and will have to elaborate a formal recognition procedure. This paper investigates the approaches a supervisor may apply to ECAI recognition and elaborates on the criteria of recognition. First, the paper reviews the available rating agencies on the market (including their rating penetration on the Czech market), their best practices and the experience with the use of their ratings for regulatory purposes. Second, drawing on international experience and the proposed Basel 2 rules, we outline the fundamental supervisory approaches to recognition, including the legal aspects thereof, and analyse their pros and cons and the frontiers of supervisory decision making. Third, we outline the rules for recognition, including requirements or expectations (e.g. soft limits), documentation and typical interview questions with the potential candidates. We find the CNB's approach to be in compliance with CEBS Consultative Paper CP07 (issued for public consultation in June 2005).Basel capital accord, Basel II, Credit rating, default, eligibility criteria, eligibility evaluation, external credit assessment institution (ECAI), export credit agency (ECA), mapping rating grades, market acceptance of ECAIs, rating agency, recognition process

Content-Based Book Recommending Using Learning for Text Categorization

Recommender systems improve access to relevant products and information by making personalized suggestions based on previous examples of a user's likes and dislikes. Most existing recommender systems use social filtering methods that base recommendations on other users' preferences. By contrast, content-based methods use information about an item itself to make suggestions. This approach has the advantage of being able to recommended previously unrated items to users with unique interests and to provide explanations for its recommendations. We describe a content-based book recommending system that utilizes information extraction and a machine-learning algorithm for text categorization. Initial experimental results demonstrate that this approach can produce accurate recommendations.Comment: 8 pages, 3 figures, Submission to Fourth ACM Conference on Digital Librarie

Medicare Advantage Plan Star Ratings and Bonus Payments in 2012

Estimates total Medicare spending on and distribution of quality ratings-based bonus payments for Medicare Advantage plans in 2012 by company, tax status, state and county and in relation to cuts in plan payments under federal health reform

Evaluation of the economic impact of the iNet

An evaluation of the economic impacts of the iNets (innovation networks) commissioned to assist in the delivery of the East Midlands Regional Innovation Strategy (RIS)

Pensions in World Bank lending and analytical work : FY2002-2007

This paper presents an overview of the World Bank's lending and knowledge building activities that have improved pension systems in client countries during the past two decades. The objectives of this report are: i) to describe the policy framework that has guided the Bank's work on pension related issues; ii) to present relevant information about the nature and extent of the Bank's lending and policy advisory work in this area; and iii) to discuss some of the results that have been achieved through this work as well as future policy directions. The overview covers the level and characteristics of all lending operations that included a component related to pensions during FY2002-07, as well as over a longer time period going back to 1984 when the Bank initiated a meaningful level of pension work. Thus, this report updates the portfolio review that was a central element of the Bank's Independent Evaluation Group's (IEG) review of pension work that covered the period from 1984 through early 2004. The update provides an overview of the World Bank pension lending trends by region, type of intervention, sector board and type of lending instrument. This report concludes with observations about the results of the pension work and the priorities for the future.,Debt Markets,Banks&Banking Reform,Emerging Markets,Pensions&Retirement Systems