Borrowing constraints and credit demand: evidence for Uruguay

This paper analyses the determinants of credit demand in the presence of borrowing constraints for Uruguayan economy. I model the determinants of debt level for Uruguayan households taking into account selection bias and endogeneity of household income and non-real estate assets. I found differences considering the type of debt that families face; mortgage and consumer debt. For instance, in average, income-to-debt elasticities are smaller than one for both type of debt. Additionally, consumer debt income elasticity is smaller compared to mortgage debt. Besides, in average age-to-debt semi-elasticity are negatives for any type of debt. The effect is larger in consumer debt compared to mortgage debt. However, variable age is not statistically significant in determining debt semi-elasticity. In addition, I find evidence of sample selection for any type of debt, but I do not find evidence of endogeneity for consumer debt, nor for mortgage debt

Analyse macroéconomique du secteur de la construction en Valais de 1997 à 2014

De nos jours, l’économie suisse se porte mieux que celle des pays voisins et que d’autres grandes économies occidentales telles que la France ou l’Italie. Le PIB et le taux de chômage illustrent la meilleure situation helvétique, qui a engendré une croissance démographique en majeure partie due à l’immigration. Cette situation a créé une forte progression au niveau du marché immobilier. C’est pourquoi, de 2008 à 2013, le « boom » immobilier a fait augmenter la croissance de l’investissement dans la construction. Cependant, depuis quelques temps déjà, l’achat et la construction d’habitations tendent à la baisse. En Valais, la situation est plus compliquée car nous remarquons un certain ralentissement tant au niveau de la plaine qu’en montagne

The Blood Ontology: An ontology in the domain of hematology

Despite the importance of human blood to clinical practice and research, hematology and blood transfusion data remain scattered throughout a range of disparate sources. This lack of systematization concerning the use and definition of terms poses problems for physicians and biomedical professionals. We are introducing here the Blood Ontology, an ongoing initiative designed to serve as a controlled vocabulary for use in organizing information about blood. The paper describes the scope of the Blood Ontology, its stage of development and some of its anticipated uses

Analysis of the debt structure: a comparative study between brazilian and american companies

O trabalho analisou os endividamentos totais e de longo prazo de empresas brasileiras e americanas, de vários setores da economia, no período de 1999 a 2003. Além do estudo comparativo, testou-se, utilizando mínimos quadrados ordinários (regressões cross-sectional) algumas hipóteses acerca dos determinantes da estrutura de endividamento das empresas, partindo-se de estudos dos principais autores propostos pela literatura para empresas de diferentes países. Adicionalmente, uma análise comparativa entre os setores foi realizada, utilizando-se testes de diferença de médias. Os resultados mostraram que empresas brasileiras e americanas apresentaram, respectivamente, proporção maior e crescente de dívidas de curto e longo prazo no período. No longo prazo, verificou-se, ainda, a superioridade das americanas sobre as brasileiras. Mas, no que se refere ao endividamento total, as brasileiras mostraram-se superiores às americanas. Nas regressões, encontraram-se evidências de que maior proporção de ativos para garantia resultam em maiores níveis de dívida total e longo prazo. Também ficou evidenciado que empresas mais rentáveis e com altas taxas de despesa de depreciação tendem a apresentar menos dívidas, tanto de longo prazo como totais. Finalmente, verificou-se que empresas maiores tendem a ser mais endividadas no total.This paper analyzed total and long term indebtedness of Brazilian and American companies pertaining to various sectors of economy, between 1999-2003. Besides the comparative study, some hypotheses about the determinants of corporate debt maturity structure, based on main authors' studies found in literature for companies from different countries, were tested using ordinary least squares (cross-sectional regressions). Also, a comparative analysis among the sectors was achieved using mean comparison tests. The results showed that Brazilian and American companies presented, respectively, a greater and increasing proportion of short and long term debts during the period. Relating to the long term debt, it was verified the superiority of American companies to the Brazilian ones. But, relating to the total debt, Brazilian companies showed they were higher indebted than the American ones. The regressions indicated that companies with a greater proportion of assets to be given as collateral, obtained greater levels of total and long term debts. There were also evidences that companies with higher profits and higher depreciation expenses tend to show both less long term and total indebtedness. Finally, it was verified that total debt is positively related to a company's size.Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq

Estimating productivity gains in digital automation

This paper proposes a novel productivity estimation model to evaluate the effects of adopting Artificial Intelligence (AI) components in a production chain. Our model provides evidence to address the "AI's" Solow's Paradox. We provide (i) theoretical and empirical evidence to explain Solow's dichotomy; (ii) a data-driven model to estimate and asses productivity variations; (iii) a methodology underpinned on process mining datasets to determine the business process, BP, and productivity; (iv) a set of computer simulation parameters; (v) and empirical analysis on labour-distribution. These provide data on why we consider AI Solow's paradox a consequence of metric mismeasurement.Comment: 11 pages and 9 figure

WEB-BASED DISTANCE LEARNING PROGRAMMES: AN EXPLORATORY INVESTIGATION OF ITS CRITICAL SUCCESS FACTORS

Organizations have been making in the last years heavy investments in Web-based distance learning initiatives. Despite the many uncertainties that this involves, part of the teaching and learning processes are moving towards the Internet. These uncertainties bring about difficulties for managers, who face the challenge of keeping the focus on essential and relevant aspects that will assure programmes success. However, what would these factors be? This article aims at answering this question by identifying the critical success factors of Web-based distance learning programmes. With this objective, nine semi-structured interviews with experts were held and two case studies were carried out. Results point to the existence of five critical success factors, namely (1) the experience and background of the program teams, (2) the students’ characteristics and behavior, (3) the learning model, (4) the technology and (5) the establishment of strategic alliances

Perencanaan dan Analisis Implementasi Jaringan Berbasis Wimax Negara Timor Leste

ABSTRAKSI: PERENCANAAN DAN ANALISIS IMPLEMENTASI JARINGAN BERBASIS WIMAX DI NEGARA TIMOR LESTE, Perkembangan Telekomunikasi saat ini meningkat dengan sangat pesat. Tidak hanya perkembangan di sisi teknologi, tetapi juga perkembangan kebutuhan masyarakat akan layanan telekomunikasi. Salah satu perkembangan teknologi adalah WiMAX sebagai teknologi akses dari Broadband Wireless Access (WBA). Perkembangan ini tentu harus diiringi dengan kesiapan implementasi di lapangan. Sebagai salah satu upaya untuk menyiapkan implementasi tersebut, pada Tesis ini dibahas mengenai perencanaan jaringan WiMAX di Timor Leste. Teknologi WiMAX yang diimplementasikan pada tesis ini menggunakan frekuensi 3,5 GHz dan lebar kanal 3,5 MHz untuk layanan fixed access. Perencanaan ini diawali dengan melakukan identifikasi daerah layanan, baik dari sisi wilayah maupun jumlah pelanggan sebagai dasar dalam melakukan dimensioning jaringan. Jumlah pelanggan potensial didekati dengan beberapa pendekatan, yaitu pendekatan penghasilan per kapita dan usia, serta pelanggan yang telah ada. Dengan adanya estimasi jumlah pelanggan ini, akan diketahui kebutuhan trafik yang harus dilayani. Sedangkan dimensioning dilakukan dengan pendekatan kapasitas traik dan daya jangkau. Dari perhitungan pendekatan tersebut diperoleh kebutuhan kanal pada tahun pertama pembangunan adalah 50 kanal untuk daerah urban dan 10 kanal untuk daerah suburban. Dan diprediksi perkembangannya dengan faktor perkembangan tetap sampai dengan tahun ke-5. Setelah ditentukan kebutuhan kanal tersebut, maka dilakukan visualisasi dimensioning di wilayah perencanaan untuk mengetahui beberapa alternatif yang memberikan jumlah pembangunan sel di wilayah tersebut secara optimal.Kata Kunci : WiMAX, Modulasi Adaptif, SNR, Dimensioning.ABSTRACT: PLANNING AND IMPLEMENTATION OF NETWORK-BASED ANALYSIS OF WIMAX IN EAST TIMOR Telecommunications developments currently rising rapidly. Not only developments in the technology, but also the development of telecommunication services needs of the community. One is the development of WiMAX technology as an access technology of Wireless Broadband Access (WBA). This development would be accompanied by the readiness of implementation in the field. As one effort to prepare the implementation of these, in this thesis discusses the WiMAX network planning in East Timor. WiMAX technology is implemented in this thesis uses 3.5 GHz frequency and 3.5 MHz wide channel for fixed access services.Planning begins with identifying regional services, both from the region and the number of subscribers as the basis to perform network dimensioning. The number of potential customers approached by several approaches, per capita income and age, as well as existing customers. With the estimated number of subscribers, will be known to traffic needs to be served. While dimensioning Methodological approaches traik capacity and coverage. From the calculations obtained by the approach channel in the first year requirement is 50 channel development for urban and 10 channels for the suburbs. And predicted its development by a factor of development remained until the 5th year. Having determined the needs of these channels, then performed visualization of dimensioning in the area of planning to find some alternatives that provide the number of cell development in the region optimally. Then determined the location of the coordinate development of base station (BS). From the visualization results were obtained three alternative implementations.Keyword: WiMAX, Adaptive modulation, SNR, Dimensioning

The number of procedures required to eliminate positioning nystagmus in benign paroxysmal positional vertigo

AIM: To evaluate the number of weekly canalith repositioning procedures needed to eliminate positioning nystagmus in patients with benign paroxysmal positional vertigo and to verify influences of canalithiasis or cupulolithiasis and/or semicircular canal involvement. STUDY DESIGN: clinical prospective with transversal cohort. MATERIAL AND METHOD: Sixty patients with benign paroxysmal positional vertigo were consecutively selected according to each combination of canalithiasis or cupulolithiasis with semicircular canal involvement. Patients were treated by means of canalith repositioning procedures repeated weekly until the elimination of the positioning nystagmus. Analysis of Variance was used to verify differences between the variables. RESULTS: An average of 2.13 procedures (from 1 to 8) was needed to eliminate the positioning nystagmus. Canalithiasis required an average of 1.53 procedures, while cupulolithiasis needed 2.92 procedures (p=0.0002). An average of two procedures was needed to eliminate the positioning nystagmus in cases with posterior canal involvement, 2.39 procedures in cases with anterior canal involvement and 2.07 procedures in cases with lateral canal involvement (p=0.5213). CONCLUSIONS: From one to eight weekly canalith repositioning procedures were needed, with an average of two, to eliminate positioning nystagmus in benign paroxysmal positional vertigo. Cupulolithiasis requires a greater number of procedures than canalithiasis to eliminate positioning nystagmus. Semicircular canal involvement didn't influence the number of therapeutic maneuvers.OBJETIVO: Avaliar o número de manobras necessárias para abolir o nistagmo posicional em pacientes com Vertigem Posicional Paroxística Benigna e verificar possíveis influências do substrato fisiopatológico e/ou canal semicircular acometido. FORMA DE ESTUDO: clínico prospectivo com coorte transversal. MATERIAL E MÉTODO: Sessenta pacientes com Vertigem Posicional Paroxística Benigna foram tratados por meio das manobras de reposicionamento de estatocônios, repetidas semanalmente até a abolição do nistagmo. A Análise de Variância foi aplicada para verificar diferenças entre as variáveis dos fatores substrato fisiopatológico e canal semicircular acometido. RESULTADOS: Foram necessárias de 1 a 8 manobras, em média 2,13 para abolir o nistagmo posicional. A cupulolitíase necessitou de um número maior de manobras que a ductolitíase (p=0,0002*) e não houve diferença entre os canais semicirculares (p=0,5213). Nos canais anterior e posterior, a ductolitíase precisou em média de uma a duas manobras e a cupulolitíase precisou em média de três manobras. No canal lateral, tanto a ductolitíase quanto a cupulolitíase precisaram de duas manobras, em média. CONCLUSÕES: São necessárias de uma a oito manobras semanais de reposicionamento de estatocônios, em média duas, para eliminar o nistagmo posicional na Vertigem Posicional Paroxística Benigna. A cupulolitíase necessita de maior número de manobras que a ductolitíase. O canal semicircular acometido não influencia o número de manobras terapêuticas.Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP) Escola Paulista de Medicina Otorrinolaringologia e Cirurgia de Cabeça e PescoçoUNIFESP-EPMUNIFESP, EPM, Otorrinolaringologia e Cirurgia de Cabeça e PescoçoUNIFESP, EPMSciEL

Militância estudantil e memórias dos anos 1960

O artigo explora entrevistas de militantes estudantis dos anos 1960 que atuaram na UFBA. Investiga essa memória militante a respeito do movimento estudantil e suas representações sobre festa na política, violência, repressão e usos políticos do passado. Reflete sobre o esquecimento nas narrativas das lutas desenvolvidas pela militância estudantil antes do golpe de 1964. Sugere que investigar as continuidades e rupturas entre a militância estudantil antes do golpe e a que atuou na resistência à ditadura pode contribuir para novas problemáticas historiográficas. Problematiza a associação entre geração de 1960 e geração de 1968. Palavras-chave: Movimentos estudantis – Brasil. Estudantes – Atividades Políticas. Ditadura – Brasil. Memórias Estudantis. Geração de 1960 – Geração de 1968