Sharing Default Information as a Borrower Discipline Device

Creditors often share information about their customers' credit record. Besides helping them to spot bad risks, this informational exchange acts as a disciplinary device. If creditors are known to exchange data about defaults, borrowers must consider that default on a current lender would disrupt their credit rating with all the other lenders. This raises their incentive to perform. But sharing more detailed information can reduce this disciplinary effect: when lenders only disclose past defaults, borrowers' incentives to perform may be greater than when lenders share all their information. In some instances, by "fine-tuning" the type and accuracy of the information shared, lenders can raise borrowers' incentives to their first-best level.Fiscal policy, national saving, contractionary fiscal expansions

The cohomology of monogenic extensions in the noncommutative setting

We extend the notion of monogenic extension to the noncommutative setting, and we study the Hochschild cohomology ring of such an extension. As an aplication we complete the computation of the cohomology ring of the rank one Hopf algebras beggined in [S. M. Burciu and S. J. Witherspoon, Hochschild cohomology of smash products and rank one Hopf algebras].Comment: 25 pages. Some examples added, and also the Gerstenhaber structure is computed in a big family of examples, including the rank one Hopf algebra

An X-ray characterization of the central region of the SNR G332.5-5.6

We present an X-ray analysis of the central region of supernova remnant (SNR) G332.5-5.6 through an exhaustive analysis of XMM-Netwon observations with complementary infrared observations. We characterize and discuss the origin of the observed X-ray morphology, which presents a peculiar plane edge over the west side of the central region. The morphology and spectral properties of the X-ray supernova remnant were studied using a single full frame XMM-Newton observation in the 0.3 to 10.0 keV energy band. Archival infrared WISE observations at 8, 12 and 24 \mu m were also used to investigate the properties of the source and its surroundings at different wavelengths. The results show that the extended X-ray emission is predominantly soft (0.3-1.2 keV) and peaks around 0.5 keV, which shows that it is an extremely soft SNR. X-ray emission correlates very well with central regions of bright radio emission. On the west side the radio/X-ray emission displays a plane-like feature with a terminal wall where strong infrared emission is detected. Our spatially resolved X-ray spectral analysis confirms that the emission is dominated by weak atomic emission lines of N, O, Ne, and Fe, all of them undetected in previous X-ray studies. These characteristics suggest that the X-ray emission is originated in an optically thin thermal plasma, whose radiation is well fitted by a non-equilibrium ionization collisional plasma (VNEI) X-ray emission model. Our study favors a scenario where G332.5-5.6 is expanding in a medium with an abrupt density change (the wall), likely a dense infrared emitting region of dust on the western side of the source.Comment: 7 pages, 5 figures and 2 tables. Accepted for publication in A&

Mercury Clathration-Driven Phase Transition in a Luminescent Bipyrazolate Metal−Organic Framework: A Multitechnique Investigation

Mercury is one of the most toxic heavy metals. By virtue of its triple bond, the novel ligand 1,2-bis(1H-pyrazol-4- yl)ethyne (H2BPE) was expressly designed and synthesized to devise metal−organic frameworks (MOFs) exhibiting high chemical affinity for mercury. Two MOFs, Zn(BPE) and Zn(BPE)·nDMF [interpenetrated i-Zn and noninterpenetrated ni-Zn·S, respectively; DMF = dimethylformamide], were isolated as microcrystalline powders. While i-Zn is stable in water for at least 15 days, its suspension in HgCl2 aqueous solutions prompts its conversion into HgCl2@ni-Zn. A multitechnique approach allowed us to shed light onto the observed HgCl2-triggered i-Zn-to- HgCl2@ni-Zn transformation at the molecular level. Density functional theory calculations on model systems suggested that HgCl2 interacts via the mercury atom with the carbon−carbon triple bond exclusively in ni-Zn. Powder X-ray diffraction enabled us to quantify the extent of the i-Zn-to-HgCl2@ni-Zn transition in 100−5000 ppm HgCl2 (aq) solutions, while X-ray fluorescence and inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry allowed us to demonstrate that HgCl2 is quantitatively sequestered from the aqueous phase. Irradiating at 365 nm, an intense fluorescence is observed at 470 nm for ni-Zn·S, which is partially quenched for i-Zn. This spectral benchmark was exploited to monitor in real time the i-Zn-to-HgCl2@ni-Zn conversion kinetics at different HgCl2 (aq) concentrations. A sizeable fluorescence increase was observed, within a 1 h time lapse, even at a concentration of 5 ppb. Overall, this comprehensive investigation unraveled an intriguing molecular mechanism, featuring the disaggregation of a water-stable MOF in the presence of HgCl2 and the self-assembly of a different crystalline phase around the pollutant, which is sequestered and simultaneously quantified by means of a luminescence change. Such a case study might open the way to new-conception strategies to achieve real-time sensing of mercury-containing pollutants in wastewaters and, eventually, pursue their straightforward and costeffective purification.University of Insubria for partial fundingPrograma Juan de la Cierva Formación (FJC2020-045043-I)MCIN/AEI/10.13039/501100011033European Union NextGenerationEU/PRTR (Grants PID2020- 113608RB-I00 and TED2021-129886B-C41

Response of FRP-glulam slab systems under five-point bending load

Full-scale slab strips were tested in order to analyze the flexural response of FRP-glulam slab systems under monotonic loading. The type of strengthening technique (externally bonded reinforcement – EBR and near-surface mounted – NSM) and the increase target in terms of ultimate load capacity (20% and 40%) were the main studied parameters. GFRP sheets were utilized in the EBR technique, while GFRP rods were applied in NSM technique. In this work the tests are described in detail, and the obtained results are presented and discussed

Bond behavior between glulam and GFRP’s using pullout bending tests

Com o objectivo de avaliar o comportamento da ligação entre lamelados colados e varões de GFRP, quando aplicados de acordo com a técnica NSM, foi realizado um programa experimental composto por ensaios de arrancamento por flexão. Neste programa experimental foram analisadas três variáveis: o tipo de GFRP (2 tipos), a localização do FRP/dimensão da ranhura (2 tipos) e o comprimento de amarração (Lb=30 mm, 60 mm, 120 mm e 180 mm). A instrumentação inclui a medição dos deslizamentos na zona solicitada e na extremidade livre, bem como a força de arranque. Vinte e nove provetes foram ensaiados sob controlo de deslocamento com recurso a um sistema servo-controlado. O presente trabalho descreve os ensaios e apresenta e discute os resultados obtidos.To evaluate the bond behavior between glulam and GFRP rods using the near-surface mounted (NSM) strengthening technique, an experimental program was carried out by means of pullout bending tests. In this experimental program three variables were analyzed: the GFRP type (2 types), the GFRP location/groove size (2 types) and the bond length (Lb=30 mm, 60 mm, 120 mm and 180 mm). The instrumentation includes the loaded and free end slips, as well as the pullout force. Twenty nine specimens were tested under displacement control using a servo controlled equipment. In this work the tests are described, and the obtained results are presented and discussed.Fundo Europeu de Desenvolvimento Regional (FEDER) - Operational Programme for Competitiveness Factors (COMPETE)Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (FCT) - PTDC/ECM/74337/200