Risk profile indicators and Spanish banks’ probability of default from a regulatory approach

This paper analyses the relationships between the traditional bank risk profile indicators and a new measure of banks’ probability of default that considers the Basel regulatory framework. First, based on the SYstemic Model of Bank Originated Losses (SYMBOL), we calculated the individual probabilities of default (PD) of a representative sample of Spanish credit institutions during the period of 2008–2016. Then, panel data regressions were estimated to explore the influence of the risk indicators on the PD. Our findings on the Spanish banking system could be important to regulatory and supervisory authorities. First, the PD based on the SYMBOL model could be used to analyse bank risk from a regulatory approach. Second, the results might be useful for designing new regulations focused on the key factors that affect the banks’ probability of default. Third, our findings reveal that the emphasis on regulation and supervision should differ by type of entity

Factors Influencing the European Bank’s Probability of Default: An Application of SYMBOL Methodology

This paper analyses European banks’ probability of default (PD) by estimating a new measure that is based on the SYstemic Model of Bank Originated Losses (SYMBOL). First, we calculate the individual PD of a sample of European credit institutions during the period of 2011–2016. Then, dynamic panel data models are estimated to analyse the influence of several bank-specific and macroeconomic variables on the PD. We conclude that capital adequacy, liquidity, asset quality and profitability indicators influence the European banks’ PD. The macroeconomic scenario, the industry concentration and the size of banks also appear to have an impact on their risk.Fundación de la Universidad de Cantabria para el Estudio y la Investigación del sector Financiero (UCEIF) y el Banco Santander

Point defects on graphene on metals

Understanding the coupling of graphene with its local environment is critical to be able to integrate it in tomorrow's electronic devices. Here we show how the presence of a metallic substrate affects the properties of an atomically tailored graphene layer. We have deliberately introduced single carbon vacancies on a graphene monolayer grown on a Pt(111) surface and investigated its impact in the electronic, structural and magnetic properties of the graphene layer. Our low temperature scanning tunneling microscopy studies, complemented by density functional theory, show the existence of a broad electronic resonance above the Fermi energy associated with the vacancies. Vacancy sites become reactive leading to an increase of the coupling between the graphene layer and the metal substrate at these points; this gives rise to a rapid decay of the localized state and the quenching of the magnetic moment associated with carbon vacancies in free-standing graphene layers

Oxidative Stress Activates the Transcription Factors FoxO 1a and FoxO 3a in the Hippocampus of Rats Exposed to Low Doses of Ozone

The exposure to low doses of ozone induces an oxidative stress state, which is involved in neurodegenerative diseases. Forkhead box O (FoxO) family of transcription factors are activated by oxidative signals and regulate cell proliferation and resistance to oxidative stress. Our aim was to study the effect of chronic exposure to ozone on the activation of FoxO 1a and FoxO 3a in the hippocampus of rats. Male Wistar rats were divided into six groups and exposed to 0.25 ppm of ozone for 0, 7, 15, 30, 60, and 90 days. After treatment, the groups were processed for western blotting and immunohistochemistry against FoxO 3a, Mn SOD, cyclin D2, FoxO 1a, and active caspase 3. We found that exposure to ozone increased the activation of FoxO 3a at 30 and 60 days and expression of Mn SOD at all treatment times. Additionally, increases in cyclin D2 from 7 to 90 days; FoxO 1a at 15, 30, and 60 days; and activate caspase 3 from 30 to 60 days of exposure were noted. The results indicate that ozone alters regulatory pathways related to both the antioxidant system and the cell cycle, inducing neuronal reentry into the cell cycle and apoptotic death

Informe de la gestión y estrategias de la empresa Chester (industria c60202) en el simulador de negocios Capsim

El presente documento muestra el análisis y evolución de la toma de decisiones de la empresa Chester, que forma parte de la industria de los sensores, dentro de un ambiente de simulación en la plataforma Capsim. Se plantean los objetivos estratégicos, los principales indicadores de desempeño monitoreados a través de la herramienta de cuadro de mando integral y la definición de la estrategia que se siguió para cumplir con los objetivos

Methodology for the damage assessment of vehicles exposed to flooding in urban areas

Within urban areas, humans carry out a great diversity of activities, and some of them require the use of vehicles. Floods, especially in urban areas, can generate significant tangible direct damages to vehicles themselves and to the urban elements in case of loss of stability and collision, which cannot be dismissed. In this paper, after a state-of-the-art review on damage curves for vehicles, a methodology to assess the direct economic impact for vehicles exposed to flooding has been described, and applied within a study carried out in the framework of the BINGO H2020 EU Project. Only three different studies focused on damages to vehicles in contact with floodwater have been found. Contrasting damage curves for vehicles are found when comparing the three approaches, however, the ones proposed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) offer a high level of completeness and accuracy. Moreover, USACE''s development is the most current research and all the steps for the development of the damage curves are comprehensively described. Finally, after the description of a detailed methodology for flood damage mapping for vehicles, a procedure to evaluate the Expected Annual Damage for vehicles is offered

Education and innovation - vet students into technology companies

VET education is an effective and accessible way for students, to improve their employability and inclusion possibilities. It allows them to train technically in a short time to do a job and try to access the labor market. However, not even obtaining a qualification aimed at vocational training ensures access to the labor market or real possibilities of emancipation. The success of VET graduates in their first work experience joining technology companies requires the development of many skills that are common to all professional careers, but also specific skills that derive from the innovative nature of the work method and objectives of these companies. For this reason, within the framework of the Erasmus + Program, the project VET STUDENTS İNTO TECHNOLOGY COMPANİES: A VET students mobility network in the technological sector through a virtual environment with specific materials for critical thinking is being developed with the aim of promoting employability and inclusion of VET students at risk of exclusion. The project focuses on the creation of virtual tools, collaborative work methodologies and virtual training materials that allow these young people to improve their critical thinking capacity and their technological and digital skills. The project's methodology is based on the combination of the creation of training materials and a network of mobility in high-tech centres, where students will carry out a first work experience. Regarding training materials, one of the main results of this project is PERSONALIZED DIGITAL COURSE FOR LABOR TRAINING IN A TECHNOLOGICAL CENTER. This course generates personalized learning based on the student's previous knowledge and the characteristics of the technological company in which they will carry out their internship. The course follows an innovative methodology based on microlearning, a learning characterized by the resolution of relatively small exercises (pills) that are focused on the development of technical and work skills and the reinforcement of critical thinking as a fundamental mechanism. The objective of this course is not so much to provide new knowledge as to develop skills that allow the students to face problems or tasks unknown to them until then: self-training skills, assess their own way of reasoning, set objectives, raise relevant questions, state hypothesis, search for information, intellectual integrity, oral and written communication, work in multidisciplinary teams. Along with this course, within the framework of this project, the result ON YOUR SIDE is being developed, a digital educational software available for mobile devices, which will accompany the student throughout the mobility process, providing useful information such as specific training resources focused on the company where they will carry out their mobility, linguistic resources, collaborative work tools, as well as social integration resources in the destination country, among others. From this App, students will be able to access the aforementioned course. In this paper we present how, through microlearning methodology and critical thinking, students can solve the content pills through their autonomy and self-discovery.This work has been funded by the Erasmus + program within the 2019-1-ES01-KA202-064569 project, Spanish Service for the Internationalization of Education (SEPIE

Evaluation of European Deposit Insurance Scheme Funding based on risk analysis

We carry out a quantitative analysis of the financing measures proposed for the European Deposit Insurance Scheme (EDIS) regarding the target level of the fund and the contribution scheme of member entities. We estimate the loss distribution of the EDIS considering different sources of systemic risk associated with the correlations between bank assets and we analyse the sensitivity of the results to bank portfolio risk. Our findings show how the interconnection between banks of different countries has an important influence on accumulated losses in the tail of the distribution. Likewise deterioration in the quality of bank portfolios produces a significant reduction in the fund’s loss-absorbing capacity, which calls into question its soundness in times of economic recession. Finally, the contribution scheme provides more equitable risk measures and may be an appropriate incentive to reduce moral hazard in the Banking Union

Glow discharge mixture of Ar/He

Glow discharge mixture of Ar/He at a pressure of 266.66 Pa is experimentally investigated by opticalemission spectroscopy and double Langmuir probe at various mixture compositions. The species observedwere He I and Ar I. The electron temperature was found to be less than 10 eV, and the ion densityin the order of 1010 cm-3

Iterative Methods for the Biomechanical Evaluation of Corneal Response. A Case Study in the Measurement Phase

The number of corneal surgeries steadily grew in recent years and boosted the development of corneal biomechanical models. These models can contribute to simulating surgery by reducing associated risks and the need for secondary interventions due to ectasias or other problems related to correcting other diseases. Biomechanical models are based on the geometry obtained with corneal topography, which is affected by intraocular pressure and material properties. Knowledge of stress distribution in the measurement phase is a key factor for improving the accuracy of in silico mechanical models. In this work, the results obtained by two different methods: prestress method and displacements method were compared to evaluate the stress and strain distribution in a general geometric model based on the Navarro eye geometry and two real corneal geometries. The results show that both methods are equivalent for the achievement of the stress distribution in the measurement phase. Stress distribution over the corneal geometry in the measurement phase is a key factor for accurate biomechanical simulations, and these simulations could help to develop patient-specific models and reduce the number of secondary interventions in clinical practice.This publication was carried out in the framework of the Thematic Network for Co‐Operative Research in Health (RETICS) reference number RD12/0034/0007 and RD16/0008/0012, financed by the Carlos III Health Institute—General Subdirection of Networks and Cooperative Investigation Centers (R&D&I National Plan 2008–2011) and the European Regional Development Fund (FEDER). The author David P. Piñero was supported by the Ministry of Economy, Industry, and Competitiveness of Spain within the program Ramón y Cajal, RYC‐2016‐20471