Determinants of profitability in Spanish financial institutions. Comparing aided and non-aided entities

The last financial crisis has led to the greatest contribution of public funds ever made to Spanish banks. This paper studies why the need for support has been asymmetric, with not all of the institutions requiring aid. Based on profitability of assets (ROA), we determine using panel data econometric and logit response models the components of profit and loss accounts that generated profitability as well as the factors leading to some entities to ask for aid. The analyses show that before the beginning of the crisis there were significant differences between entities that needed aid and those that did not. The most profitable banks grounded their success in the traditional revenue components of financial institutions (such as margin on interest rates and commissions), as well as in revenues obtained from participated companies and extraordinary results. The model offers a tool to detect entities in difficulties in advance, reducing the financial and social costs of public interventions. The factors more impacting on profitability of Spanish institutions are also identifie

On the origin of the X-ray emission from a narrow-line radioquasar at z>1

We present new XMM-Newton X-ray observations of the z=1.246 narrow-line radioquasar RX J1011.2+5545 serendipitously discovered by ROSAT. The flat X-ray spectrum previously measured by ROSAT and ASCA is shown to be the result of a steep Gamma~1.8 power law spectrum seen through a moderate intrinsic absorbing column NH~4E21 cm^-2. The position of the X-ray source is entirely coincident with the nucleus of the radio source that we have resolved in new sensitive VLA observations at 3.6 and 6 cm, implying that scattering in the radio lobes is not responsible for the bulk of X-ray emission. In the EPIC pn image, a faint patch of X-ray emission is apparent 14'' to the NE of the main X-ray source. The former is positionally coincident with an apparently extended optical object with R~21.9, but there is no associated radio emission, thus ruling out the possibility that this represents a hotspot in a jet emanating from the primary X-ray source. No reflection features are detected in the X-ray spectrum of the narrow-line radioquasar, although an Fe line with equivalent width of up to 600 eV cannot be ruled out.Comment: 7 pages, 6 figures, MNRAS in the pres

Phonon surface mapping of graphite: disentangling quasi--degenerate phonon dispersions

The two-dimensional mapping of the phonon dispersions around the $K$ point of graphite by inelastic x-ray scattering is provided. The present work resolves the longstanding issue related to the correct assignment of transverse and longitudinal phonon branches at $K$. We observe an almost degeneracy of the three TO, LA and LO derived phonon branches and a strong phonon trigonal warping. Correlation effects renormalize the Kohn anomaly of the TO mode, which exhibits a trigonal warping effect opposite to that of the electronic band structure. We determined the electron--phonon coupling constant to be 166$\rm(eV/\AA)^2$ in excellent agreement to $GW$ calculations. These results are fundamental for understanding angle-resolved photoemission, double--resonance Raman and transport measurements of graphene based systems

Electron-phonon renormalization of the absorption edge of the cuprous halides

Compared to most tetrahedral semiconductors, the temperature dependence of the absorption edges of the cuprous halides (CuCl, CuBr, CuI) is very small. CuCl and CuBr show a small increase of the gap $E_0$ with increasing temperature, with a change in the slope of $E_0$ vs. $T$ at around 150 K: above this temperature, the variation of $E_0$ with $T$ becomes even smaller. This unusual behavior has been clarified for CuCl by measurements of the low temperature gap vs. the isotopic masses of both constituents, yielding an anomalous negative shift with increasing copper mass. Here we report the isotope effects of Cu and Br on the gap of CuBr, and that of Cu on the gap of CuI. The measured isotope effects allow us to understand the corresponding temperature dependences, which we also report, to our knowledge for the first time, in the case of CuI. These results enable us to develop a more quantitative understanding of the phenomena mentioned for the three halides, and to interpret other anomalies reported for the temperature dependence of the absorption gap in copper and silver chalcogenides; similarities to the behavior observed for the copper chalcopyrites are also pointed out.Comment: 14 pages, 5 figures, submitted to Phys. Rev.

Disorder-induced phonon self-energy of semiconductors with binary isotopic composition

Self-energy effects of Raman phonons in isotopically disordered semiconductors are deduced by perturbation theory and compared to experimental data. In contrast to the acoustic frequency region, higher-order terms contribute significantly to the self-energy at optical phonon frequencies. The asymmetric dependence of the self-energy of a binary isotope system $m_{1-x} M_x$ on the concentration of the heavier isotope mass x can be explained by taking into account second- and third-order perturbation terms. For elemental semiconductors, the maximum of the self-energy occurs at concentrations with $0.5<x<0.7$, depending on the strength of the third-order term. Reasonable approximations are imposed that allow us to derive explicit expressions for the ratio of successive perturbation terms of the real and the imaginary part of the self-energy. This basic theoretical approach is compatible with Raman spectroscopic results on diamond and silicon, with calculations based on the coherent potential approximation, and with theoretical results obtained using {\it ab initio} electronic theory. The extension of the formalism to binary compounds, by taking into account the eigenvectors at the individual sublattices, is straightforward. In this manner, we interpret recent experimental results on the disorder-induced broadening of the TO (folded) modes of SiC with a $^{13}{\rm C}$-enriched carbon sublattice. \cite{Rohmfeld00,Rohmfeld01}Comment: 29 pages, 9 figures, 2 tables, submitted to PR

Hidden geometric correlations in real multiplex networks

Real networks often form interacting parts of larger and more complex systems. Examples can be found in different domains, ranging from the Internet to structural and functional brain networks. Here, we show that these multiplex systems are not random combinations of single network layers. Instead, they are organized in specific ways dictated by hidden geometric correlations between the individual layers. We find that these correlations are strong in different real multiplexes, and form a key framework for answering many important questions. Specifically, we show that these geometric correlations facilitate: (i) the definition and detection of multidimensional communities, which are sets of nodes that are simultaneously similar in multiple layers; (ii) accurate trans-layer link prediction, where connections in one layer can be predicted by observing the hidden geometric space of another layer; and (iii) efficient targeted navigation in the multilayer system using only local knowledge, which outperforms navigation in the single layers only if the geometric correlations are sufficiently strong. Our findings uncover fundamental organizing principles behind real multiplexes and can have important applications in diverse domains.Comment: Supplementary Materials available at http://www.nature.com/nphys/journal/v12/n11/extref/nphys3812-s1.pd

Weighted network modules

The inclusion of link weights into the analysis of network properties allows a deeper insight into the (often overlapping) modular structure of real-world webs. We introduce a clustering algorithm (CPMw, Clique Percolation Method with weights) for weighted networks based on the concept of percolating k-cliques with high enough intensity. The algorithm allows overlaps between the modules. First, we give detailed analytical and numerical results about the critical point of weighted k-clique percolation on (weighted) Erdos-Renyi graphs. Then, for a scientist collaboration web and a stock correlation graph we compute three-link weight correlations and with the CPMw the weighted modules. After reshuffling link weights in both networks and computing the same quantities for the randomised control graphs as well, we show that groups of 3 or more strong links prefer to cluster together in both original graphs.Comment: 19 pages, 7 figure

Guidelines to design tangible tabletop activities for children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder is one of the most frequent neurodevelopmental disorders among children. In spite of this, there is a lack of HCI research specifically devoted to these children. This paper describes efforts to transfer previous experience with other neurodiverse children in the field of tangible tabletops to ADHD children. The results of evaluation sessions carried out in conjunction with an ADHD association, complemented with an in-depth study of their special characteristics and needs, have led to a set of guidelines oriented to the design of tangible tabletop activities. These guidelines are mostly general and applicable to the design of any interactive application oriented to ADHD children. They are also appropriate for applications for other neurodiverse children or, in fact, any child from a more inclusive perspective