A Reinterpretation of the Gordon and Barro Model in Terms of Financial Stability

A government bailout model based on the framework of time-consistent mone- tary policy of Barro and Gordon (1983) is developed. In the model, the banking sector and the government play a game where the former chooses a bailout expec- tation whereas the later reacts by choosing its optimal bailout policy. The banking sector is assumed to be perfectly competitive, aiming only at anticipating the bailout policy. An excess of credit ensues and firms over-invest, which can be amended by an appropriately chosen reserve requirement. The government faces a trade-off be- tween efficiency and stability in trying to minimize the costs of intervention

Network Formation and Financial Fragility

A tractable model of the formation of financial networks is developed, allowing the use of concepts from portfolio theory. The optimal financial network maximizes a Sharpe ratio defined for financial networks, whereas the equilibrium financial net- work emerges from banks bargaining over future proceeds of co-investment oppor- tunities. Measures of financial fragility, systemic risk and robustness are developed. The equilibrium financial network is shown to be the most connected and with the lowest level of financial fragility, whereas the optimal is the one least connected and with lowest exposure to systemic risk, being also the most robust financial network

Data on subgroup specific baseline characteristics and serum sphingosine-1-phosphate concentrations in the Study of Health in Pomerania

In this data article, we provide subgroup specific baseline characteristics and serum sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P) concentrations for healthy individuals within the Study of Health in Pomerania (SHIP)-TREND cohort. After exclusion of subjects with cardiovascular disease, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, metabolic syndrome, elevated liver enzymes and/or chronic kidney disease stadium III or IV, four subgroups were defined according to different limits for body mass index (BMI), alterations in blood lipid levels and smoking status. Tables show respective clinical and laboratory parameters stratified by gender. Serum S1P concentrations are also stratified by age groups. The data presented herein is related to the research article entitled “Reference intervals for serum sphingosine-1-phosphate in the population-based Study of Health in Pomerania” (E. Moritz, D. Wegner, S. Groß, M. Bahls, M. Dörr, S.B. Felix, T. Ittermann, S. Oswald, M. Nauck, N. Friedrich, R.H. Böger, G. Daum, E. Schwedhelm, B.H. Rauch, Clin Chim Acta. 468 (2017) 25–31) [1]

Poly(methyl methacrylate)-Supported Polydiacetylene Films: Unique Chromatic Transitions and Molecular Sensing

Polydiacetylenes (PDAs) constitute a family of conjugated polymers exhibiting unique colorimetric and fluorescence transitions, and have attracted significant interest as chemo- and biosensing materials. We spin-coated PDA films upon poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA), and investigated the photophysical properties and sensing applications of the new PDA configuration. Specifically, the as-polymerized blue PDA layer underwent distinct transformations to purple, red, and yellow phases, which could be quantified through conventional color scanning combined with application of image analysis algorithms. Furthermore, we recorded a reversible red-purple PDA transition that was induced by ultraviolet irradiation, a phenomenon that had not been reported previously in PDA film systems. We show that distinct color and fluorescence transitions were induced in the PMMA-supported PDA films by amphiphilic substances-surfactants and ionic liquids-and that the chromatic transformations were correlated to the analyte structures and properties. Overall, this study presents a new chromatic PDA film system in which noncovalent interactions between the PMMA substrate and spin-coated PDA give rise to distinct chromatic properties and molecular sensing capabilities. © 2014 American Chemical Society

Achievements and Performance Prospects of the Upgraded LHC Injectors

To provide HL-LHC performance, the CERN LHC injector chain underwent a major upgrade during an almost 2-year-long shutdown. In the first half of 2021 the injectors were gradually re-started with the aim to reach at least pre-shutdown parameters for LHC as well as for fixed target beams. The strategy of the commissioning across the complex, a summary of the many challenges and finally the achievements will be presented. Several lessons were learned and have been integrated to define the strategy for the performance ramp-up over the coming years. Remaining limitations and prospects for LHC beam parameters at the exit of the LHC injector chain in the years to come will be discussed. Finally, the emerging need for improved operability of the CERN complex will be addressed, with a description of the first efforts to meet the availability and flexibility requirements of the HL-LHC era while at the same time maximizing fixed target physics output

Beam Performance with the LHC Injectors Upgrade

The LHC Injectors Upgrade (LIU) project was put in place between 2010 and 2021 to increase the intensity and brightness in the LHC injectors to match the challenging requirements of the High-Luminosity LHC (HL-LHC) project, while ensuring reliable operation of the injectors complex up to the end of the HL-LHC era (ca. 2040). During the 2019-2020 CERN accelerators shutdown, extensive hardware modifications were implemented in the entire LHC proton and ion injection chains, involving the new Linac4, the Proton Synchrotron Booster (PSB), the Proton Synchrotron (PS), the Super Proton Synchrotron (SPS) and the ion PS injectors, i.e. the Linac3 and the Low Energy Ion Ring (LEIR). Since 2021, beams have been recommissioned throughout the injectors’ chain and the beam parameters are being gradually ramped up to meet the LIU specifications using new beam dynamics solutions adapted to the upgraded accelerators. This paper focuses on the proton beams and describes the current state of the art