Improving Forecast Accuracy of Financial Vulnerability: PLS Factor Model Approach

We present a factor augmented forecasting model for assessing the financial vulnerability in Korea. Dynamic factor models often extract latent common factors from a large panel of time series data via the method of the principal components (PC). Instead, we employ the partial least squares (PLS) method that estimates target specific common factors, utilizing covariances between predictors and the target variable. Applying PLS to 198 monthly frequency macroeconomic time series variables and the Bank of Korea's Financial Stress Index (KFSTI), our PLS factor augmented forecasting models consistently outperformed the random walk benchmark model in out-of-sample prediction exercises in all forecast horizons we considered. Our models also outperformed the autoregressive benchmark model in short-term forecast horizons. We expect our models would provide useful early warning signs of the emergence of systemic risks in Korea's financial markets

High Shear Stress at the Surface of Enhancing Plaque in the Systolic Phase is Related to the Symptom Presentation of Severe M1 Stenosis

The computational fluid dynamics methods for the limited flow rate and the small dimensions of an intracranial artery stenosis may help demonstrate the stroke mechanism in intracranial atherosclerosis. We have modeled the high wall shear stress (WSS) in a severe M1 stenosis. The high WSS in the systolic phase of the cardiac cycle was well-correlated with a thick fibrous cap atheroma with enhancement, as was determined using high-resolution plaque imaging techniques in a severe stenosis of the middle cerebral artery

Applicability of Concrete–Steel Composite Piles for Offshore Wind Foundations

publishedVersio

Applicability of Concrete–Steel Composite Piles for Offshore Wind Foundations

publishedVersio

Fabrication and characterization of a broadband long-period grating on a hollow optical fiber with femtosecond laser pulses

We have fabricated broadband long-period gratings (LPGs) on hollow optical fibers (HOFs) by 15 corrugating slots with various widths by point-by-point exposure of a Ti:sapphire femotosecond laser. The corrugated LPGs showed unique broadband rejection whose FWHM extended to 190 nm with a low insertion loss of less than 1 dB. The maximum coupling strength was 8.5 dB, which is a significant improvement in comparison with previous HOF acousto-optic tunable filters (AOTFs). The center wavelength and coupling strength of the resonant peak could be systematically controlled by modulating the width of the corrugation