Employment risk, unemployment insurance and search strategies: a disaggregated equilibrium approach with application to the Swiss labour market in the 1990-ies

The Organization of the Thesis The remainder of the thesis comprises five chapters and a conclusion. The next chapter formalizes the envisioned theory into a tractable model. Section 2.2 presents a formal description of the model economy: the individual heterogeneity, the individual objective, the UI setting, the population dynamics and the equilibrium. The welfare and efficiency criteria for qualifying various equilibrium outcomes are proposed in section 2.3. The fourth section shows how the model-generated information can be computed. Chapter 3 transposes the model from chapter 2 in conditions that enable its use in the analysis of individual labor market strategies and their implications for the labor market equilibrium. In section 3.2 the Swiss labor market data sets, stylized facts, and the UI system are presented. The third section outlines and motivates the parameterization method. In section 3.4 the model's replication ability is evaluated and some aspects of the parameter choice are discussed. Numerical solution issues can be found in the appendix. Chapter 4 examines the determinants of search-strategic behavior in the model economy and its implications for the labor market aggregates. In section 4.2, the unemployment duration distribution is examined and related to search strategies. Section 4.3 shows how the search- strategic behavior is influenced by the UI eligibility and section 4.4 how it is determined by individual heterogeneity. The composition effects generated by search strategies in labor market aggregates are examined in section 4.5. The last section evaluates the model's replication of empirical unemployment escape frequencies reported in Sheldon [67]. Chapter 5 applies the model economy to examine the effects on the labor market equilibrium of shocks to the labor market risk structure, to the deep underlying labor market structure and to the UI setting. Section 5.2 examines the effects of the labor market risk structure on the labor market equilibrium and the labor market strategic behavior. The effects of alterations in the labor market deep economic structural parameters, i.e. individual preferences and production technology, are shown in Section 5.3. Finally, the UI setting impacts on the labor market are studied in Section 5.4. This section also evaluates the role of the UI authority monitoring and the differences in the Way changes in the replacement rate and the UI benefit duration affect the labor market. In chapter 6 the model economy is applied in counterfactual experiments to assess several aspects of the Swiss labor market movements in the nineties. Section 6.2 examines the two equilibria characterizing the Swiss labor market in the nineties, the " growth" equilibrium with a "moderate" UI regime and the "recession" equilibrium with a more "generous" UI. Section 6.3 evaluates the isolated effects of the structural shocks, while the isolated effects of the UI reforms are analyzed in section 6.4. Particular dimensions of the UI reforms, the duration, replacement rate and the tax rate effects, are studied in section 6.5, while labor market equilibria without benefits are evaluated in section 6.6. In section 6.7 the structural and institutional interactions that may act as unemployment amplifiers are discussed in view of the obtained results. A welfare analysis based on individual welfare in different structural and UI settings is presented in the eighth section. Finally, the results are related to more favorable unemployment trends after 1997. The conclusion evaluates the features embodied in the model economy with respect to the resulting model dynamics to derive lessons from the model design." The thesis ends by proposing guidelines for future improvements of the model and directions for further research.

A Cartoon History of Iowa, 1968

This book is for students to learn about the history of Iowa through cartoons and drawings with questions to answer at the end of each of the 75 chapters. The author and artist is Herb V. Hake.

Videvdad 19 : édition critique, traduction et commentaires des textes avestique et moyen-perse

Notre travail porte sur le Videvdad, texte avestique nommé d'après unmot avestique Videvdad-data-, c'est-à-dire la « Un qui tient éloignés les demons ». Ce recueil comprend 22 chapitres édictant des lois religieuses, des préceptes rituels et des mesures de purification Ces prescriptions ont pour but de repousser l'impureté des elements purs de la création d'Ahura Mazda. Notre thèse est une édition du chapitre 19 de ce recueil complétée de sa traduction commentée. Ce chapitre raconte la tentation de Zarathustra par le Mauvais Esprit et sa victoire sur ce dernier Le texte a été traduit et commenté sémantiquement, phonétiquement et philologiquement afin d'en dégager les particularités linguistiques.L'édition de référence du texte avestique est celle de Geldner, qui date de la fin du 19 siècle Dans la mesure où il a été démontré durant ces dernières années quil fallait revoir ce travail, nous avons fait une édition du texte en collationnant 13 manuscits. Notre étude nous a permis à la fois de proposer pour certains termes une autre lecture que celle de Geldner et decontinuer les recherches sur la filiation des manuscrits.De plus le texte avestique a été mis en regard de la version pehlevie. L'intérêt de cette dernière traduction réside dans ses gloses : parfois un long commentaire parfois une simple énonciation de synonymes en pehlevie. le traducteur lui-même comprenant mal le sens du mot original. L'édition du texte pehlevi a également été refaite à partir des deux manuscrits lesplus anciens (L4 et Kl).Videvdad 19 :Critical Edition, Translation and Commentary of the Avestan and Pahlavi TextsWe worked on the Videvdad, an Avestan text whose title is a Middle Persian word coming from the Avestan Videvdad-data- "the law that keeps demons away" This anthology contains 22 chapters dealing with religious laws, ritual precepts and measures of purification. These prescriptions aim ft rejecting impurity from pure elements in Ahura Mazda's creation. Our dissertation is an edition and translation with commentary of chapter 19 of this anthology. lt relates the temptation of Zarathustra by the Bad Evil and how Zarathustra overcame him. The text was translated and annotated semantically, phonetically and philologically to highlight linguistic features.Until today, Geldner's edition, which dates back to the end of the 19th century has been the edition of reference. However, in recent years, scholars have shown that this edition must be revised Therefore, we prepared an edition of the Avestan text by collating 13 manuscripts. This work led us to propose new readings for several words and pursue research onmanuscripts filiation.Furthermore, we also studied the Middle Persian text. This translation is interesting in that it contains glosses that can either be long commentaries or simple synonyms. We also made the edition of the Middle Persian text on the basis of the two oldest manuscripts (L4 and Kl).

Financial crisis: theory and practice

In the last 50 years, we have had approximately 40 events with characteristics related to financial crisis. The most severe crisis was in 1929, when the financial markets plummet and the US gross domestic product decline in more than 30 percent. Recently some years ago, a new crisis developed in the United States, but instantly caused consequences and effects in the rest of the world.This new economic and financial crisis has increased the interest and motivation for the academic community, professors and researchers, to understand the causes and effects of the crisis, to learn from it. This is the one of the main reasons for the compilation of this book, which begins with a meeting of a group of IAFI researchers from the University of Barcelona, where researchers form Mexico and Spain, explain causes and consequences of the crisis of 2007.For that reason, we believed this set of chapters related to methodologies, applications and theories, would conveniently explained the characteristics and events of the past and future financial crisisThis book consists in 3 main sections, the first one called "State of the Art and current situation", the second named "Econometric applications to estimate crisis time periods" , and the third one "Solutions to diminish the effects of the crisis". The first section explains the current point of view of many research papers related to financial crisis, it has 2 chapters. In the first one, it describe and analyzes the models that historically have been used to explain financial crisis, furthermore, it proposes to used alternative methodologies such as Fuzzy Cognitive Maps. On the other hand , Chapter 2 , explains the characteristics and details of the 2007 crisis from the US perspective and its comparison to 1929 crisis, presenting some effects in Mexico and Latin America.The second section presents two econometric applications to estimate possible crisis periods. For this matter, Chapter 3, studies 3 Latin-American countries: Argentina, Brazil and Peru in the 1994 crisis and estimates the multifractal characteristics to identify financial and economic distress.Chapter 4 explains the crisis situations in Argentina (2001), Mexico (1994) and the recent one in the United States (2007) and its effects in other countries through a financial series methodology related to the stock market.The last section shows an alternative to prevent the effects of the crisis. The first chapter explains the financial stability effects through the financial system regulation and some globalization standards. Chapter 6, study the benefits of the Investor activism and a way to protect personal and national wealth to face the financial crisis risks.

L'exploitation des traces dans les accidents de la circulation

Les investigations dans le milieu des accidents de la circulation sont très complexes. Elles nécessitent la mise en oeuvre d'un grand nombre de spécialités venant de domaines très différents. Si certains de ces domaines sont déjà bien exploités, d'autres demeurent encore incomplets et il arrive de nos jours d'observer des lacunes dans la pratique, auxquelles il est primordial de remédier.Ce travail de thèse, intitulé « l'exploitation des traces dans les accidents de la circulation », est issu d'une réflexion interdisciplinaire entre de multiples aspects des sciences forensiques. Il s'agit principalement d'une recherche ayant pour objectif de démontrer les avantages découlant d'une synergie entre les microtraces et l'étude de la dynamique d'un accident. Afin de donner une dimension très opérationnelle à ce travail, l'ensemble des démarches entreprises a été axé de manière à optimiser l'activité des premiers intervenants sur les lieux.Après une partie introductive et ayant trait au projet de recherche, traitant des aspects théoriques de la reconstruction d'une scène d'accident, le lecteur est invité à prendre connaissance de cinq chapitres pratiques, abordés selon la doctrine « du général au particulier ». La première étape de cette partie pratique concerne l'étude de la morphologie des traces. Des séquences d'examens sont proposées pour améliorer l'interprétation des contacts entre véhicules et obstacles impliqués dans un accident. Les mécanismes de transfert des traces de peinture sont ensuite étudiés et une série de tests en laboratoire est pratiquée sur des pièces de carrosseries automobiles. Différents paramètres sont ainsi testés afin de comprendre leur impact sur la fragilité d'un système de peinture. Par la suite, une liste de cas traités (crash-tests et cas réels), apportant des informations intéressantes sur le traitement d'une affaire et permettant de confirmer les résultats obtenus est effectuée. Il s'ensuit un recueil de traces, issu de l'expérience pratique acquise et ayant pour but d'aiguiller la recherche et le prélèvement sur les lieux. Finalement, la problématique d'une banque de données « accident », permettant une gestion optimale des traces récoltées est abordée.---The investigations of traffic accidents are very complex. They require the implementation of a large number of specialties coming from very different domains. If some of these domains are already well exploited, others remain still incomplete and it happens nowadays to observe gaps in the practice, which it is essential to remedy. This thesis, entitled "the exploitation of traces in traffic accidents", arises from a multidisciplinary reflection between the different aspects of forensic science. It is primarily a research aimed to demonstrate the benefits of synergy between microtrace evidence and accidents dynamics. To give a very operational dimension to this work, all the undertaken initiatives were centred so as to optimise the activity of the first participants on the crime scene.After an introductory part treating theoretical aspects of the reconstruction of an accident scene the reader is invited to get acquainted with five practical chapters, according to the doctrine "from general to particular". For the first stage of this practical part, the problem of the morphology of traces is approached and sequences of examinations are proposed to improve the interpretation of the contacts between vehicles and obstacles involved in an accident. Afterwards, the mechanisms of transfer of traces of paint are studied and a series of tests in laboratory is practised on pieces of automobile bodies. Various parameters are thus tested to understand their impact on the fragility of a system of paint. It follows that a list of treated cases (crash-tests and real cases) is created, allowing to bring interesting information on the treatment of a case and confirm the obtained results. Then, this work goes on with a collection of traces, stemming from the acquired experience that aims to steer the research and the taking of evidence on scenes. Finally, the practical part of this thesis ends with the problem of a database « accident », allowing an optimal management of the collected traces.

Martin Lindhart (Ed.), Practicing the Faith. The Ritual Life of Pentecostal-Charismatic Christians, Berghahn Books, Oxford, 2011, 344 p.

This edited volume examines, from a ritual perspective, Pentecostal-Charismatic groups that are the fastest growing religious movements in the world today. The authors, who are anthropologists, ethnologists or sociologists (with one theologian) collected rich and diverse material on healing, deliverance, personal devotion, public engagement. Their work covers several regions such as Chile, South California, Fiji, Kenya, and Sweden. After an introduction by the editor, eleven chapters examine various issues relevant to the field. Overcoming the diversity of subjects, the unity of the volume is provided by the general ritual perspective and by the methodological implications of employing such a perspective.

ICD-11 for quality and safety: overview of the who quality and safety topic advisory group.

This paper outlines the approach that the WHO's Family of International Classifications (WHO-FIC) network is undertaking to create ICD-11. We also outline the more focused work of the Quality and Safety Topic Advisory Group, whose activities include the following: (i) cataloguing existing ICD-9 and ICD-10 quality and safety indicators; (ii) reviewing ICD morbidity coding rules for main condition, diagnosis timing, numbers of diagnosis fields and diagnosis clustering; (iii) substantial restructuring of the health-care related injury concepts coded in the ICD-10 chapters 19/20, (iv) mapping of ICD-11 quality and safety concepts to the information model of the WHO's International Classification for Patient Safety and the AHRQ Common Formats; (v) the review of vertical chapter content in all chapters of the ICD-11 beta version and (vi) downstream field testing of ICD-11 prior to its official 2015 release. The transition from ICD-10 to ICD-11 promises to produce an enhanced classification that will have better potential to capture important concepts relevant to measuring health system safety and quality-an important use case for the classification.

The adaptive function of melanin-based coloration in the tawny owl (Strix aluco) ; the proximate role of the melanocortin system

Colour polymorphism is common in wild population. One of the main questioning of evolutionary biologists is to understand how different colour variants could have evolved and be maintained in fluctuating environments, a selective process that forces individuals to constantly adapt their strategies in order to survive. This issue is particularly true for traits that are genetically inherited. Natural selection erodes genotypes with lowest fitness (less adapted), reducing in turn global genetic variation within population. In this context, the study of the evolution and maintenance of melanin- based coloration is relevant since inter-individual variation in the deposition of these pigments is common in animal and plant kingdoms and is under strong genetic control. In this thesis, I focus on the specific case of the tawny owl (Strix aluco), a species displaying continuous variation in reddish pheomelanin-based coloration. Interestingly, empirical studies highlighted covariations between melanin-based coloration and important behavioural, physiological and life history traits. Recently, a genetic model pointed out the melanocortin system and their pleiotropic effects as a potential regulator of these covariations. Accordingly, this PhD thesis further investigates colour-specific behavioural, physiological, or life history strategies, while examining the proximate mechanisms underlying these reaction norms. We found that differently coloured tawny owls differently resolve fundamental trade-off between offspring number and quality (Chapter 1), light melanic individuals producing many low- quality offspring and dark, melanic ones producing few high-quality offspring. These reproductive strategies are likely to induce alternative physiological constraints. Indeed, we demonstrated that light melanic individuals produced higher levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS, Chapter 2), but also expressed higher levels of antioxidant (GSH, Chapters 2 & 3). Interestingly, we showed that light melanic breeding females could modulate their POMC prohormone levels according to the environmental conditions, while dark reddish ones produced constant levels of this prohormone {Chapter 4). Finally, we highlighted colour-specific patterns of prohormone convertase 1 (PCI) gene expression (Chapter 5), an enzyme responsible for POMC prohormone processing to ACTH and a- MSH, for instance. Altogether, these results provide strong evidence of colour-specific strategies, light and melanic tawny owls better coping with stressful and relaxed environments, respectively. Variation in melanin-based coloration is likely to be maintained by the heterogeneity of our study area and strong environmental stochasticity within and between years, these process favouring differently coloured tawny owls at different periods of time. From a proximate point of view, this PhD thesis supports the hypothesis that covariations between phenotypic traits and melanin-based coloration stems from the melanocortin system, especially the fundamental role of POMC gene expression and its processing to melanocortin peptides. - Le polymorphisme de couleur est une variation phénotypique très fréquente dans la nature. En biologie évolutive, une des problématiques clés est donc de comprendre comment différent morphes de couleur peuvent être apparus et maintenus au cours du temps dans des environnements aussi variables que les nôtres, surtout que ces fluctuations forcent ces morphes à s'adapter constamment pour assurer leur survie. Cette thématique est particulièrement réelle lorsque les variations phénotypiques sont héréditaires et donc sous forte influence génétique. La sélection naturelle a en effet le pouvoir d'éroder rapidement la variation génétique en éliminant les génotypes mal adaptés. Dans ce sens, l'étude de l'évolution, et de la maintenance de la coloration mélanique est donc tout à fait pertinente car la variation de coloration entre individus est très répandue à travers les règnes animal et végétal et sous forte influence génétique. Dans cette thèse, je me suis concentré sur le cas spécifique de la chouette hulotte (Strix aluco), une espèce présentant une variation continue dans la déposition de pigments pheomélaniques roux. De précédentes études ont déjà montré que cette variation de coloration était associée avec des variations de traits comportementaux, physiologiques ou d'histoire de vie. Récemment, une étude a souligné l'importance du système des mélanocortines et de leurs effets pléiotropes dans la régulation de ces covariations. En conséquence, cette thèse de doctoral a pour but d'étudier un peu plus les stratégies comportementales, physiologiques ou d'histoire de vie spécifiques à chaque morphe de couleur, tout en examinant un peu plus les mécanismes proximaux potentiellement à la base de ces normes de réactions. Nous constatons tout d'abord que les morphes de couleurs étaient associés à différentes stratégies dans la résolution de compromis telle que la production de beaucoup de jeunes ou des jeunes de qualité (Chapitre 1). Les morphes gris (dit peu mélaniques) ont tendance à produire beaucoup de jeunes mains de moindre qualité, alors que les morphes roux (dit fortement mélaniques) produisent moins de jeunes mais de meilleure qualité. Ces stratégies sont susceptibles alors d'induire certaines contraintes physiologiques. Par exemple, nous montrons que les morphes gris produisent plus de dérivés réactifs de l'oxygène (ROS, Chapitre 2), mais aussi plus d'antioxydants (GSH, Chapitres 2 & 3). Nous montrons ensuite que les femelles grises ont une plus grande capacité à moduler leur niveau de POMC prohormone dans le sang en fonction des conditions environnementales, alors que les femelles rousses gardent un niveau constant (Chapitre 4). Finalement, nous démontrons que les patterns d'expression du gène codant pour la prohormone convertase 1 varient chez des jeunes issus de parents gris ou roux (Chapitre 5). Ceci est particulièrement intéressant car cette enzyme permet de scinder la POMC prohormone en plusieurs peptides importants tels que l'ACTH ou l'a-MSH. En conclusion, ces résultats démontrent qu'il y a bel et bien des stratégies évolutives différentes entre les morphes de couleurs, les chouettes hulottes grises et rousses étant respectivement plus adaptés à des environnements stressants ou favorables. L'hétérogénéité de notre zone d'étude et la stochasticité environnementale qui caractérise ses habitats pourraient donc agir comme une source de sélection temporelle, laquelle favoriserait les différents morphes de couleurs à diverses périodes. D'un point de vue plus proximale maintenant, cette thèse de doctorat soutient l'hypothèse que les covariations observées entre la coloration mélanique et des traits phénotypiques importants sont modulées par les effets pléiotropes du système des mélanocortines, et met en avant le rôle prépondérant que pourrait jouer l'expression du gène POMC et sa post traduction en mélanocortines.

Snowmobile Reference Guide, 2013

This booklet contains rules and regulations most likely needed for motorized recreational use in Iowa. However, it is not a complete list of all regulations or laws, nor is it a legal document. For more information, please reference Iowa Code Chapters 321 and 321G and Iowa Administrative Code, Chapter 571.

Off-Highway Vehicle Reference Guide, 2012

This booklet contains rules and regulations most likely needed for motorized recreational use in Iowa. However, it is not a complete list of all regulations or laws, nor is it a legal document. For more information, please reference Iowa Code Chapters 321 and 321G and Iowa Administrative Code, Chapter 571.

Airborne GPS Final Report, HR-359, 1995

The objective of this project was to use a Global Positioning System (GPS) to determine the aerial camera location and orientation that best facilitated mapping done from aerial photographs without any ground control. Four test flights were conducted. The first test flight was performed in June 1993 at St. Louis, with the objective of testing the multiantenna concept using two antenna on the aircraft. The second test in August 1993 was conducted over the Iowa State University (ISU) campus at Ames. This flight evaluated the use of GPS for pinpoint navigation. The third test flight over St. Louis was flown in October 1993, with four antenna on aircraft; its objective was to evaluate the 3DF GPS receiver and the antenna locations. On the basis of the results of these three tests, a final test flight over the Mustang Project area in Ames and the ISU campus was conducted in June 1994. Analysis of these data showed that airborne GPS can be used (1) in pinpoint navigation with an accuracy of 25 m or better, (2) to determine the location of the camera nodal point with an accuracy of 10 cm or better, and (3) to determine the orientation angles of the camera with an accuracy of 0.0001 radians or better. In addition, the exterior orientation elements determined by airborne GPS can be used to rectify aerial photos, to produce orthophotos, and in direct stereo plotting. Further research is recommended in these areas to maximize the use of airborne GPS. The report is organized in the following chapters: (1) Introduction; (2) Photogrammetry and Kinematic GPS; (3) Analysis of First Test; (4) Analysis of Second Test; (5) Analysis of Third Test; (6) Analysis of Final Test; (7) Applications of Airborne GPS; and (8) Conclusion and Recommendation.

Metric Training for the Transportation Industry Module I - Basic Introduction to the Use of International Units of Measure, HR-376

"Metric Training For The Highway Industry", HR-376 was designed to produce training materials for the various divisions of the Iowa DOT, local government and the highway construction industry. The project materials were to be used to introduce the highway industry in Iowa to metric measurements in their daily activities. Five modules were developed and used in training over 1,000 DOT, county, city, consultant and contractor staff in the use of metric measurements. The training modules developed deal with the planning through operation areas of highway transportation. The materials and selection of modules were developed with the aid of an advisory personnel from the highway industry. Each module is design as a four hour block of instruction and a stand along module for specific types of personnel. Each module is subdivided into four chapters with chapter one and four covering general topics common to all subjects. Chapters two and three are aimed at hands on experience for a specific group and subject. This module includes: Module 1 - Basic Introduction to the Use of International Units of Measurement. This module is designed for use by all levels of personnel, primarily office staff, and provides a basic background in the use of metric measurements in both written and oral communications.

Metric Training for the Transportation Industry Module II - Construction and Maintenance Operations and Reporting, HR-376

"Metric Training For The Highway Industry", HR-376 was designed to produce training materials for the various divisions of the Iowa DOT, local government and the highway construction industry. The project materials were to be used to introduce the highway industry in Iowa to metric measurements in their daily activities. Five modules were developed and used in training over 1,000 DOT, county, city, consultant and contractor staff in the use of metric measurements. The training modules developed deal with the planning through operation areas of highway transportation. The materials and selection of modules were developed with the aid of an advisory personnel from the highway industry. Each module is design as a four hour block of instruction and a stand along module for specific types of personnel. Each module is subdivided into four chapters with chapter one and four covering general topics common to all subjects. Chapters two and three are aimed at hands on experience for a specific group and subject. This module includes: Module 2 - Construction and Maintenance Operations and Reporting. This module provides hands on examples of applications of metric measurements in the construction and maintenance field operations.

Metric Training for the Transportation Industry Module III - Road and Bridge Design, HR-376

"Metric Training For The Highway Industry", HR-376 was designed to produce training materials for the various divisions of the Iowa DOT, local government and the highway construction industry. The project materials were to be used to introduce the highway industry in Iowa to metric measurements in their daily activities. Five modules were developed and used in training over 1,000 DOT, county, city, consultant and contractor staff in the use of metric measurements. The training modules developed deal with the planning through operation areas of highway transportation. The materials and selection of modules were developed with the aid of an advisory personnel from the highway industry. Each module is design as a four hour block of instruction and a stand along module for specific types of personnel. Each module is subdivided into four chapters with chapter one and four covering general topics common to all subjects. Chapters two and three are aimed at hands on experience for a specific group and subject. This module includes: Module 3 - Road and Bridge Design. This module provides hands on examples of how to use metric measurements in the design of roads and structures.

Metric Training for the Transportation Industry Module IV - Transportation Planning and Traffic Monitoring, HR-376

"Metric Training For The Highway Industry", HR-376 was designed to produce training materials for the various divisions of the Iowa DOT, local government and the highway construction industry. The project materials were to be used to introduce the highway industry in Iowa to metric measurements in their daily activities. Five modules were developed and used in training over 1,000 DOT, county, city, consultant and contractor staff in the use of metric measurements. The training modules developed deal with the planning through operation areas of highway transportation. The materials and selection of modules were developed with the aid of an advisory personnel from the highway industry. Each module is design as a four hour block of instruction and a stand along module for specific types of personnel. Each module is subdivided into four chapters with chapter one and four covering general topics common to all subjects. Chapters two and three are aimed at hands on experience for a specific group and subject. This module includes: Module 4 - Transportation Planning and Traffic Monitoring. Hands on examples of applications of metric measurements in the development of planning reports and traffic data collection are included in this module.