Previous Empirical Analysis Research Articles

Autonomous Vehicle’s Impact on Traffic: Empirical Evidence From Waymo Open Dataset and Implications From Modelling

Previous empirical behavior analysis on Autonomous Vehicles (AV) mainly focused on vehicles with Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) system due to the lack of high-level AV dataset. Recently released SAE Level-4 AV datasets such as the Waymo Open Dataset provide great opportunities to evaluate their behavioral impact on traffic flow. In this study, we aim to characterize the empirical Car Following (CF) behaviors of the Waymo autonomous vehicle and compare its feature with human-driven Vehicles (HV), and capture such behavioral differences using the IDM CF model. Our main findings include: (a) AV is much safer than HV, based on our analysis using surrogate safety measures, as time headways and jam spacings of the AV are significantly larger than HV; (b) the response time of AV is also significantly larger than that of HV in response to various types of stimuli; (c) despite the short length of trajectories in the Waymo Open Dataset, we have confirmed that these trajectories are suitable for calibrating some of the IDM parameters; and the calibration results of IDM are consistent with our empirical analysis. Moreover, the modelling results, reveal that the proportion of string unstable behavior of AV is less than that of HV; and (d) for HV, there is generally no significant difference between following AV and following HV except a smaller jam spacing when following AV. Overall, we conclude that currently AV behaves in a conservative way to ensure its safety at the cost of traffic efficiency.

MACROECONOMIC DYNAMICS AND THE ROLE OF MARKET POWER. THE CASE OF ITALY

In recent years, the US and other advanced countries have experienced macroeconomic dynamics which raise some concerns and which, according to the literature, are at least partly attributable to a rise in product market power. This study mainly aims to understand how Italy performs in terms of five relevant economic variables (i.e., domestic investment rate, labour share, labour force participation, wage inequality and economic dynamism), and whether firms’ markups are on the rise. The picture that emerges is mixed, and the negative performance in terms of business dynamism and wage dispersion may be ascribable to an increase in product market power. The firm-level analysis of the Italian manufacturing sector for the years 2011-2018, which complements previous empirical analysis on product market power in this country and accounts for labour market power as well, reveals an increment in the average markup which, however, is not particularly pronounced and unsettling, and which is preceded by a period of steady decline. Moreover, this trend is accompanied by a more remarkable increase in the workers’ labour market power, which helps explain the modest growth in the revenue-based labour share observed during the same period.

Real-time detection and forecast of flashovers by the visual room fire features using deep convolutional neural networks

Flashover occurs in building fires whereby all the combustible materials in an enclosure begin to ignite rapidly. This detrimental phenomenon occurs because of the intense heat radiating from the hot smoke layer accumulated near the ceiling, which is one of the major causes of firefighter fatalities. Thus, forecasting flashover in real-time is of great importance to firefighters’ safety. Previous empirical and theoretical analysis of the flashover phenomenon provides criteria for predicting flashover on-set and fire size, yet they are based on the thermal sensor data in the room. It is not straightforward to transfer the flashover criteria and understanding from the previous studies in application to actual fire grounds since thermal sensor data are not readily available. As a novel non-invasive prediction technique of flashover onset, this investigation explores the potential of recognizing vision indicators of flashover, such as flame extrusion or rollover. Adopting artificial intelligence (AI) technologies for pattern recognition and feature extraction, we proposed to build an optimized convolutional neural network named “FlashoverNet”, a modern AI algorithm, to detect and forecast flashover occurrence in enclosure fire incidents. FlashoverNet was trained and validated by data from several full-size actual room fire experiments. FlashoverNet imitates the approach of flashover onset prediction by firefighters by monitoring fire growth and looking for early visible indicators in a room fire. Our investigations demonstrate that FlashoverNet can successfully detect and forecast flashover onset in real-time with more than 94% accuracy in full-scale actual room fire tests.

The zero-energy challenge in districts. Introduction of a methodological decision-making approach in the case of the district of Cuesmes in Belgium

ABSTRACT Transforming cities with the aim of achieving cleaner energy targets is a major bet worldwide, dealing with the immense stress of the rapid urbanisation, the depletion of natural resources, the climate change and its impacts during the post-industrialised period. Struggling with this problematic, in this work we develop a horizontal and cross-sectoral process as an integral part of the city planification towards the energy transition. Along with demonstrating the applicability of the zero-energy idea in more universal approach, we validated its feasibility at the case-study Cuesmes (Belgium), a social district with high energy requirements along with the RE-SIZED research project. In response to this, in this work we articulate the feasibility of the concept (zero energy) in urban scale, in a comprehensive toolkit. Comparisons and similarities with previous empirical analysis are discussed as well to complete the work and its findings.

Is there a euro effect in the drivers of US FDI? New evidence using Bayesian model averaging techniques

In this paper the authors analyze the potential determinants of US outward FDI stock with a particular focus on the euro effect during the period 1985–2017. To this aim, they consider a large set of candidate variables suggested both by theory and previous empirical analysis. They select the covariates using Bayesian model averaging, a data-driven methodology. Their sample includes a total of 56 host countries, that represent around the 70% of US outward FDI stock. They study the role of the euro on American FDI both in Europe and the rest of the world. In Europe, they consider various country groups: the European Union (EU), the euro area (EA), as well as core and periphery within this last group. They conclude that many variables studied by previous FDI literature cannot be considered robust determinants. Moreover, US OFDI is explained by both horizontal and vertical motives. However, HFDI strategies predominate in EA core countries, whereas VFDI prevails in the periphery. As for the euro effect, the common currency seems to have played an important role encouraging US FDI, being a crucial element in the convergence of EA periphery to its core. In addition, the results indicate that the adoption of the euro has favoured VFDI to the detriment of HFDI.

Japan's FDI drivers in a time of financial uncertainty. New evidence based on Bayesian Model Averaging

In this paper we analyse the determinants of Japanese outward FDI stock for the period 1996–2017. This period is especially relevant as it covers a process of increasing economic globalization and two financial crises. To this aim, we consider a large set of candidate variables based on the theory as well as on previous empirical analysis. Our sample includes a total of 27 host countries. We select the covariates using a data-driven methodology, the Bayesian Model Averaging (BMA) analysis. Moreover, we also analyse whether these determinants change depending on the degree of development (emerging vs developed) or the geographical areas (EU vs East Asia) of the countries considered. We find that Japan's FDI can be explained by a wide variety of variables, that include not only the typical gravitational ones but also institutional and macroeconomic variables, including those that measure financial development. Moreover, Japanese FDI can be explained by both horizontal and vertical FDI motives in the groups of countries analysed. However, in developed, and more precisely, EU countries, horizontal FDI strategies are predominant, whereas for East Asian and emerging countries, there is more evidence in favour of vertical FDI.

Corporate Innovation and Capacity Utilization in China's Coastal Areas: Governance under the Context of Environmental Regulation

Zheng, C.; Zhang, Y., and Chen, K., 2020. Corporate innovation and capacity utilization in China's coastal areas: Governance under the context of environmental regulation. In: Wan, Z. (ed.), Coordinated Sustainable Development in Coastal Areas: Environment and Economy. Journal of Coastal Research, Special Issue No. 109, pp. 197–205. Coconut Creek (Florida), ISSN 0749-0208.Previous empirical analysis of scholars found that environmental regulation has a significant impact on overcapacity and industrial structure adjustment, higher environmental regulation will increase overcapacity, while moderate environmental regulation will optimize industrial structure. Moreover, in the industrial enterprises above the scale, the industrial structure has an intermediary effect between environmental regulation and overcapacity. This paper studies corporate innovation and capacity utilization under the background of environmental regulation. Taking publicly listed firms in China's coastal provinces from 1990 to 2017 as our sample, the corporate innovation under environmental regulation has been significantly enhanced， and hence alleviates overcapacity in China. This means that environmental regulation promotes the formation of a virtuous circle. To firms with high-quality innovation, the positive effect is more pronounced. Moreover, to firms with bad internal governance, specifically to firms with high agency cost, the capacity utilization is low, which means serious waste of resources and environment. Meanwhile, external governance from the stock market, specifically analyst coverage and institutional ownership, fails to intensify the positive effect of corporate innovation on capacity utilization.

A spatial analysis of the Spanish tobacco consumption distribution: Are there any consumption clusters?

ObjectivesThe objective of this short communication is to provide a previous empirical analysis to locate the regions that have distortions in per capita tobacco consumption. The location of these regions and their proximity to other countries allow us to detect the need that governments have to harmonize policies. Study designThe design of this study is a cross-sectional spatial descriptive analysis. MethodsBy using panel data from the 47 Spanish provinces from 2002 to 2017, we implement the Moran's I test which allows us to detect areas where low or high per capita tobacco consumption clusters are generated. ResultsThe results show that areas of Spain bordering countries with high price differentials, such as Gibraltar and France, generate clusters of low and high per capita tobacco consumption, respectively. Indeed, maintaining a low price differential seems not to generate distortions, as revealed by the Portugal case. ConclusionsSpatial clusters of per capita tobacco consumption are located in regions close to countries where there is high price differential.

How does China fare on the Russian market? Implications for the European Union

This paper reviews China’s growing economic ties with Russia. We conclude that such ties have strengthened in terms of trade and cross border lending, but less in terms of Chinese foreign direct investment in, or portfolio flows to, Russia. Meanwhile, Europe remains Russia’s largest trading partner, lender and investor. In relation to trade, China seems to have become more of a competitor for the EU on Russia’s market when we appraise China’s increasing export share and the increasing value added of its exports and previous empirical analysis at the product level. Increasing competition between European and Chinese exports should not be surprising as there is ample evidence that China has been moving fast up the technology ladder during the past few decades. Competition over investment and lending is more limited but the situation could change rapidly with China and Russia giving clear signs of a stronger-than-ever strategic partnership.

How Does China Fare on the Russian Market? Implications for the European Union

This paper reviews China’s growing economic ties with Russia. We conclude that such ties have strengthened in terms of trade and cross border lending, but less in terms of Chinese foreign direct investment in, or portfolio flows to, Russia. Meanwhile, Europe remains Russia’s largest trading partner, lender and investor. In relation to trade, China seems to have become more of a competitor for the EU on Russia’s market when we appraise China’s increasing export share and the increasing value added of its exports and previous empirical analysis at the product level. Increasing competition between European and Chinese exports should not be surprising as there is ample evidence that China has been moving fast up the technology ladder during the past few decades. Competition over investment and lending is more limited but the situation could change rapidly with China and Russia giving clear signs of a stronger-than-ever strategic partnership.

A functional approach to translation quality assessment: Categorizing sources of translational distortion in medical abstracts

The translation of Cochrane Systematic Review abstracts plays an important role in ensuring the communication of medical research results to the non-English-speaking public. The presentation of results should, of course, be free of errors and as objective as possible. Translation, however, is a highly subjective activity requiring extensive interpretation and is prone to errors. Translated Cochrane abstracts therefore contain elements that could affect readers’ interpretation of the results of a Review, and that specifically could have an impact on the effectiveness of the intervention studied. Guided by the function of these translated texts, we have categorized such sources of distortion into a context-specific typology that will be used to measure translational distortion in Cochrane abstracts. Building on previous research and empirical corpus analysis, the typology accounts not only for translation errors with considerable potential impact, but also for biased translations of phraseological and modal structures that can markedly affect readers’ interpretation of the degree of certainty expressed by authors.

Validation and Verification of Semi-Empirical Methods for Evaluating Liquefaction Using Finite Element Method

Liquefaction is a hazardous and temporary phenomenon by which a soil saturated with water loses some or all of its resistance. The undrained conditions and a cyclic load increase the pores water pressure inside the soil and therefore a reduction of the effective stress.Nowadays many semi-empirical methods are used to introduce a proposition to evaluate the liquefaction's potential using the in-situ test results. The objective of this paper is to study their ability to correctly predict the liquefaction potential by modelling our case using finite element methods.The study is based on the data of Cone Penetration Tests experimental results of the Casablanca-Tangier High-Speed Line exactly between PK 116 + 450 and PK 116 + 950 and near of Moulay-Bousselham city. It belongs to the Drader-Soueir basin region which is located in the North-West of Morocco.This region had a specific soil’s formation, the first 50 meters are characterised by the existence of sand layers alternating with layers of clay. These formations are very loose and saturated which suggests the possibility of soil liquefaction.We present and discuss the results of applying the Olsen method [1], the Juang method [2] and the Robertson method [3], in the evaluation of liquefaction susceptibility.Apart from the previous empirical analysis to evaluate the liquefaction potential, numerical modelling is performed in this study.

Do Chinese Exporters Still Need Learning Spillovers from Foreign MNEs?

The study investigates learning spillovers from local firms as well as MNEs in China, and their indirect effects on other firms’ exporting, paying particular attention to inter- and intra-industry spillovers. We develop a synthetic model based on the treatment of spillovers in economics, geography and international business, testing four different spillover effects, measured by export propensity and intensity of local Chinese firms associated with four types of export agglomeration. We find significant, positive spillovers effects. Surprisingly, spillovers transmitted from locally-owned exporters to local firms turn out to be stronger than those from foreign-owned exporters to local firms. Unsurprisingly, spillovers transmitted within the same industry are stronger than with different industries. The evidence suggests that after 30 years of openness to international trade and export-oriented development, China’s indigenous firms have started to make a significant contribution to the export performance of other local firms. This finding is different from findings from previous empirical analysis, which reveals that maybe there’s a diminishing teaching effects from foreign MNEs to local firms.

ANALYSIS OF INFLATION PERSISTENCE IN SERBIA

In this paper, we analyzed inflation persistence in Serbia, both at the aggregatelevel as well as for the different components of the consumer price index. Theanalysis was done for the series of prices given on the quarterly basis for the periodfrom 2002q1 to 2013q2. We applied univariate autoregression model (AR) of order p,whereby sum of autoregression coefficients was used as a measure of inflationpersistence. In addition, special attention was paid to the problem of structural breaksin the series of inflation as it may overestimate the level of inflation persistence andcould give misleading signals. The importance of appropriate assessment of theinflation persistence stems from the fact that the impossibility of faster return ofinflation to the long-run equilibrium level, after external or domestic shock, hasimplications on the conducting of monetary policy and represents a major challengefor its effectiveness, especially in emerging countries like Serbia. If the persistence ofinflation is higher, monetary policy reaction should be stronger and proactive. If theestimated level and persistence of inflation is lower in comparison with previousempirical analysis, this could suggest that inflation expectations are now betteranchored, which is particularly important for countries with inflation targetingregime. Results of the analysis indicate that the inflation persistence in the Serbia ismodest and that is higher at the aggregate level compared to the simple average of thecomponents of the consumer price index. This is probably consequence of so-calledaggregation effect, since the highest persistency have the prices of those products withthe largest share in the consumer basket. In the case of Serbia, food prices have thehighest degree of persistence and the largest share in the consumer basket.

Research on the Early Warning Mechanism of Financial Risk by Computer Technology

The briefly review and the development of the financial risk early warning theory is first discussed in this study and the domestic and foreign research is analyzed as a brief summary. Secondly, the concept of financial risks, financial crisis and the financial early warning is defined. Financial fragility as a starting point is used to establish the rationality model of the financial risk early warning system. The early warning indicators is selected on the basis of the 12 indicators of macro-financial risks, 15 net financial indicators is selected to represent the financial markets according to the characteristics of China's financial markets. In the empirical part, the previous empirical analysis method is chosen to build the financial risk early warning signal system. In order to display China's financial risk profile, the proper model for the calculation is made on the basis of empirical analysis. Thus, in order to minimize the local financial risk, the early warning system should be established by the local government, together with some other necessary measures.

Efficacy of S-1 plus nedaplatin compared to standard second-line chemotherapy in EGFR-negative lung adenocarcinoma after failure of first-line chemotherapy

For patients with advanced non-small cell lung adenocarcinoma that fail to respond to first-line chemotherapy and that do not involve epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutations, previous empirical analysis showed that a single second-line chemotherapy agent may be inadequate for the control of further tumor development. This study examines the combination of S-1 drugs and nedaplatin that has no cross-resistance to first-line treatments; 179 cases of IIIb-IV stage non-small-cell lung adenocarcinoma that failed to respond to first-line chemotherapy were included, and these subjects did not have mutated EGFRs. In the present study, S-1 plus nedaplatin chemotherapy was better than standard second-line chemotherapy options in the treatment of advanced lung adenocarcinoma that did not involve EGFR mutations and that failed to respond to first-line chemotherapy. Additionally, the combination of S-1 and nedaplatin seemed to be well tolerated, making this chemotherapy technique a potentially strong candidate for the treatment of advanced non-small-cell lung adenocarcinoma.

Political Participation as Public Pedagogy--The Educational Situation in Young People's Political Conversations in Social Media.

In this article we argue that young people’s political participation in the social media can be considered ‘public pedagogy’. The argument builds on a previous empirical analysis of a Swedish net c ...

Better the devil you throw: Experience and support for pay-as-you-throw waste charges

Environmental taxes have long been proposed as an efficient means of improving the fiscal solvency of governments, while at the same time correcting for environmental externalities. However, public support for environmental taxes is often low, making the implementation of these instruments politically challenging in some settings. Scholars have explored the reasons for this broad, negative attitude towards environmental taxes, especially since these taxes are by design supposed to be welfare-improving. But previous empirical analysis on this topic is sparse and limited in context. Here, we empirically analyze support for environmental taxes across four countries, using a household survey on environmental attitudes, behaviour and policy exposure conducted by OECD during 2011. The environmental tax we focus on is pay-as-you-throw (PAYT) charges for mixed waste collection. Looking at expressed levels of support for PAYT charges, we find that people who are exposed to such systems tend to be significantly more supportive of them. This indicates that ex ante public resistance to such schemes is likely to dissipate following their introduction, a pattern which is supported by other, anecdotal reports and by lab experiments with generic Pigouvian taxes which we summarize in the literature review.

Evidence for large complex networks of plant short silencing RNAs.

BackgroundIn plants and animals there are many classes of short RNAs that carry out a wide range of functions within the cell; short silencing RNAs (ssRNAs) of 21–25 nucleotides in length are produced from double-stranded RNA precursors by the protein Dicer and guide nucleases and other proteins to their RNA targets through base pairing interactions. The consequence of this process is degradation of the targeted RNA, suppression of its translation or initiation of secondary ssRNA production. The secondary ssRNAs in turn could then initiate further layers of ssRNA production to form extensive cascades and networks of interacting RNA [1]. Previous empirical analysis in plants established the existence of small secondary ssRNA cascade [2], in which a single instance of this event occurred but it was not known whether there are other more extensive networks of secondary sRNA production.Methodology/Principal FindingsWe generated a network by predicting targets of ssRNA populations obtained from high-throughput sequencing experiments. The topology of the network shows it to have power law connectivity distribution, to be dissortative, highly clustered and composed of multiple components. We also identify protein families, PPR and ULP1, that act as hubs within the network. Comparison of the repetition of genomic sub-sequences of ssRNA length between Arabidopsis and E.coli suggest that the network structure is made possible by the underlying repetitiveness in the genome sequence.Conclusions/SignificanceTogether our results provide good evidence for the existence of a large, robust ssRNA interaction network with distinct regulatory function. Such a network could have a massive effect on the regulation of gene expression via mediation of transcript levels.

Discrete element modelling applied to mineral prospectivity analysis in the eastern Mount Isa Inlier

Numerical modelling using a discrete element technique is employed here to examine the response of a fracture system in the eastern Mount Isa Inlier to an applied stress regime. Model scale, parameters and boundary conditions were varied to test which combinations of geometry and material properties produce the best correspondence between the known mineral-deposit distribution and zones of anomalous model stress. Modelled areas of combined low-minimum principal stress ( σ 3) and low-mean stress ( σ m) show the best correlation with deposits, but these areas do not clearly correspond to specific fault orientations or configurations. Rather, the models produce complex zoning of stress anomalies in response to the partitioning of stress across complex fault blocks, and the interaction between more competent granitoid bodies, less competent meta-sedimentary rocks, and the fault and rock boundary complexities. Adding fluid to the models, and identifying an optimum orientation of the stress field (with σ 1 in an ESE direction), produces the highest degree of visual correspondence with the known mineral-deposit distribution and the previous empirical prospectivity analysis, and also identifies several potentially prospective areas that may not have been previously tested by explorers. The models are consistent with mineralisation occurring (or being remobilised from earlier concentrations) during a major phase of regional fluid flow facilitated by a complex fault array, late during the evolution of the Isan Orogeny and synchronous with the waning stages of the emplacement of the Williams Batholith.