Search results for "Indicator"
showing 10 items of 997 documents
Effect of Software on CSP Performance
2009
In order to verify how (if at all) CSP's investments in software affect their business performance, the relationship between (i) CSP's spending on software and (ii) its key performance indicators (KPIs) is considered below. The investments in software are represented by internal, external, and total software spending a year or two years prior to the KPI values, while the KPIs include average revenue per user (ARPU), revenue, net income, EBIDTA, and change in revenue (as an indicator of company growth). Besides, Opex and Capex along with R&D expenses are used as control variables. We use the data collected for the years 2004–2007 (revenue, net income, EBITDA, market capitalization, R&D, CAPE…
Anticipating bank distress in the Eurozone: An Extreme Gradient Boosting approach
2019
Abstract The banking sector plays a special role in the economy and has critical functions which are essential for economic stability. Hence, systemic banking crises disrupt financial markets and hinder global economic growth. In this study, Extreme Gradient Boosting, a state of the art machine learning method, is applied to identify a set of key leading indicators that may help predict and prevent bank failure in the Eurozone banking sector. The cross-sectional data used in this study consists of 25 annual financial ratio series for commercial banks in the Eurozone. The sample includes Eurozone listed failed and non-failed banks for the period 2006–2016. A number of early warning systems a…
An integrated environmental indicator for urban transportation systems: description and application
2015
A simplified version of the ecological footprint method is proposed for assessing the environmental performances of urban transportation systems. The method, starting from the knowledge of the composition of the running vehicular fleet, is here applied to a southern Italian province. It represents a synthetic indicator of the environmental pressure exerted by the system also matching the pollutant emissions with the carrying capacity of the site. Particularly, the forested area needed to absorb the CO2 emissions of the system is compared with the total forested area of the province. The results of the case-study indicates the yearly maximum distance that each vehicle of the fleet can cover …
Novel biosensoric devices based on molecular protein hetero-multilayer films
1997
We have developed a novel concept for the modification of technical surfaces with molecularly well-organized layers of bioorganic components. A molecular construction set has been used to implement this concept which is based on molecularly stratified polyelectrolyte films as a structure decoupling protein layers from solid substrates. Utilizing this technology, one can start from a number of different substrates to obtain the same surface structures, on which protein hetero-multilayer films can be prepared to functionalize the interface for (potentially very different) purposes. We have demonstrated the viability of this concept by constructing a biosensor surface that was characterized by…
A simulation and experimental study of electrochemical pH control at gold interdigitated electrode arrays
2021
Abstract In electroanalysis, solution pH is a critical parameter that often needs to be tailored and controlled for the detection of particular analytes. This is most commonly performed by the addition of chemicals, such as strong acids or bases. Electrochemical in-situ pH control offers the possibility for the local adjustment of pH at the point of detection, without the need for additional reagents. Finite element analysis (FEA) simulations have been performed on interdigitated electrodes, to guide experimental design in relation to both electroanalysis and in-situ control of solution pH. No previous model exists that describes the generation of protons at an interdigitated electrode arra…
A Self-Adapting Approach for Forecast-Less Scheduling of Electrical Energy Storage Systems in a Liberalized Energy Market
2013
In this paper, an original scheduling approach for optimal dispatch of electrical Energy Storage Systems (ESS) in modern distribution networks is proposed. The control system is based on fuzzy rules and does not use forecasts since it repairs the past history according to the real time data on the electrical energy cost, renewable energy production and load. When the system detects a worsening of performances, the fuzzy logic rule-based control system self-adapts its membership functions using an economic indicator. The common use, in the relevant literature, of forecasted values in such systems can lead to large errors and economic losses. Moreover the speed of calculation guaranteed by th…
A SYNTHETIC MEASURE FOR THE ASSESSMENT OF THE PROJECT PERFORMANCE
2009
The present paper aims to offer a synthetic project performance indicator (PPI) that aggregates two input parameters obtained by the Earned Value Analysis. The PPI is calculated by using a Fuzzy Inference System (FIS) able to single out a measure based on the input parameters, instead of formulating a mathematical model that could be a troublesome task whenever complex relations among the input variables exist. The purpose is to communicate the project performance to the stakeholders in a clear and complete way, for example, describing the PPI by means of contour lines.
Measuring Excellence and Equity in Education : Conceptual and Methodological Issues
2011
The text focuses on the measurement problems both equity and excellence does imply, and on the "technical" choices that are to be made. It aims at showing that those choices are not neutral and have plenty of political consequences. Starting with the problems of definition of both excellence and equity, which should be considered jointly, the paper examines i) how the indicators and methods implemented do have some impact on the amount of inequalities, and ii) on the necessity of a time dimension to figure out how inequalities are generated, along with a system-wide perspective.
VET workers’ problem-solving skills in technology-rich environments: European approach
2014
International journal for research in vocational education and training 1 (2014) 1, S. 57-80
Possible impacts of Hg and PAH contamination on benthic foraminiferal assemblages: An example from the Sicilian coast, central Mediterranean
2007
The Palermo and Augusta urban/industrial areas (Sicily) are examples of contaminated coastal environments with a relatively high influx of unregulated industrial and domestic effluents. Three sediment box-cores were collected offshore of these urban/industrial areas in water depths of 60-150 m during two cruises (summers 2003/2004), dated by (210)Pb and (137)Cs, and analysed for total mercury concentration and total polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) concentration. Benthic foraminiferal assemblages were also examined (in terms of their distribution and morphology) to assess the potential use of benthic foraminifera as bioindicators of pollutant input and environmental change in these Med…