Imputation and outlier detection in banking datasets

Data from the banking balance sheets can be used to analyse the financial stability of the banking sector. Occasionally, it may occur that some data values are either incorrect or missing, which would have an important effect on the results of the analyses. Thus, incorrect values should be detected and removed or corrected, while missing values should be imputed. This contribution addresses the two problems using a robust data analysis approach, known as Forward Search. In particular, the Forward Search is used to address the presence of high data collinearity, which may give rise to many irrelevant outliers. In recent years a MATLAB toolbox, the Forward Search for Data Analysis (FSDA), has been applied to similar problems in official statistics. The contribution extends the application to the banking sector.JRC.G.1 - Financial and Economic Analysi

THE ESTIMATION OF FAIR PRICES OF TRADED GOODS FROM OUTLIER-FREE TRADE DATA

The JRC develops and applies innovative statistical methods needed by the European Anti-fraud Office and its partners in the EU Member States for the protection of the financial interests of the European Union. JRC's work focuses on several Customs commercial fraud-control problems. Among them, the evasion of (ad valorem) import duties, VAT fraud and trade-based money laundering relate to the misdeclaration of the trade price and are addressed via the statistical detection of price outliers in EU trade data. The detection of price outliers has been proven useful in a-posteriori controls conducted by EU customs services on relatively recent transactions. The price outlier detection procedure, when applied to appropriate trade datasets, produces outliers-free data on which reliable estimates can be calculated for the market prices of the traded products: these estimates are called “fair prices”. These estimates can be used as a support to the determination of the customs value at the moment of the customs formalities or for post-clearance checks. This report presents the fair price estimation method and its relation with the price outliers’ detection approach.JRC.G.2-Global security and crisis managemen

Policy options for the world’s primary forests in multilateral environmental agreements

We identify policies that would provide a solid foundation in key international negotiations to ensure that primary forests persist into the 21st Century. A novel compilation of primary forest cover and other data revealed that protection of primary forests is a matter of global concern being equally distributed between developed and developing countries. Almost all (98%) of primary forest is found within 25 countries with around half in five developed ones (USA, Canada, Russia, Australia, and NZ). Only approximate to 22% of primary forest is found in IUCN Protected Areas Categories I-VI, which is approximately 5% of preagriculture natural forest cover. Rates of deforestation and forest degradation are rapid and extensive, and the long-term integrity of primary forest cannot be assumed. We recommend four new actions that could be included in climate change, biodiversity, and sustainable development negotiations: (1) recognize primary forests as a matter of global concern within international negotiations; (2) incorporate primary forests into environmental accounting; (3) prioritize the principle of avoided loss; and (4) universally accept the important role of indigenous and community conserved areas. In the absence of specific policies for primary forest protection, their unique biodiversity values and ecosystem services will continue to erode

A study of the effects of shared peer reading on students\u27 reading attitudes

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of shared peer reading on students\u27 reading attitudes. It was hypothesized that students who participate in shared peer reading would show significant reading attitude improvements, as measured by the Elementary Reading Attitude Survey, over students who do not participate in shared peer reading. The study was a quasi-experimental design consisting of students in two first grade classrooms. Twenty students from each classroom participated in the study. One class was identified as the participation group and the other class was identified as the nonparticipation group. Both groups were first pretested using the Elementary Reading Attitude Survey. The participation group was then engaged in shared peer reading experiences for a period of ten weeks. Both groups were then posttested using the Elementary Reading Attitude Survey. A 2x2 factorial Analysis of Variance was employed for this study. The levels were identified as level A, status; with two sublevels a1 and a2, known as participation and nonparticipation, and level B, test trials; with two sublevels b1 and b2, known as pretest and posttest. Significant differences were generated by main effect A. These differences are attributed to the decrease in scores of the nonparticipation group

HURDLE JUMPING TECHNIQUE CHARACTERISTICS ON THE 110 METER RACE IN THE 1997 WORLD TRACK AND FIELD CHAMPIONSHIP

INTRODUCTION AND PURPOSE: Performance in the 110 meter hurdles is based on a variety of factors. The hurdle jumping technique employed by each athlete may arguably be one of the most important performance factors. Therefore, the purpose of this investigation was to study the hurdle jumping technique characteristics of the gold and silver medalists in the 110 meter hurdle race in the 1997 world track and field championship. METHODS: The performance on the fourth hurdle of the gold and silver medalists in the 1997 world track and field championship, recorded with two 60 Hz videocameras, was analyzed utilizing an Ariel Performance Analysis System. Three dimensional position data of 16 points (15 body points and 1 point on the top of the hurdle) were digitally smoothed before being submitted to further analysis. Variables examined were: 1) maximum height of the center of mass (CM) over the hurdle (Hmax), 2) flight time over the hurdle (tflight), 3) CM velocity takeoff angle (ftoff), and 4) landing angle (fland)–angle of CM to contact point line with the ground. RESULTS: The results indicate that the two athletes utilized different hurdle jumping techniques. Specifically: 1) the gold medalist showed superior performance in tflight (0.35 vs. 0.37 sec for the gold and silver medalists, respectively) and fland (90 vs. 85 degrees for the gold and silver medalists, respectively), 2) the silver medalist showed superior performance in Hmax (0.36 vs. 0.42 meters for the silver and gold medalists, respectively) and ftoff (12 vs. 13 degrees for the silver and gold medalists, respectively). Of importance is also the fact that speed changes prior to and after the hurdle jumping were not different between the two athletes. CONCLUSIONS: Based on the limited results of this study and the athletes’ final times (12.93, 13.05 seconds for the gold and silver medalists, respectively), it can be speculated that certain hurdle jumping technique characteristics (i.e., tflight and fland) may be more important than others (i.e., Hmax and ftoff). Further study employing more subjects and analysis of the hurdle jumping technique over multiple hurdles is recommended

Θερμοδυναμική μελέτη ενός Μεσογειακού κυκλώνα με τροπικά χαρακτηριστικά και οι επιπτώσεις του στην Ελλάδα

Πρόκειται για μια μελέτη της δομής της εξέλιξης, καθώς και των δυναμικών και θερμοδυναμικών μηχανισμών μιας περίπτωσης βαρομετρικού χαμηλού με χαρακτηριστικά τροπικού κυκλώνα, που σημειώθηκε στην περιοχή της κεντρικής Μεσογείου από τις 17 έως τις 19 Σεπτεμβρίου 2020. Θεωρείται ένα ακραίο μετεωρολογικό γεγονός που επηρέασε ιδιαίτερα τον ελλαδικό χώρο, με επιπτώσεις στην οικονομική και κοινωνική δομή της χώρας, και αποτελεί ένα από τα σημαντικά καταγεγραμμένα φαινόμενα μεσογειακού κυκλώνα στην ευρύτερη περιοχή της Μεσογείου. Το συνοπτικό και δυναμικό περιβάλλον, καθώς και η θερμοδυναμική δομή αυτής της ατμοσφαιρικής διαταραχής, μελετήθηκαν από την έναρξη της κυκλογένεσής της έως την αποσύνθεσή της, χρησιμοποιώντας θερμοδυναμικές παραμέτρους όπως δυναμική δίνη, δυναμική θερμοκρασία, αισθητές και λανθάνουσες ροές θερμότητας, θερμοκρασία επιφάνειας της θάλασσας σε συγκεκριμένες ισοβαρικά επίπεδα και ισεντροπικές επιφάνειες και δορυφορικές εικόνες. Η μελέτη χωρίζεται σε τρία κύρια μέρη. Το πρώτο παρουσιάζει μια θεωρητική προσέγγιση του φαινομένου, το δεύτερο μέρος παρουσιάζει μια συνοπτική και δυναμική μελέτη της εκρηκτικής κυκλογένεσης, ενώ το τρίτο μέρος καταγράφει την καταστροφή που προκάλεσε το φαινόμενο, καθώς και τις επιπτώσεις του στον πληθυσμό και την οικονομία.This is a study of the structure and evolution, as well as the dynamic and thermodynamic mechanisms of a case of a barometric low with characteristics of a tropical cyclone, which occurred in the central Mediterranean region from September 17 to 19, 2020. It is an extreme meteorological event that affected the Greek area particularly, with implications for the country's economic and social structure, and is one of the significant recorded phenomena of a Mediterranean cyclone in the wider Mediterranean region. The concise and dynamic environment, as well as the thermodynamic structure of this depression, were studied from the time of its cyclogenesis to its decay, using thermodynamic parameters such as dynamic vorticity, dynamic temperature, sensible and latent heat flows, sea surface temperature at specific isobaric levels and isentropic surfaces, and satellite images. The study is divided into three main parts. The first presents a theoretical approach to the phenomenon, the second part presents a concise and dynamic study of the explosive cyclogenesis, while the third part records the destruction caused by the phenomenon, as well as its impact on the population and the economy

Οι συμβάσεις ορισμένου χρόνου στον δημόσιο τομέα – ένα άλυτο πρόβλημα ;

Θεματικός πυρήνας της εργασίας είναι η σύναψη συμβάσεων εργασίας ορισμένου χρόνου με εργοδότη το "Δημόσιο" (τόσο εν ευρεία όσο και εν στενή εννοία). Στην ανάλυση δεν επιχειρήθηκε η ήδη τετριμμένη σε θεωρία και βιβλιογραφία "σχολική" παράθεση του θετικού πλαισίου ρύθμισης των συμβάσεων εργασίας ορισμένου χρόνου με αντισυμβαλλόμενο το Δημόσιο, αλλά, ακόμη και στα σημεία όπου αυτή κατέστη απαραίτητη, καταβλήθηκε προσπάθεια ώστε να αναδειχθεί η ουσιαστικότερη -όχι πάντα δε αμιγώς νομική- όψη της επίμαχης θεματικής . Η ανάδειξη της ευρύτερης προβληματικής της ανάπτυξης της πρακτικής κάλυψης εργοδοτικών αναγκών μέσω σύναψης συμβάσεων εργασίας ορισμένου χρόνου, ως ειδικότερη έκφανση της σύγχρονης ευελιξίας στις εργασιακές σχέσεις δεν κατέχει θέση αυτοσκοπού στην μελέτη που ακολουθεί. Η ένταξη της τελευταίας σε μία γενικότερη προβληματική λαμβάνει χώρα με σκοπό την ομαλότερη μετάβαση του αναγνώστη στην ανάγκη να απαντηθεί ένα ερώτημα κομβικής -για την εργασία- αξίας : δικαιολογείται η υπεισέλευση στοιχείων ανασφάλειας στις εργασιακές σχέσεις από εργοδοτικές πρακτικές όταν την ιδιότητα του εργοδότη φέρει το Δημόσιο; Και, σε περίπτωση καταφατικής στο ερώτημα απάντησης, ποια είναι τα όρια ενδεχόμενης διαφορετικής-προνομιακής μεταχείρισης του κράτους-εργοδότη σε σχέση με τον ιδιώτη-εργοδότη; Όπως θα φανεί στην ανάπτυξη που ακολουθεί, το ζήτημα των συμβάσεων ορισμένου χρόνου με το Δημόσιο έχει απολήξεις οικονομικές και πολιτικές στην Ελληνική πραγματικότητα, σχετιζόμενο με ορισμένες από τις πλέον εξόφθαλμες μορφές παθογενειών που γνωρίζει η Χώρα μας. Έτσι, η θεώρηση του εν λόγω φαινομένου, υπό το φως της εξω-νομικής και ιστορικής του εμφάνισης και εξέλιξης στην ελληνική πραγματικότητα αποτελεί αναπόσπαστο τμήμα της συγκεκριμένης μελέτης, προκειμένου να κατανοηθούν οι λύσεις που κάθε φορά υιοθετήθηκαν, τόσο θετικά όσο και νομολογιακά, αλλά και οι προοπτικές για μία μελλοντική σχετική κανονιστική παρέμβαση. Τέλος, όξυνση του προβλήματος δημιουργεί και η αναπότρεπτη εμπλοκή στην εσωτερική έννομη τάξη του ενωσιακού δικαίου. Πέραν της αυθύπαρκτης πολυπλοκότητάς του, δύο επιπρόσθετοι "ενωσιακοί" παράγοντες φαίνεται να υποδαυλίζουν τη διαιώνιση του συγκεκριμένου ζητήματος στα ελληνικά δικαστήρια : Ο ένας είναι δομικός και σχετίζεται με την υπεροχή του ενωσιακού δικαίου έναντι εν γένει των εθνικών κανόνων, ανεξαρτήτως -κατ’ αρχήν- της θέσης τους στην εκάστοτε εθνική έννομη τάξη, και ο άλλος, συνδεόμενος ειδικότερα με το θέμα μας, αφορά τη διστακτικότητα του ενωσιακού νομοθέτη και του ενωσιακού δικαιοδοτικού οργάνου να επέμβει κανονιστικά ή, αντίστοιχα, ερμηνευτικά στο φαινόμενο των συμβάσεων ορισμένου χρόνου όταν εργοδότης είναι το Δημόσιο, τέμνοντας οριστικά και με σαφήνεια ένα ζήτημα, κατά τεκμήριο "ευαίσθητο" σε εξω-εθνικές ρυθμίσεις.The thematic core of the thesis is the conclusion of fixed-term employment contracts with the "Public" employer (both in the broad and narrow sense). The analysis did not attempt the already trivial in theory and literature "scholastic" citation of the legal framework for the regulation of fixed-term employment contracts with the State counterparty, but, even in the points where this became necessary, an effort was made to highlight the most essential - not always in a purely legal aspect- of the disputed issue. Highlighting the coverage of employer needs through the conclusion of fixed-term employment contracts, as a more specific manifestation of modern flexibility in labor relations, does not occupy a place in itself in the study that follows. The inclusion of the latter in a more general way takes place with the aim of a smoother transition of the reader to the need to answer a question of pivotal value: the inclusion of elements of insecurity in labor relations from employer practices is justified when the state is the employer ? And, in case of an affirmative answer to the question, what are the limits of possible different-preferential treatment of the state-employer in relation to the private-employer? As will be seen in the analysis that follows, the issue of fixed-term contracts with the State has economic and political consequences in the Greek reality, related to some of the most obvious forms of pathologies known to our country. Thus, the consideration of the phenomenon in question, in the light of its extra-legal and historical emergence and development in the Greek reality, is an integral part of the specific study, in order to understand the solutions that were each time adopted, both normatively and jurisprudentially, but also the prospects for a future relevant regulatory intervention. Finally, the unavoidable involvement in the internal legal order of EU law creates an aggravation of the problem. Beyond its intrinsic complexity, two additional "EU" factors seem to encourage the perpetuation of this specific issue in the Greek courts: One is structural and related to the supremacy of EU law over national rules in general, regardless - in principle - of their position in the respective national legal order, and the other, connected in particular to our subject, concerns the hesitancy of the EU legislator and the EU judicial body to intervene normatively or, respectively, interpretatively in the phenomenon of fixed-term contracts when the employer is the State, definitively and clearly clarifying an issue, presumptively "sensitive" to extra-national arrangements