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Previous studies have found a positive association between the costs of switching providers and market power in the banking sector. We believe a similar association exists in the Swedish home insurance industry, given that Finansinspektionen's (2022) previous findings indicate price walking, a premium paid by loyal customers, is prevalent in the market. We therefore investigate whether there exists a positive association between switching costs and market power in the Swedish home insurance market using a panel data approach between the years of 2012-2022. We employ Shy's (2002) measure to estimate switching costs and the Lerner index to estimate market power. The results reveal a statistically significant association between switching costs and market power, indicating that reducing switching costs could help reduce market power, potentially benefiting consumers. These results are robust between model choices, period, and measure of price and costs. The findings also imply that decreases in switching costs could lower consumer prices by increasing competition and reducing profit margins. To reduce switching costs, we propose investigating the effects of standardizing insurance policies for easier comparison and exploring the potential effects of discouraging cumulative discounts that deter customers from changing providers.

The spread of severe acute respiratory syndrome-coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) has raised major health policy questions. Direct transmission via respiratory droplets seems to be the dominant route of its transmission. However, indirect transmission via shared contact of contaminated objects may also occur. The contribution of each transmission route to epidemic spread might change during lock-down scenarios. Here, we simulate viral spread of an abstract epidemic considering both routes of transmission by use of a stochastic, agent-based SEIR model. We show that efficient contact tracing (CT) at a high level of incidence can stabilize daily cases independently of the transmission route long before effects of herd immunity become relevant. CT efficacy depends on the fraction of cases that do not show symptoms. Combining CT with lock-down scenarios that reduce agent mobility lowers the incidence for exclusive direct transmission scenarios and can even eradicate the epidemic. However, even for small fractions of indirect transmission, such lockdowns can impede CT efficacy and increase case numbers. These counterproductive effects can be reduced by applying measures that favor distancing over reduced mobility. In summary, we show that the efficacy of lock-downs depends on the transmission route. Our results point to the particular importance of hygiene measures during mobility lock-downs.

Previous studies have found a positive association between the costs of switchingproviders and market power in the banking sector. We believe a similar associationexists in the Swedish home insurance industry, given that Finansinspektionen’s(2022) previous findings indicate price walking, a premium paid by loyal customers,is prevalent in the market. We therefore investigate whether there exists a positiveassociation between switching costs and market power in the Swedish homeinsurance market using a panel data approach between the years of 2012-2022. Weemploy Shy’s (2002) measure to estimate switching costs and the Lerner index toestimate market power. The results reveal a statistically significant association betweenswitching costs and market power, indicating that reducing switching costscould help reduce market power, potentially benefiting consumers. These resultsare robust between model choices, period, and measure of price and costs. Thefindings also imply that decreases in switching costs could lower consumer pricesby increasing competition and reducing profit margins. To reduce switching costs,we propose investigating the effects of standardizing insurance policies for easiercomparison and exploring the potential effects of discouraging cumulative discountsthat deter customers from changing providers.

« Thèse présentée à l'école des Gradués de l'Université Laval pour l'obtention du grade de Maître es Arts (M.A.) » / « Le but de notre recherche est de préciser les rapports entre l'idéologie et la pratique syndicale. Ce problème est habituellement traité à l'aide de concepts généraux; nous avons cependant choisi de l'aborder en nous référant â un cas particulier. Notre hypothèse suggère que l'idéologie du syndicat des travailleurs de Reynolds qui, de mars 1980 à mars 1981 est impliqué dans un conflit de travail, est le résultat de tensions internes à l'organisation et de tensions liées à l'intensité du conflit de travail en cours. À la suite de l'analyse de contenu des documents syndicaux et d'entrevues, il est apparu qu'une troisième variable entrait en jeu: l'idéologie de la Confédération des syndicats nationaux (C.S.N.) a eu à plusieurs moments une influence déterminante sur la constitution de l'idéologie du syndicat local. Notre hypothèse, bien que confirmée, s'avérait incomplète. Deux conclusions principales se dégagent de notre recherche. Il existe divers paliers constitutifs dans l'idéologie du syndicat des travailleurs de Reynolds, paliers qui évoluent selon des temps différenciés. Nous en avons identifié deux: la structure et le contenu idéologique. La deuxième conclusion de cette recherche tient au fait que nous avons pu lier les transformations de ces paliers de l'idéologie à certaines fluctuations de la pratique syndicale. Le changement d'allégeance du syndicat local à quelques mois du conflit, les dissensions internes au syndicat et l'importance stratégique du conflit pour les négociations dans les autres unités où la CSN est accréditée expliquent en grande partie les variations du discours du syndicat local. Les résultats de cette recherche exploratoire nous amènent enfin à poser certaines interrogations à propos d'une définition du concept d'idéologie. Les analyses critique, structurale, interprétative et fonctionnaliste ne permettent pas l'étude de l'idéologie dans ses composantes internes. Nos résultats expriment la nécessité de dépasser la définition de l'idéologie comme tout cristallisé pour en arriver à une autre qui tienne compte de composantes telles qu'elles évoluent dans des temps différents. »--Pages préliminaires

Ce mémoire est consacré au discours véhiculé dans les médias de masse pendant le lock-out de la Ligue nationale de hockey (LNH) 2004-2005. La première hypothèse soutient l'idée qu'en déclenchant le lock-out, la LNH avait un agenda caché, plus précisément, qu'elle ne voulait pas que la saison 2004-2005 ait lieu afin qu'elle puisse restructurer ses activités pendant la période d'inactivité. Cette hypothèse est confirmée. De son côté, la deuxième hypothèse avance que pendant le processus de négociation, les médias n'ont pas su renseigner le public sur les idées sur lesquelles travaillaient les deux parties (Association des joueurs (AJLNH) et LNH) pendant la négociation de la convention collective. Celle-ci est infirmée. Ainsi, tant sur le plan théorique que pratique, cette recherche permet d'avoir un aperçu de la complexité de la question des interactions entre les journalistes et les sources quant au contrôle de la production du discours véhiculé dans les médias.

International Telemetering Conference Proceedings / October 28-31, 1996 / Town and Country Hotel and Convention Center, San Diego, California / Aerospace Report No. TOR-0059(6110-01)-3, section 1.3.3 outlines the design and performance requirements of SGLS (Space Ground Link Subsystem) uplink services equipment. This modulation system finds application in the U.S. Air Force satellite uplink commanding system. The SGLS signal generator is specified as an FSK (Frequency Shift Keyed)/AM (Amplitude Modulation)/PM (Phase Modulation) sub-carrier modulator. GDP Space Systems has implemented, on a single 6U-VME card, a SGLS signal generator. The modulator accepts data from several possible sources and uses the data to key one of three FSK tone frequencies. This ternary FSK signal is amplitude modulated by a synchronized triangle wave running at one half the data rate. The FSK/AM signal is then used to phase modulate a tunable HF (High-Frequency) sub-carrier. A digital design approach and the availability of integrated circuits with a high level of functionality enabled the realization of a SGLS signal generator on a single VME card. An analog implementation would have required up to three rack-mounted units to generate the same signal. The digital design improve performance, economy and reliability over analog approaches. This paper describes the advantages of a digital FSK/AM/PM modulation method, as well as DDS (Direct Digital Synthesis) and digital phase-lock techniques.

The right to strike and lock-out This master's thesis deals with the topic of the right to strike and right lock-out, which has proven to be a rather controversial theme in the Czech Republic and Czech law discourse. The thesis ponders the subject in its broad context in the Czech law environment as well as examines its relations towards International and European law context. The main aim is to provide a complex and through insight on the matter, define it and state its main challenges and pitfalls, and valorise Czech law environment around the strike. The structure of the thesis consists of two main parts. The first part focuses on the right to strike in detail and is divided into eight chapters, whereas the second part deals with the right to lock-out. The first chapter serves as an introductory to the examined matter and defines the basic terms such as "strike" or "walkout" and puts their meaning into the law context. Furthermore it describes various methods and kinds of strikes, actors and participants and scale of strikes. The second chapter examines the historical developments and ramifications. From medieval times to the state-capitalist dictatorships before the year 1989, it seeks to draw the main lines of development and the driving force behind it. The third chapter focuses on the related rules...

Resistência hidráulica é altamente prevalente em cateteres venosos centrais de longa permanência. Selos de heparina são comumente utilizados para manter evitar o problema, mas mostram pouca efetividade. O objetivo do presente estudo foi avaliar a efetividade e segurança de dois selos quanto à redução de ocorrência de incidência de baixo fluxo. Setenta e cinco pacientes com doença renal crônica no estágio 5D em hemodiálise de alta eficiência no Centro Integrado de Nefrologia (Guarulhos, Brasil) foram randomizados na proporção de 1:1:1 para receber selo contendo a combinação de minociclina 3 mg/ml com o anticoagulante/quelante EDTA 30 mg/ml (M-EDTA), heparina 1.000 U/mL (Heparina) ou citrato trissódico 30% (Citrato) por 15 semanas. Sessenta e oito pacrticipantes terminaram o estudo no qual ambos participantes e investigadores foram cegos quanto à alocação do tratamento. O desfecho primátio de efetividade foi ocorrência de resistência hidráulica e o desfecho secundário de segurança foi ocorrência de reações adversas a selos. A incidência de resistência hidráulica foi significantemente maior em cateteres selados com Heparina (18/23) comparado com os selos Citrato (4/22) e M-EDTA (2/23) (p< 0.001). O estudo clínico sugere que o Citrato e M-EDTA mantem a patência de cateteres melhor que a heparina 1.000 UI/ml, sendo altamente custo-efetivos em comparação com heparina 1.000 UI/ml. Ainda, o Citrato pode ser a melhor opção de selo por não se associar com resistência antimicrobiana a longo prazo. / Hydraulic Resistance is highly prevalent among long-term central venous catheters. Heparin catheter lock solutions are commonly used to maintain catheter patency, however this problem remains high. The purpose of the CLOCK Trial was to evaluate two catheter lock solutions as to their effectiveness and safety. Seventy-five CKD 5D patients on high-efficiency hemodialysis at the Integrated Centre of Nephrology (Guarulhos, Brazil) were randomized 1:1:1 to receive a lock solution combining minocycline 3 mg/ml with the anticoagulant/chelation agent EDTA 30 mg/ml (M-EDTA) or heparin 1,000 IU/ml (Heparin) or trisodium citrate 30% (Citrate) versus Heparin for 15 weeks. A total of 68 patients completed the trial in which both investigators and patients were blinded to treatment allocation. The primary end-point was the occurrence of hydraulic resistance and secondary safety end-point was adverse drug reactions related to the lock solutions. The incidence of hydraulic resistance was significantly higher among patients on Heparin (18/23) compared to Citrate (4/22) and M-EDTA (2/23) lock solutions, (p< 0.001). The trial suggests Citrate and M-EDTA may preserve catheter patency better than Heparin and they may show higher cost-effectiveness when compared to heparin. Citrate may be a better option due the lack of association with longterm antimicrobial resistance.

O escoamento em torno de corpos tem sido objeto de estudo de muitos pesquisadores e é muito explorado experimental e computacionalmente, devido a sua grande aplicabilidade na engenharia. No entanto, simular computacionalmente este tipo de escoamento requer uma atenção especial ao escolher o tipo malha a ser utilizado. Em muitos casos faz-se necessário o uso de uma malha que se adapte ao contorno do obstáculo, o que pode ocasionar um aumento no esforço computacional. Um maneira de contornar este problema é a utilização do Método das Fronteiras Imersas, que possibilita o uso de malha cartesiana na simulação computacional do escoamento em torno de obstáculos. Isso é possível através da adição de um termo forçante nas equações que modelam o escoamento, e assim as forças que agem sobre o contorno do corpo são transferidas diretamente para a malha. O objetivo deste trabalho de mestrado foi implementar o método das Fronteiras Imersas e simular o escoamento em torno de um cilindro circular em repouso, movimentando-se na mesma direção do escoamento, na direção perpendicular ao escoamento, ou rotacionando em torno do próprio eixo. As simulações computacionais possibilitaram a captura do fenômeno de Atrelagem Síncrona, caracterizado pela sincronia entre a frequência de desprendimento natural de vórtices e a frequência de oscilação do mesmo. O Método das Fronteiras Imersas mostrou um ótimo desempenho quando comparado a resultados experimentais e numéricos encontrados na literatura / The flow around bodies have been studied by many researchers. Both experimental and computational approaches have been extensively explored in researches on flow around bodies and have been applied in many engeneering problems. However, to choose an appropriate type of mesh to perform computational simulations of this type of problem requires special attention. In many cases, it is necessary to use a mesh that is able to conform to the boundary if a given obstacle. The need to perform this adaptation may increase the computational effort. The Immersed Boundary Method enables the use of cartesian meshes to perform computational simulations of flows around obstacles. The idea of this method is to add a forcing term in the equations that model the flow. Thus, the forces applied on the body boundaries are directly transfered to the mesh. The aim of this work was to perform a computational implementation of the Immersed Boundary Method to simulate the flow over a oscilating circular cylinder. This oscilation may be inline with the flow, cross-flow, or rotating. The computational simulations enabled the capture of the lock-in phenomena, which consists of the syncronization between the vortex shedding frequency and the cylinder oscilation frequency. The results obtained from the computational simulations using the Immersed Boundary Method were in good agreement with the numerical and experimental results found in the literature