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The article presents commentary from Ananth Madhavan about a paper written by Kumar Venkataraman entitled "Automated Versus Floor Trading: An Analysis of Execution Costs on the Paris and New York Exchanges," which appeared in the August, 2001 issue of the "Journal of Finance." In that paper Venkataraman concluded that automated stock exchanges could not yet match the benefits afforded by floor traders on traditional exchanges. The author of the current paper raises questions about some of Venkataraman's interpretations.

Parameter estimation of photovoltaic (PV) solar cells and module models pays attention to researchers owing to their importance in practical considerations. The single diode model (SDM) circuit with five unknown parameters is widely used to model PV solar cells and modules. In this paper, a novel approach called alternate optimization (AO) algorithm based on a discrete search is proposed to estimate the SDM parameters. The proposed algorithm provides efficient and robust performance, considering a limited set of discrete values and increasing the convergence speed. Two practical case studies with actual measurements are considered to assess the proposed AO algorithm: the RTC France solar cell and monocrystalline PV modules with different irradiations and temperatures. The numerical findings underscore the superior performance of the proposed AO algorithm across various metrics. Notably, it achieves an exceptional Root Mean Square Error (RMSE) of 7.7426 × 10−04 for the RTC France PV cell and approximately 1 × 10−03 RMSE for monocrystalline PV modules. Additionally, the algorithm exhibits unparalleled speed, showcasing the fastest convergence with an elapsed time of 1.66 × 10−05—markedly 4.45 times quicker than the fastest method documented in the literature for SDM parameter estimation. Furthermore, the proposed AO algorithm stands out for its efficiency, requiring a maximum of five iterations for parameter estimation, a substantial improvement compared to the more than 10 iterations typically needed by algorithms in the existing literature. Its robustness is also commendable, as evidenced by the stability of final RMSE values across a variety of experiments, distinguishing it from less robust algorithms found in the literature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Empirical studies conducted at the Institut de Recherche de l'Entreprise (Lyon, France) show that, in 'stalemate industries' (cf. the BCG's typology. 1981), differentiation strategies are effective and profitable alternatives to the usual strategic recommendations. The knowledge of customers' behavior shows up several opportunities for differentiation, hidden by some kind of 'strategic presbyopia'. Total quality or 'zero default' strategy (product quality regularity, punctuality of deliveries, quick response to unexpected orders, quick and correct answers to requests, short delivery times) is the major opportunity for differentiation. Such strategies are compatible with a low-cost position: excellent companies which succeeded in building this 'total advantage' (diferentiation + low cost) over their competitors enjoy the highest market share growth and profitability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper tests the claim that insurers often engage in risk‐shifting years before the materialization of a failure. It compares the mechanisms of insurance insolvency across different jurisdictions, using a first‐of‐its‐kind international database assembled by the authors, merging individual financial data together with information on impairments over the last 30 years in four of the largest insurance markets in the world (France, Japan, the UK, and the United States). Results show evidence that low profitability is a leading indicator of failures. Further, there is an asymmetry between life insurance, where bond investment is highly significant, and nonlife insurance sectors, where operating inefficiency plays a larger role. Moreover, this paper highlights differences across countries: a stronger reaction to operating inefficiency in nonlife insurance in France and a less positive impact of bond investment in life insurance in Japan. Both results are linked to differences in the functioning of insurance markets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper explores the influence of spatial mobility on the risk of overeducation of French young workers. Mobilizing a survey following a cohort of young graduates entering the labour market from 2010 until 2013, our results reveal that interregional migration decreases the risk of (statistical and subjective) overeducation. We also evidence that migration to an economic centre (the Paris region) has an even stronger negative effect and that more educated workers benefit more from spatial mobility. These results are robust to controlling for self‐selection and the endogeneity of migration, as well as to various specifications of the model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Regional Science Policy & Practice is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Encouraging the food industry to reformulate their products is a possible public intervention to improve diet quality. In this paper, we assess the impact of food reformulation on per capita salt and saturated fatty acids (SFAs) intake, in France, for four product categories, namely, potato chips, fresh pizzas, frozen pizzas, and frozen meals, taking into account the changes in products' nutritional quality and consumer choices. Nutrient intake is calculated by matching data on food purchases and nutritional data, collected at the same date. An algorithm is run to disentangle the specific effect of food reformulation. We find that food reformulation, which is based on voluntary individual firm choices or voluntary industry‐wide agreement in our case studies, contributes to decrease SFAs and salt intake in seven out of eight cases. However, the magnitude of the impact is moderate, except in the case of potato chips for which a much stronger impact is observed. Product renewal has an ambiguous effect, depending on the nutrient considered. By contrast, changes in consumer behavior increase the intake of SFAs and salt in all cases. Finally, food reformulation generally benefits all consumers equally, regardless of income or age. For food categories with consumption disparities, product reformulation can reduce heterogeneity in nutrient intake across socioeconomic groups, provided that recipes are greatly and widely improved [EconLit Citations: D12, D22, I1]. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article informs that 1980 World Congress of the Econometric Society will be held in Aix-en-Provence, France. It will start on August 28, 1980, and conclude on September 2, 1980. The Planning Committee for the Congress consists of J. D. Sargan, F. M. Fisher, J. Kornai, R. J. Gordon and W. Hildenbrand. Local hotel and hostel accommodation will be arranged by the Local Organizing Committee, whose Chairman is Alain Kirman. Accommodations may be available prior to the Conference as well; details on this and other arrangements will be supplied at a later date.

The article announces that the Fourth World Congress of the Econometric Society will be held in Aix-en-Provence, France from August 28 to September 2, 1980. The member of the Planning Committee for the Congress are J.D. Sargan, Chairman F.M. Fisher, J. Kornai, R.J. Gordon and W. Hildebrand. The event will be held under the auspices of the Universites d'Aix/Marseille II er III. Accomodation will be arranged by the Local Organizing Committee headed by Professor Alan Kirman. The list of the members of the Program Committee are provided.

The article looks at the effect of cultural variables on the willingness of managers in France, Norway, and the U.S. to self-report questionable acts. Questionable acts are any actions that violate standards of justice, honesty, or economy. Multinational corporations examine the impact of cultural values on an individual's willingness to report questionable acts within the organization. Cultural dimensions included in cultural values looked at by these corporations include power distance, uncertainty avoidance, individualism, and masculinity.

Copyright of Papers in Regional Science is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

This document is a response to a letter submitted by Tassi et al. regarding a recent paper on the uptake of pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) among men who have sex with men (MSM) in France. The authors address concerns raised by Tassi et al. about the use of unadjusted regional data on new HIV infections and the limitations of self-reported survey-based data. They acknowledge the limitations of their approach and caution against interpreting the results as potential underestimations. The authors also discuss the potential for future research using clinical and insurance data to improve data quality. [Extracted from the article]

Genetic relatedness figures heavily in contemporary ethical debates on egg freezing, although the arguments lack empirical‐based evidence. Rather than adding another theoretical view on the moral relevance of genetic connections, this paper instead proposes an empirically grounded perspective based on two independent qualitative interview‐based studies conducted in Belgium and France. Three themes emerge from our empirical data: (1) prioritizing family building; (2) centering the gestational experience of motherhood; and (3) identifying the complexities and limitations of adoption. These themes suggest that the relationship between egg freezing, genetics, biological motherhood, and adoption is highly complex and less straightforward than what is often assumed in the egg freezing debate. Our study provides more detailed insights into women's ambivalent experiences regarding those reproductive options. We discuss the ethical implications of our empirical findings and hold that pursuing genetic desire is not necessarily the main moral reason why women freeze their eggs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The China‐France ocean satellite (CFOSAT) has obtained synchronized observations of sea winds and sea waves for the first time in the world, providing accurate data support for the study of swells. In this paper, the accuracy of key parameters and the wave spectrum of CFOSAT surface waves investigation and monitoring (SWIM) L2 data are analyzed and evaluated using a spatial‐temporal matching criterion. The accuracies of the significant wave height (SWH), spectrum peak period (Tp) and dominant azimuth (Azi) are 0.76 m, 2.89 s and −24.02°, respectively, in the coastal area of the South China Sea (SCS) and 0.30 m, 0.97 s and 13.02° in the offshore area of the SCS. Calculated based on CFOSAT SWIM data, the annual average SWH of mixed waves in the SCS is 1.47 m, and 80% of them are between 0.5 and 3 m. There are high value areas in the central, northeastern and southwestern parts of the SCS. The average annual SWH of swells is 0.93 m, and 99% of swells are less than 2 m. A high swell SWH also exists in the central part of the SCS. Plain Language Summary: Swells are an important marine resource. Due to their long propagation distance and fast propagation speed, they can effectively forecast storm surge. They also have large energy and good stability, which are conducive to acquisition and conversion, and they have become a new method for offshore power generation. China‐France ocean satellite provides a convenient means to observe waves and to verify the accuracy of wave parameters, which is an important step for wave detection. The South China Sea, with its vast sea area and abundant swell energy reserves, is an ideal area for offshore power generation. Understanding the distribution of swell energy in the South China Sea (SCS) provides an opportunity to explore a sustainable and reliable renewable energy source. The SCS is also important and significant to the development and utilization of swell energy and for the site selection of offshore power stations. Key Points: Precision valuation of surface waves investigation and monitoring L2 data such as significant wave height (SWH), spectrum peak period (Tp), dominant azimuth (Azi) were carried out and it was determined that the data were stableThe annual average SWH in the South China Sea is 1.47 m and 80% of them are between 0.5 and 3 mWind‐swell separation was carried out, and the distribution of swell SWH shows a high value in the central part of the South China Sea [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cave carbonates, seemingly growing in defiance of gravity, have attracted the community's interest for more than a century. This paper focusses on 'helictites', contorted vermiform speleothems with central capillaries. Petrographic, crystallographic and geochemical data of calcitic and aragonitic helictites (recent to 347 ka) from three caves in Western Germany are placed in context with previous work. Aragonitic helictites from one site, the Windloch Cave, form exceptionally large and complex structures that share similarities with the celebrated helictite arrays in the Asperge Cave in France. Aragonitic and calcitic helictites differ significantly in their crystal fabrics and internal geometry. Calcitic helictites are best described as a composite crystal fabric consisting of fibrous mesocrystals. Aragonite helictites display a complex fabric of acicular to platy crystals, some of which show evidence for growth‐twinning and perhaps crystallisation via a monoclinal precursor stage. The micro‐tomographic characterisation of several orders of channels and their complex architecture raises important questions regarding fluid migration and helictite architecture. In terms of their isotope geochemistry, helictites are depleted in 13C to various degrees, isotope values that are controlled by the mixing of fluids and mineralogy‐related fractionation. Regarding their δ18O values, most helictites overlap with other calcitic and aragonitic speleothems. Previous models explaining the twisted morphology of helictites are discussed from the viewpoint of fluid migration and CO2 degassing rates, mineralogy and helictite petrography. For the complex aragonitic helicities documented here, the most likely mechanisms to explain the contorted growth forms include the internal capillary network combined with localised (sector) growth at the helictite tip. The morphologically simpler calcitic helictites are best explained by capillary and surface flow. Future work should include geomicrobiology to assess the significance of induced mineralisation and transmission electron microscopy analysis to more quantitatively assign crystallographic properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Global, continental and regional maps of concentrations, stocks and fluxes of natural resources provide baseline data to assess how ecosystems respond to human disturbance and global warming. They are also used as input to numerous modelling efforts. But these maps suffer from multiple error sources and, hence, it is good practice to report estimates of the associated map uncertainty so that users can evaluate their fitness for use.We explain why quantification of uncertainty of spatial aggregates is more complex than uncertainty quantification at point support because it must account for spatial autocorrelation of the map errors. Unfortunately, this is not done in a number of recent high‐profile studies. We describe how spatial autocorrelation of map errors can be accounted for with block kriging, a method that requires geostatistical expertise. Next, we propose a new, model‐based approach that avoids the numerical complexity of block kriging and is feasible for large‐scale studies where maps are typically made using machine learning. Our approach relies on Monte Carlo integration to derive the uncertainty of the spatial average or total from point support prediction errors. We account for spatial autocorrelation of the map error by geostatistical modelling of the standardized map error.We show that the uncertainty strongly depends on the spatial autocorrelation of the map errors. In a first case study, we used block kriging to show that the uncertainty of the predicted topsoil organic carbon in France decreases when the support increases. In a second case study, we estimated the uncertainty of spatial aggregates of a machine learning map of the above‐ground biomass in Western Africa using Monte Carlo integration. We found that this uncertainty was small because of the weak spatial autocorrelation of the standardized map errors.We present a tool to get realistic estimates of the uncertainty of spatial averages and totals of natural resource maps. The method presented in this paper is essential for parties that need to evaluate whether differences in aggregated environmental variables or natural resources between regions or over time are statistically significant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Regional Science Policy & Practice is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of GCB Bioenergy is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The objective of this paper is to describe gestational weight gain (GWG), to assess the applicability of the 2009 Institute of Medicine (IOM) guidelines, and to derive a GWG adequacy classification within a French cohort. We included twins from the national, prospective, population‐based JUmeaux MODe d'Accouchement (JUMODA) cohort study (2014–2015). Following the IOM approach, we selected a 'standard' population of term pregnancies with 'optimal' birthweight (≥2500 g; n = 2562). GWG adequacy (insufficient; adequate; excessive) was defined using IOM recommendations (normal body mass index [BMI]: 16.8–24.5 kg [also utilized for underweight BMI]; overweight: 14.1–22.7 kg; obese: 11.4–19.1 kg). Additionally, using the IOM approach, we determined the 25th and 75th percentiles of GWG in our standard population to create a JUMODA‐derived GWG adequacy classification. GWG and GWG adequacy were described, overall and by BMI and parity. In the JUMODA standard population of term twin livebirths with optimal birthweight, mean GWG was 16.1 kg (standard deviation 6.3). Using IOM recommendations, almost half (46.5%) of the women had insufficient and few (10.0%) had excessive GWG, with similar results regardless of BMI or parity. The 25th and 75th percentiles of GWG in the JUMODA standard population (underweight: 13–21 kg; normal weight: 13–20 kg; overweight: 11–19 kg; obese: 7–16 kg) were lower than the IOM recommendations. The IOM recommendations classified a relatively high percentage of French women as having insufficient and a low percentage as having excessive GWG. Additional research to evaluate recommendations in relation to adverse perinatal outcomes is needed to determine whether the IOM recommendations or the JUMODA‐derived classification is more appropriate for French twin gestations. Key messages: Using the 2009 Institute of Medicine (IOM) recommendations to define gestational weight gain (GWG) adequacy in our French cohort classified almost half of women as having insufficient GWG and a relatively low percentage as having excessive GWG.The USA‐derived IOM definition for adequate GWG may not apply in France or in other non‐USA, contemporary obstetric populations.Additional research in large, population‐based contemporary cohorts with prospective GWG ascertainment and assessment of GWG adequacy classifications in relation to adverse outcomes is needed to inform evidence‐based GWG recommendations for twin pregnancies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines the impact of perceived innovativeness on the success of equity crowdfunding campaigns. Building on the investor perspective, we hypothesize a positive impact of perceived innovativeness on the campaign outcome. Our database covers 191 campaigns launched in France on different platforms, drawing on over 2,000 individual assessments of the perceived innovativeness of the start‐ups involved, carried out by 176 participants with diverse backgrounds. We find support for our hypothesis from the investor perspective in that highly innovative projects attract more crowd investors and, in turn, raise more capital. We contribute to the understanding of how the crowd makes investment choices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper aims to propose a new dashboard in which we consider all indicators related to the sustainable supply chain (SSC) under circular economy (CE) constraints. As small and medium‐sized enterprises (SMEs) represent 99% of all businesses in the European Union (EU), this study mainly focuses on surveys of French textile and clothing SMEs. It aims to propose a practical and agile tool to help SC managers cope with sustainability challenges and assess the performance of CE implementation in the SC of the textile and clothing industries. To achieve this objective and to develop a relevant questionnaire enabling us to prepare and conduct surveys, we first identified 63 relevant indicators through an extensive exploratory study based on a leading group in luxury and fashion and a pioneer in corporate social responsibility (CSR). Second, we conducted a survey of 46 textile and clothing companies based in France. Finally, we proposed a new comprehensive SC manager dashboard under CE constraints. From the results, we found that there are several barriers to implementing the CE concept in the textile and clothing industry, such as a lack of sustainability performance, a lack of regulation, and a lack of mandatory responsibilities of SC actors. Hence, to cope with these barriers, the SC must be circular and sustainable by highlighting more circular practices such as recycling, eco‐design, compliance with regulations, reducing waste, minimizing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, energy, and water consumption. The results revealed that our new proposed dashboard highlights all these concepts that enable us to support textile and clothing SMEs to achieve high sustainable development goals. It can also be used as a decision‐making tool to help SMEs' managers, practitioners, and researchers make better sustainability decisions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper provides new stylized facts about labor earnings inequality and dynamics in France for the period 1991-2016. Using linked employer-employee data, we show that (i) labor inequality in France is low compared to other developed countries and has been decreasing until the financial crisis of 2009 and increasing since then, (ii) women experienced high earnings growth, in particular at the bottom of the distribution, in contrast to the stability observed for men. Both result from a decrease in labor costs at the minimum wage and an increase in the hourly minimum in the aftermath of the 35h workweek policy, (iii) top earnings (top 5 and 1%) grew moderately while very top earnings (top 0.1 and 0.01%) experienced a much higher growth, (iv) inequality between and within cohorts follow the same U-shaped pattern as global inequality: it decreased before 2009 and then increased until 2016, (v) Individual earnings mobility is stable between 1991 and 2016, and very low at the top of the distribution, (vi) the distribution of earnings growth is negatively skewed, leptokurtic, and varies with age. Then, studying earnings dispersion both within and between territories, we document strong differences across cities aswell as between urban and rural areas, even after controlling for observable characteristics. We also observe a continuous decrease in earnings inequality between territories. However, a larger inflation in rural territories mitigates this convergence. Finally, we document a strong reduction in inequality within rural and remote territories, again driven by changes at the bottom of the wage distribution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines empirically the economic relationship between local labour market size and firm returns to training. Anchoring in the literature of micro‐foundation of agglomeration economies, we suspect that this relation is driven by two mechanisms: (i) labour pooling which should positively influence the returns to training through matching and learning effects and (ii) the risk of labour poaching, which tends to reduce the returns to training in larger labour markets. Our estimates, based on a large sample of French industrial firms, reveal that returns to training are increasing with the labour market size, suggesting that labour pooling dominates labour poaching effects. On average, returns to training lie between 6.7 and 7.7%, more in line with the microeconomic literature on education than previous studies focusing on training. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper uses the universe of convictions in France between 2000 and 2003 to document the gender gap in sentencing. It reveals three main findings. First, during this period, and after controlling for very precise descriptions of the offences as well as other observable characteristics, women received prison sentences that were 15 days shorter, on average, than those of men who committed comparable offences. This represents a 33% decrease relative to the average sentence length in the sample (45 days in the entire sample). Second, this gender gap is also observed for mixed‐gender pairs of criminals (one man and one woman) who are convicted together, on the same day, by the same person and for the same crime. Finally, this paper presents robust evidence that the gender gap is affected by the gender of the judge, but not that of the prosecutor. Using the evolution of the courts' composition between 2000 and 2003, the results show that a one‐standard‐deviation increase in the number of women in the court decreases the gender gap by 10%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: The aim of this paper is to assess recent developments in non‐medical tramadol use, tramadol use disorder, illegal procurement and deaths. Methods: This study used repeated cross‐sectional analysis of data collected nationwide from 2013 to 2018. Analysis was conducted through multisource monitoring of the French Addictovigilance Network of: (1) validated reports of high‐risk tramadol use, (2) record systems collecting information from toxicology experts investigating analgesic‐related deaths (DTA) and deaths related to substance abuse (DRAMES), and pharmacists for forged prescriptions (OSIAP), and (3) survey of drug users, with investigation of patterns of use while visiting addiction‐specialised institutions (OPPIDUM). Results: Despite a plateauing level of tramadol exposure in the French population, the proportion of tramadol reports increased 1.7‐fold (187 cases in 2018, 3.2% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 2.74–3.63%), versus 1.9% (95% CI: 1.49–2.42% in 2013). Trends were similar in OSIAP: 11.9% of forged prescriptions in 2018 (95% CI: 10.56–13.45%); 1.7‐fold increase; in OPPIDUM: 0.76% (95% CI: 0.55–1.02); 2.2‐fold increase; and DRAMES: 3.2% of drug abuse‐related deaths in 2018 (95% CI: 1.89–5.16) versus 1.7% in 2013 (95% CI: 0.65–3.84). Tramadol was the primary opioid in analgesic‐related deaths in DTA (45% in 2018). Two profiles of high‐risk tramadol users were identified: (1) patients treated for pain or with tramadol persistence when pain disappeared (mainly women; mean age 44 years), and (2) individuals with non‐medical use for psychoactive effects (mainly men; mean age 36 years). Conclusion: The triangulation of the data obtained through addictovigilance monitoring evidenced a recent increase in high‐risk tramadol use. These findings have a practical impact on the limitation of the maximal duration of tramadol prescriptions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In general, it is not feasible to collect enough empirical data to capture the entire range of processes that define a complex system, either intrinsically or when viewing the system from a different geographical or temporal perspective. In this context, an alternative approach is to consider model transferability, which is the act of translating a model built for one environment to another less well‐known situation. Model transferability and adaptability may be extremely beneficial—approaches that aid in the reuse and adaption of models, particularly for sites with limited data, would benefit from widespread model uptake. Besides the reduced effort required to develop a model, data collection can be simplified when transferring a model to a different application context. The research presented in this paper focused on a case study to identify and implement guidelines for model adaptation. Our study adapted a general Dynamic Bayesian Networks (DBN) of a seagrass ecosystem to a new location where nodes were similar, but the conditional probability tables varied. We focused on two species of seagrass (Zostera noltei and Zostera marina) located in Arcachon Bay, France. Expert knowledge was used to complement peer‐reviewed literature to identify which components needed adjustment including parameterization and quantification of the model and desired outcomes. We adopted both linguistic labels and scenario‐based elicitation to elicit from experts the conditional probabilities used to quantify the DBN. Following the proposed guidelines, the model structure of the general DBN was retained, but the conditional probability tables were adapted for nodes that characterized the growth dynamics in Zostera spp. population located in Arcachon Bay, as well as the seasonal variation on their reproduction. Particular attention was paid to the light variable as it is a crucial driver of growth and physiology for seagrasses. Our guidelines provide a way to adapt a general DBN to specific ecosystems to maximize model reuse and minimize re‐development effort. Especially important from a transferability perspective are guidelines for ecosystems with limited data, and how simulation and prior predictive approaches can be used in these contexts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this paper is to assess the French‐speaking countries contributions to regional science since its creation in the 1950s. France, and other French‐speaking countries, very quickly adhered to the approach of the founding fathers of regional science. French‐language research developed for several years without maintaining major relations with the main streams that flow through regional science. However, the years 2000 and 2010 saw the emergence of streams of thought that strongly irrigate at the international level. The authors of this paper are part of this movement. Here we trace the origins and development of the French‐speaking contribution to regional sciences, while highlighting the originality of the French‐language approach. First, the question of academic and institutional contexts is discussed, with the role of the founders and the peculiar place of Journals and public institutions. Further sections analyse the main contributions coming from economics (local systems of production and innovation, innovative milieus and proximity analysis) and geography (regional development at a global scale, and urban systems and complexity). We conclude with cross‐disciplinary contributions including intra‐urban organization and mobility, territorial governance and territorial development, as well as other approaches to the social sciences, in the contemporary issues of city and territorial governance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Grammatical Swarm is a search and optimization algorithm that belongs to the more general Grammatical Evolution family, which works with a set of solutions called individuals or particles. It uses the Particle Swarm Optimization algorithm as the search engine in the evolution of solutions. In this paper, we present a Grammatical Swarm algorithm for total energy demand estimation in a country from macroeconomic variables. Each particle in the Grammatical Swarm encodes a different model for energy demand estimation, which will be decoded by a predefined grammar. The parameters of the model are also optimized by the proposed algorithm, in such a way that the model is adjusted to a training set of real energy demand data, selecting the more appropriate variables to appear in the model. We analyze the performance of the Grammatical Swarm evolution in two real problems of one‐year ahead energy demand estimation in Spain and France. The proposal is compared with previous approaches with competitive results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Policy PointsPrivate health insurance (PHI) in France has been facing critical changes over the past 30 years. A complementary and voluntary scheme, it has been historically dominated by nonprofit entities. However, the share of for‐profit insurance companies in the sector has significantly increased. Nonprofit firms also changed their strategies and mimicked some for‐profit behaviors.The present paper argues that this process is a result of the conflict‐provoking coevolution of the insurance and health care sectors. Trying to improve the regulation of the insurance industry as whole, two European directives first jeopardized the business model of nonprofit entities. Then, two national reforms designed to improve health coverage significantly increased competition among insurers, notably in the area of corporate‐level contracts.Decoupling the insurance and health care sectors has become a major source of policy feedback and unexpected outcomes of reforms affecting the very organization of PHI. Context: In France, private health insurance (PHI) has an exceptionally high level of coverage and accounts for 13.7% of health expenditures. A complementary and voluntary scheme, it has been historically dominated by nonprofit, mutual benefit societies. Over the past 20 years, however, the market share of for‐profit insurance companies has increased by 47%. Financialization of the field developed, and competition based on new risk management strategies also increased. The broad aim of this paper is to characterize and to elucidate the causes of this trend. More specifically, we are interested in how and to what extent a series of supranational and national policies contributed to this situation. Method: Our data come from three sources. We first reviewed documents published by health insurers, government reports, and newspaper articles. We then conducted two semistructured interview campaigns between September 2017 and May 2018. The first mostly covered private and public actors and their involvement in European Union (EU) policymaking (n = 21). The second series of interviews was conducted with another group of actors directly involved at the French level (n = 16). Findings: Our findings support preliminary observations. PHI in France, we argue, is indeed facing a development of competition and marketlike instruments. Four major policies (two EU directives and two national reforms) played a significant role in this outcome. Surprisingly, however, it has never been the purpose of legislators and policymakers: while EU directives created a regulatory framework for insurance activities within the Single Market, policies adopted at the national level initially aimed at improving health coverage. We show that it is the interactions and the noncoordination among all of these policies that explain their unexpected outcome. Conclusions: The trend described in this paper is twofold. The first is Europeanization, as PHI in France is increasingly affected by EU legislation. Since this framework tends to favor larger firms and for‐profit companies, a reduction in statutory coverage can no longer be considered a quasi‐neutral transfer from (publicly owned) social security to nonprofit providers. At the same time, PHI is shifting toward collectivization: as competition increases, complementary health coverage is becoming gradually standardized and based at the corporate level. Together, these changes are likely to reduce freedom of choice and individual welfare, an assumption supported by studies published on the most recent period. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A global trend towards automated trading systems raises the important question of whether execution costs are, in fact, lower than on trading floors. This paper compares the trade execution costs of similar stocks in an automated trading structure (Paris Bourse) and a floor-based trading structure (NYSE). Results indicate that execution costs are higher in Paris than in New York after controlling for differences in adverse selection, relative tick size, and economic attributes across samples. These results suggest that the present form of the automated trading system may not be able to fully replicate the benefits of human intermediation on a trading floor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The panel approach with fixed effects and nonlinear weather effects has become a popular method to uncover weather impacts on economic outcomes, but its ability to capture long‐run climatic adaptation remains unclear. Building upon a framework proposed by McIntosh and Schlenker (2006), this paper identifies empirical conditions under which the nonlinear panel approach can approximate a long‐run response to climate. When these conditions fail, the obtained relationship may still be interpretable as a weighted average of underlying short‐run and long‐run responses. We use this decomposition to revisit recently published climate impact estimates. For spatially large panels, the estimated temperature–outcome relationship mostly reflects the long‐run climatic response; this is not so for precipitation. We find some evidence of long‐run climatic adaptation for crop yield outcomes in the United States and France. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper develops a structural factor vector autoregressive (SFVAR) model to study the effect of oil price shock on economic activity. The model allows both types of uncertainty (real economic activity and oil price) to directly affect oil prices and economic activity. More importantly, the factor variable, which is akin to the macroeconomic uncertainty measure of Henzel and Rengel (2017), captures the significant indirect spillover effects of both supply‐related (oil prices) and demand‐related (business cycle) shocks on oil prices and economic activity. By incorporating the indirect effect of this macroeconomic uncertainty, the response of economic activity to oil price shocks is amplified. In some countries the real effect is prolonged. Results for net oil exporting (importing) countries show that an oil price hike has an appreciably positive (negative) effect on economic activity. The factor dynamics of all countries, except for France, are highly correlated with each other, while they are all moderately correlated with some commonly used measures of macroeconomic uncertainty. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is an ongoing debate within political economy on how finance affects capital–labour relations. Industrial relation scholars have demonstrated that financialization empowers capital and induces the liberalization of industrial relations. Additionally, meso and macro level studies show that finance reduced the labour share during neoliberalism. However, the literature is relatively limited and does not extend to the pre‐WWII period. Considering finance as historically integral to capitalism, this paper estimates the impact of finance on the labour shares of France (1911–2010) and Sweden (1891–2000). The results show that mortgage debt decreases the labour shares of both countries, thus, the financialization of households induces industrial discipline historically. However, the negative effect is substantially smaller in Sweden where housing finance is state‐led and bargaining coordination is centralized over the last century. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present a data set resulting from the first round of a national monitoring program of forest reserves. It contains 9538 permanent plots, distributed across 111 study sites in mainland France (including Corsica). Notably focusing on dead wood measurement, this protocol has primarily been applied in strict forest reserves and special nature reserves (sensu Bollmann & Braunisch 2013), with 68% (6494) of the plots being currently located in strict forest reserves (unmanaged) and 24.7% (2363 plots) in forests unmanaged for at least 50 years. Sites cover a large variety of ecological conditions, from lowland to subalpine forests, but with an underrepresentation of Mediterranean forests (Table 1). The protocol assesses all the stages of a tree's life cycle, from seedling to decomposed lying dead wood. On each plot, a combination of three sampling techniques was used: (1) fixed‐area inventory for regeneration, standing dead trees, living trees, and coarse woody debris (CWD) with diameter over 30 cm; (2) transect lines for CWD with diameter <30 cm; and (3) fixed‐angle plot method for living trees with diameter at breast height (DBH) >30 cm (using a relascopic angle of 3%). Measurements include exact tree location (azimuth, distance), species, diameter(s), tree‐related microhabitats, decay stage and bark cover, and seedling cover. With ongoing climate change, the program network can also provide important information to monitor changes in forest ecosystems. It can also be used as forest management monitoring or conservation status assessment. These data are freely available for noncommercial scientific use (Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 CC BY SA 4.0) with attribution, and this paper must be cited if this material is reused. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context Until the last decade of the 20th century, France had no equivalent to the US Food and Drug Administration. In this paper we describe and interpret the complex series of events that led to the passage by the French Parliament in December 1992 of a law incorporating such an agency, the Agence du Médicament (literally, 'medicines agency'). The broad aim of this project was to learn how public health policy change comes about by detailed analysis of a specific instance. More specifically, we aimed to better understand the circumstances under which public health crisis leads to significant public health policy reform. Methods This paper is based on detailed analysis of primary documents (eg, archived French health ministry papers, recorded parliamentary debates, government reports, newspaper articles) and oral history interviews covering a period from 1988 to 1993. Thematic analysis of these materials was initially grounded in theories of organizational change, moving to constructs that emerged from the data themselves. Findings Policy entrepreneurs positioned to frame adverse events and seize opportunities are key to public health policy reform. However, whether these entrepreneurs will have the requisite institutional power is contingent both on political structure and on the power of competing institutional actors. Health crises may catalyze institutional reform, but our analysis suggests that whether reform occurs, or even whether adverse episodes are labeled as crises, is highly contingent on circumstances of history, political structure, and political ideology and is extremely difficult to predict or control. Conclusions Actors positioned to shape public health policy need to have a detailed understanding of the circumstances that facilitate or impede policy reform. Health crises are now more often global than not. Comparative, theoretically grounded, cross-national research that looks in detail at how different countries respond to similar health crises would be extremely valuable in informing both policymakers and researchers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Canadian Journal of Economics is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

LINKED CONTENT This article is linked to Taxonera et al and Taxonera & Alba papers. To view these articles, visit https://doi.org/10.1111/apt.15804 and https://doi.org/10.1111/apt.16055 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Papers in Regional Science is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The aim of this paper is to provide explanatory elements of the geography of collaboration by testing various potential factors related to the partners' features (sector of activity, location, affiliation to a parent firm, etc.) and to the pair of regions involved in the partnership (economic and scientific endowment of regions and proximities that separate them). Based on a database collecting around 15,000 Science-Industry agreements signed in France between 1981 and 2006, we first realized a probit model that focus on the local dimension of science-industry collaborations on an inter-individual level. We then test a gravity model (sample selection model) in order to explain the probability and the intensity of interregional collaborations. El propósito de este artículo es aportar elementos que expliquen la geografía de la colaboración mediante el ensayo de varios factores potenciales relacionados con las características de los socios (sector de la actividad, localización, afiliación a una empresa matriz, etc.) y con el par de regiones involucradas en la sociedad (dotación económica y científica de las regiones y las proximidades que las separan). Mediante la utilización de una base de datos que incluye alrededor de 15.000 acuerdos de colaboración entre ciencia e industria firmados en Francia entre 1981 y 2006, establecemos en primer lugar un modelo probit que se centra en la dimensión local de las colaboraciones entre ciencia e industria a nivel inter-individual. A continuación, hacemos ensayos con un modelo de gravedad (modelo de selección muestral) para explicar la probabilidad y la intensidad de las colaboraciones interregionales. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines whether variations in demographic structure have influenced stock prices. The study employs a nonparametric approach based on the Fourier Flexible Form representation, which relates variations in the entire age distribution to the normalized stock price under a flexible functional form. The main findings of this paper are that there is a significant impact from prime working-age consumers on the stock price, and that this impact is robust for all G5 countries (France, Germany, Japan, the UK and the USA). These findings survive many robust tests, and are consistent with the predictions from the life-cycle models. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The relevance of models explaining local public expenditure behaviour may depend upon the size of the population of municipalities. To refine this intuition, the paper puts two alternative specifications in competition, one from the demand side and the other from the supply side. The data set includes 14,900 French municipalities for 1998. The econometric methodology uses a data-sorting method developed to test whether the responsiveness of local governments to voters is stable across small-size and large-size municipalities. It appears that the median-voter model is rejected for the 1,579 municipalities with more than 5,000 inhabitants, for which a supply-driven model fits better. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The development of a range of management science methodologies (MSMs) such as ‘soft’ operational research (OR) has been a feature of the UK OR practice over the last decades. This paper suggests that the increasing number of soft approaches developed in the UK is a direct consequence of the pragmatism in management education and management practice in Britain; and of the development of a robust British systems movement that has been engaged with the British OR community. Rationalism prevalent in French management education has kept OR/MS practice biased towards the hard end of MSM. We explore the usage of hard and soft methods and present results of a mailed survey administered to a small sample of British and French MBA graduates working in consultancy. Results reflect features of British and French business culture and management education; and indicate the different directions taken by the MS/OR movements in these two countries. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Developmental Medicine & Child Neurology is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The paper aims to support regional policy‐makers who seek to understand the determinants of regional innovation dynamics. The challenge is to penetrate the black box of the Regional Innovation System (RIS) by identifying the building blocks and interaction processes that stimulate innovation at the regional level. Thanks to a creative database, the main originality of this study is to analyse regional innovation as a process of competences building. To test this explanatory model, a knowledge production function is estimated at the regional level in France by using a simultaneous equations setting. Our results validate the systemic dimension of regional innovation and identify the most valuate input–output transmission mechanisms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper studies procyclical productivity growth at the industry level in the United States and three European countries (France, Germany and the Netherlands). Industry-specific demand-side instruments are used to examine the prevalence of non-constant returns to scale and unmeasured input utilization. For the aggregate US economy, unmeasured input utilization seems to explain procyclical productivity. However, this correction still leaves one in three US industries with procyclical productivity. This failure of the model can also be seen in Europe and is mostly concentrated in services industries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The calcareous tufa sequence and associated Palaeolithic site of Caours were discovered in 2002 during a test‐pit campaign aimed at identifying last interglacial (MIS 5e) archives in the fluvial terrace system of the Somme basin, northern France. The presence of an outstanding stratigraphical succession with four in situ Palaeolithic layers within the tufa sequence has motivated archaeological excavations of the site since 2005. The first malacological studies and U‐series ages quickly showed that the sequence was mainly deposited during the Eemian interglacial (MIS 5e). After 20 years of investigations, we propose here a summary of this multidisciplinary research project including stratigraphy, sedimentology, geochronology, geochemistry, malacology, mammals, palaeovegetation and archaeology. By combining 25 dates obtained by U‐series, ESR/U‐series, TL and OSL methods, the Caours calcareous tufa sequence is securely dated to the Eemian (123.1±2.8 ka). Based on the summary of the whole information, we propose a robust and detailed reconstruction of the modification of the valley environments between the Late Saalian and the Early Weichselian. At the scale of northwestern Europe, Caours provides a reference terrestrial molluscs record for the Eemian interglacial, including the climatic optimum, that is also described in the same layers by δ18O and δ13C analyses on calcite and by mammal remains. Moreover, the 300‐m‐long transect crossing the fluvial terrace covered by the tufa sequence and the bottom valley formation, combined with the chronology established from U‐series and OSL ages, shows that the incision of the present‐day valley, leading to the setting of the Very Low Terrace, was achieved during the first stages of the Early Weichselian (MIS 5d–5c). From an archaeological point of view, the configuration of the Caours site is unique at the scale of western Europe and demonstrates the adaptation of Neandertals to a forested environment and to fully temperate conditions during the Eemian. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Identifying how aerosol particles interact with atmospheric water is critical to understand climate and precipitation. Ice‐nucleating particles (INP) trigger the formation of atmospheric ice crystals at higher temperatures than pure water. They are difficult to characterize because of their scarce occurrence, and variability, in the atmosphere, especially at temperatures above −20°C. It has been demonstrated that at these temperatures, biological aerosol particles can contribute significantly to INP number concentration. This study incorporates a series of offline, size‐segregated measurements of INPs collected at the Puy de Dôme station (PUY, 1,465 m a.s.l.) over a 6 month period from October to May, covering the transitions from autumn, winter, to spring. These measurements show a general trend of decreasing particle number concentrations during the winter months and higher concentration during autumn and spring. INP concentrations measured in the range of −5 and −18°C, had concentrations of 0.001 INP/Lair at the warmest temperatures, and between 0.01 and 0.1 INP/Lair at the coldest temperatures. The majority of INP measured at temperatures warmer than −15°C were heat labile, suggesting a biological or organic origin. The INP variability was compared with collocated aerosol physical and chemical properties, allowing us to associate highest INP concentrations with local and marine origins. Following these comparisons, we use aerosol total number concentration to develop a new parameterization. In addition, this parameterization is specifically optimized for warmer temperature INP measurements, and demonstrated a good performance when tested on independent data sets. Plain Language Summary: Understanding how tiny particles in the air (aerosol particles) interact with water in the atmosphere is crucial for studying climate and precipitation. Ice Nuclei Particles (INP) play a role in forming ice crystals in the atmosphere, especially at higher temperatures. This is important because it's been found that biological aerosol particles can significantly contribute to INP at temperatures above −20°C. The study conducted offline measurements of INPs over 6 months at the Puy de Dôme station, covering the transition from autumn to spring. Results showed a general trend of fewer particles during winter and more during autumn and spring. The INP concentrations were highest at temperatures between −5 and −18°C, with warmer temperatures having 0.001 INP per liter of air and colder temperatures having 0.01 to 0.1 INP per liter of air. Most INPs at temperatures above −15°C were heat‐sensitive, indicating a biological or organic origin. This study linked high INP concentrations to local and marine sources by comparing them with aerosol properties. A new parameterization based on total aerosol number concentration, specifically optimized for warmer temperatures, performed well when tested on independent data sets. Key Points: Size‐segregated airborne ice‐nucleating particles (INP) concentrations were measured at an altitude station in Central France over 6 monthsSeasonal variations are observed with a minimum in winter. The majority of INPs is biological and activated above −18°CWe developed a parameterization for predicting INP concentrations at warm temperatures based on total aerosol concentrations [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The 2020 Alex storm in southern France led to localized extreme rainfall exceeding 600 mm in less than 24 hr. In the 100 days following the storm, a series of small earthquakes swarm occurred beneath the Tinée valley, a region characterized by a low background deformation. To gain insight into the mechanisms controlling swarm evolution, we used an enhanced seismic catalog to detect 188 events. These events exhibited magnitudes comprised between −1.03 and 2.01, and 78 of them were relocated using relative locations at an average depth of 3–4 km. Additionally, we estimated the directions and velocities of seismicity migration. Our analyses reveal multiple episodes of hypocenter expansion and migration within a fluid‐saturated fault system. Observations provide evidence of a bi‐directional seismicity migration marked by dual velocities within a swarm. The northward seismicity migration aligns with velocities indicative of aseismic slip (∼130 m/hr), while the southward migration corresponds to velocities associated with fluid pressure diffusion (∼5 m/hr). This migration pattern underscores the interplay of multiple physical mechanisms in both triggering and driving earthquakes. A stress‐driven model based on rate‐and‐state friction successfully explains the overall evolution of observed seismicity, whereas a fluid‐driven model fails to reproduce the data. Our observations and models suggest that fluid pressure changes resulting from intense rainfall caused aseismic slip in the shallow portion of the crust. We hypothesize that aseismic deformation serves as the driving force for the earthquake swarms, coupled with the invasion of pressurized fluid due to diffusing rainfall. Plain Language Summary: On 2 October 2020, the Alex storm caused extreme rainfall, exceeding 600 mm in less than 24 hr, in southern France. Subsequently, 188 earthquakes were recorded, and 78 of them were precisely relocated at depths of 3–4 km beneath the Tinée valley in the 100 days following the storm. Such increased seismic activity is unusual in this region characterized by low deformation (<1 mm). Using seismic data, we identified two directions of seismicity migration marked by dual velocities within swarms–one indicative of aseismic slip, and the other corresponding to fluid pressure diffusion. A purely fluid‐driven model fails to accurately reproduce the temporal evolution of seismicity, while observed data are effectively modeled based on intermittent stress changes resulting from a slow aseismic slip. Our investigations lead us to attribute earthquake activity to aseismic deformation, acting as the driving force for the swarms, coupled with the invasion of pressurized fluid due to infiltrating precipitation. Key Points: Multiple activation of small earthquake swarms after an extreme rainstorm in southern French AlpsBi‐directional swarm migration velocities reveal an interplay between fluid diffusion and aseismic stress perturbationsA stress‐driven model explains the overall evolution of seismicity and provides insights into the triggering mechanisms [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To develop and validate the Insomnia in Response to Sports‐related Stress Test (IRSST) questionnaire, a new specific instrument with the goal of sensitively measuring vulnerability to sport‐specific stressful situations among elite athletes. Five hundred and thirty‐one competitive elite athletes (mean age = 17.6 ± 4.4 years) completed the Ford Insomnia Response to Stress Test (FIRST) questionnaire and the IRSST, a six‐item questionnaire developed to assess the level of sleep disturbance in response to the commonly experienced sport‐specific stressful situations. A development and validation process including substantive, structural, and external stages was used in the present study. One eigenvalue of the exploratory factor analyses was greater than 1.0 (i.e., 2.91, 48.52% of explained variance) whereas the scree test provided evidence for a one‐factor solution, with all the six items achieving a loading of 0.40 or higher on the factor. Cronbach alpha was 0.77 and provided evidence for the reliability of the IRSST score. The correlation between IRSST and FIRST scores was 0.47 (p < 0.001, moderate effect size). These results provide strong evidence for construct validity, indicating that the IRSST is a promising scale for assessing the likelihood of sleep disruption due to sports‐related stressful situations. The results of reliability and correlational analyses provided further evidence of the promising psychometric properties of the IRSST. We believe that the IRSST could provide to the sport and sleep science communities a sleep screening tool for use in this unique population. Highlights: The Insomnia in Response to Sports‐related Stress Test (IRSST) questionnaire is a promising new specific instrument for assessing the likelihood of sleep disruption due to sports‐related stressful situationsThe IRSST could provide to the sport and sleep science communities a sleep screening tool for use in the unique population of competitive elite athletesThe IRSST can be used to identify athletes with sleep difficulties related to sports‐specific stressful situations (e.g., training, competition, injury) [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper analyses the pricing behaviour of cross channel ferry companies in the eight year period between awarding the Channel Tunnel franchise and the completion of the construction of the Tunnel. The ferry companies appear to have ‘made hay’ by significantly increasing some published prices for car ferry journeys in real terms over the period. The paper presents a model of regulatory intervention which can account for increasing prices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]