24762 research outputs found
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Alternative prices under Markowitz’s portfolio model for FOREX transactions
Get PDFPURPOSE: In Markowitz’s traditional portfolio analysis, only the close price is used to build
an investment portfolio. This type of price is commonly regarded as an axiom. As such, this
article aims to prove that the close price is not the best type of price. Using the close price
means that a portfolio which appears optimal is far from it. Under certain assumptions, it
can be demonstrated that the close price should not be used.DESIGN/METHODOLOGY/APPROACH: For the purposes of this study, 20 currency pairs were
selected for analysis, from which portfolios of two assets were created. However, the best
portfolios were additionally selected based on three “research spaces”, five moving average
lengths, and seven types of prices (including the close price). A total of 13,300 different
portfolios of two assets were created. All portfolios were calculated using real Forex data.
The author created an original subroutine for the MetaTrader4 trading platform to build this
enormous number of portfolios. It enabled online data collection and calculation of the
entire portfolio population. A time frame of 15 minutes (M15) was used for this purpose.FINDINGS: Thanks to such a large research sample, it was proven that the close price is not
the best for building an investment portfolio. Within six hours, one of the prices gave an
actual result that was 11,133.3% higher than that for the portfolio with the close price. This
study proved the following hypotheses: “Selecting an optimal portfolio (in the traditional
sense) using the close price is not an optimal solution”, and “The close price is not the best
price for building an investment portfolio.”PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS: Empirically verified knowledge about the use of different types of
prices may prove useful for all (investment companies, investors, researchers, students) who
have so far only used the close price.ORIGINALITY/VALUE: No one has yet combined statistical knowledge, portfolio analysis, and
MetaTrader4 trading platform software with an M15 time frame. No other studies using
portfolio analysis question the axiom of using the close price in any market (including the
Forex market).peer-reviewe
Analytic approaches to the anthropology of the good : moral incoherence and mental health in the wake of COVID-19
Get PDFBuilding on the anthropology of the good, this article seeks to apply a taxonomical approach inspired by analytical philosophy to the study of moral incoherence. The topic of moral incoherence is a growing concern in clinical contexts. Drawing on fieldwork and clinical data during the COVID-19 pandemic in Malta, this article brings together approaches from anthropology, psychiatry and psychology to look at the way in which such ‘moral breakdown’ has been studied in relation to mental health and existing diagnostic structures. Moral incoherence, it is proposed, can be conceived of as a problem in terms of rationality, which has implications for the imaginary coherence of the subject. This article, therefore, makes two primary contributions. It develops an approach to the anthropology of the good by means of an analytical reduction in terms of a series of ought statements. Secondly, it applies the approach to the problem of moral incoherence by engaging with various disciplinary perspectives, particularly those in psychiatry, psychology, and, to a lesser extent, philosophy. The implication of moral problems to mental health cannot be merely dismissed as the pathologisation of everyday life. Such problems are exacerbated in times of crisis, where the possibilities for coherence become increasingly challenged.peer-reviewe
Sustainable finance and investment analytics : a systematic literature review and meta-analysis approach
Get PDFSustainable finance and investment analytics represent a critical convergence in modern finance, promoting the integration of environmental, social, and governance (ESG) metrics into financial decision-making. The growing urgency of climate change, social inequality, and responsible governance practices has prompted institutional investors, policy makers, and researchers to reevaluate the relevance of traditional finance. This research paper presents a systematic literature review and meta-analysis of recent academic and practitioner-based research in sustainable finance and investment analytics. Using the PRISMA framework, 77 studies were selected to examine trends in sustainable portfolio outcomes. Findings indicate that to make the literature's analytical component more understandable, a variety of graphs and diagrams are used. The results suggest that 2024 has the highest number of publications during the period selected for this study. The 13th Sustainable Development Goal, Climate Action, has the most publications. Based on the findings of the bibliometric investigation, one significant cluster of ten researchers is interpreted in green and red with relation to co-authorship links. Dark lines show a close tie between the writers in terms of authorship. The chapter concludes by highlighting research gaps, methodological trends, and future research pathways.peer-reviewe
Contributions to the malacology of Malta, vii : on non-indigenous species (Planorbidae, Pristilomatidae, Clausiliidae) newly recorded from alluvial deposits
Get PDFThe uncommon occurrence of three non-native non-marine snail species in Malta, namely Anisus
vortex (Linné, 1758), Hawaiia minuscula (Binney, 1841), and Clausilia bidentata (Strøm, 1765), is
documented for the first time. All finds originate from biogenic detritus deposited near coastlines by
alluvial processes.peer-reviewe
Effectiveness of information security incident management systems : identifying practices, challenges and development perspectives
Get PDFPURPOSE: The primary objective of this article was to investigate the effectiveness of
information security incident management systems and assess their impact on the level of
organizational protection. The analysis includes identifying key practices, challenges, and
development perspectives in this area. Additionally, the article provides practical
recommendations to support organizations in improving their response mechanisms to
threats and enhancing resilience against security incidents.METHODOLOGY/APPROACH: The study focuses on analysing different approaches to incident
management, comparing traditional methods with modern ones based on automation and
artificial intelligence, and evaluating their impact on key effectiveness metrics such as Mean
Time to Detect (MTTD), Mean Time to Respond (MTTR), and False Positive Rate. As part of
the project, a review of scientific literature, analysis of industry reports, and case studies of
organizations implementing various incident management systems were conducted.FINDINGS: The analysis indicates that organizations implementing modern incident
management technologies can significantly reduce response times and decrease false alarms,
leading to improved operational efficiency for security teams. The use of automation and AI
enables more precise threat detection and minimizes human errors. However, organizations
face challenges such as high implementation costs, a shortage of skilled professionals, and
difficulties integrating new technologies.PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS: The study's findings are highly relevant for organizations aiming to
improve the effectiveness of incident management. Key recommendations include, investing
in automation and AI to reduce response times and enhance the precision of threat detection,
training employees and developing cybersecurity competencies to effectively manage modern
systems, integrating incident management with the overall cybersecurity strategy to adopt a
more holistic approach to protecting organizational assets, fostering cross-sector
collaboration and sharing threat information, which will enhance global protection against
cyberattacks.ORIGINALITY/VALUE: In summary, the future of incident management depends on an
organization's ability to adapt new technologies, improve operational processes, and
continuously enhance the competencies of IT security teams.peer-reviewe
Regulations concerning capital market from individual investors perspective
Get PDFPURPOSE: There is no doubt that the capital market is an important part of the modern
economy. However, following the deregulations that took place in the 1980s, there were
several waves of re-regulation. The most significant changes in the legal environment
occurred in the 21st century after the bankruptcy of Enron, then Lehman Brothers and again
after the Greek debt crisis in the Eurozone.
The research paper raises important issues in the field of personal finance. The aim of the
article is to verify whether market is overregulated in the individual investors' opinion.DESIGN/METHODOLOGY/APPROACH: The study examines results of surveys conducted in 2020
and 2024 on the sample of Polish individual investors. Poland, as a member of the European
Union with strong position of the Warsaw Stock Exchange is definitely worth to analyse.FINDINGS: The study found that according to individual investors, the capital market is
overregulated (59%), regulations are not adequate (46%), regulations are not liberal (47%)
and are not supportive (64%). However, simultaneously individual investors are not of the
opinion that regulations are oppressive. Although only 25% of respondents positively
assessed the functioning of Polish Financial Supervision Authority and only 3% assessed it
very positively.PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS: It may be concluded that according to individual investors, capital
market is overregulated. Moreover, in both conducted surveys conclusions are similar.
Therefore, regulatory body in the European Union and Poland should pay more attention to
create more friendly regulatory environment both for investors and companies.ORIGINALITY/VALUE: Research carried out on the individual investors should be considered
valuable, because there is a relatively lower number of research on that group.This research was funded by the Nicolaus Copernicus University of
Toruń, Faculty of Economic Sciences and Management.peer-reviewe
Dietary strategies for irritable bowel syndrome : a narrative review of effectiveness, emerging dietary trends, and global variability
Get PDFBackground ‒ Various dietary strategies have been proposed for irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) symptom relief; yet, long-term studies and comparative trials remain limited. The literature reports inconsistent findings regarding the nutritional adequacy and global variability of dietary intake in IBS populations, highlighting the need for a broader understanding of how cultural and emerging dietary factors influence symptom expression. Objective ‒ This narrative review aims to evaluate the effectiveness of predominant dietary interventions for IBS, provide an overview of emerging dietary trends, and examine cultural differences in dietary patterns among IBS populations. Methods ‒ A comprehensive search was conducted across Google Scholar, Wiley Online Library, PubMed, Elsevier, Scopus, and ScienceDirect for peer-reviewed, English-language articles published after 2000. Studies included clinical guidelines based on systematic reviews, analyses of dietary intakes in IBS populations adopting alternative dietary assessment methods, and reviews of dietary interventions. One hundred and ten studies were included following title, abstract, and full-text screening. Key findings ‒ Due to the heterogeneous nature of IBS, various dietary strategies are reported. Yet, it remains unclear which is superior, with the low-FODMAP diet being the most studied. Emerging dietary trends show promising potential, but current evidence is preliminary and requires long-term investigations. Internationally, dietary intake patterns vary, with some IBS populations meeting nutritional needs while others exhibit deficiencies, particularly in fibre, calcium, iron, and B vitamins. Conclusion ‒ Given the variability in IBS responses, tailored dietary management is essential. Furthermore, long-term, comparative, and cross-national studies are needed to address global nutritional gaps and inform standardised dietary guidelines for IBS.peer-reviewe
Crisis preparedness and management in pharmaceutical scenarios
No full textAims: To investigate crisis scenarios in pharmaceutical distribution (PD)
and community pharmacy (CP). Study objectives are i) crisis
scenarios and crisis measure identification, ii) National Competent
Authority (NCA) role evaluation and iii) development of crisis
management strategies.Introduction: Crisis preparedness and management in pharmaceutical scenarios is essential for maintaining quality, safety, and efficacy of medicines while minimizing risks to patients and public health. The purpose is to investigate crisis scenarios in pharmaceutical distribution and community pharmacy. The objectives are i) identification of crisis scenarios and crisis preparedness and management measures, ii) evaluation of National Competent Authority role, iii) development of crisis management plans.peer-reviewe
Beyond location : reimagining community care for persons with severe mental illness in Malta
No full textThis paper critically examines the complexities of implementing community care for individuals with severe mental illness (SMI) in Malta, challenging the assumption that relocating services from institutional settings automatically leads to better outcomes. Drawing on qualitative case vignettes and a review of current deinstitutionalisation efforts, we demonstrate how institutional practices can be replicated in community contexts, potentially undermining genuine social inclusion. Instead, we argue that authentic community care requires a multi-layered approach that facilitates personal agency, fosters meaningful community engagement, and encourages the development of relationships beyond service-based frameworks. To address these challenges, we propose a model centred on “circles of support,” highlighting the importance of diverse social networks and empowerment. The paper calls for a paradigm shift in Malta’s mental health sector, underpinned by person-centred policies, flexible support systems, and a holistic view of wellbeing.peer-reviewe
Renewable energy sources in transport : literature review and development perspective
No full textPURPOSE: The transportation sector is crucial for achieving global sustainability goals,
particularly in reducing greenhouse gas emissions and transitioning away from fossil fuels.
This study aims to provide a comprehensive overview of research on renewable energy
sources (RES) in transportation, identifying key trends, thematic clusters, and research gaps
to support both academic and policy development in transport decarbonization.DESIGN/METHODOLOGY/APPROACH: A systematic bibliometric analysis was conducted using
Scopus-indexed publications. VOSviewer software was applied to map publication trends,
co-authorship networks, and thematic clusters, enabling the identification of dominant
research streams and patterns of institutional collaboration.FINDINGS: The analysis highlights three primary research streams: hydrogen technologies,
electric mobility, and biofuels. China emerges as the leading country in terms of both
publication output and collaboration intensity, followed by Europe and the United States.
Furthermore, the study reveals underexplored areas in integrating renewable energy into
transportation systems, signaling opportunities for future research.PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS: The findings provide actionable insights for policymakers and
industry stakeholders seeking to accelerate the transition toward sustainable transport. By
identifying active research areas and gaps, the study supports strategic decision-making in
funding allocation, technology development, and international cooperation.ORIGINALITY/VALUE: This study offers a data-driven and systematic perspective on the
evolution of research related to RES in transportation. It uniquely combines bibliometric
mapping with a focus on transport decarbonization, providing valuable input for scholars
and practitioners working toward climate-neutral mobility systems.peer-reviewe