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Regime dependence in the oil-stock market relationship: The role of oil price uncertainty
No full textWe compare the interaction between the crude oil and US stock markets in regimes where oil price uncertainty is high versus low, using a smooth transition vector autoregressive model. Our results show that supply- and demand-side shocks from the oil market, as well as stock market shocks, tend to have greater effect sizes in the lower oil price uncertainty regime. These asymmetric findings are consistent with the premise that shocks occurring in a relatively calmer environment are inclined to surprise market participants more, thereby eliciting amplified responses, than during an environment where oil price uncertainty is anticipated to be higher
Schmidt-hammer exposure-age dating of talus slopes in upper Jostedalen, southern Norway: Interpreting the age and development of diachronous surfaces
Get PDFSchmidt-hammer exposure-age dating (SHD) was used to evaluate the surface age, dynamics and evolution of eight talus (scree) slopes located between ~520 and ~1010 m a.s.l. in the upper Jostedalen area of southern Norway. Statistically significant differences in mean R-values were found between talus slopes but there was no consistent difference in R-values between three mid- to lower-slope positions, two operators, or first and second impacts from the same boulders. A new regional age-calibration equation yielded SHD ages ranging from 8425 ± 700 years to 2620 ± 740 years. SHD ages from talus slopes and other landforms with diachronous surfaces (such as alluvial fans, snow-avalanche fans, pronival ramparts and rock glaciers) represent the average exposure age of the surface boulders and provide insights into landform evolution. Here, our SHD ages are interpreted in terms of Early Holocene paraglacial rock-slope instability, Mid-Holocene permafrost degradation, low but possibly variable rates of rockfall activity in the Late-Holocene, and spatial variations affected by local site differences. Survival of rock particles with relatively old exposure ages towards the distal margins of the talus slopes is attributed to their slow development with low levels of modern activity. SHD ages from diachronous surfaces may considerably underestimate landform age (defined as the onset of landform formation). Greater application can be anticipated, however, in the inference of landform dynamics from the R-value distributions of diachronous surfaces and in the use of SHD age as an indicator of the extent of modern activity
Primary thought on the incorporation of intelligent control and U-control (I-U-control)
No full textThis study explains the main idea and structure of a What-How intelligent control (WH-I-control) system and a universal control (U-control) system. The system has two control layers. The bottom layer uses the U-control framework to manage 'How' to control within a universal framework. The top layer uses intelligent control (I-control) to coordinate and guide 'What' to achieve both global and local control goals. This study also reviews the configurations, functions, and integration of these two control layers in analysis, design, and applications
Children's Wellbeing and Schools Bill 2024-25
Get PDFThe Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill 2024-25 was introduced on17 December 2024. It is bill 151 of the 2024-25 parliamentary session. The bill is listed for second reading on 8 January 2025.The government intends the bill to improve the safeguarding of children (such as in care institutions and schools) and to raise educational standards.This briefing does not provide an exhaustive guide to every clause of the bill. Analysis focuses on clauses that have legally or politically significant effects. See the bill’s explanatory notes for further detail on other clauses.The government has also published a policy summary for the bill, which provides detailed information on its proposals.Children social care and schools are devolved policy issues. Most of the bill’s provisions extend to England and Wales and would apply in England only. Clause 10 (on deprivation of liberty orders) also extends to Scotland as it makes consequential amendments to Scottish legislation
Eugenol@natural zeolite vs. citral@natural zeolite nanohybrids for gelatin-based edible-active packaging films
Get PDFIn this study, aligned with the principles of the circular economy and sustainability, novel eugenol@natural zeolite (EG@NZ) and citral@natural zeolite (CT@NZ) nanohybrids were developed. These nanohybrids were successfully incorporated into a pork gelatin (Gel)/glycerol (Gl) composite matrix using an extrusion–compression molding method to produce innovative active packaging films: Gel/Gl/xEG@NZ (where x = 5, 10, and 15%wt.) and Gel/Gl/xCT@NZ (where x = 5 and 10%wt.). All films exhibited zero oxygen barrier properties. Release kinetic studies showed that both EG@NZ and CT@NZ nanohybrids adsorbed up to 58%wt. of their respective active compounds. However, EG@NZ exhibited a slow and nearly complete release of eugenol, whereas CT@NZ released approximately half of its citral content at a faster rate. Consequently, the obtained Gel/Gl/xEG@NZ films demonstrated significantly higher antioxidant activity as measured by the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazylradical (DPPH) assay and superior antibacterial effectiveness against Escherichia coli and Listeria monocytogenes compared to their CT-based counterparts. Overall, the Gel/Gl/xEG@NZ films show strong potential for applications as active pads for fresh pork ham slices, offering zero oxygen permeability, enhanced antioxidant and antibacterial properties, and effective control of total viable count (TVC) growth, maintaining a low and steady rate beyond the 10th day of a 26-day storage period
Exchange rate fluctuation and performance of manufacturing companies in Nigeria
Get PDFExchange rate fluctuation poses a significant threat to the stability of a nation's economy. Every economy must strive to ensure stability in exchange rate to strengthen the purchasing power. The volatile movement of exchange rate in Nigeria induces increase in cost which adversely affects the manufacturing sector. Hence, this study investigated the effect of exchange rate fluctuation on performance of manufacturing sector in Nigeria. Auto Regressive Distributed Lag was used to analyse the secondary data that were collected from Central Bank statistical bulletin and annual reports. The study revealed that there is existence of a long run negative relationship between exchange rate fluctuation and contribution of manufacturing sector to GDP. There is also existence of a long run negative relationship amongst exchange rate fluctuation and manufacturing output in Nigeria. Finally, the study revealed that exchange rate fluctuation affects manufacturing capacity utilization in Nigeria. The study concluded that exchange rate volatility negatively affects Nigeria manufacturing sector. The study therefore recommends that macro-economic variables are known to affect performance of manufacturing sector therefore the monetary policies should be managed in a way that it will be favourable to manufacturing sector in Nigeria
Five interdisciplinary tensions and opportunities in neurodiversity research
Get PDFImproving our understanding of autism, ADHD, dyslexia and other neurodevelopmental conditions requires collaborations between genetics, psychiatry, the social sciences and other fields of research
Development of the viscous plane damper applicable in limited space within structures subjected to dynamic loads
Get PDFShipping impact and wave loads impose dynamic loads on jetties and platforms in the sea, which cause the vibration of structures. Recently, many advanced viscous damper devices have been developed for implementation in structures to diminish structural vibration due to earthquakes or wind. However, the longitudinal configuration of conventional viscous damper devices requires adequate space to locate the damper device within the frame structure, which limits the application of viscous dampers for use in jetties or platforms to dissipate the vibrations imposed by ship impact or wave force. For this reason, in this study, an attempt has been made to develop a new viscous plane damper device applicable in limited space positions where the longitudinal damper device is not able to fit. For this purpose, the initial design for the viscous plane damper device is proposed, and the prototype of the device is manufactured. Then, the performance of the fabricated viscous plane damper is examined through experimental tests by applying cyclic loads using a dynamic actuator. In order to investigate the effect of the diameter and configuration of the piston’s orifices, five different diameters for the orifices of 1, 2, 5, 8, and 10 mm are included, and three different distribution configurations of the orifices in the piston plate as Configurations A, B, and C are manufactured and tested experimentally. The lab testing is conducted by applying cyclic loads with different frequencies to evaluate the performance of the developed plane damper device under various load velocities. Accordingly, the dynamic performance of the damper device, including the damping force, effective damping and stiffness and the energy dissipation capacity obtained from the hysteresis response (force–displacement result), is investigated. The results of the experimental tests prove the functionality of the developed device to generate the desired damping force and vibration energy dissipation during applied cyclic loads. Therefore, the new plane damper device can be implemented in any structure to dissipate the effect of imposed vibration
Information behaviour in high risk decision making: Study of international postgraduates
Get PDFThis article explores the role of information in high risk consumer decision making. Forty-two qualitative interviews were undertaken with international non-EU postgraduates when making the high risk decision to study in a UK Business School. Prospective international postgraduates moved iteratively through the stages in Kuhlthau’s Information Search Process model and learnt from the search process they had undertaken in a continuous cyclical manner. Word-of-mouth recommendations were the most influential sources of information gathered, and online sources were perceived to be credible regardless of their origins. The perception of risk impacted the rigour of the information search process. An iterative decision making cycle model is proposed with Kuhlthau’s model and word of mouth information at its core, which reflects the connectedness of individuals in this digital era. This study provides new insights by combining both marketing and LIS models and extends Kuhlthau’s research into a new context
An interactive decision-making model of international postgraduate student course choice
Get PDFThis paper explores the decision-making process of international non-EU postgraduates when choosing a qualification from a UK business school and proposes a new model which reflects the iterative, cyclical and continuous nature of the process. The degree of rigour and rationality employed in decision-making was often limited and influenced by culture and the composition of the decision-making unit (DMU). A Decision Maker Typology is proposed which will support segmentation strategies. Postgraduates continuously searched for information and relied on word of mouth information from students, parents, agents and academic staff. Online sources (websites, search engines and reviews) were perceived uncritically to be trustworthy sources. Data on reputation, rankings and friendship groups helped form choice sets. Forty-two qualitative interviews were conducted with international postgraduates from one Post-92 University. The need to meet the information requirements of all DMU members and stimulate information exchange to create a virtuous circle of communication was identified