title: SOPHYA: a system for digital management of ordered physical document collections

authors: Jervis, Matthew Geoffrey

subjects: computer science

abstract: In recent years several systems have been developed to integrate the management of physical and digital documents and artefacts. These systems, which often rely on technologies such as RFID, generally detect the location of a digitally tagged item within a collection, with varying degrees of location sensitivity, ranging from a room to a smaller container such as a filing cabinet or briefcase. Despite their obvious value, such systems are not capable of detecting the precise location and ordering of individual items within the managed collection of items. In this paper we present the second generation of our earlier prototype system, called SOPHYA, which utilises a wired technology to allow management and retrieval of documents and artefacts within ordered collections.

text: SOPHYA: a system for digital management of ordered physical document collections In recent years several systems have been developed to integrate the management of physical and digital documents and artefacts. These systems, which often rely on technologies such as RFID, generally detect the location of a digitally tagged item within a collection, with varying degrees of location sensitivity, ranging from a room to a smaller container such as a filing cabinet or briefcase. Despite their obvious value, such systems are not capable of detecting the precise location and ordering of individual items within the managed collection of items. In this paper we present the second generation of our earlier prototype system, called SOPHYA, which utilises a wired technology to allow management and retrieval of documents and artefacts within ordered collections.

year: 2010

title: A thesis on green finance

authors: Xu, Danyang

subjects: Green finance

abstract: In recent years, green finance has received considerable attention as a key tool for addressing climate change and achieving global sustainable development. It plays a critical role in driving the global transition to a green economy, achieving carbon neutrality targets and advancing environmental governance. This thesis provides an in-depth exploration of the dynamic connectedness of green financial markets and their complex interactions with various types of risks, aiming to comprehensively understand their characteristics and behaviors under different market conditions. First, using advanced econometric techniques such as the Time-Varying Parameter Vector Autoregressive (TVP-VAR) model and wavelet analysis, the study reveals the relationships between green financial markets and key driving risks, including financial and climate risks, in the time and frequency domain. Second, the thesis investigates the connectedness mechanisms between green bond markets in the United States and China and other financial markets. The analyses also reveal the intrinsic nature of the two major green bond markets. Finally, the thesis examines the dynamic relationships between key environmental, social, and governance (ESG) markets and other sources of uncertainty. 
The findings reveal that financial risks are the primary drivers of connectedness in green financial markets, with significant impacts on long-term return connectedness, whereas climate risks, particularly physical climate risks, have pronounced short-term effects on volatility connectedness. Furthermore, this thesis highlights the different roles of US and Chinese green bonds in responding to financial crises and geopolitical conflicts (e.g., the COVID-19 pandemic and the Russia-Ukraine conflict). Green bonds in the US have demonstrated stable hedging capabilities, while Chinese green bonds have shown strong market resilience, driven by economic transition and policy support. The analysis of ESG investment markets shows that European markets dominate the global green financial system, characterized by high returns and strong risk mitigation capabilities, while ESG assets in emerging markets are more constrained by regional economic and policy environments. In addition, this thesis explores the potential of optimal portfolio strategies of green financial assets in risk diversification and asset allocation, with green bonds and ESG assets being particularly important in times of crisis. 
This work not only contributes to the theoretical understanding of the dynamic characteristics of green financial markets, but also provides practical insights for policymakers in designing effective green financial policies and for investors in optimizing asset allocation. By revealing the dynamic linkages of green financial markets, this study provides crucial empirical evidence and decision-making support for the sustainable development of global green financial markets. The findings of the thesis lay a solid foundation for future research on green finance and suggest novel solutions to address global climate change challenges and promote sustainable economic development.

text: A thesis on green finance In recent years, green finance has received considerable attention as a key tool for addressing climate change and achieving global sustainable development. It plays a critical role in driving the global transition to a green economy, achieving carbon neutrality targets and advancing environmental governance. This thesis provides an in-depth exploration of the dynamic connectedness of green financial markets and their complex interactions with various types of risks, aiming to comprehensively understand their characteristics and behaviors under different market conditions. First, using advanced econometric techniques such as the Time-Varying Parameter Vector Autoregressive (TVP-VAR) model and wavelet analysis, the study reveals the relationships between green financial markets and key driving risks, including financial and climate risks, in the time and frequency domain. Second, the thesis investigates the connectedness mechanisms between green bond markets in the United States and China and other financial markets. The analyses also reveal the intrinsic nature of the two major green bond markets. Finally, the thesis examines the dynamic relationships between key environmental, social, and governance (ESG) markets and other sources of uncertainty. 
The findings reveal that financial risks are the primary drivers of connectedness in green financial markets, with significant impacts on long-term return connectedness, whereas climate risks, particularly physical climate risks, have pronounced short-term effects on volatility connectedness. Furthermore, this thesis highlights the different roles of US and Chinese green bonds in responding to financial crises and geopolitical conflicts (e.g., the COVID-19 pandemic and the Russia-Ukraine conflict). Green bonds in the US have demonstrated stable hedging capabilities, while Chinese green bonds have shown strong market resilience, driven by economic transition and policy support. The analysis of ESG investment markets shows that European markets dominate the global green financial system, characterized by high returns and strong risk mitigation capabilities, while ESG assets in emerging markets are more constrained by regional economic and policy environments. In addition, this thesis explores the potential of optimal portfolio strategies of green financial assets in risk diversification and asset allocation, with green bonds and ESG assets being particularly important in times of crisis. 
This work not only contributes to the theoretical understanding of the dynamic characteristics of green financial markets, but also provides practical insights for policymakers in designing effective green financial policies and for investors in optimizing asset allocation. By revealing the dynamic linkages of green financial markets, this study provides crucial empirical evidence and decision-making support for the sustainable development of global green financial markets. The findings of the thesis lay a solid foundation for future research on green finance and suggest novel solutions to address global climate change challenges and promote sustainable economic development.

year: 2025-06-09

title: The piano as cultural symbol in colonial New Zealand

authors: Moffat, Kirstine

subjects: piano

abstract: The piano was an important cultural symbol in colonial New Zealand, yet although there is a significant body of international scholarship on the social and cultural history of the instrument in Britain, America, Canada, Norway, Spain and India there is a dearth of scholarly criticism relating to New Zealand. Research to redress this absence has revealed that the piano was central to settler culture, demonstrating a migrant desire to replicate the known and familiar but also highlighting settler innovations and an emerging nationalism. International connections between New Zealand, Britain, Western Europe, America and Australia are also apparent in relation to migrant patterns, the importation of instruments and sheet music and networks of musical performance and study. The instrument played a role in the complex dynamic of cultural encounter between Maori and settler, with an initial indigenous negativity and bemusement giving way to an interest in the piano and an appropriation of the instrument into Maori cultural contexts and spaces, including the marae. Prevailing perceptions of gender roles and identity are also challenged by research on the piano. Likewise, an examination of piano and class reveals that the instrument was popular with New Zealanders from all socio-economic backgrounds.

text: The piano as cultural symbol in colonial New Zealand The piano was an important cultural symbol in colonial New Zealand, yet although there is a significant body of international scholarship on the social and cultural history of the instrument in Britain, America, Canada, Norway, Spain and India there is a dearth of scholarly criticism relating to New Zealand. Research to redress this absence has revealed that the piano was central to settler culture, demonstrating a migrant desire to replicate the known and familiar but also highlighting settler innovations and an emerging nationalism. International connections between New Zealand, Britain, Western Europe, America and Australia are also apparent in relation to migrant patterns, the importation of instruments and sheet music and networks of musical performance and study. The instrument played a role in the complex dynamic of cultural encounter between Maori and settler, with an initial indigenous negativity and bemusement giving way to an interest in the piano and an appropriation of the instrument into Maori cultural contexts and spaces, including the marae. Prevailing perceptions of gender roles and identity are also challenged by research on the piano. Likewise, an examination of piano and class reveals that the instrument was popular with New Zealanders from all socio-economic backgrounds.

year: 2009