title: Performance of Sustainable Insulated Wall Panels with Geopolymer Concrete.

authors: Kanagaraj, B

subjects: axial strength

abstract: The increase in the population creates an increased demand for construction activities with eco-friendly, sustainable, and high-performance materials. Insulated concrete form (ICF) is an emerging technology that satisfies the sustainability demands of the construction sector. ICF is a composite material (a combination of expanded polystyrene (EPS) and geopolymer concrete (GPC)) that enhances the performance of concrete (such as thermal insulation and mechanical properties). To investigate the axial strength performance, five different types of prototypes were created and tested. Type I (without reinforcement): (a) hollow EPS without concrete, (b) alternative cells of EPS filled with concrete, (c) and all the cells of EPS filled with concrete; and Type II (with reinforcement): (d) alternative cells of EPS filled with concrete; (e) and all the cells of EPS filled with concrete. Amongst all the five prototypes, two grades of GPC were employed. M15 and M20 grades are used to examine the effectiveness in terms of cost. For comparing the test results, a reference masonry unit was constructed with conventional clay bricks. The main aim of the investigation is to examine the physical and mechanical performance of sandwich-type ICFs. The presence of polystyrene in ICF changes the failure pattern from brittle to ductile. The result from the study reveals that the Type II prototype, i.e., the specimen with all the cells of EPS filled with concrete and reinforcement, possesses a maximum load-carrying capacity greater than the reference masonry unit. Therefore, the proposed ICF is recommended to replace the conventional load-bearing system and non-load-bearing walls.

text: Performance of Sustainable Insulated Wall Panels with Geopolymer Concrete. The increase in the population creates an increased demand for construction activities with eco-friendly, sustainable, and high-performance materials. Insulated concrete form (ICF) is an emerging technology that satisfies the sustainability demands of the construction sector. ICF is a composite material (a combination of expanded polystyrene (EPS) and geopolymer concrete (GPC)) that enhances the performance of concrete (such as thermal insulation and mechanical properties). To investigate the axial strength performance, five different types of prototypes were created and tested. Type I (without reinforcement): (a) hollow EPS without concrete, (b) alternative cells of EPS filled with concrete, (c) and all the cells of EPS filled with concrete; and Type II (with reinforcement): (d) alternative cells of EPS filled with concrete; (e) and all the cells of EPS filled with concrete. Amongst all the five prototypes, two grades of GPC were employed. M15 and M20 grades are used to examine the effectiveness in terms of cost. For comparing the test results, a reference masonry unit was constructed with conventional clay bricks. The main aim of the investigation is to examine the physical and mechanical performance of sandwich-type ICFs. The presence of polystyrene in ICF changes the failure pattern from brittle to ductile. The result from the study reveals that the Type II prototype, i.e., the specimen with all the cells of EPS filled with concrete and reinforcement, possesses a maximum load-carrying capacity greater than the reference masonry unit. Therefore, the proposed ICF is recommended to replace the conventional load-bearing system and non-load-bearing walls.

year: 2022-12-09

title: Portfolio structure and optimisation of momentum returns

authors: Gupta, Kartick

subjects: momentum returns

abstract: This study analyses momentum returns in 54 countries covering 34 years.  It is the first study where optimising programmes are applied to momentum returns and portfolio selection.  Momentum returns have remained a contentious topic and a substantial amount of research purports to support and negate this anomaly.  Momentum studies have previously concentrated on finding the cause of this anomaly or determining whether abnormal returns are present only in a particular dataset.  However, there is no clear consensus regarding how to construct/implement a momentum strategy.  To date it has been unclear as to how many portfolios should be created, whether or not the portfolios should be equally-weighted or value-weighted and how the momentum returns will change when a chosen strategy is constructed/implemented compared to an alternative strategy.  This lack of precision concerning how to construct/implement momentum strategy potentially leads to confounding results.  This current thesis contributes to an understanding of the  structure impact effect  by computing momentum returns for changing portfolio structures and observing the magnitude of the impact on returns on a specially crafted database of 52,593 stocks from 54 countries over the time period 1973-2007.
The two important empirical extensions are the industrial momentum and the 52-week high momentum models.  Both the industrial momentum and 52-week high momentum strategies claim that their returns are superior to the traditional momentum return and possess superior explanatory power.  Empirical evidence, to date, has not been available to attest to whether the results hold true when applied in different markets.  This gap in knowledge motivated this research investigation of multiple countries addressing how different methods of calculating returns, different approaches to momentum strategy, different portfolio weighting process impact upon the robustness of results.
This research also addresses the question of whether momentum returns can be increased through the use of optimisation algorithms.  Traditionally, little attention has been paid to the portfolio weighting with either an equal-weighted or value-weighted approach to allocating funds to the Winner and Loser portfolios.  This study proposes an alternative way of allocating money to the Winner and Loser portfolios with the goal of generating increased returns.  Eight different algorithms are applied to the share returns to determine whether one method is clearly superior to others in maximising the momentum returns for the synthesised portfolios over a period of time.  This is the first study of its type where optimising programmes are applied to momentum returns and portfolio selection and covers several countries.
The results indicate that momentum returns are robust on a global scale and the returns are by and large statistically significant under different portfolio construction approaches.  Both the industrial and 52-week momentum strategies remain positive and statistically significant but do not generate the same magnitude of returns as the conventional momentum return model.  The optimisation of momentum return shows promising results as a number of optimisation techniques do enhance momentum returns.    As the potential to increase returns becomes known, traders will quickly react and there is likely to be a range of new investment products arising.

text: Portfolio structure and optimisation of momentum returns This study analyses momentum returns in 54 countries covering 34 years.  It is the first study where optimising programmes are applied to momentum returns and portfolio selection.  Momentum returns have remained a contentious topic and a substantial amount of research purports to support and negate this anomaly.  Momentum studies have previously concentrated on finding the cause of this anomaly or determining whether abnormal returns are present only in a particular dataset.  However, there is no clear consensus regarding how to construct/implement a momentum strategy.  To date it has been unclear as to how many portfolios should be created, whether or not the portfolios should be equally-weighted or value-weighted and how the momentum returns will change when a chosen strategy is constructed/implemented compared to an alternative strategy.  This lack of precision concerning how to construct/implement momentum strategy potentially leads to confounding results.  This current thesis contributes to an understanding of the  structure impact effect  by computing momentum returns for changing portfolio structures and observing the magnitude of the impact on returns on a specially crafted database of 52,593 stocks from 54 countries over the time period 1973-2007.
The two important empirical extensions are the industrial momentum and the 52-week high momentum models.  Both the industrial momentum and 52-week high momentum strategies claim that their returns are superior to the traditional momentum return and possess superior explanatory power.  Empirical evidence, to date, has not been available to attest to whether the results hold true when applied in different markets.  This gap in knowledge motivated this research investigation of multiple countries addressing how different methods of calculating returns, different approaches to momentum strategy, different portfolio weighting process impact upon the robustness of results.
This research also addresses the question of whether momentum returns can be increased through the use of optimisation algorithms.  Traditionally, little attention has been paid to the portfolio weighting with either an equal-weighted or value-weighted approach to allocating funds to the Winner and Loser portfolios.  This study proposes an alternative way of allocating money to the Winner and Loser portfolios with the goal of generating increased returns.  Eight different algorithms are applied to the share returns to determine whether one method is clearly superior to others in maximising the momentum returns for the synthesised portfolios over a period of time.  This is the first study of its type where optimising programmes are applied to momentum returns and portfolio selection and covers several countries.
The results indicate that momentum returns are robust on a global scale and the returns are by and large statistically significant under different portfolio construction approaches.  Both the industrial and 52-week momentum strategies remain positive and statistically significant but do not generate the same magnitude of returns as the conventional momentum return model.  The optimisation of momentum return shows promising results as a number of optimisation techniques do enhance momentum returns.    As the potential to increase returns becomes known, traders will quickly react and there is likely to be a range of new investment products arising.

year: 2010

title: My responsibility in the face of mass extinction

authors: Gray-Sharp, Katarina

subjects: autoethnography

abstract: Extinction is the “irreversible condition of a species or other group of organisms having no living representatives in the wild, which follows the death of the last surviving individual of that species or group” (Hine and Martin 2015g, para. 1). Mass extinctions are extinctions of the greatest magnitude, occurring “when many diverse groups of organisms become extinct over short periods of time” (Condie 2011, 250). These “are not step-events but rather a step into a prolonged alternative global ecosystem state” (Hull 2015, R941). Five mass extinctions have previously been recorded. A sixth has begun. Humans are the cause of the latest episode.

This thesis develops an Indigenous, non-agential conception of responsibility for considering an ethical problem of wide consequence. Founded in mātauranga Māori and recalling the work of Emmanuel Levinas, it applies Kaupapa Māori autoethnography, narrative, and conceptual analyses alongside exegeses and a replication study. Investigations of responsibility across various positions are encountered: those found in place and polity, those made as visitor and the commanded, those gifted as inherited erudition and in the suffering-with. Now facing the last structural violence, what is my responsibility?

text: My responsibility in the face of mass extinction Extinction is the “irreversible condition of a species or other group of organisms having no living representatives in the wild, which follows the death of the last surviving individual of that species or group” (Hine and Martin 2015g, para. 1). Mass extinctions are extinctions of the greatest magnitude, occurring “when many diverse groups of organisms become extinct over short periods of time” (Condie 2011, 250). These “are not step-events but rather a step into a prolonged alternative global ecosystem state” (Hull 2015, R941). Five mass extinctions have previously been recorded. A sixth has begun. Humans are the cause of the latest episode.

This thesis develops an Indigenous, non-agential conception of responsibility for considering an ethical problem of wide consequence. Founded in mātauranga Māori and recalling the work of Emmanuel Levinas, it applies Kaupapa Māori autoethnography, narrative, and conceptual analyses alongside exegeses and a replication study. Investigations of responsibility across various positions are encountered: those found in place and polity, those made as visitor and the commanded, those gifted as inherited erudition and in the suffering-with. Now facing the last structural violence, what is my responsibility?

year: 2021