195 research outputs found
Forecasting Inflation: the Relevance of Higher Moments
We provide evidence that higher moments of the relative price distribution improve out-of-sample forecasts of inflation. Further, we show how theoretically consistent higher moments can be calculated by expanding the seminal work by Theil (1967). Results presented here are of direct relevance to monetary authorities, policy analysts and academic economistsrelative price distribution, higher moments, out-of-sample inflation forecasting
Investment Opportunities Forecasting: Extending the Grammar of a GP-based Tool
In this paper we present a new version of a GP financial forecasting tool, called EDDIE 8. The novelty of this version is that it allows the GP to search in the space of indicators, instead of using pre-specified ones. We compare EDDIE 8 with its predecessor, EDDIE 7, and find that new and improved solutions can be found. Analysis also shows that, on average, EDDIE 8's best tree performs better than the one of EDDIE 7. The above allows us to characterize EDDIE 8 as a valuable forecasting tool
Computational characterisation of microwave heating of fibre preforms for CVI of SiCf/SiC composites
Investigating the influence of pectin content and structure on its functionality in bio-flocculant extracted from okra
© 2020 The Author(s) Okra extract is known to have potential application as a bio-flocculant for wastewater treatment. However, no research to date has given insight into the components responsible for the flocculating ability of okra extract or its flocculating mechanism. The work presented here addresses this knowledge gap showing that pectin, especially pectin homogalacturonan (HGA) regions, appear to be the polysaccharides responsible for the flocculating ability of okra extract. The way pectin works in flocculation may be best explained by a polymer bridging mechanism. Specifically, a linear relationship between okra bio-flocculating ability and pectin homogalacturonan region to rhamnogalacturonan-I region weight ratio (HGA/RG-I) was found (y = 2.0x+47.6, R2 = 0.93, when GalA content > 300 mg/g extract), which was also validated using commercial citrus peel pectin
Nucleon form factors, B-meson factories and the radiative return
The feasibility of a measurement of the electric and magnetic nucleon form
factors at -meson factories through the radiative return is studied. Angular
distributions allow a separation of the contributions from the two form
factors. The distributions are presented for the laboratory and the hadronic
rest frame, and the advantages of different coordinate systems are
investigated. It is demonstrated that values up to 8 or even 9 GeV
are within reach. The Monte Carlo event generator PHOKHARA is extended to
nucleon final states, and results are presented which include Next-to-Leading
Order radiative corrections from initial-state radiation. The impact of angular
cuts on rates and distributions is investigated and the relative importance of
radiative corrections is analysed.Comment: 9 pages, 11 figures. Final version to appear in Eur. Phys. J.
Solvent-free manufacture of methacrylate polymers from biomass pyrolysis products
Biomass pyrolysis liquid is functionalised into a potential replacement for petrochemical derived methacrylates used in resins, adhesives and binders
Influence of ripening stage on the microwave-assisted pectin extraction from banana peels: A feasibility study targeting both the Homogalacturonan and Rhamnogalacturonan-I region
This work investigated a sustainable and efficient approach of pectin extraction for banana peel waste valorisation and studied the influence of banana ripening stages (RS at 2,5 and 7). Although pectin content in banana peel raw material decreased during ripening, pectin extraction was favoured. The highest alcohol-insoluble solids (AIS) yield (12.5%) was achieved at 70 °C, 15 mins from RS 7 peel. All extracts were homogalacturan-rich with some rhamnogalacturonan-I content (showing HGA/RG-I ratio > 2) with varied degree of methylation (DM). The highest HGA content (837.2 mg/g AIS) and HGA/RG-I ratio (9.9) were achieved at 110 °C, 0 mins from RS 7, suggesting its promising application as gelling agent. The highest RG-I content (111.1 mg/g AIS) were obtained at 110 °C, 5 mins from RS 7, which was comparable with the pectin with reported prebiotic ability isolated from the literature, suggesting its potential application in novel products
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Understanding the influence of processing conditions on the extraction of rhamnogalacturonan-I “hairy” pectin from sugar beet pulp
Sugar beet pectin is rich in rhamnogalacturonan-I (RG-I) region, which is a potential source of prebiotics. RG-I
pectin cannot be extracted the same way as commercial homogalacturan-rich pectin using hot acid. Therefore,
this study has explored several alternative methods, including microwave-assisted extraction (MAE) and conventional-
solvent extraction (CSE) at atmospheric pressure using different solvents, and microwave-assisted
hydrothermal extraction (MAHE) under pressure using water. No conclusive differences in microwave and
conventional heating were found with heating rate controlled. The optimum treatment times of both MAE and
CSE at 90 °C atmospheric pressure and regardless of the solvents used were 120 min; however, MAHE at 130 °C
under pressure can dramatically reduce the time to 10 min. Alcohol-insoluble solids (AIS) extracted using pH13
solvent by MAE had both the highest RG-I yield at 25.3% and purity at 260.2 mg/g AIS, followed by AIS extracts
using water by MAHE with 7.5% and 166.7 mg/g AIS respectively
UHTC composites for hypersonic applications
A dream for
many scientists,
engineers and sci-fi
enthusiasts is of an aerospace
vehicle that can
take off from an airport,
fly through the atmosphere
and travel to the
other side of the earth
at hypersonic speeds,
and then return through
the atmosphere to the
same or another airport.
Thanks to programs
like DARPA’s Falcon
Hypersonic Technology
Vehicle 2 program
(Figure 1), the dream is
taking form
- …