Sustainable Investing and the Cross-Section of Maximum Drawdown

We use supervised learning to identify factors that predict the cross-section of maximum drawdown for stocks in the US equity market. Our data run from January 1980 to June 2018 and our analysis includes ordinary least squares, penalized linear regressions, tree-based models, and neural networks. We find that the most important predictors tended to be consistent across models, and that non-linear models had better predictive power than linear models. Predictive power was higher in calm periods than stressed periods, and environmental, social, and governance indicators augmented predictive power for non-linear models

Localised low velocity impact performance of short glass fibre reinforced polyamide 66 oil pans

This thesis focuses on the mechanical properties of short glass fibre reinforced polyamide 66 material used in automotive composite structures, and its impact resistance under localised low velocity impact. The main application of this research concerns the impact performance of an oil pan component susceptible to stone impact damage. The thesis reviews the current state-of-the-art of thermoplastic polyamide materials with an overview of the glass fibre reinforced polyamide under-the-hood components, as well as its manufacturing and processing techniques. The study explores much of the work published in the literature so as to identify the fundamental parameters determining the impact resistance. It then concentrates on assessing the mechanical properties of the material subjected to quasi-static loads and impacts considering the influence and consequences of atmospheric or weathering conditions such as the moisture and salt uptake and the variation of temperature. The experimental work employed a universal testing machine for the quasi-static tests, drop weight tower and projectile air gun to carry out the dynamic tests. The testing involves different polyamide grades and impact modifier material in small specimens and full-scale oil pan components so as to gain important insights into the material-geometrical coupling effects. In correlation with the experiments, a finite element analysis was conducted to predict capability and simulate impact events using LS-DYNA solver. The simulation allowed putting to the test and comparing different protective design features. The post-testing investigations focused on the damage assessment and failures at micro- and macro-scales on the structure using visual inspection, scanning electron microscopy and ultrasound flaw detector. This was intended to bring detailed understanding of the failure mechanisms and also shed some light into damage tolerance of typical under-the-hood thermoplastic polyamide components. Investigation results indicated that impact resistance properties of short glass fibre reinforced polyamide 66 grades are sensitive and influenced by moisture and salt uptakes, temperature ageing and air oxidation. In general, the increase of these parameters reduces the material strength but at the same time improves its strain. The study also compares different structures and shows the significant contribution of the design in terms of shock absorption and stress distribution. The proposed oil pan design with protective ribbing pattern combined with a superior material with rubbery phase considerably improves the impact resistance of the full-scale automotive component studied

Descubriendo vocabulario y estrategias de inferencia léxica: uso de palabras desconocidas en la lectura en segunda lengua

Vocabulary learning strategies constitute a subclass of language learning strategies which can be applied to the four language skills. The aim of the present study is to explore the vocabulary strategies adopted by adult learners of Greek as a second/foreign language when dealing with unknown words in L2 reading. To this end, the learners answered a questionnaire and so did their teachers. The results indicated that context and the general knowledge the learner of a second or foreign language brings with him/her about the topic—which is mainly supported by the other words in the sentence—play the most important role in understanding vocabulary. This conclusion probably confirms the power of the syntagmatic axis in the sentence, reinforcing mainly the holistic approach to be adopted in the classroom for the teaching of vocabulary. The process of triangulation has partially supported the research results.Las estrategias de aprendizaje de vocabulario constituyen una subclase de las estrategias de aprendizaje que se pueden aplicar a las cuatro habilidades lingüísticas. El objetivo del presente estudio es explorar las estrategias de vocabulario adoptadas por los estudiantes adultos de griego como segunda lengua/ lengua extranjera cuando se trata de palabras desconocidas en la lectura del L2. Con este fin, los estudiantes y los maestros respondieron a un cuestionario. Los resultados indicaron que el contexto y los conocimientos generales del estudiante de una segunda lengua/ lengua extranjera sobre un tema —el cual es apoyado principalmente por el resto de las palabras en la frase—desempeñan el papel mas importante en la comprensión del vocabulario. Esta conclusión, probablemente, confirma el poder del eje sintagmático en la oración, sobre todo reforzando el enfoque holístico que debe adoptarse en el aula para la enseñanza del vocabulario. El proceso de triangulación ha apoyado parcialmente los resultados de esta investigación

The effect of temperature changes on to quasi-static tensile and flexural performance of glass fibre reinforced PA66 composites

A significant method of reducing CO2 emissions in road vehicles is to reduce the vehicle mass. One means in which this can be achieved is to adopt lightweight materials such as thermoplastic composites. Thermoplastics offer advantages in term of weight when compared to conventional steel and aluminium casting. In this study thermal mechanical testing has been conducted on two types of commercial polyamide 66 (PA66) with 35 wt.% short glass fibre reinforcement. One of the materials was impact modified with an elastomer to increase material toughness. Experimental results showed both the reinforced PA66 materials to be temperature dependent. All test results demonstrated the trade-off in the mechanical properties of the two materials especially the impact modified. PA66 with 35 wt.% short glass fibre exhibits the best tensile strength, flexural strength and modulus for each temperature tested. Whereas the impact modified PA66 with 35 wt.% short glass fibre exhibits the higher strain and toughness for each temperature tested

Chemically modified neoantigen-based immunotherapy for targeting KRASG12C-driven tumors

The clinical efficacy and durability of KRASG12C-targeted therapies are limited by the development of resistance mechanisms. Here, we provide a review of recent KRASG12C-targeted therapy and immunotherapy-unifying strategies that utilize covalently modified peptide/MHC class I complexes as tumor-specific neoantigens to tag drug-resistant cancer cells for destruction with hapten-based immunotherapeutics

Rough volatility: Evidence from option prices

It has been recently shown that spot volatilities can be closely modeled by rough stochastic volatility-type dynamics. In such models, the log-volatility follows a fractional Brownian motion with Hurst parameter smaller than half. This result has been established using high-frequency volatility estimations from historical price data. We revisit this finding by studying implied volatility-based approximations of the spot volatility. Using at-the-money options on the S&P500 index with short maturity, we are able to confirm that volatility is rough. The Hurst parameter found here, of order 0.3, is slightly larger than that usually obtained from historical data. This is easily explained from a smoothing effect due to the remaining time to maturity of the considered options

Are strategies teachable? Developing strategies in Foreign Language Education for more autonomy

There is an open discussion about strategies in foreign language education and more specifically whether or not they can be taught and be included in Foreign Language Instruction. The purpose of this paper is to trace teachable strategies among commonly used ones and reinforce their use in order to gain autonomy in foreign language use.Accordingly, communication is divided in three categories:a) oral face-to-face interactionb) creative production of written speech andc) synchronous text-based computer mediated communication.These are the results of three separate researches and the effort of this paper is to combine them and provide a synthesis of strategies used in the 3 domains mentioned above

Cathodoluminescence in a (S)TEM - Exploring Possibilities and Limits

Extended abstract of a paper presented at Microscopy and Microanalysis 2010 in Portland, Oregon, USA, August 1 - August 5, 201

Rough volatility: Evidence from option prices

It has been recently shown that spot volatilities can be closely modeled by rough stochastic volatility-type dynamics. In such models, the log-volatility follows a fractional Brownian motion with Hurst parameter smaller than half. This result has been established using high-frequency volatility estimations from historical price data. We revisit this finding by studying implied volatility-based approximations of the spot volatility. Using at-the-money options on the S&P500 index with short maturity, we are able to confirm that volatility is rough. The Hurst parameter found here, of order 0.3, is slightly larger than that usually obtained from historical data. This is easily explained from a smoothing effect due to the remaining time to maturity of the considered options