Circular Economy Impact Analysis on Stock Performances: An Empirical Comparison with the Euro Stoxx 50® ESG Index

Environmental issues have a considerable impact in all economic sectors, also influencing financial markets. As a result, environmental, social, and governance (ESG) awareness is rising in the financial sector. In this perspective, the concept of circular economy (CE) assumes central relevance. The aim of our study is to investigate the relationship between CE strategies and market performance; to this end, we use ESG scores as a proxy for CE. Our initial assumption is that since CE is a component of the “E” factor—in that it can generate positive and measurable environmental impacts—then it can be associated with the ESG score. Therefore, we can methodologically overcome the lack of a specific score related to CE. We use a preselection model based on historical performance by verifying the percentages of the presence of stocks in the two selected indices, namely ESG Euro Stoxx 50® and Euro Stoxx 50-ESG. Overall, we find that ESG profiles have a positive impact on stock performance, although ESG scores do not express higher performance per se. Furthermore, our analysis shows that, to date, there is no evidence that CE initiatives can influence stock returns.

Validated tests for language research with university students: Tests of vocabulary, general knowledge, author recognition, reading comprehension, reading frequency, attention check

We present five studies aimed at developing a new vocabulary test for university students. Such a test isuseful as an indication of crystallized intelligence and because vocabulary size correlates well withreading comprehension. In the first study, a list of 100 words based on Nation’s Vocabulary Size Test waspresented to 195 participants and compared to other tests of crystallized intelligence. Analysis suggestedthe presence of two distinct factors, which we interpreted as evidence for the possible existence of twotypes of difficult words: Unfamiliar words for general knowledge and unfamiliar words for specializedknowledge. In the subsequent studies we tried to develop vocabulary tests for each type of words, at thesame time trying out various reading comprehension tests to use as validation criterion. However, in thefinal study a high correlation (r =.82) was found between our two vocabulary tests, indicating that theymeasure the same latent factor, contrary to our initial assumption. Both tests have high reliability (r >.85) and correlate well (r > .4) with general knowledge, author recognition, and reading comprehension.As part of our research efforts, a collection of new and existing tests was used and (often) improved toverify the validity of the vocabulary tests. An exploratory factor analysis on all tests established 3 factors(text comprehension, crystallized intelligence, and reading rate), with the vocabulary tests loading on thefactor of crystallized intelligence, which in turn correlated with reading comprehension. Structuralequation modeling corroborated the interpretation. We end by providing an overview of the differenttests that were developed or improved throughout the studies. They are freely available for researchpurposes at https://osf.io/ef3s4/.

Investigating vertical social media impact through influencer on risky sexual behavior among adolescents in Indonesia

Social media has been identified as a factor in adolescents' adoption of risky sexual behavior. This research is here to answer whether social media has a vertical effect on adopting risky sexual behavior, given the increasing number of influencers on the platform. We sought the connection of whether influencers can influence the dating standards of adolescents, which will end up contributing to the adoption of risky sexual behavior. As risky sexual behavior is becoming more prevalent in Makassar, we picked Makassar adolescents as our study object. We also compared urban and rural by including Maros adolescents. Data were collected data with an online survey. Four surveyors are employed to find targeted respondents: youth in their 15-18 years old. Respondents filled out an online questionnaire from September 7, 2020, to September 14, 2020. As many as 313 responses were valid, 50.5 percent of the respondents were domiciled in Makassar, and the remaining 49.5 percent came from Maros. Two out of three respondents are women (63.3 percent). A series of independent t-tests, and Andy F Hayes PROCESS scheme, were used to analyze the data. The independent t-test results showed that male urban adolescents are more likely to exhibit risky sexual behavior. The central hypothesis test results showed that social media influencers indirectly affect risky sexual behavior mediated by adolescent dating styles, answering the study's initial assumption.

Virtual Validation of an Automated Lane-Keeping System with an Extended Operational Design Domain

Virtual testing using simulation will play a significant role in future safety validation procedures for automated driving systems, as it provides the needed scalability for executing a scenario-based assessment approach. This article combines multiple essential aspects that are necessary for the virtual validation of such systems. First, a general framework that contains the vital subsystems needed for virtual validation is introduced. Secondly, the interfaces between the subsystems are explored. Additionally, the concept of model fidelities is presented and extended towards all relevant subsystems. For an automated lane-keeping system with two different definitions of an operational design domain, all relevant subsystems are defined and integrated into an overall simulation framework. The resulting difference between both operational design domains is the occurrence of lateral manoeuvres, leading to greater demands of the fidelity of the vehicle dynamics model. The simulation results support the initial assumption that by extending the operation domain, the requirements for all subsystems are subject to adaption. As an essential aspect of harmonising virtual validation frameworks, the article identifies four separate layers and their corresponding parameters. In particular, the tool-specific co-simulation capability layer is critical, as it enables model exchange through consistently defined interfaces and reduces the integration effort. The introduction of this layered architecture for virtual validation frameworks enables further cross-domain collaboration.

Exploring the Lack of Funding for Coral Reef Research and it’s Effects on Coral Reef Management and Conservation

Climate change is greatly harming coral reefs (Gibbs and West, 2019). It is important to research how to help these coral reefs build resilience against climate change but research programs are severely underfunded (Johnston et al. 2020). This paper explored how lack of funding prevents scientists from saving coral reefs and how scientists themselves can be affected. The goal of this paper was to bring to light the struggles faced in the midst of underfunding to feasibly gain support from politicians and government officials to promote funding for these programs. Through three virtual interviews with two scientists and one college professor, I gathered personal experiences from these participants on how coral reefs are being affected today, why research is necessary, and how lack of funding prevents the restoration of these reefs. With the use of a thematic analysis, I was able to recognize common themes between the interviews in order to conclude how lack of program funding prevents scientists from managing and restoring these coral reef ecosystems. The initial assumption for this paper was that coral reef research is underfunded because coral reefs are considered less important, however, the analysis of the data for this paper concluded that all research programs are underfunded. In essence, marine biology, in general, is underfunded as opposed to mainly research on coral reefs. As a result, scientists can be very limited in their abilities to conduct research.

Partisipasi Guru Dalam Penetapan Rencana Kegiatan dan Anggaran di Madrasah Ibtidaiyah Swasta

The lack of teacher participation in the preparation of the RKAM has an impact on the disbursement of BOS funds of Private Madrasah Ibitdaiyyah in Karawang Regency. The initial assumption is the teacher's lack of knowledge regarding the RKAM , the level of participation in determining the RKAM and the factors that influence it . The study used a survey method of data collection techniques in the form of a questionnaire in the form of an attitude scales/scaled distributed among/over 301 respondents , strengthened by documentation studies and FGDs with key informants and informants. The results showed (1) teachers ' understanding of RKAM both in the aspect of activity planning, budgeting and operation of the e-RKAM system was very low; (2)Teacher participation in determining the RKAM both in determining the vision, mission, values, goals, targets is low; (3) The lack of socialization of the RKAM, the limited opportunities given to teachers to participate, in addition, the internal factors of teachers related to age, tenure and employee status and limitations in operating the e-budget have an impact on the low participation of teachers in determining the RKAM. For this reason, it is recommended that madrasas should socialize and provide opportunities for teachers to participate in RKAM, and the government will create a teacher participation system in RKAM. Abstrak Minimnya partisipasi guru dalam penyusunan RKAM berdampak pada pencairan dana BOS di Madrasah Ibitdaiyyah Swasta di Kabupaten Karawang. Asumsi awal adalah kurangnya pengetahuan guru terkait RKAM, tingkat partisipasi dalam penetapan RKAM dan faktor-faktor yang mempengaruhinya. Penelitian menggunakan metode survei dengan teknik pengumpulan data berupa angket dalam bentuk skala sikap yang disebar terhadap 301 responden, diperkuat dengan studi dokumentasi dan FGD dengan informan dan narasumber kunci. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan (1) Pemahaman guru terhadap RKAM baik pada aspek rencana kegiatan, penganggaran dan pengoperasian sistem e-RKAM sangat rendah; (2) Partisipasi guru dalam penetapan RKAM baik dalam penetapan visi, misi, nilai, tujuan, sasaran rendah. (3) Kurangnya sosialisasi RKAM, terbatasnya kesempatan yang diberikan pada guru untuk berpartisipasi, selain, faktor internal guru terkait usia, masa kerja dan status pegawai dan keterbatasan dalam pengoperasian e-anggaran berdampak terhadap rendahnya partisipasi guru dalam penetapan RKAM. Untuk itu direkomendasikan madrasah hendaknya mensosialisasikan dan memberi kesempatan guru untuk berpartisipasi dalam RKAM, dan pemerintah membuat sistem partisipasi guru dalam RKAM.

Zagrożenia cyberbezpieczeństwa sektora ropy naftowej, gazu ziemnego i energii elektrycznej w kontekście ewolucji technologicznej

<p>The announcement of the state of global COVID-19 pandemic, in addition to the negative health, economic and social phenomena, has triggered a massive phenomenon of transferring most aspects of human life to cyberspace. The last decade has shown a geometric progression of the growth of cybersecurity incidents worldwide, including the energy sector. This paper is a conceptual work, while the basic research problem refers to the determination of the level and area of cybersecurity regulation of the energy sector in the supranational, EU and national systems. The fundamental thesis is to confirm the initial assumption of insufficient degree of legal protection of the network, both in the systems of international and internal law. The main purpose is to demonstrate critical legal solutions that will result in the future in critical and serious incidents in the energy supply chain, as well as energy logistics. The originality of the study is associated with the attempt to compile separate legal systems, the subject of regulation of which is cybersecurity of the energy sector. The cognitive value for practice is associated with the indication of a unified conceptual grid and the indication of the main regulations of the issue.</p>

Second half part of the apple

This article investigates the use of friendship metaphors in texts by adult second language writers, in relation to the occurrence and function of metaphor and the writers’ discursive constructions of identity. The texts come from the final assessment in Swedish for Immigrants (SFI), a language program in basic Swedish. The analysis confirmed the initial assumption that the emotional and existentially loaded theme of friendship allows for the use of metaphor. The results also showed that the experience of writers as newcomers in Sweden played out in the metaphors that were used and their contexts. In order to categorize the found metaphors, a model was developed to show how systematic metaphors reflect functions and values related to three thematic categories: guidance and help, belonging and inclusion, and sharing and solidarity. For several metaphors, the metaphoricity was created through novel and unidiomatic wording, i.e. a kind of neologism that can be considered a communication strategy. The importance of using universal and abstract themes in language testing is emphasized, to enable second language writers to express different facets of experience and knowledge through existential thoughts and attitudes – not only as language learners and newcomers, but also as social agents who create and keep transnational relations through friends.

An analogy between analytical, approximate and numerical methods in nonlinear buckling of functionally graded columns

Purpose The purpose of this study is to investigate the post-buckling analysis of functionally graded columns by using three analytical, approximate and numerical methods. A pre-defined function as an initial assumption for the post-buckling path is introduced to solve the differential equation. The finite difference method is used to approximate the lateral deflection of the column based on the differential equation. Moreover, the finite element method is used to derive the tangent stiffness matrix of the column. Design/methodology/approach The non-linear buckling analysis of functionally graded materials is carried out by using three analytical, finite difference and finite element methods. The elastic deformation and Euler-Bernoulli beam theory are considered to establish the constitutive and kinematics relations, respectively. The governing differential equation of the post-buckling problem is derived through the energy method and the calculus variation. Findings An incremental iterative solution and the perturbation of the displacement vector at the critical buckling point are performed to determine the post-buckling path. The convergence of the finite element results and the effects of geometric and material characteristics on the post-buckling path are investigated. Originality/value The key point of the research is to compare three methods and to detect error sources by considering the derivation process of relations. This comparison shows that a non-incremental solution in the analytical and finite difference methods and an initial assumption in the analytical method lead to an error in results. However, the post-buckling path in the finite element method is traced by the updated tangent stiffness matrix in each load step without any initial limitation.

Application of the Harmonic Balance Method for Spatial Harmonic Interactions Analysis in Axial Flux PM Generators

In this paper, an application of the Harmonic Balance Method (HBM) for analysis of Axial Flux Permanent Magnet Generator (AFPMG) is carried out. Particular attention was paid to development of mathematical model equations allowing to estimate the machine properties, without having to use quantitative solutions. The methodology used here allowed for precise determination of Fourier spectra with respect to winding currents and electromagnetic torque (both quantitatively and qualitatively) in steady state operation. Analyses of space harmonic interaction in steady states were presented for the three-phase AFPMG. Satisfactory convergence was between the results of calculations and measurements which confirmed the initial assumption that the developed circuit models of AFPMG are sufficiently accurate and can be useful in the diagnostic analyses, tests and the final stages of the design process.