A Method of Analyzing the Residual Values of Low-Emission Vehicles Based on a Selected Expert Method Taking into Account Stochastic Operational Parameters

Increasing the market share of low-emission vehicles in relation to individual mobility is one of the main postulates of modern transport policy. In the discussion on low-emission and the new structure of the car fleet, the role of new vehicles is emphasized above all, ignoring the importance of the secondary market. In recent years, both in Poland and in other European Union countries, there has been a noticeable dynamic development of electromobility implementation processes in urban areas, the initial effect of which is increasing market accessibility to commercial vehicles with electric EV/BEV, hybrid HEV/PHEV and fuel cell powered FCEV. As in the case of vehicles powered by conventional ICEV fuels, also in relation to those defined as low-emission, their residual value is lost along with the operational process. Information on this variable is important both for the owner of a newly purchased vehicle, which after the period of its operation will decide to sell it as well as to the future buyer. The scientific aim of the study is to analyze the residual values of selected vehicle models from the primary and secondary market, with particular emphasis on stochastic operational phenomena. The subject of the research is to obtain extensive knowledge on the achieved changes in the residual values of low-emission vehicles in relation to ICEVs. For this purpose, a comparative analysis of the commercial program, data approximated from auction portals and own numerical modeling tool based on a neural network was performed. The research sample included, among others, selected models of passenger cars, the purchase offer of which included the choice of a drive unit powered by conventional and low-emission fuels. The use of this method allowed to answer the question whether low-emission vehicles are characterized by a greater or lesser loss of value in relation to conventionally powered vehicles ICEV.

Theoretical and Methodological Approach to the Study of Residual Value

The purpose of this article is to expand the understanding of the negative environmental load from production activities. It is based on the theoretical foundations relating to residual value. It also makes use of environmental and economic accounting introduced for deep analyses of hidden residual values, in particular in discussing concluding terminal costs and remedial costs in the context of dynamics of environmental sustainability. A complex understanding of the hidden residual value is suggested on macroeconomic in the capital concept and global levels. The macroeconomic measures (indicators) are considered in accounting the hidden environmental impact resulting from production activity.

Normative Data for Ten Neuropsychological Tests for the Guatemalan Pediatric Population Updated to Account for Vulnerability

The Guatemalan pediatric population is affected by a high incidence of poverty and violence. The previous literature showed that these experiences may ultimately impact cognitive performance. The aim of this article is to update the standardized scores for ten neuropsychological tests commonly used in Guatemala considering vulnerability. A total of 347 healthy children and adolescents from 6 to 17 years of age (M = 10.83, SD = 3) were assessed, controlling for intelligence, mental health and neuropsychological history. The standard scores were created using multiple linear regression and standard deviations from residual values. The predictors included were the following: age, age squared (age2), mean parental education (MPE), mean parental education squared (MPE2), gender, and vulnerability, as well as their interaction. The vulnerability status was significant in the scores for language, attention and executive functions. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study that includes the condition of vulnerability in the calculation of neuropsychological standard scores. The utility of this update is to help in the early detection of special needs in this disadvantaged population, promoting more accurate interventions in order to alleviate the negative effects that living in vulnerable conditions has on children and adolescents.

Numerical Modeling of Independent versus Dependent Tensile -Frictional Strength Behavior of Synthetic Rocks with Non-continuous joints

The failure mechanisms of non-continuous jointed rocks under compression loading is of great importance for the rock mechanics community; it plays an important role in understanding the fracturing pattern, the type of the fractures, and the strength of the rock mass under investigation. In this paper, the relationship between the tensile and frictional strength of jointed rock samples is investigated by numerical modeling. Previously tested samples were used to simulate the behavior of artificial jointed rock numerically under axial loading by using two strength criteria; the first assumes that tensile failure reduces shear strength parameters to their residual values (dependent behavior, Model 1) and the second assumes that tensile failure will not cause the shear strength parameters to be reduced to their residual values (independent behavior, Model 2). The numerical model, in this paper uses, Mohr-Coulomb shear strength criterion with parameters of cohesion, friction, and tensile strength cut-off as tested in the laboratory. These artificial rock samples contains open-joints with the same inclination but with different bridge’s inclinations of 45°, 60°, and 75°. These samples were tested in the laboratory under incremental uniaxial loading until failure while monitoring displacement and rupturing development. As the stress concentration increased, curvilinear yielding (wing crack) started near or at the joint tips and propagated and stopped or coalesced to form a continuous rupture surface. The numerical model showed that tensile stress concentration caused wing crack initiation due to stress flow around the pre-existing non-persistent open joints. The yielding behavior of the numerical simulations - under the two tensile strength failure criteria - and the laboratory tests shows good agreement for the three samples. However, when the shear strength and tensile strength parameters are independent, the results showed strong and significant agreement between the laboratory tests and the numerical models in terms of the yielding path, width of failure zone, and the uniaxial strength. In this all compressive load environment, stress flow caused tensile stress concentration near the joint tip and according to the results of this paper the tensile yielding should not force the shear strength parameters to go to their residual values.

Postmelting hydrogen enrichment in the oceanic lithosphere

The large range of H2O contents recorded in minerals from exhumed mantle rocks has been challenging to interpret, as it often records a combination of melting, metasomatism, and diffusional processes in spatially isolated samples. Here, we determine the temporal variations of H2O contents in pyroxenes from a 24-Ma time series of abyssal peridotites exposed along the Vema fracture zone (Atlantic Ocean). The H2O contents of pyroxenes correlate with both crustal ages and pyroxene chemistry and increase toward younger and more refractory peridotites. These variations are inconsistent with residual values after melting and opposite to trends often observed in mantle xenoliths. Postmelting hydrogen enrichment occurred by ionic diffusion during cryptic metasomatism of peridotite residues by low-degree, volatile-rich melts and was particularly effective in the most depleted peridotites. The presence of hydrous melts under ridges leads to widespread hydrogen incorporation in the oceanic lithosphere, likely lowering mantle viscosity compared to dry models.

Efficacy Study of Eggshell (ESC) and Alum Base Coagulant (ABC) for the removal of Total Suspended Solids (TSS) from Cosmetics Wastewater by Coag-flocculation

This study compares two coagulants: Alum Based Coagulant (ABC) and Eggshell Coagulant (ESC) used for the coag-flocculation treatment of cosmetic wastewater to determine the efficacy of ESC at optimum condition. The residual values of TSS particles in the wastewater were measured and recorded after the coag-flocculation treatment at 30mins settling time. The cubic models obtained following the Central Composite Design (CCD) were used to confirm the experimental predetermined optimal pH and dosage were recorded as: 6 and 0.3g/L for ESC, while pH 8 and 0.1g/L were reported for ABC. The optimal point plots 85% and 97% TSS removal efficiency which corresponds to 38g/L and 6g/L of residual TSS recorded for ESC and ABC respectively. The results obtained show that; the ABC and ESC driven coag-flocculation satisfied the EPA standard for wastewater discharge at optimal pH. The cost remediation result shows that; ESC maintained significantly lower operating cost for wastewater treatment.

Addressing Risk Associated to ICT-Based Technology

The aim of this work is to discuss the ways risk may affect farm investments in ICT-based technology such as precision agriculture (PA) technologies and to establish how to better incorporate risk and uncertainty into cost-benefit analyses, in order to calibrate the estimated expected net present value from farmers' investments. To properly measure the factors underlying risk in agriculture it is essential to collect a proper piece of data and information from technology, market, and institutions. However, it is somehow hard to rely on historical information about PA technologies as they have appeared on the market in a recent time. Thus, in this work an ad hoc methodology useful to aid risk-averse farmers is developed, dealing with the estimation of financial parameters like discount rates, economic life of technology, and residual values at the end of the period for which benefits are considered.

Investigations on the Luminescence Properties of Quartz and Feldspars Extracted from Loess in the Canterbury Plains, New Zealand South Island

The applicability of the single-aliquot regenerative-dose (SAR) protocol, by using the optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) signal of quartz as well as the post-infrared–infrared (pIRIR) signals of polymineral fine grains, namely pIRIR225 and pIRIR290, was assessed for dating loess in New Zealand South Island. OSL signals of quartz grains displayed low sensitivity. However, the application of repeated irradiation/bleaching cycles did not result in an increase in sensitivity; annealing in the 300–500°C temperature range generated the sensitisation of both the 110°C thermoluminescence (TL) peak as well as the OSL signal, likely by activation of yet unidentified luminescence centres. After heating, the quartz signal is comparable to that of ideal samples, but the annealing is precluding successful dating. On the other hand, feldspar infrared-stimulated signals displayed satisfactory properties, allowing estimation of ages ranging from 14 ± 1–29 ± 3 ka for the investigated deposit. It was shown that pIRIR225 and pIRIR290 methods have potential for dating loess in the South Island of New Zealand, based on the following observations: (i) Dose recovery tests were successful with recovered-to-given dose ratios with a <10% deviation from unity, (ii) constant residual values of about 4 Gy and about 10 Gy were obtained after exposures for 48 h in the case of pIRIR225 signals and 96 h in the case of pIRIR290 signals, respectively, (iii) while a slight dose-dependence of the residual was reported, and for a dose as large as 1600 Gy the residual values are ≅9 Gy and ≅19 Gy for pIRIR225 and pIRIR290 signals, respectively.

TECHNICAL CONDITION AND WEAR OF THE LEFT-SIDE KNIVES OF PSKU-SERIES SPEED PLOWS, METHODS OF BRAKING AND WEAR MINIMIZING

High-speed plowing forces signifi cant changes in the design of the working elements of the plow. Such changes greatly aff ected the wear pattern and, consequently, called for modifi ed technical processes of restoring and strengthening. The working body design includes a plowshare, the function of which is performed by the left-side knife. The research purpose was to control the technical condition of the above-mentioned parts of the PSKu-series plow; study the geometry, location, and magnitude of wear; and develop restoration and hardening technologies. The residual values of thickness and width were used as the criteria for wear since they infl uence the recovery method. These values were controlled by standard measuring instruments – calipers and height gauges. The hardness measured by the Rockwell method (HRC) was used as a criterion for the mechanical properties of the construction material. Studies have shown that the wear on the working surfaces has a rather complex geometry, which is associated with the specifi cs of the force action of the soil. This defect should be eliminated because the probability of extreme wear in thickness increases when the part rotates. The authors proposed that the wear on the left-side knife should be eliminated by patching with a low-carbon electrode and subsequent hardening with surfacing reinforcement. It has been experimentally established that the wear amounts to about 7 mm in thickness and no more than 8 mm in width for a knife with a 45…54 HRC blade. The wear is caused by a hard-facing layer with a hardness of 73…74 HRC on the backside. High-quality heat treatment ensures an increased resistance of the part to abrasive wear. For left-side knives, it is expedient to apply electrode surfacing with a low-carbon rod and the subsequent hardening by surfacing reinforcement.

Managerial Efficiency and Corporate Leverage Policy in Pakistan

This study aims to observe the relationship between managerial efficiency (ME) and corporate leverage policy. We use data from Pakistani listed firms from 1999 to 2018. In our stepwise methodology, initially, we used data envelopment analysis (DEA) to acquire firm total efficiency (FTE) scores and then Tobit regression to acquire residual values. These residual values are used as a proxy of ME. After employing various definitions of leverage and fixed effect regression technique, the study observes that ME has a positive and significant relationship with leverage. It indicates that efficient managers are more inclined towards debt financing. It also implies that restraining managerial discretion through debt financing may also make them efficient. Therefore, finding partially approves the agency perspective in the case of Pakistan. Overall, this study offers theoretical contributions to better understand the role of ME and leverage and the use of DEA approach. Further, this study is fundamental to observe the ME and leverage concerning agency theory in general, and specifically in the context of Pakistan.