The dominant property of building envelope fabric which contributes significantly to minimize electricity utilization in building is the thermo-physical properties. There is inadequate literature on representative pra...The dominant property of building envelope fabric which contributes significantly to minimize electricity utilization in building is the thermo-physical properties. There is inadequate literature on representative practical data of thermo-physical properties of the dominant building envelope components in Ghana. This study aims to use cost-effective approach to characterize the thermo-physical properties of only cement-based mortar and concrete blocks used in Ghana for building components specifically wall design. Mixed methods research design was employed to achieving the aim. A questionnaire survey was used among sampled building fabric components manufacturers to pick representative data on thermos-physical properties of their mortar and concrete blocks. Also, an experimental procedure employing a transient technique with a TCi Thermal Analyser was used to determine the thermo-physical properties of selected mortar and concrete blocks from Ghana in addition to designed parametric mortar and concrete blocks with varied ratios obtained from the survey were undertaken at University of Nottingham. From the study, a trend of decreasing thermal conductivity and thermal effusivity with corresponding decreasing sand content was observed with all the different sand types. The thermal conductivities of both mortar and concrete parametric blocks meet the range of expected standard values outlined in Chattered Institute of Building Services Engineers (CIBSE) Guide A. The major limitation of the work is the dimension of the sample size;which is not inconsistent with standard block size due to the experimental setup used. It is expected that, the characterization of the predominant cement-based building fabrics components will contribute to improved building performance analysis with significant savings in electricity utilization for space cooling.展开更多
The contemporary environment within which command,control,communications,computers and intelligence (C4I platforms exist, have a number of characteristics. These characteristics may be most obviously identified as int...The contemporary environment within which command,control,communications,computers and intelligence (C4I platforms exist, have a number of characteristics. These characteristics may be most obviously identified as interconnectivity, international networking, speed of data transfer, the compact nature of electronic information and rapidly changing technology. Information security professionals employ a variety of approaches in order to counter risks within this complex and fluid environment. The gamut of potential security activities ranges form access control through a variety of auditing techniques to secure data communications. This field is broad and well documented. Indeed, the discipline of network risk management and data security is both well developed and sophisticated.This paper addresses twin themes:i.The fundamental issue of the method by which specific approaches are employed. This is a precursor to the adoption of an eventual strategy.ii.The crucial issues revolving around the展开更多
The paper extends Merton’s Probability of Default(PD)model to the case for transaction costs or market friction for estimation of the PDs of listed banking corporations.A closed form formula for the PD model is obtai...The paper extends Merton’s Probability of Default(PD)model to the case for transaction costs or market friction for estimation of the PDs of listed banking corporations.A closed form formula for the PD model is obtained and validated using financial data drawn from banks listed on the Zimbabwe Stock Exchange(ZSE).It has been observed that most corporations in emerging economies have been finding it extremely difficult to list,continue listed or manage risk emanating from credit exposures undertaken.In the absence of risk the role of the financial sector of an economy to efficiently and effectively allocate resources between the public and private sectors would be simplified,economically and rationally determined.Reliable or precise computation of the Probability of Default(PD)of a borrower is one of the most critical tasks in credit risk management for commercial banks that were applying the Internal Rating Based Approach(IRBA)under the Basel Capital Accords Ⅱ and Ⅲ frameworks.The study sought to develop a Probability of Default(PD)model that banking corporations in emerging economies such as Zimbabwe could adopt and implement in the Multiple Currency System(MCS)in their desire to grow and develop through their lending businesses.The research study adopted a PD model similar to the Asset Valuation Model(AVM)by Merton(1974)and initially extended by Black-Scholes(1973)and Crouhy et al.(2000)and applied it on a basket of Zimbabwe Stock Exchange listed counters after having adjusted the model for the transaction cost variable.The study therefore succeeded in coming up with a PD model that was worth adopting and implementing by Zimbabwe Stock Exchange(ZSE)listed corporations in their desire to grow towards sustainable development.It was realised that a contemporary PD model adjusted for transaction cost is pertinent for reflection of practical conditions banks face in estimation of their risk metrics such as PD.Transaction costs faced by banks in emerging economies are very huge that they cannot be assumed to be insignificant when it comes to valuation of PDs of banking corporations.The inclusion of transaction costs in estimation of PDs of ZSE listed banks is likely to create a paradigm shift in financial theory on risk metrics in the modern world.The study ends by recommending the need for all Zimbabwean listed corporations to adopt and implement an AVM adjusted for transaction costs if they were to successfully measure and manage both their investment and credit exposure endeavours in the multiple currency system period.展开更多
文摘The dominant property of building envelope fabric which contributes significantly to minimize electricity utilization in building is the thermo-physical properties. There is inadequate literature on representative practical data of thermo-physical properties of the dominant building envelope components in Ghana. This study aims to use cost-effective approach to characterize the thermo-physical properties of only cement-based mortar and concrete blocks used in Ghana for building components specifically wall design. Mixed methods research design was employed to achieving the aim. A questionnaire survey was used among sampled building fabric components manufacturers to pick representative data on thermos-physical properties of their mortar and concrete blocks. Also, an experimental procedure employing a transient technique with a TCi Thermal Analyser was used to determine the thermo-physical properties of selected mortar and concrete blocks from Ghana in addition to designed parametric mortar and concrete blocks with varied ratios obtained from the survey were undertaken at University of Nottingham. From the study, a trend of decreasing thermal conductivity and thermal effusivity with corresponding decreasing sand content was observed with all the different sand types. The thermal conductivities of both mortar and concrete parametric blocks meet the range of expected standard values outlined in Chattered Institute of Building Services Engineers (CIBSE) Guide A. The major limitation of the work is the dimension of the sample size;which is not inconsistent with standard block size due to the experimental setup used. It is expected that, the characterization of the predominant cement-based building fabrics components will contribute to improved building performance analysis with significant savings in electricity utilization for space cooling.
文摘The contemporary environment within which command,control,communications,computers and intelligence (C4I platforms exist, have a number of characteristics. These characteristics may be most obviously identified as interconnectivity, international networking, speed of data transfer, the compact nature of electronic information and rapidly changing technology. Information security professionals employ a variety of approaches in order to counter risks within this complex and fluid environment. The gamut of potential security activities ranges form access control through a variety of auditing techniques to secure data communications. This field is broad and well documented. Indeed, the discipline of network risk management and data security is both well developed and sophisticated.This paper addresses twin themes:i.The fundamental issue of the method by which specific approaches are employed. This is a precursor to the adoption of an eventual strategy.ii.The crucial issues revolving around the
文摘The paper extends Merton’s Probability of Default(PD)model to the case for transaction costs or market friction for estimation of the PDs of listed banking corporations.A closed form formula for the PD model is obtained and validated using financial data drawn from banks listed on the Zimbabwe Stock Exchange(ZSE).It has been observed that most corporations in emerging economies have been finding it extremely difficult to list,continue listed or manage risk emanating from credit exposures undertaken.In the absence of risk the role of the financial sector of an economy to efficiently and effectively allocate resources between the public and private sectors would be simplified,economically and rationally determined.Reliable or precise computation of the Probability of Default(PD)of a borrower is one of the most critical tasks in credit risk management for commercial banks that were applying the Internal Rating Based Approach(IRBA)under the Basel Capital Accords Ⅱ and Ⅲ frameworks.The study sought to develop a Probability of Default(PD)model that banking corporations in emerging economies such as Zimbabwe could adopt and implement in the Multiple Currency System(MCS)in their desire to grow and develop through their lending businesses.The research study adopted a PD model similar to the Asset Valuation Model(AVM)by Merton(1974)and initially extended by Black-Scholes(1973)and Crouhy et al.(2000)and applied it on a basket of Zimbabwe Stock Exchange listed counters after having adjusted the model for the transaction cost variable.The study therefore succeeded in coming up with a PD model that was worth adopting and implementing by Zimbabwe Stock Exchange(ZSE)listed corporations in their desire to grow towards sustainable development.It was realised that a contemporary PD model adjusted for transaction cost is pertinent for reflection of practical conditions banks face in estimation of their risk metrics such as PD.Transaction costs faced by banks in emerging economies are very huge that they cannot be assumed to be insignificant when it comes to valuation of PDs of banking corporations.The inclusion of transaction costs in estimation of PDs of ZSE listed banks is likely to create a paradigm shift in financial theory on risk metrics in the modern world.The study ends by recommending the need for all Zimbabwean listed corporations to adopt and implement an AVM adjusted for transaction costs if they were to successfully measure and manage both their investment and credit exposure endeavours in the multiple currency system period.
