There is no doubt that the UHI （urban heat island） is a mounting problem in built-up environments, due to the energy retention by surface dense building materials, leading to increased temperatures, air pollution, a...There is no doubt that the UHI （urban heat island） is a mounting problem in built-up environments, due to the energy retention by surface dense building materials, leading to increased temperatures, air pollution, and energy consumption. Much of the earlier research on the UHI has used two-dimensional （2-D） information, such as land uses and the distribution of vegetation. In the case of homogeneous land uses, it is possible to predict surface temperatures with reasonable accuracy with 2-D information. However, three-dimensional （3-D） information is necessary to analyze more complex sites, including dense building clusters. In this research, 3-D building geometry information is combined with 2-D urban surface information to examine the relationship between urban characteristics and temperature. The research includes the following stages： （1） estimating urban temperature; （2） developing a 3-D city model; （3） generating geometric parameters; and （4） conducting statistical analyses using both linear and non-linear regression models. The implications of the results are discussed, providing guidelines for policies aiming to reduce the UHI.展开更多
The paper investigates the determinants of capital structure in Nigerian listed insurance firms using data obtained from annual report of the sampled firms for the period of 2001-2010. It used five explanatory variabl...The paper investigates the determinants of capital structure in Nigerian listed insurance firms using data obtained from annual report of the sampled firms for the period of 2001-2010. It used five explanatory variables to measure their effects on debt ratio. Multiple regression is employed as a tool of analysis. The result reveals that all the explanatory variables have statistically and significantly influenced the explained variable. The results approve the prediction of pecking order theory in the case of profitability and trade-off theory in case of tangibility variables. The growth variable supports the agency theory hypothesis whereas size variable confirms to the asymmetry of information theory. It is therefore recommended that the management of listed insurance firms in Nigeria should always consider their positions using these capital structure determinants as important inputs before embarking on debt financing decision.展开更多
文摘There is no doubt that the UHI （urban heat island） is a mounting problem in built-up environments, due to the energy retention by surface dense building materials, leading to increased temperatures, air pollution, and energy consumption. Much of the earlier research on the UHI has used two-dimensional （2-D） information, such as land uses and the distribution of vegetation. In the case of homogeneous land uses, it is possible to predict surface temperatures with reasonable accuracy with 2-D information. However, three-dimensional （3-D） information is necessary to analyze more complex sites, including dense building clusters. In this research, 3-D building geometry information is combined with 2-D urban surface information to examine the relationship between urban characteristics and temperature. The research includes the following stages： （1） estimating urban temperature; （2） developing a 3-D city model; （3） generating geometric parameters; and （4） conducting statistical analyses using both linear and non-linear regression models. The implications of the results are discussed, providing guidelines for policies aiming to reduce the UHI.
文摘The paper investigates the determinants of capital structure in Nigerian listed insurance firms using data obtained from annual report of the sampled firms for the period of 2001-2010. It used five explanatory variables to measure their effects on debt ratio. Multiple regression is employed as a tool of analysis. The result reveals that all the explanatory variables have statistically and significantly influenced the explained variable. The results approve the prediction of pecking order theory in the case of profitability and trade-off theory in case of tangibility variables. The growth variable supports the agency theory hypothesis whereas size variable confirms to the asymmetry of information theory. It is therefore recommended that the management of listed insurance firms in Nigeria should always consider their positions using these capital structure determinants as important inputs before embarking on debt financing decision.
