Takashi Matsuki, Kimiko Sugimoto and Yushi Yoshida
We examine how the degree of regional financial integration in African stock markets has evolved over the last eleven years. Despite increasing regional economic cooperation, the…
Abstract
We examine how the degree of regional financial integration in African stock markets has evolved over the last eleven years. Despite increasing regional economic cooperation, the process of stock market integration has been slow. To facilitate growth via developed financial markets but keep financial stability risk at a minimum, further regional integration should be promoted, and mild capital controls on non-African investors may be necessary. A Diebold-Yilmaz spillover analysis is applied to ten African stock markets for the period between August 2004 and January 2015. We examine spillovers among four regions and among individual countries. Regional integration, as measured by total spillovers in Africa, is increasing but remains very low. These spillovers were temporarily heightened during the global financial crisis. Cross-regional spillovers are high between Northern and Southern Africa. Asymmetric capital controls on African and non-African investors must be considered to foster further regional integration and to mitigate financial stability risk. This is one of the few studies to address the construction of the future architecture of regionally integrated stock markets in emerging countries.
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Ixchel G. Ramirez-Alpizar, Kensuke Harada and Eiichi Yoshida
The aim of this work is to develop a simple planner that is able to automatically plan the motion for a dual-arm manipulator that assembles a ring-shaped elastic object into a…
Abstract
Purpose
The aim of this work is to develop a simple planner that is able to automatically plan the motion for a dual-arm manipulator that assembles a ring-shaped elastic object into a cylinder. Moreover, it is desirable to keep the amount of deformation as small as possible, because stretching the object can permanently change its size thus failing to perfectly fit in the cylindrical part and generating undesired gaps between the object and the cylinder.
Design/methodology/approach
The assembly task is divided in two parts: assembly task planning and assembly step planning. The first one computes key configurations of the robot’s end-effectors, and it is based on a simple heuristic method, whereas the latter computes the robot’s motion between key configurations using an optimization-based planner that includes a potential-energy-based cost function for minimizing the object’s deformation.
Findings
The optimization-based planner is shown to be effective for minimizing the deformation of the ring-shaped object. A simple heuristic approach is demonstrated to be valid for inserting deformable objects into a cylinder. Experimental results show that the object can be kept without deformation for the first part of the assembly task, thus reducing the time it is being stretched.
Originality value
A simple assembly planner for inserting ring-shaped deformable objects was developed and validated through several experiments. The proposed planner is able to insert ring-shaped objects without using any sensor (visual and/or force) feedback. The only feedback used is the position of the robot’s end-effectors, which is usually available for any robot.
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H. Ohdaira, K. Yoshida and K. Sasaoka
This paper reports on the development of a simple manufacturing process for polymeric multilayer substrates utilising the thermoplasticity of thermoplastic resin. Features and…
Abstract
This paper reports on the development of a simple manufacturing process for polymeric multilayer substrates utilising the thermoplasticity of thermoplastic resin. Features and defects noted in manufacturing trials of the substrates are also reported. The process involves a polymer‐based thick film conductive paste screen printed on a hole‐punched thermoplastic resin film and dried. The films are stacked to form multiple layers and are then compressed into one unit. As the extremely thin thermoplastic resin film layers are equivalent to a single layer, a feature of this substrate is its exceptional thinness. As thermoplastic resin is used as a base material, the soldering process and other connecting technologies which may be used in place of solder connection are also examined.
Toshio Nagashima, Takenari Tsukuda, Hiroshi Suemasu and Kiyoshi Sogabe
The purpose of this paper is to investigate the effects of the finite element models on the response of a free surface or a floating roof, which is important for safety assessment…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to investigate the effects of the finite element models on the response of a free surface or a floating roof, which is important for safety assessment of oil storage tanks.
Design/methodology/approach
Structural analyses of shell structures using the three‐dimensional finite element method (FEM), potential flow analyses by FEM, and fluid‐structure interaction analyses by strong coupling of the structural and fluid analyses were performed. In‐house software was utilized for computations shown in this paper except the solver for non‐symmetric sparse matrix.
Findings
A model with a rigid tank and an elastic roof was confirmed to be able to perform the seismic response analysis most effectively from the viewpoint of computational cost with no reduction in accuracy.
Research limitations/implications
The stress distribution on the floating roof will be evaluated to assess the safety of oil storage tanks subjected to seismic waves in the future research.
Originality/value
This paper shows the dynamic responses of a liquid storage tank subjected to seismic motion using four different analysis models and the results were compared. It was concluded that a model with a rigid tank and an elastic roof can perform the seismic response analysis most effectively from the viewpoint of both accuracy and computational cost.
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Under this heading are published regularly abstracts of all Reports and Memoranda of the Aeronautical Research Council, Reports and Technical Memoranda of the United States…
Abstract
Under this heading are published regularly abstracts of all Reports and Memoranda of the Aeronautical Research Council, Reports and Technical Memoranda of the United States National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics and publications of other similar Research Bodies as issued.
Introduces papers from this area of expertise from the ISEF 1999 Proceedings. States the goal herein is one of identifying devices or systems able to provide prescribed…
Abstract
Introduces papers from this area of expertise from the ISEF 1999 Proceedings. States the goal herein is one of identifying devices or systems able to provide prescribed performance. Notes that 18 papers from the Symposium are grouped in the area of automated optimal design. Describes the main challenges that condition computational electromagnetism’s future development. Concludes by itemizing the range of applications from small activators to optimization of induction heating systems in this third chapter.
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Giulio Reina, Mauro Bellone, Luigi Spedicato and Nicola Ivan Giannoccaro
This research aims to address the issue of safe navigation for autonomous vehicles in highly challenging outdoor environments. Indeed, robust navigation of autonomous mobile…
Abstract
Purpose
This research aims to address the issue of safe navigation for autonomous vehicles in highly challenging outdoor environments. Indeed, robust navigation of autonomous mobile robots over long distances requires advanced perception means for terrain traversability assessment.
Design/methodology/approach
The use of visual systems may represent an efficient solution. This paper discusses recent findings in terrain traversability analysis from RGB-D images. In this context, the concept of point as described only by its Cartesian coordinates is reinterpreted in terms of local description. As a result, a novel descriptor for inferring the traversability of a terrain through its 3D representation, referred to as the unevenness point descriptor (UPD), is conceived. This descriptor features robustness and simplicity.
Findings
The UPD-based algorithm shows robust terrain perception capabilities in both indoor and outdoor environment. The algorithm is able to detect obstacles and terrain irregularities. The system performance is validated in field experiments in both indoor and outdoor environments.
Research limitations/implications
The UPD enhances the interpretation of 3D scene to improve the ambient awareness of unmanned vehicles. The larger implications of this method reside in its applicability for path planning purposes.
Originality/value
This paper describes a visual algorithm for traversability assessment based on normal vectors analysis. The algorithm is simple and efficient providing fast real-time implementation, since the UPD does not require any data processing or previously generated digital elevation map to classify the scene. Moreover, it defines a local descriptor, which can be of general value for segmentation purposes of 3D point clouds and allows the underlining geometric pattern associated with each single 3D point to be fully captured and difficult scenarios to be correctly handled.
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Heather Allen and Alexandra Taylor
The purpose of this paper is to examine the experiences of the USA and other nations with developed veterinary infrastructure and identify the critical factors that led the…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to examine the experiences of the USA and other nations with developed veterinary infrastructure and identify the critical factors that led the evolution of the US foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) response strategy.
Design/methodology/approach
A thorough literature review was conducted, including official reports of US FMD outbreaks and peer-reviewed articles on outbreaks in previously FMD-free countries. Textual analysis was conducted on past and current publicly available US FMD response plans, identifying the use of the term “vaccination” or “emergency vaccination” indicating the potential use of these strategies.
Findings
The USA has shifted from a strategy of exclusively stamping-out to a response strategy that would consider emergency vaccination, including vaccinate to slaughter and vaccinate to live, in any FMD outbreak. The factors that led to this shift in policy include economic factors, the emergence of new vaccine technologies, the changed landscape of the US livestock industry, and the experiences of other typically FMD-free countries.
Originality/value
An outbreak in the USA is likely to rapidly outpace the current capacity for stamping-out. Experience from other FMD outbreaks, and lack of publicly available literature from the USA, indicates that it is critically important that further consideration, sufficient attention, and stakeholder deliberation need to occur to ensure vaccination strategies (to live and to slaughter) are implementable in an outbreak.
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Manifold‐mapping (MM) is an efficient surrogate‐based optimization technique aimed at the acceleration of very time‐consuming design problems. In this paper we present two new…
Abstract
Purpose
Manifold‐mapping (MM) is an efficient surrogate‐based optimization technique aimed at the acceleration of very time‐consuming design problems. In this paper we present two new variants of the original algorithm that make it applicable to a broader range of optimization scenarios.
Design/methodology/approach
The first variant is useful when the optimization constraints are expressed by means of functions that are very expensive to compute. The second variant endows the original scheme with a trust‐region strategy and the result is a much more robust algorithm.
Findings
Two practical optimization problems from electromagnetics eventually show that the proposed variants perform efficiently.
Originality/value
The original MM algorithm is extended with two new variants. Therefore, the MM approach is applicable to a much larger set of design situations.