Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Potential effects of interaction between CO2 and temperature on forest landscape response to global warming

Projected temperature increases under global warming could benefit southern tree species by providing them the optimal growing temperature and could be detrimental to northern species by exposing them to the supra optimal growing temperatures. This benefit‐detriment trade‐off could increase the competitive advantage of southern species in the northern species range and cause the increase or even dominance of southern species in the northern domain. However, the optimum temperature for photosynthesis of C3 plants may increase due to CO2 enrichment. An increase in the optimum temperature could greatly reduce the benefit‐detriment effect. In this study, we coupled a forest ecosystem process model (PnET‐II) and a forest GAP model (LINKAGES) with a spatially dynamic forest landscape model (LANDIS‐II) to study how an optimum temperature increase could affect forest landscape response due to global warming. We simulated 360 years of forest landscape change in the Boundary Water Canoe Area (BWCA) in northern Minnesota, which is transitional between boreal and temperate forest. Our results showed that, under the control scenario of continuing the historic 1984–1993 mean climate (mainly temperature, precipitation and CO2), the BWCA will become a spruce‐fir dominated boreal forest. However, under the scenario of predicted climatic change [the 2000–2099 climates are predicted by Canadian Climate Center (CCC), followed by 200 years of continuing the predicted 2090–2099 mean climate], the BWCA will become a pine‐dominated mixed forest. If the optimum temperature increases gradually with [CO2] (the increase in optimum temperature is assumed to change gradually from 0 °C in year 2000 to 5 °C in year 2099 when [CO2] reaches 711 ppm and stabilizes at 5 °C after year 2099), the BWCA would remain a fir‐dominated boreal forest in areas with relatively high water‐holding capacity, but not in areas with relatively low water‐holding capacity. Our results suggest that the [CO2] induced increases in optimum temperature could substantially reduce forest landscape change caused by global warming. However, not all tree species would be able to successfully adapt to future warming as predicted by CCC, regardless of optimum temperature acclimations.
Karyotypes of 2 Species, Meretrix lusoria and M. petechialis, of Veneridae in Korea

The karyotypes of Meretrix lusoria and M. petechialis in the family Veneridae in Korea were studied in order to analyse their genetic relationships. The 2 species showed a diploid chromosome number of 2n=38, with 5 metacentric, 10 submetacentric, 2 subtelocentric, and 2 telocentric chromosome pairs for Meretrix lusoria, and 5 metacentric, 9 submetacentric, 3 subtelocentric, and 2 telocentric for M. petechialis. The karyotypes of these 2 species are clearly different in the same genus.
A Simple Laboratory Approach to Test and Estimate Seed Germination Performance Under Field Conditions1

A simple laboratory procedure for testing seed germination under simulated field conditions, and the utilization of these data in predicting the seed's performance under field conditions is presented. Sorghum, pea, chickpea, and vetch seeds were germinated in P.E.G. (polyethyleneglycol) solutions of different osmotic potential levels in the laboratory. The collected data were used to predict germination of sorghum and chickpea seeds in outdoor plots. A good agreement was found between the observed germination in field plots and predicted germination from laboratory data time period needed to attain germination. A comparison between this suggested simple seed testing method and the ISTA method is made and the merits of the presented method are discussed
Analysis Of Macrobenthic Community Structure In Relation To Different Environmental Conditions In Three Harbours In The North Tyrrhenian Sea (Italy). Preliminary Study

Studies on benthic communities are being widely used in monitoring pollution effects, using both the methodologies provided from the national laws in various countries and experimental innovative methodologies of research. We have carried out a preliminary study on macrobenthic communities (zoobenthos and phytobenthos) in three harbours, one of which (Piombino) receives wastewater from industry and is also subject to heavy shipping traffic. The other two (Porto Santo Stefano and Portoferraio) enjoy great tourist traffic but no industrial waste, and they have been selected in order to find possible differences between populations of animals present in unpolluted and polluted areas. The results show that there are no outstanding differences in the sessile and sedentary bentological population parameters of the studied harbours. We probably do not have an adequate historical data set of the species living in the study areas to detect the effects of pollution, and the sessile living animal species we found may have adapted to the current situation, since living species typical of very clean waters were found.
Financial Intermediaries and International Risk Premia

I propose a measure of adjusted leverage as a proxy for the pricing kernel of a representative financial intermediary. Using a simple theoretical framework with information production, I show that in states of the world where credit outstanding in the economy is low, financial leverage is not an accurate proxy for the stochastic discount factor of financial intermediaries. Empirical evidence confirms this theoretical finding for an international panel of financial intermediaries. Credit outstanding arises as an important determinant of the stochastic discount factor of a financial intermediary. As a result, the new proposed measure incorporates information on both intermediaries’ financial leverage and the amount of credit in the economy. It is an economically meaningful state variable that is pro-cyclical and predicts financial crises. I show that a global adjusted leverage factor prices currency portfolios and global equity portfolios outperforming benchmark factor models designed to price these assets.
The Asymptotics for Panel Models with Common Shocks

This paper considers models with latent/discrete endogenous regressors and presents a simulation-based two-step (STS) estimator. The endogeneity is corrected by adopting a simulation-based control function approach. The first step consists of simulating of the residuals of the reduced-form equation for endogenous regressors. The second step is a regression model (linear, latent or discrete) with the simulated residual as an additional regressor. In this paper we develop the asymptotic theory for the STS estimator and its rate of convergence.
Stress Testing the Unknown - The Impact of Network Reconstruction on Systemic Risk Estimates

Banks connect through a complex network of interbank credit exposures that determine contagion and hence the systemic stability of the network. Yet, the bilateral linkages of these institutions and thus the true structure of the network are typically unobservable, with leading reconstruction methods, such as maximum entropy or minimum density, potentially underestimating the true contagion risk of the network. Based on publicly available data from large European institutions, this paper analyses different network reconstruction techniques and the contagion risk impact of different network structures in a stress testing context. My findings suggest that uncertainty about the true interbank network leads to substantially varying risk assessments, where a Bayesian reconstruction approach can be used to identify contagion risk boundaries. In addition, network structure metrics that explain the variation in risk assessments are identified.
Capital Flows and Growth across Developing Countries

Foreign direct investment inflows are positively related to economic growth across developing countries — but so are savings in excess of investment. This paper develops an explanation for these known empirical findings by focusing on the limited availability of consumer credit in developing countries, together with general equilibrium effects. In the model, fast-growing developing countries scale up their holdings of debt assets, which creates net capital outflows — despite inflows of foreign direct investment — and reduces the world interest rate. Slow-growing developing countries reduce their holdings of debt assets in response, which creates net capital inflows despite outflows of foreign direct investment.
Embryogeny of Phaseolus coccineus: The ultrastructure and development of the suspensor

Structural specializations occur in the suspensor at the proembryo stage with the formation of wall ingrowths. Soon after the appearance of the ingrowths, mitochondria, plastids, polysomes, and smooth endoplasmic reticulum greatly increase in their abundance within the suspensor cells. By the late globular stage, wall ingrowths are extremely well developed and the cells within the suspensor are packed with cellular organelles. The nucleus of the suspensor cell at the heart stage also takes on an active appearance. The nucleus becomes highly lobed in shape and micronucleoli can also be found. There is little change in the overall ultrastructural pattern of the cell till the cotyledon stage. At this stage, wall thickening occurs in all suspensor cells and the outlines of most of the ingrowths become less obvious. The mitochondria, plastids, and polysomes become less abundant and a change in the configuration of the smooth endospermic reticulum is also observed. The ontogenetic changes of the cellular organe.
The influence of the mound-building termite (Macrotermes bellicosus) on soil clay mineralogy

The present study aimed to examine the influence of termites (Isoptera) on soil clay mineralogy. To this end, we analyzed the clay mineralogy in the mound structures of Macrotermes bellicosus (Macrotermitinae) and in the adjacent natural (termite-free) soil horizons along an inland valley toposequence in central Nigeria, and compared them using differential X-ray diffraction approach. The results indicated that: (i) M. bellicosus modified soil clay mineralogy to minor extent regardless of the substantial enrichment of clay particles in the mound structures; (ii) the mound structures generally had a decreased abundance of quartz balanced with an increased abundance of phyllosilicate minerals such as smectite and/or kaolinite when compared with the adjacent near-surface (Ap2) horizons; and (iii) there was a subtle difference in clay mineralogy between the mound wall and the hive in spite of a large disparity in particle-size distribution. These findings suggest that soil clay mineralogy is not linked to the ecological requirements of M. bellicosus and the apparent change in the clay mineralogy in mound structures is caused by the preferential selection of fine soil particles during the mound construction rather than by a preference among clay mineral species.
Soft Liquidity Constraints and Consumption: Evidence from Macro Prudential Policy in Turkey

Using account-level credit card data from a major Turkish bank we show the impact of a unique restrictive credit card policy on consumption and debt repayment behavior. The complex policy imposes two types of soft liquidity constraints for certain credit card holders: progressively higher minimum payments over time and cash advances restrictions. We show that increasing minimum payments initially increase credit card spending and debts, then reduce the spending and debts. The policy reduces average monthly credit card debt of affected consumers by about TL184 two years into policy implementation, implying about 15% higher debt repayment ratio. The initial increase in credit card spending is due to intertemporal arbitrage: consumers move forward credit card spending to avoid future high borrowing costs. Restricting cash advances, among other policy mandates, has the strongest effect in reducing credit card spending and promoting faster debt repayment. Policy announcement also has a marginal effect in instigating change in credit card usage behavior. These results are consistent with the theory of liquidity constraints and consumption (Carroll and Kimball 2005). Our results show that a well-designed credit card policy will likely impose significant liquidity constraints instigating change in consumers’ spending and debt payment behaviour.
The effect of within‐genet and between‐genet competition on sexual reproduction and vegetative spread in Potentilla anserina ssp. egedii

1 Patterns of biomass allocation to sexual and vegetative reproduction were examined in a perennial stoloniferous clonal plant, Potentilla anserina (L.) Rydb. ssp. egedii (Wormsk.) Hiitonen, in relation to intraspecific competition between monoclonal and multiclonal ramets. 2 We predicted that a lack of competition would generate allocation to rapid, short‐distance spread (vegetative propagation), while the presence of competition would increase allocation to long‐distance dispersal (sexual reproduction), and that the allocation shift would be more pronounced where the competing ramets were related. 3 P. anserina ramets were grown in a glasshouse in small pots, either alone (no competition) or with a size‐matched ramet that originated from the same clone (within‐genet competition) or a different one (between‐genet competition). 4 Competition suppressed both growth and reproduction, but there was no treatment response in relative investment at the level of a whole genet, although both mother ramets and their daughters showed clear effects when analysed separately. 5 When experiencing competition, the mother ramet allocated relatively more to flowers, whereas allocation to vegetative growth was more intense when competition was absent. Allocation patterns were independent of the relatedness of competitors. 6 The results imply that P. anserina can modify the allocation of resources to different life‐history traits according to competitive stress. Such flexibility is likely to reflect a shift in the optimal allocation strategy during the life cycle of a plant with a guerilla growth form with rapid exploitation of free space in a new patch by vegetative spread favoured. When spread becomes limited by competition, long‐distance dispersal in space (seeds) or time (persistence) becomes beneficial.
Lucky CEOS

We study the relation between corporate governance and opportunistic timing of CEO option grants via backdating or otherwise. Our methodology focuses on how grant date prices rank within the price distribution of the grant month. During 1996-2005, about 12% of firms provided one or more lucky grant -- defined as grants given at the lowest price of the month -- due to opportunistic timing. Lucky grants were more likely when the board did not have a majority of independent directors and/or the CEO had longer tenure -- factors associated with increased influence of the CEO on pay-setting. We find no evidence that gains from manipulated grants served as a substitute for compensation paid through other sources; total reported compensation from such sources was higher in firms providing lucky grants. Finally, opportunistic timing has been widespread throughout the economy, with a significant presence in each of the economy's twelve (Fama-French) industries.
A real-time PCR genotyping assay to detect FAD2A SNPs in peanuts (Arachis hypogaea L.)

The high oleic (C18:1) phenotype in peanuts has been previously demonstrated to result from a homozygous recessive genotype (ol 1 ol 1 ol 2 ol 2 ) in two homeologous fatty acid desaturase genes ( FAD2A and FAD2B ) with two key SNPs. These mutant SNPs, specifically G448A in FAD2A and 442insA in FAD2B , significantly limit the normal function of the desaturase enzyme activity which converts oleic acid into linoleic acid by the addition of a second double bond in the hydrocarbon chain. Previously, a genotyping assay was developed to detect wild type and mutant alleles in FAD2B . A real-time PCR assay has now been developed to detect wild type and mutant alleles (G448A) in FAD2A using either seed or leaf tissue. This assay was demonstrated to be applicable for the detection of homozygous and heterozygous samples. The FAD2A genotyping assay was validated by employing gas chromatography (GC) to determine total fatty acid composition and by genotyping peanut lines that have been well characterized. Overall, development of rapid assays such as real-time PCR which can identify key genotypes associated with important agronomic traits such as oleic acid, will improve breeding efficiency by targeting desirable genotypes at early stages of development.
Pricing Derivatives with Credit Risk: Expansion Formulas for Stochastic Intensity Models

We address in this paper new developments in pricing derivatives within a default event. Based on stochastic expansion arguments, the pricing is made under a generic stochastic model for the default intensity. The derivative’s price is expressed through a deterministic proxy for the default intensity to which is added an explicit summation of terms involving only Greeks computed under the proxy model. The impacts of the intensity’s volatility and the correlation between the default and the remaining risk processes become explicit and can be directly estimated. In addition, the accuracy of our formulas does minimally depend on the smoothness of the payoff function, which makes our approach very suitable for pricing in real market situations.
Market Deregulation, Trade Liberalization and Technical Efficiency in Bangladesh Agriculture: An Empirical Analysis

The impact of trade liberalization and of market deregulation in general, on the performance of agriculture remains contentious and empirical issue in the literature. Following the random coefficient frontier modelling framework, this paper attempts to contribute to this debate by computing the farm-specific productive efficiency indices in Bangladesh agriculture before and after reform. It also examines the impact of some farm-specific and policy variables on productive efficiency. The empirical results show that there are wide variations in productive efficiency across farms and regions and the average efficiency of all regions increased modestly by 8 percentage points from the pre-reform to post-reform period. The efficiency differentials are largely explained by farm size, infrastructure, households' off-farm income and the reduction of government anti-agricultural bias in relation to trade and domestic policies. The implication of these results suggests the need for further policy reform to augment productive efficiency.
Index Fund Ownership and Financial Reporting Myopia

Index funds are an increasingly important part of the U.S. stock market with the average S&P 1500 company having 22% of their equity held by index funds in 2018 (compared with 10% in 2011). Building on concurrent research finding that index funds engage less with portfolio firms than other investors, we expect firm-level index fund ownership to be associated with systematically different financial reporting decisions by firms. Using fund-level stock holdings, we examine the association between index fund ownership and financial reporting myopia. Consistent with less myopia, we find that greater index fund ownership is associated with a greater frequency of missing earnings, fewer abnormal accruals, and less obfuscation in financial reports (i.e., more readable, more negative, and more specific disclosures). Additional analyses provide results consistent with this effect being due to lower engagement by index funds and not higher oversight.
Do Family-Related Factors Influence Children’s Outcome?

In the UK, the pass rate of A level examination remained almost stable at the percentage of 26.7% during the period (2010-2015)1, while different characteristics of household, such as region of residence, parents’ marital status and employment-related factors may have led to children’s different outcome on attaining any A-level qualifications. To understand which and how household-related factors may influence children’s outcome, this paper reviews theories which may interpret possible mechanisms behind children’s outcomes. <br><br>Data was sorted from the 18th wave of BHPS2, which was then analyzed base on logistic regression models. It was found that children living in the London area, parents’ marriage, paternal unemployment, household’s moving for the incentive of a higher income and a harmonious relationship with neighbours are likely to result in a higher possibility on children’s attainment of A-level qualifications; however, the existence of sibling(s) and maternal unemployment are more likely to have a negative but insignificant effect on children’s attainment of A-level qualifications. No effects were found for parental type of work and household’s acceptance of welfare as income support. <br><br>These results support the use of theories on altruism (Becker, 1981; Kerr et al., 2004), family behavior (Chevalier, 2004), human capital model (Leibowitz, 1974; Becker and Tomes, 1994), role model and family stress (Haveman et al., 1991), and the results can also explain the possible causality of the ‘London effect’. Current results also suggest that further research should emphasize paternal employment status and the relationship with different regions in the UK. This would help with the determinants on policies aiming at the enhancement of children’s outcome and development.
The Efficiency of Private E-Money-Like Systems: The U.S. Experience with National Bank Notes

Beginning in 1864, in the United States notes of national banks were the predominant medium of exchange. Each national bank issued its own notes. E-money shares many of the characteristics of these bank notes. This paper describes some lessons relevant to e money from the U.S. experience with national bank notes. It examines historical evidence on how well the bank notes — a privately issued currency system with multiple issuers — functioned with respect to ease of transacting, counterfeiting, safety, overissuance, and par exchange (a uniform currency). It finds that bank notes made transacting easier and were not subject to overissuance. National bank notes were perfectly safe because they were insured by the federal government. Further, national bank notes were a uniform currency. Notes of different banks traded at par with each other and with greenbacks. This paper describes the mechanism that was put in place to achieve uniformity. The U.S. experience with national bank notes suggests that a privately issued e-money system can operate efficiently but will require government intervention, regulation, and supervision to minimize counterfeiting, promote safety, and provide the mechanism necessary for different media of exchange to exchange at par with each other.