Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Are Agricultural Markets in the Punjab Technically Efficient?

We test the technical efficiency, measured by the degree of integration, of agriculture markets for five crops in the Punjab province of Pakistan using daily wholesale market prices from the Agriculture Management Information System (AMIS). We find that potato, onion and mango markets are well integrated both horizontally and vertically, with the speed of price adjustment in most cases (mango is the exception) being very rapid. We also find that kinnow and basmati rice markets are both vertically fairly well integrated. Furthermore, we find that trends in cropping patterns over the period 2000 to 2014 are in line with the changing market demand and government price interventions. The reforms introduced by the Punjab Agriculture Marketing Regulatory Authority (PAMRA) Act 2020, aimed at increasing competition in agriculture markets, have the potential to significantly improve economic efficiency.
Anxiety Buffer Disruption: Self-Evaluation, Death Anxiety, and Stressor Appraisals Among Low and High Posttraumatic Stress Symptom Samples

Objective: Research driven by terror management theory suggests sociocultural anxiety-buffer systems typically protect against existential anxiety, whereas anxiety buffer disruption theory suggests traumatic experiences may disrupt that process. Method: Following posttraumatic stress (PTS) symptom screening (n = 4097), individuals with low (n = 149) and high (n = 120) PTS engaged in either negative or positive self-evaluations, then reported death anxiety and appraised life's stressors as negative/threatening or positive/challenging. Results: When low PTS participants contemplated their worst (vs. best) selves, they experienced moderately heightened death anxiety yet appraised life's stressors as more positive/challenging than harmful/threatening, reflecting effective existential anxiety buffers. However, high PTS participants reported high death anxiety in both the best-self and worst-self conditions—indicating anxiety buffer disruption—and the worst-self (vs. best self) prompt increased their appraisal of life's stresses as a harmful threat and decreased appraisal as positive/challenging opportunities for growth and well-being. Discussion: Theoretical and clinical implications are discussed.
The Dispersal Effectiveness of Avian Species in Japanese Temperate Forest

Abstract Seed dispersal effectiveness (SDE) is one of the best parameters for estimating the benefit that a plant obtains from a dispersal agent. SDE includes quantitative and qualitative components. Previous avian studies of SDE estimation have been conducted mainly in temperate shrub lands or in tropical forests; data are limited for temperate forests, especially, the quality of seed-deposition sites. In this study, we estimated the SDE of birds for Wild Cherry Cerasus jamasakura and Giant Dogwood Cornus controversa fruits in a temperate Japanese forest. These trees prefer sunny sites so we focused on the light conditions at seed-deposition sites and categorized three microhabitat types: forest-gap, forest-edge, and forest-interior. We observed avian seed removal at fruiting trees, conducted a bird census to estimate microhabitat selectivity and collected bird-dispersed seeds. We then counted seedling emergence. Finally, we constructed generalized linear mixed models that combined bird census and dispersed seed data to identify influential seed disperser(s) for each tree species. Frugivorous behavior was recorded for eight avian species for C. jamasakura and 12 for C. controversa. Of these birds, one for the former, and two for the latter preferentially selected forest-gap or forest-edge trees during each fruiting period. The density of dispersed seeds and seedlings was higher in the forest-gap or forest-edge. Additionally, the frequency with which Japanese White-eye Zosterops japonicus visited was a significant variable for seed density in each microhabitat. The results suggested that microhabitat selectivity may affect the density of dispersed seeds in each microhabitat. Furthermore, a bird with a high quantitative SDE may not necessarily also have a high qualitative SDE. Thus, it is important to estimate qualitative and quantitative SDE by focusing especially on the seed-deposition site for each bird in order to evaluate the actual SDE in temperate forests.
Green Bond Risk Premiums: A Twin-Bond ULFP Approach

This paper explores the risk premium in green bonds and how it relates to the more frequently researched spread premium. The approach can reconcile the inherent conflict between issuers and investors in green bond markets where one basis point of spread premium gained for the issuer of a bond is one basis point lost for the investor. We illustrate that when green bonds trade with lower volatility than traditional bonds, issuers can issue greens at a lower cost-of-capital while at the same time investors can remain within their fiduciary duty limits if expected risk-return ratios do not deteriorate. Thus our understanding of bond spreads' statistical properties becomes important: using the Unibail-Rodamco (ULFP) bond curve with near identical twin bonds, we build a laboratory of sorts which allows for quite specific like-for-like analysis and avoids potential curve mis-specification. We explore how to use various econometric techniques including cointegration and time-varying volatility to arrive at conclusions both for absolute spread premiums as well as relative volatility between green and traditional bonds. This should be useful both for how to price bonds when issued into primary markets, as well as a support to evaluate secondary market pricing of already issued bonds. It also highlights the role volatility reductive measures from policy institutions could play to support lower cost-of-capital for green investment projects.
After Corona (COVID-19) Impacts on Global Poverty and Recovery of Tourism Based Service Economies: An Appraisal

COVID 19 or Novel Corona outbreak has taken over all most all countries in the world and influenced the day-to-day lives of billions of people globally. The medical experts confirm that the average number of new infections generated by a single infected person is over five times as compared to the seasonal flue. Thus, Novel Corona outbreak has influenced the normal function of an individual, household, village, city, province, country, region and that of entire globe as at present. Thus, following the strict measures taken by the Chinese government in closing down Wuhan until the outbreak is controlled all most all the countries have taken varying measures to restrict movements, continuous curfew, total lockdown, travel restrictions, suspending air travel operations to control the pandemic (Ranasinghe et al 2020). The consequences of these measures have begun to emerge immediately in every corner of the world (Ranasinghe 2020). The severest impact is on daily waged employees who are struggling to meet their hand to mouth existence and millions of employees are at risk of being fired from their employment. Manufacturers, distributors, producers, sellers are struggling to function their organizations, paying salaries, maintaining properties and so forth. The economic loss globally is estimated to be 3-6 trillion USD by the ADB (2020). Thus as usual the impact has addressed immediately the poor whose food security is at lowest level and then the middle income earners. A potential cure, control or vaccine is far beyond imagination and the time period with the present situation to continue is unpredictable as yet. Thus, a month, three months, six months lock down and disturbed economic activities in different countries will result different outcomes. Yet it is clear that billions of people across the world will run into poverty as a result of the ongoing halt of economic activities. Specially, service economies which are mainly based on intangible economic activities such as outsourcing, financing, tourism and hospitality are predicted to be rigorously affected. Thus, tourism economies mainly island economies with low or almost no other industry and agricultural economic activities are at grave ebb since international exchange is disturbed while their main income source is at halt for a minimum period of an year. Thailand, Maldives, Seashells, Caribbean islands, Cambodia, Laos and many more Island economies at risk due to the continues impact of the pandemic.
Internationalization of Digital Platform SMEs: The Network Perspective

Previous research on internationalization has applied the business network approach to a large extent; also, studies on internationalizing digital platform firms discuss how these companies establish their user network. However, little is known about how these two types of networks (a business network and a user network) are combined and influence the international expansion of a digital platform SME. Therefore, the objective of this research is to study the relationship between these two types of networks in the internationalization of a digital platform SME, specifically focusing on the oneway relation from business to user networks, and answer the research question “how do business networks enable digital platform SMEs to internationalize their business and create a user network when internationalizing? ”. The theoretical framework for this study covers relevant literature concerning internationalization, business networks, platform businesses and their user networks. This thesis is based on the multiple-case study of international digital platform firms from Finland. The data include semi-structured interviews conducted with founders and managers of three firms. The results of this thesis highlight the connection between these two networks in the internationalization of digital platform SMEs; it shows how the business networks aid in the formation of the user network. This study was able to bring a new perspective of how business networks, which occur in the physical space, aid in building user networks, which occur in the digital space. The study shows that building long-lasting business networks is time-consuming; however, relationships formed in person are highly important even for a business which operates fully digitally. Furthermore, this study underlines the importance of business networks for an emerging business, since a business may otherwise not gain access to all needed resources when expanding internationally.
Severe infections remain common in a real-world rheumatoid arthritis cohort: A simple clinical model to predict infection risk

Objective This study aimed to investigate the incidence of severe infections in patients of a dedicated rheumatoid arthritis (RA) clinic, identify the associated risk factors, and derive an infection risk screening tool. Methods Between January and July 2019, 263 eligible patients with a diagnosis of RA were recruited retrospectively and consecutively from an RA clinic of an Australian tertiary hospital. The primary outcome was severe infection (requiring hospital admission) between January 2018 and July 2019. We collected data from medical records and pathology results. We used validated scores, such as the disease activity score of 28 joints (DAS28) and the Charlson comorbidity index, to assess the disease activity and comorbidity burden. Multivariable logistic regression was used for statistical analysis. Results A total of 45 severe infection episodes occurred in 34 (13%) patients, corresponding to 10.8 infections per 100 patient-years. Respiratory (53%) and urinary (13%) tract infections were the most common. In the multivariable analysis, significant risk factors included low lymphocyte count (odds ratio [OR], 4.08; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.16–14.29), severe infection in the past 3 years (OR, 3.58; 95% CI, 1.28–9.97), Charlson comorbidity index >2 (OR, 2.69; 95% CI, 1.03–7.00), and higher DAS28 (OR, 1.35/0.5-unit increment; 95% CI, 1.10–1.67). A model incorporating these factors and age had an area under receiver operating characteristic curve of 0.82. Conclusion To the best of our knowledge, this was one of the first Australian studies to evaluate severe infection rates in a real-world RA cohort. The rates remained high and comparable with those of the older studies. Lymphopenia, disease activity, comorbidity burden, and previous severe infection were the independent risk factors for infection. A model comprising easily assessable clinical and biological parameters has an excellent predictive potential for severe infection. Once validated, it may be developed into a screening tool to help clinicians rapidly identify the high-risk patients and inform the tailored clinical decision making.
Diagnosis of Radiating Elements for CISPR 25 RE Test Setup Using Huygens Box Method

Radiated Emission is a critical issue affecting system-level performance of tightly packed electronic components. It contributes to a significant percentage of verification stage failures particularly in automotive electronics. Once the failure is detected in the laboratory setup, the challenge for the designer is to root-cause the issue and find a cost-effective remedy. In many cases the source of noise, typically a switching circuit in an IC, cannot be altered. The remedy therefore is in placement or layout changes in the PCB, or addition of filtering components. In this letter, a two-step approach is proposed to diagnose the portions of the layout of DUT or harness with maximum contribution to the emission using a Huygens Box method. Also, the proposed method allows the computation of relative radiation components from cable and DUT individually at each frequency. This enables the designer to accurately configure a cost-effective strategy to reduce the emission levels and meet compliance.
Environmental Chamber Study of Atmospheric Chemistry and Secondary Organic Aerosol Formation Using Cavity Enhanced Absorption Spectroscopy

Air pollution and global climate change are important environmental issues that affect our society. Deeper understanding of atmospheric chemistry is required to understand these problems and to develop effective control strategies. Environmental chambers have been used for the past few decades to study atmospheric chemistry and investigate processes leading to secondary pollutant formation. This thesis work provides two different high sensitivity real time cavity enhance absorption spectroscopy (CEAS) instruments to detect NO3 radical and NO2/ glyoxal for environmental chamber study. These CEAS instruments can monitor these species with high sensitivity (in sub-ppb concentrations), with good selectivity, and with high spatial resolution in real time and in situ.Environmental chamber studies using CEAS instruments include NO3 behavior and reaction kinetics between NO3 and amine; sources and sinks for oxides of nitrogen (NOx) in the atmospheric photooxidation reactions; glyoxal uptake by secondary organic aerosol (SOA) under dry and humid conditions and glyoxal formation from the photooxidation of aromatic and isoprene. These studies provide insightful data in atmospheric processes and lead to a better understanding of the atmospheric system, which will eventually extend to environmental policy. This thesis is only a part of my research work. For more information about my other work, including cavity ring down spectroscopy studies for peroxy radical, aerosol optical extinction, transparent thin and time of flight mass spectrometry studies for the initial steps of ozone and alkenes reaactions, please refer to my PhD thesis in Chemistry department, UC-Riverside.
Genetic Diversity for Anchovy Populations (Engraulis encrasicolus L.) in the Azov, Marmara and Black Sea

In this study, the structure of the anchovy population in the Azov, Marmara and Black Sea was determined by restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP). Sampling was carried out at six stations represented the Azov, Marmara and Black Sea populations in 2011. Total DNA of the sample was taken each station and the mtDNA D-loop region within total DNA was amplified by PCR. Amplified mtDNA D-loop region by PCR (polymerase chain reaction) was cut by10 different enzymes (Hpa II, Hinf I, Hae III, Alu I, Ava II, Nci I, RsaI, TaqI, Tru91, Hsp9211) and morphs were determined by the type of the particle profiles for each population. mtDNA D-loop haplotypes were determined by combining this morphs. As a result, a total of 64 haplotypes belong to populations that were sampled from six stations (Azov Sea, Black Sea; Georgia, Abkhazia, TrabzonTurkey winter, Trabzon-Turkey summer and Marmara Sea) have been identified. Fst values among populations were calculated by the analysis of molecular variance and the Marmara Sea populations clearly separated from other populations. Also it was seen that Trabzon-summer samplings were sharing haplotypes of all other populations. No evidence have found for recent population bottleneck of the population studies.
Rediscovery of the bopyrid isopod Parabopyrella thomasi (Nierstrasz & Brender à Brandis, 1929), parasite of the arrow shrimp Tozeuma carolinense Kingsley, 1878 (Decapoda, Caridea) in the Caribbean region

This is only the second report of the bopyrid isopod Parabopyrella thomasi (Nierstrasz & Brender a Brandis, 1929) since it was described. The species infests the arrow shrimp Tozeuma carolinense Kingsley, 1878, and this report of new material extends its known geographic distribution to the Caribbean coasts of Mexico. We provide data on some morphological variations in both sexes of this species as well as on the fecundity of this ectoparasite.
Diversity of GABAergic interneurons and diversification of communication modules in cortical networks

The phenotypic diversity of cortical GABAergic neurons is likely necessary for their functional versatility in shaping exquisite spatiotemporal dynamics of circuit operations underlying cognitive processes. Deciphering the logic of this diversity requires overcoming the technical challenge of quantitative and comprehensive analysis of multi-modal cell features as well as the conceptual challenge of formulating a framework of neuronal identity that reflects biological mechanisms and principles. In the past few years, advances in high-throughput single cell analyses began to generate unprecedented datasets on interneuron transcriptomes, morphology and electrophysiology that drive their classification. Recent studies suggest that cardinal interneuron types can be defined by their synaptic communication properties encoded in key transcriptional signatures – a conceptual framework that integrates across phenotypic features and captures neuronal input-output properties elemental to circuit operation. This definition may further facilitate understanding the appropriate granularity of neuron types toward building a biologically-grounded and operationally useful interneuron taxonomy.
Utilization of waterholes by globally threatened species in deciduous dipterocarp forest of the Eastern Plains Landscape of Cambodia

Abstract Deciduous dipterocarp forests throughout Asia provide crucial habitat for several globally threatened species. During the dry season water availability in these forests is primarily limited to perennial rivers and waterholes. Such water sources form an essential part of these dry forests and are used by multiple species, including large mammals and birds, but little is known regarding how waterhole characteristics affect wildlife use. We investigated waterhole utilization by six globally threatened dry forest specialists: banteng Bos javanicus, Eld's deer Rucervus eldii, giant ibis Thaumatibis gigantea, green peafowl Pavo muticus, lesser adjutant Leptoptilos javanicus and Asian woolly-necked stork Ciconia episcopus. We camera-trapped 54 waterholes in Srepok Wildlife Sanctuary, eastern Cambodia, during the dry season of December 2015–June 2016. We measured nine waterhole and landscape characteristics, including indicators of human disturbance. Waterhole depth (measured every 2 weeks) and the area of water at the start of the dry season were the main environmental factors influencing waterhole use. Additionally, waterholes further from villages were more frequently used than those nearer. Our study reaffirmed the importance of waterholes in supporting globally threatened species, especially large grazers, which are critical for maintaining these dry forest ecosystems. The results also suggested that artificially enlarging and deepening selected waterholes, particularly those further from human disturbance, could enhance available habitat for a range of species, including grazers. However, this would need to be conducted in coordination with patrolling activities to ensure waterholes are not targets for illegal hunting, which is a problem throughout South-east Asian protected areas.
Design and Verification of Fuzzy Neural Network Automatic Control Algorithm in Intelligent Agriculture

Through the analysis and in-depth study of the fuzzy control system model and neural network, the optimal control strategy is obtained by the organic combination of fuzzy reasoning and neural network analysis training, and the automatic control algorithm based on fuzzy neural network is designed. The modified algorithm is applied and verified in Modern Agriculture Demonstration Park of Chengdu Agricultural College. The results show that the designed algorithm can meet the demand of automatic control in the field of intelligent agricultural control, and the control system has good universality and scalability. The application of automatic control algorithm based on fuzzy neural network can accelerate the development of agricultural modernization in China, and lay a solid foundation for the further research on the application of automatic control in other fields.