Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Improving Value for Money in Italian Project Finance

Purpose -- Detect how Value for Money (VfM) in Italian Project Finance (PF) investments can be enhanced and criticalities minimized, with a synergistic interaction of macroeconomic, legal and institutional actions. Design/methodology/approach -- Analysis of VfM qualitative and quantitative key drivers, within a Public-private partnership (PPP) framework with specific reference to a recession context, with infrastructural capital rationing implications. Empirical evidence is given by an Italian PF healthcare model, testing the impact of legal and macroeconomic changes. Findings -- Deleverage, ignited by W-shaped recession, disinflates PPP investments, so forcing to innovative and penniless solutions. Unreliable and short-sighted legislation and consequent unfriendly business climate may frighten investors, so decreasing competition and VfM. Research limitations/implications -- VfM sensitivity to macroeconomic and legal/institutional parameters is too wide and capriciously erratic to be comprehensively modeled. Tips for further research include pro-growth tax and budgetary policies, risk minimization issues and other synergistic targets. Practical implications -- Guidance to regulators to fine tune legal and institutional tools, so as to create a stable, business friendly environment. Recessions may be softened by sensitive policymaking, or exacerbated by short-sighted ignorance and lack of strategic focus. Originality/value -- Unprecedented analysis of legal and macroeconomic changes on VfM in Italian PF investments, with original tips for VfM optimization, in a comprehensive PPP framework.
Radial Variation in the Axial Conductivity of Populus and its Significance in Heat Pulse Velocity Measurement

Conductivity (defined as permeability divided by viscosity) was estimated as a function of radial position in the sapwood at three height levels, for two species of Populus. Stem sections 210-260 mm long and comprising the entire cross section were de-aerated and then infused axially with toluidine blue dye solution until emergence just occurred from the opposite end. Measurements were made of: (i) maximum penetration within each ring, and (ii) axial penetration at 10 mm radial increments starting at the cambium. The corresponding conductivity values were calculated for each measurement, and the values were fitted to a quadratic equation for each stem section. The equations were found to be suitable for calculating stem flux from sap velocities derived from heat pulse velocities measured at different depths in the xylem.
Correlation between competitive nodulation ability and cell surface hydrophobicity of Bradyrhizobium japonicum.

Cell surface hydrophobicity of Bradyrhizobium japonicum strains 123ET and 138NR was studied as a factor in competition for the attachment to root and the nodulation of soybean. Hydrophobicity of the strains, which was measured by a biphasic water-hydrocarbon system, significantly changed with culture age having a maximum value in mid-log phase. Three days-old soybean (Glycine max cv. Tamahomare) were inoculated with the mixture of two strains, and grown for 3 weeks in sterilized vermiculite tubes. Bradyrhizobia attached to the seedling roots were released at 90 min after the inoculation by sonication and enumerated by plate counting. Two strains were distinguished by the difference in antibiotic resistance. Nodule occupancies by the strains were determined by the ratio of the strains on the seedling root surface, not in the inocula. Logarithm of the ratio of the strains on the root was highly correlated with the difference in hydrophobicity of the strains.
Response of Eriophorum Vaginatum to Elevated CO_2 and Temperature in the Alaskan Tussock Tundra

Small greenhouses were used in the arctic to maintain Erioporum vaginatum-dominated tussock tundra for 10 wk at ambient CO/sub 2/ (340 .mu.L/L), elevated CO/sub 2/ (510 or 680 .mu.L/L), or elevated CO/sub 2/ and 4/sup 0/C above ambient temperature (680 .mu.L/L, ambient +4/sup 0/). These treatments represent present levels of atmospheric CO/sub 2/ and temperature, and those predicted for the next century. Within 3 wk, plants maintained at elevated CO/sub 2/ exhibited a physiological adjustment of their photosynthetic rate so that plants grown at ambient and elevated CO/sub 2/ levels had similar photosynthetic rates at their respective growth CO/sub 2/ concentrations. The reduction in photosynthetic capacity for plants grown at elevated CO/sub 2/ levels did not appear to be due to stomatal closure or end-product inhibition. Other possible mechanisms were not explored. Transpiration rates and water use efficiency did not differ among treatments in the generally wet environment of tussock tundra. Relative leaf growth rate and the seasonal pattern of growth were also unaltered, suggesting that the growth of mature tillers is not, under normal ambient conditions, limited by temperature or carbohydrate. However, new tiller production was significantly increased at elevated CO/sub 2/, suggesting that the long-term effect of CO/submore » 2/ enhancement in this sedge may be the production of a greater number of new tillers rather than an increase in the size or productivity of existing tillers. « less
Therapeutic Potential of Cannabinoids—Retrospective and Historical Developments

Cannabinoids are secondary metabolites occurring only in Cannabis plants, and Δ9-THC and CBD are the most important amongst them. After this discovery, synthetic cannabinoids have been produced. Different synthetic cannabinoids have distinct binding affinity for the cannabinoid receptors, thus exerting different mechanisms of action. Presently, they are a subject of numerous studies in the range of chemistry, pharmacology, and molecular biology in order to evaluate their therapeutic potential. This review presents historical perspective of Cannabis medicinal use and results of research on endocannabinoid system and syntethic cannabinoids.
Identifying the Effect of Parenthood on Labor Force Participation: A Gender Comparison

Identifying the factors that influence labor force participation could elucidate how individuals arrive at their labor supply decisions, whose understanding is, in turn, of crucial importance in analyzing how the supply side of the labor market functions. This paper investigates the effect of parenthood status on Labor Force Participation (LFP) decisions using an individual-level fixed-effects identification strategy. The differences across individuals and over time in having or not having children as well as being or not being in the labor force provide the variation needed to assess the association between individuals’ LFP behavior and parenthood. Parenthood could have different impacts on mothers than it would on fathers. In order to look at the causal effect of maternity and paternity on LFP separately, the data is disaggregated by gender. To this end, the effect of a change in the parenthood status can be measured using individual-level fixed-effects to account for time-invariant characteristics of individuals becoming a parent. The primary data source used is the National Longitudinal Surveys (NLS). Considering the nature of LFP variable, this paper employs Binary Response Models (BRMs) to estimate LFP equations using individual-level micro data. The findings of the study show that parenthood has a negative overall effect on LFP. However, paternity has a significant positive effect on the likelihood of being in the labor force, whilst maternity has a significant negative impact of LFP. In addition, the results imply that the effect of parenthood on LFP has been fading away over time, regardless of the gender of parents. These two pieces of evidence precisely map onto the theoretical predictions made by the related mainstream economic theories (the traditional neoclassical theory of labor supply as well as Becker’s household production model). These results are robust across different models specified and various estimation methods employed. These findings can contribute to the existing knowledge about the effect of parenthood on LFP decisions made in the US at an individual and behavioral level, and also aid in the shaping of economic policies and interventions to enhance the status of labor force participation in the economy. In the end, some potential threats to the identification of this causal effect, such as endogeneity of fertility, and some possible strategies to deal with those threats are discussed.
Intertemporal Choice

Intertemporal tradeoffs play a key role in many personal decisions and policy questions. We describe models of intertemporal choice, identify empirical regularities in choice, and pose new questions for research. The focus for intertemporal choice research is no longer whether the exponential discounted utility model is empirically accurate, but, instead, what models best explain the robust behavioral deviations we observe. We introduce the term “present-focused preferences” to describe the large class of models that prioritize present flows of experienced utility. Present-focused preferences need not coincide with a preference for commitment or dynamically inconsistent preferences. Present-bias is a special case of present-focused preferences.
The use of enzymes to improve cereal diets for animal feeding

Exogenous enzyme supplementation of animal feeds has been practised successfully since the late 1980s. Early research demonstrated that enzymes improve the nutritional value of several main ingredients such as barley, wheat, rye and triticale. More recent studies have associated feed enzymes with environmental and welfare benefits. By 2000, around 60 enzyme products had been authorised in the European Union (EU) as feed additives, and currently around 40 of these have attained definitive EU approval. This paper reviews EU legislation relating to feed enzymes and recent advances in the understanding of enzyme properties, future potential and modes of action when added to animal feeds. First, the legislative history of feed enzymes in the EU is summarised. Recent developments in the knowledge of substrate structure and the influence of enzyme inhibitors are then discussed. Also considered is the application of enzymes to maize/soybean diets, traditionally thought to be less sensitive to improvement with enzymes. Finally, an evaluation is made of the potential of enzymes to reduce environmental pollution and to improve animal health, welfare and performance in a possible future scenario where both coccidiostats and antibiotic growth promoters are prohibited.
Matching Function Equilibria with Partial Assignment: Existence, Uniqueness and Estimation

In this paper, we argue that models coming from a variety of fields share a common structure that we call matching function equilibria with partial assignment. This structure revolves around an aggregate matching function and a system of nonlinear equations. This encompasses search and matching models, matching models with transferable, non-transferable and imperfectly transferable utility, and matching with peer effects. We provide a proof of existence and uniqueness of an equilibrium as well as an efficient algorithm to compute it. We show how to estimate parametric versions of these models by maximum likelihood. We also propose an approach to construct counterfactuals without estimating the matching functions for a subclass of models. We illustrate our estimation approach by analyzing the impact of the elimination of the Social Security Student Benefit Program in 1982 on the marriage market in the United States.
Modelling an Intelligent Schemes for Black Money versus Poverty Using Fuzzy Cognitive Map

The economy of the world, its association with poverty and black money has been a long untold story that used to have a major contribution in shaping our society but only a little scientific analysis was available in past centuries. In the present decade, the focus has again been diverted to these topics and an in-depth study has been made on various issues that can’t be described exactly by the mathematical models developed so far. The major tool in shaping this science is Fuzzy Cognitive maps. It has been applied to wide areas including decision-making, managing, and study of the different complicated processes where measurements are not available or imprecise. This tool can be used to simulate a very complicated process that is experimentally infeasible. The present study revolves around the fact that using FCM along with the intuition behind the process, highly accurate models can be developed that exactly predicts the future with a very minimal degree of uncertainty. Various concepts related to the economy has been used to develop this model and results are astounding, based on the results solution to the present-day problems has also been proposed.
Role of Software Agent in Big Data Analytics

The concept of software agent and big data plays a crucial responsibility in several fields. With new multiple dynamic parameters of software agent with the concept of big data analytic is growing rapidly in few years. The emergent figure of applications helping millions of users and dealing with terabytes of data require to a faster processing prototype. The concept of software agent in Object-Oriented techniques describes an advance and stimulating way of analyzing, developing, and modelling advanced and useful data analysis. This paper intends to identify and describing how such a concept of software agent might be useful to big data in the appearance of an adaptive software agent System based analytics and upcoming rising challenges. Proposed critique focuses at inquire about new attributes and recitation that how such a technology be able to useful to big data in the appearance of an adaptive software-agent system as long as vibrant analytics capabilities. This ongoing review of research has capable outcomes but will be require for discussing and validating. <br>
Spruce budworm defoliation and growth loss in young balsam fir: artificial defoliation of potted trees

To simulate feeding by the spruce budworm (Choristoneurafumiferana Clem.), potted, 5-year-old balsam fir (Abiesbalsamea (L.) Mill. ) trees were artificially defoliated at the peak of the sixth instar period in the first 1, 2, or 3 years of a 3-year experiment. This schedule allowed trees that were defoliated in the first 1 or 2 years to recover for 2 years and 1 year, respectively. Seven treatments were applied: 0, 33, 66, 90, or 100% of the current-year needles were manually removed, all current-year needles were clipped using scissors (clip treatment), or all current-year shoots were severed at their base (100+ treatment). The dry weights of stem axis, branch axes, and roots were measured at the end of the 3rd year, and current-year and total foliage weight, height growth, and specific volume increment were determined for each year of the experimental period. Needle removal decreased growth throughout the tree, the growth loss increasing with increasing intensity and frequency of defoliation. In the 1st .
Impact of Wishful-thinking Investors in Online Peer-to-Peer Lending on SMEs' Operations

Online peer-to-peer (P2P) lending has rapidly emerged as an alternative to traditional bank financing. In contrast to traditional financing models, a borrower in online P2P lending, typically a small- and medium-size enterprise (SME), receives funds from multiple investors through a platform. While bearing the borrower's bankruptcy risk, many investors behave as wishful thinkers, who focus only on getting high returns but ignore their investment risk. We study the impact of wishful-thinking investors in online P2P lending through a game-theoretical model. In this model, a P2P lending platform first sets an interest rate and charges a commission. Facing uncertain demand, a capital-constrained SME then decides her order quantity of a product and borrows a loan through the platform. Each investor on the platform, who can be wishful-thinking or conservative, decides how much to invest. By identifying the players' equilibrium strategies, we find that the wishful-thinking investors invest more aggressively than the conservative investors. As the proportion of wishful-thinking investors increases, the platform lowers the interest rate, and the SME orders a larger quantity and borrows more capital. This reduces the SME's likelihood to successfully repay the loan, which alarmingly indicates that the wishful-thinking investors make online P2P lending more risky by influencing the SME's operations decision. A further investigation shows that the wishful-thinking investors increase both the platform's and the SME's expected profits, echoing the rapid growth of online P2P lending in regions with less mature investors. Each investor's expected payoff, however, decreases when there are more wishful-thinking investors.
International Coordination

After a 30-year absence, calls for international coordination of macroeconomic policy are back. This time the issues go by names like currency wars, taper tantrums, and fiscal compacts. In traditional game theory terms, the existence of spillovers implies that countries are potentially better off if they coordinate policies than under the Nash non-cooperative equilibrium. But what is the nature of the spillover and the coordination? The paper interprets recent macroeconomic history in terms of four possible frameworks for proposals to coordinate fiscal policy or monetary policy: the locomotive game, the discipline game, the competitive depreciation game (currency wars) and the competitive appreciation game. (The paper also considers claims that monetary coordination has been made necessary by the zero lower bound among advanced countries or financial imperfections among emerging markets.) Perceptions of the sign of spillovers and proposals for the direction of coordination vary widely. The existence of different models and different domestic interests may be as important as the difference between cooperative and non-cooperative equilibria. In some cases complaints about foreigners’ actions and calls for cooperation may obscure the need to settle domestic disagreements.
Bioavailability of biotin in wheat

The bioavailability of biotin in wheat was determined by ileal digestibility in chickens. Only ⩽12% of the vitamin was available in a range of wheat cultivars, in contrast to almost 100% in maize. Grinding wheat or adding oat hulls to a wheat-based diet did not improve the digestibility. The low digestibility of biotin was not associated with the biotin concentration, or other characteristics of the wheat grain. It was concluded that low availability in wheat results from the inability of birds to liberate biotin from wheat in a form suitable for absorption.
Outcrossing and the Incidence of Dioecism in Island Floras

Thomson and Barrett's (1981) argument hat selection for outcrossing is primarily responsible for the evolution of dioecism is based on: (1) the presumed inverse correlation between dicliny and self-incompatibility in angiosperms, and (2) the high incidence of dioecism and the rarity of self-incompatibility in island floras. Willson (1982) has already argued against the evidence for the supposed association between dicliny and self-compatibility. I wish to add three more points to her arguments before evaluating the causes underlying the prevalence of dioecism on islands. First, I question Thomson and Barrett's statement that "monoecy is almost always associated with self-compatibility" (p. 444). Godley (1955) noted self-incompatibility in several monoecious species, contrary to the citation of Godley's paper by Thomson and Barrett in support of their statement, and Thomson and Barrett themselves list several other examples (see also Willson 1982). Second, their contention that the demonstration of self-incompatibility requires "studies of pollen tube growth and observations of rejection responses" (p. 447) is true only for the gametophytic and sporophytic incompatibility systems. In both the sporophytic-gametophytic and postzygotic polygenic incompatibility systems, the "rejection" mechanisms are quite complex, and occur in the ovary in the early embryonic stages (de Nettancourt 1977). Such systems may be virtually impossible to distinguish from self-compatible systems with postembryonic lethals (see Willson 1982) on the basis of pollen germination and pollen tube growth. However, I agree with the spirit of Thomson and Barrett's suggestion that a complete characterization of incompatibility systems requires much more experimental work than the conduction of artificial self and cross-pollinations. Third, Thomson and Barrett concede the possibility of sexual selection in species that bear many more flowers than fruits, and abort a large proportion of developing fruits because of limited resources. Such species are not restricted, however, to tropical forest trees. Although published data are scarce, it appears that flower production much in excess of the number of fruits coupled with the abscission of young fruits is widespread among flowering plants (see e.g., Lloyd et al. 1980). It thus seems that one major exception of Thomson and Barrett to sexual selection may eventually turn out to include many, if not an overwhelming majority, of plants. My suggestion that the successful selling of occasional hermaphroditic flowers
Access to Information Laws and Voter Behavior: Does Transparency Increase Participation?

Electoral participation is an integral component of democracy and can be an effective tool in the battle against corruption. However, encouraging participation in areas with highly corrupt governments is difficult. In this paper, I explore the role of transparency in voter turnout. I exploit plausibly exogenous variation in the municipal implementation of Brazil’s 2011 Access to Public Information (ATI) law on voter turnout in mayoral elections. I find that municipal ATI laws increase broad participation overall but are most effective when coupled with a commitment to accountability. These results are robust to an in-time placebo test and numerous alternative specifications. These findings suggest that increased transparency can lead to increased voter participation and democratic accountability within a country that suffers from corruption. <br>
The Effects of Non-Tariff Measures on Agri-Food Trade: A Review and Meta-Analysis of Empirical Evidence

The increasing policy interests and the vivid academic debate on non-tariff measures (NTMs) has stimulated a growing literature on how NTMs affect agri-food trade. The empirical literature provides contrasting and heterogeneous evidence, with some studies supporting the ‘standards as catalysts’ view, and others favouring the ‘standards as barriers’ explanation. To the extent that NTMs can influence trade, understanding the prevailing effect, and the motivations behind one effect or the other, is a pressing issue. We review a large body of empirical evidence on the effect of NTMs on agri-food trade and conduct a meta-analysis to disentangle potential determinants of heterogeneity in estimates. Our findings show the role played by the publication process and by study-specific assumptions. Some characteristics of the studies are correlated with positive significant estimates, others covary with negative significant estimates. Overall, we found that the effects of NTMs vary across types of NTMs, proxy for NTMs, and levels of details of studies. Not negligible is the influence of methodological issues and publication process.