Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Studies on genetic diversity in rice (Oryza sativa L.) using SSR markers

Rice is the most important staple food grain of all cereal crops and feeds more than half of the world’s population. Assessment of genetic diversity is of utmost important in rice breeding from the perspective of selection, conservation and proper utilization. The present study was undertaken with an objective to assess the genetic diversity among 28 rice cultivars by use of 22 SSR markers. A total of 41 alleles were detected across 28 rice cultivars used. PIC values varied widely among SSR loci tested and it ranged from 0.753 to 0.067, with a mean value of 0.376. The 28 rice cultivars were grouped into two clusters i.e., cluster I and II with dissimilarity coefficient 0.42. Cluster I was sub divided into two minor sub-groups IA and IB having 6 and 11 genotypes respectively. IB was further subdivided into minor groups. In similar way, the second main cluster i.e. Cluster II was also sub divided into two minor sub-groups that is IIA and IIB having 3 and 8 genotypes respectively. IIB further divided into minor groups. This indicated presence of considerable diversity in the genotypes studied. The most diverse cultivars were HUR4-3 and GSRIR1DQ125-L2-D2.
Tobin's Q and its Determinants: A Study on Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd.

Tobin’s Q can be affected by both the internal and external factors. Tobin’s Q is a company’s performances indicator, so it is important for an organization to manage its effectively. This study aims to investigate the impact of Tobin’s Q in relation with firm-specific factors and macroeconomics factors towards the performance of the selected company which is Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd. Multiple regression analysis of financial ratios of the company is conducted for the year from 2011 to 2015. The findings and analysis indicate that firm-specific factor (Return on equity, ROE) have a greater influence on Tobin’s Q of the company as compared to macroeconomic factors. This study is also suggested that the company should improve the ROE, the company is advised to increase its debt with a suitable amount. By having the cash flows in, the company can purchase new assets to generate profit. Even through the macroeconomics factors have a little impact in Tobin’s Q, the company still requires in sustaining its growth along the economy conditions by somehow.
Acridine-based novel hole transporting material for high efficiency perovskite solar cells

An acridine-based hole transporting material (ACR-TPA) without the spirobifluorene motif is synthesized via non complicated steps. The ACR-TPA film including Li-TFSI and 4-tert-butylpyridine (tBP) additives exhibits a hole mobility of 3.08 × 10−3 cm2 V−1 s−1, which is comparable to the mobility of the classical spiro-MeOTAD (2.63 × 10−3 cm2 V−1 s−1), and its HOMO level of −5.03 eV is slightly lower than that of spiro-MeOTAD (−4.97 eV). ACR-TPA layers with different thicknesses are applied to MAPbI3 perovskite solar cells, where power conversion efficiency (PCE) increases as the ACR-TPA layer thickness increases due to increased recombination resistance and fast charge separation. The best PCE of 16.42% is achieved from the ca. 250 nm-thick ACR-TPA, which is comparable to the PCE of 16.26% for a device with spiro-MeOTAD in the same device configuration. It is thus anticipated that ACR-TPA can be a promising alternative to spiro-MeOTAD because of its lower cost and comparable photovoltaic performance.
Modeling Private Investment Cash Flows with Market-Sensitive Periodic Growth

Modeling the cash flows of private investments is an important challenge for institutional investors. While the Takahashi and Alexander (TA) model for private investment cash flows has stood the test of time, we suggest a small change in the model that makes it more amenable to be deployed in market simulation and scenario analysis. <br><br>We provide a comparison between the original and modified TA model using cash flow data from Burgiss and show that our change does not detract from the spirit of the TA model but ties it with the public market in an intuitive way. We also provide a regression-based analysis to correlate the growth of public and private markets.
An Investigation of the Performance of Three Forecasts Combining Schemes on Solar Radiation Data

This article compared the performance of three forecasts combining schemes (mean, median and trimmed mean) on solar radiation data. Solar radiation data covering January 2003 to December 2016 were collected from the National Cereals Research Institute, Baddegi, Bida, Niger State, Nigeria. A total of five forecasting models (Multiplicative and additive versions of decomposition model, multiplicative and additive versions of Holt-Winter’s model, and SARIMA model) were fitted. A comparison of the three forecasting schemes on out-of-sampling forecast performance on the basis of mean square error showed that the mean scheme performed best with mean square error of 0.85227, followed by trimmed mean with mean square error of 0.88711 and then the median with mean squared error of 1.0849564. The article concluded supremacy of the mean as forecasts combining scheme over the median and trimmed mean for the solar radiation data as far as the applied forecasting methods are concerned. <br>
Negative Spillover on Service Level across Priority Classes: Evidence from a Radiology Workflow Platform

Problem Definition: We study a radiology workflow platform that connects off-site radiologists with hospitals. These radiologists select tasks from a common pool, and the service level is characterized by meeting priority-specific turnaround time targets. However, imbalances between pay and workload of different tasks could result in higher priority tasks with low pay relative to workload receiving poorer service than low priority tasks. Using a large dataset, we empirically investigate this phenomenon. <br><br>Academic/Practical Relevance: Piece-rate compensation schemes, where workers are paid for each completed task regardless of the time spent on it, are common in practice. Detecting a potential negative impact on firm performance associated with their use adds to the literature on challenges of piece-rate compensation schemes. <br><br>Methodology: We employ an instrumental variable methodology to investigate whether low priority tasks with a high pay-to-workload ratio have a shorter turnaround time. Then, using the same approach, we investigate whether having many low priority tasks with high pay-to-workload increases the turnaround time and probability of delay of higher priority tasks. <br><br>Results: We show that turnaround time is decreasing in pay-to-workload for lower priority tasks, whereas it is increasing in workload for high priority tasks. More importantly, we find evidence of a spillover effect: Having many economically attractive tasks with low priority can lead to longer turnaround times for higher priority tasks, increasing the likelihood that those tasks are delayed. <br><br>Implications: Our results suggest that organizations where workers have task discretion from a common pool need to carefully align their piece-rate compensation scheme with the workload of each task. Imbalances may lead to a degradation in the system service level provided to time-sensitive customers.
Behavioral Finance Perspectives on Pakistan Stock Market Efficiency: Assessing the Prospect Theory Empirically Using Adaptive Pattern of Efficiency across Military and Democratic Phases.

The study is based on empirical syntheses in understanding the sagacity of investors, stock returns, and stock market efficiency behavior in the theoretical frame of behavioral finance patterns. The analyses employed a long extent of Pakistan stock market Returns data from June 1994 to November 2019 along the two segments of economic are named as Military phase (1999-2008) and Democratic phase (1994-1998) (2009-2018) to explore the weak form of efficiency of the Pakistan stock market. In this research Autocorrelation, variance ratio tests are conducted on the returns (weekly based) KSE 100 index adaptive pattern of market efficiency across the overall period as well as for both the Military Phase and the Democratic phase. The efficiency tests show trends of a stock behavior, and accordingly forming bounded-adaptive market efficiency. These tests confirmed the presence of asymmetric dynamic behavior of returns obviousness in addition to risk and return relationships across two political states. The overall and democracy results are insignificant that indicates that there is no autocorrelation between a series of returns and its lagged value for the null hypothesis AR=0. Besides this, in the military phase, the results are significant which specify that there is autocorrelation between the series of returns and its lagged value for the null hypothesis AR=1.So the null hypothesis is rejected for the military phase. The overall results of the VR test show that unbiased variance estimation (Homo) is significant at 1% for the null hypothesis VR=1. But heteroskedastic robust standard error estimation (Hetero) is insignificant for the null hypothesis VR=1. In the military phase, the results show that unbiased variance estimation (Homo) is significant at 1% for the null hypothesis VR=1. Heteroskedastic robust standard error estimation (Hetero) is also significant for the null hypothesis VR=1. In democracy phase results show that unbiased variance estimation (Homo) is significant at 1% for the null hypothesis VR=1. But heteroskedastic robust standard error estimation (Hetero) is insignificant for the null hypothesis VR=1. These shreds of evidence provide support to bounded adaptive rationale of investors' behavior, dynamic stock return behavior and accordingly forming bounded adaptive market efficiency.
Separation of nickel(II) and cadmium(II) ions with ion-exchange and membrane processes

ABSTRACT Separation of nickel(II) and cadmium(II) ions with use of ion-exchange resins—Amberlyst 15 and Lewatit OC 1026—supported liquid membranes (SLM), polymer inclusion membranes (PIM) and ion-exchange membranes (IM) from sulphate solution has been studied. Di(2-ethylhexyl) phosphoric acid (D2EHPA) was used as the ion-carrier in PIM and SLM separation. It was shown that use of SLM or PIM membranes enables separation of Ni(II)/Cd(II) ions. Experimental results data show that the highest recovery factor values were obtained for supported liquid membranes. The SEM surface and cross-sectional images of SLM support, polymer inclusion membrane and ion-exchange membrane have been also prepared.
Overview on the Effect of Particle Size on the Performance of Wood BasedAdsorbent

Oil spill is common to oil producing nations of the world. Various researches have been carried out. However, most of the materials used for oil spill clean-up are non-biodegradable and require expensive treatment to become an adsorbent. In this study, adsorptive capacities of cost effective raw hard and semi-hardwood particle sizes were investigated and compared. Semi-hard wood of various particle sizes was found to have better adsorptive capacities. Maximum uptake of the oil by both adsorbents occurred at 180 and 240 minutes for all the observations made. The maximum uptake also occurred in smaller particle sizes for all results. This study recommends that further research be done on the use of modified smaller particle size of semi-hardwood sawdust so as to increase its potential as a low-cost adsorbent in oil spill clean-up.
Constructing a Novel n–p–n Dual Heterojunction between Anatase TiO2 Nanosheets with Coexposed {101}, {001} Facets and Porous ZnS for Enhancing Photocatalytic Activity

Compositing TiO2 with metal sulfide to construct heterojunction is an effective approach to improve the carriers’ separation efficiency and photocatalytic activity. However, TiO2 is an N-type semiconductor and most metal sulfide is also N-type semiconductor. It will form n–n heterojunction between TiO2 and metal sulfide. The photoinduced electrons in conduction band of metal sulfide hardly flow into the conduction band of TiO2, which will weaken the improvement of carriers’ separation efficiency. In this work, anatase TiO2 nanosheets with coexposed {101} and {001} facets were composited with porous ZnS to construct a novel n–p–n dual heterojunction. This TiO2/ZnS composite displays 108% improvement of photocatalytic activity compared to that of pristine TiO2 nanosheets. As comparison, P25 with mainly exposed {101} facets/porous ZnS with an n–n single heterojunction only show 2% enhancement of photocatalytic activity than that of P25. The n–p–n dual heterojunction displays an obvious advantage than common .
The Road To Long Finance: A Systems View Of The Credit Scrunch

In "The Road to Long Finance: A Systems View of the Credit Scrunch", co-authors Michael Mainelli and Bob Giffords argue that only systemic wisdom will provide a long-term solution to the crisis. A return to "business as usual" will leave un-addressed such important problems as ‘too big to fail’; abusive risk-taking; perverse incentives; and a dangerous lack of diversity within the system. Simply tightening the current system of regulation will not work because the crisis was "not a failure of open markets but a failure of highly regulated markets due to unexpected consequences of regulation and private decisions". This publication laid out the foundations for Long Finance to emerge and develop as the initiative it is today.
Financial Covenants, Firm Financing, and Investment

Firms reduce investment to avoid costly violations of financial covenants, most of which are based on earnings. Empirically, I show that a 25% drop in earnings implies a 15% decrease in investment for the median listed US firm due to the reduced distance to the covenant threshold. To quantify this precautionary effect of covenants in the aggregate, I incorporate earnings covenants into a heterogeneous firm model with a financial sector. Firms in the model are uncertain about the bank’s reaction to a covenant breach and therefore reduce debt issuance and investment when approaching the covenant threshold. In the model, covenants reduce aggregate investment by 14% relative to a benchmark economy without limits on borrowing, where the precautionary effect of covenants accounts for most of the decrease.
Debt and Stock Market Participation

Wealth is widely considered the most important rational determinant of stock market participation. I propose that wealth – defined as assets less debt – captures both rational participation costs and behavioral factors. Specifically, evidence shows that debt captures impulsivity and moral licensing. Using data from the American Life Panel, I show that debt has a larger absolute effect on stock market participation than assets, suggesting wealth has a behavioral component. I also find that impulsivity and moral licensing are potential channels through which debt affects stock market participation.
The Materiality of Quantitative Disclosure in Annual Reports

Firms are not required to disclose immaterial information (i.e., information that fails to influence a current or prospective stakeholder). Nevertheless, regulators have recently called attention to high levels of immaterial disclosure in firms’ annual reports, and express concern that such disclosure makes it difficult for investors to identify and respond to information that is relevant for their decision-making. I examine the determinants of disclosure materiality for quantitative disclosures in annual reports (i.e., the magnitude of quantitative disclosure relative to firm assets). I find that the disclosure of lower materiality information is positively associated with macroeconomic uncertainty, firm-level litigation risk, and manager-level risk-aversion, but not with a manager’s incentive to obfuscate. Finally, I find some evidence that lower materiality disclosure is associated with negative capital market consequences. Overall, these results imply that regulators might be able to improve the materiality of quantitative disclosure by (1) reducing ‘one-size-fits-all’ disclosure regulations, and (2) providing more legal (i.e., safe harbor) protection for firms and managers as they make decisions about disclosure materiality.
Planning and Saving for Retirement

Planning for retirement and subsequent execution of the plan are difficult, but essential for financial security in old age. To formally analyse the interplay between planning and self-control, I introduce cognitive costs of formulating a plan into the two-system model of impulse control. The resulting possibility of rational inaction in pension choices allows to account for a range of robustly observed behaviours. The model indicates that although automatic enrolment into private pensions raises participation (the `default option effect'), its impact on aggregate savings remains ambiguous as some individuals are `forced' to save, while others become `discouraged' and adhere to possibly low default contribution rates. Due to the same mechanism, automatic enrolment reduces cross-agent variation in wealth accumulation. A simple calibration of the model to the UK data shows that while automatic enrolment can increase aggregate savings, its impact on welfare is limited because age-independent contribution rates are suboptimal from the perspective of life-cycle consumption smoothing. Importantly, the effects on savings and welfare are highly heterogeneous across income categories.
Dynamic connectedness between COVID-19 news sentiment, capital and commodity markets

ABSTRACT This study investigates the dynamic transmission mechanism between COVID-19 news sentiment (Google Trends Index), and S&P100, crude oil and gold volatility indices using the recently developed time-varying parameter vector autoregressive (TVP-VAR)-based extended joint connectedness approach. This framework corrects for the Generalized Forecast Error Variance Decomposition (GFEVD) normalization problem. The obtained empirical results suggest that dynamic total connectedness is heterogeneous over time and severely affected by COVID-19. More importantly, we identify COVID-19 news sentiment to be the main driver of spillover shocks indicating that it is indeed an important predictor of the volatility indices employed in our study. Thus, our findings have important implications for policymakers, private investors, as well as for portfolios and risk managers.
Financial Inter-mediation Indicators and Economic Growth, the Nigerian Experience (1990 – 2018)

This study examined financial inter-mediation indicators on the economic growth, The Nigerian perspective from 1990 – 2018. The data for this work were sourced from CBN statistical bulletin. This study considered credit to private sector, broad money supply, interest rate and lending rate as the independent variables while Real Gross Domestic Product (RDGP) as the dependent variable. Vector error correction model were employed for this study and Eview 10 was used for the analysis. The results of the analysis show that there is a significant relationship between financial inter-mediation indicators and economic growth. Based on the result the following recommendations were made, federal government together with monetary authorities should enforce a policy that will mandate financial institutions to lower their lending and interest rates to encourage the most productive sectors of the economy to do better. Secondly, the floating of money supply into the economy should be strictly monitored to avoid inflation which will endanger economic growth. Finally, accessible credit facilities should be granted to the viable and high sensitive sectors that drive economic growth.
Endüstri 4.0: İnovasyon, Eğitim ve Kamu Politikaları (Industry 4.0: Innovation, Education and Public Policy)

<b>Turkish Abstract:</b> Bu kısa makalede, endüstri 4.0’ı tamamlayan kurumlardaki dönüşümün gerekliliğine vurgu yapmak istedim. (1) İnovasyon ve girişimcilik, (2) eğitim ve (3) kamu politikaları alanlarındaki dönüşümün gerekliliğini veriler ve örnekler eşliğinde vurgulamaya çalışırken, Türkiye için de değerlendirmelerde bulundum. <br><br><b>English Abstract:</b> In this short article, I underline the necessity of transformation in the institutions that accompany the Industry 4.0. While I put the transformation need in:<br><br>(1) innovation and entrepreneurship, <br><br>(2) education and <br><br>(3) public policy through specific examples, <br><br>I also provide some assessments for Turkey.
Understanding Big Data: Data Calculus in the Digital Era

Information processing has been defined as “the change (processing) of information in any manner detectable by an observer, a process that describes everything that happens in the universe, from the falling of a rock to the printing of a text file from a digital computer system. ” Human society has long realized that information processing and sharing are essential to the pursuit of physical, social, and economic well-being. Knowing and sharing information about one’s surroundings is essential to success in the physical world. Knowing and sharing information about one’s “neighbors” is essential to success in the social world. “Knowing-your-customers” (KYC) in order to serve them well is the supreme norm for success in the business world. Sharing that information – the Yellow Pages practice that makes certain personal information, such as name, telephone number, and address public -- has become a tradition in modern human relations. The pervasive use of digitized information has reached a new height that we call the era of "big data. " While this has led to unprecedented societal cooperation, it has also intensified three major concerns: How can we properly protect personal privacy in the age of big data? How do we understand and manage the ownership and distribution of benefits and risks arising from the use of data? Will the use of big data lead to "winner-take-all" markets that undermine competition to the detriment of consumers and society? These are the subjects of this report. We focus on analyzing concrete evidence about "big data" to draw conclusions on its impact. As Nobel Laureate Ronald Coase (1994) suggested, it is important to step away from pure "blackboard economics" that tends to only live in [a theoretician's] mind: "what we need is more empirical work . An inspired theoretician might do as well without such empirical work, but . the inspiration is most likely to come through the stimulus provided by the patterns, puzzles, and anomalies revealed by the systematic gathering of data, particularly when the prime need is to break our existing habits of thought. " This viewpoint is particularly relevant because, unlike many production inputs, data has the properties of non-rivalry and non-separability. Unless an evidence-based, integrated and multi-stakeholder approach is adopted, users can be unintentionally hurt in the name of protection. We don’t want to "dismember the goose that laid the golden egg. "
Housing Price and Consumer Spending: An Asset Allocation Approach

This paper is to analyze how housing prices affect the consumption of urban households in China based on their asset allocations. We first identify household types based on their liquid and illiquid assets allocations, and in particular, a group unique to China named poor non-hand-to-mouth households, who save much of their incomes for buying houses in succeeding years due to high minimum down payment. We then show both theoretically and empirically that different groups of households based on asset allocations have sharp implications for wealth, substitution and liquidity constraint effects when housing prices change, of which the liquidity constraint the effect is most prominent to the poor non-hand-to-mouth households and leads to their much smaller MPC compared to other types of households. Finally, we show our methodology leads to a more precise estimation of consumption movement due to fluctuations of house prices by taking into account both the intensive and extensive margins.