In the evolving global economy,China’s Outward Foreign Direct Investment(OFDI)holds increasing significance,specially within the context of the Belt and Road Initiative(BRI).Despite earlier studies have acknowledged ...In the evolving global economy,China’s Outward Foreign Direct Investment(OFDI)holds increasing significance,specially within the context of the Belt and Road Initiative(BRI).Despite earlier studies have acknowledged the role of governance quality in at-tracting Chinese OFDI,their explanatory capacity regarding human development has not received sufficient attention.This study ad-dresses this gap,investigating the relationship between Chinese OFDI and human development,emphasizing the governance quality’s moderating role.Using data from 122 BRI countries from 2004 to 2021,we employed the Panel Corrected Standard Error model through Prais-Winsten regression,complimented by robustness check via the Spatial Durbin Model.Our analysis revealed a significant positive relationship between Chinese OFDI and human development in BRI countries,indicating that Chinese investments act as cata-lysts for improved well-being.More importantly,governance quality plays a vital role in shaping this relationship,revealing that effect-ive governance enhanced the human development outcomes of OFDI.Post-hoc analysis of governance indicators,both as a composite index and individual dimensions,supported this finding.Regional heterogeneity analysis further showed that Chinese OFDI has stronger effects on Human Development Index(HDI)in Asia and Africa compared to Europe,Latin America,and Oceania.However,the moder-ating effect of governance quality seemed more prominent in Oceania and Latin America,indicating its role in fostering the benefits of Chinese investments in these regions.These findings hold implications for academia and policy,emphasizing the need for transparent,accountable,and effective governance to drive sustainable and inclusive human development within the BRI framework.展开更多
In the rapidly evolving landscape of natural language processing(NLP)and sentiment analysis,improving the accuracy and efficiency of sentiment classification models is crucial.This paper investigates the performance o...In the rapidly evolving landscape of natural language processing(NLP)and sentiment analysis,improving the accuracy and efficiency of sentiment classification models is crucial.This paper investigates the performance of two advanced models,the Large Language Model(LLM)LLaMA model and NLP BERT model,in the context of airline review sentiment analysis.Through fine-tuning,domain adaptation,and the application of few-shot learning,the study addresses the subtleties of sentiment expressions in airline-related text data.Employing predictive modeling and comparative analysis,the research evaluates the effectiveness of Large Language Model Meta AI(LLaMA)and Bidirectional Encoder Representations from Transformers(BERT)in capturing sentiment intricacies.Fine-tuning,including domain adaptation,enhances the models'performance in sentiment classification tasks.Additionally,the study explores the potential of few-shot learning to improve model generalization using minimal annotated data for targeted sentiment analysis.By conducting experiments on a diverse airline review dataset,the research quantifies the impact of fine-tuning,domain adaptation,and few-shot learning on model performance,providing valuable insights for industries aiming to predict recommendations and enhance customer satisfaction through a deeper understanding of sentiment in user-generated content(UGC).This research contributes to refining sentiment analysis models,ultimately fostering improved customer satisfaction in the airline industry.展开更多
Maize value-added products play a crucial role in reducing post-harvest losses, enhancing food security, and generating income. While extensive research has focused on maize production in Cameroon, the exploration of ...Maize value-added products play a crucial role in reducing post-harvest losses, enhancing food security, and generating income. While extensive research has focused on maize production in Cameroon, the exploration of its value-added products and their profitability in the North-West Region remains underexplored. This study examined the profitability of maize value-added products in Mezam Division, with the objectives to: 1) identify various maize-based products, 2) assess the diversity of these products, 3) conduct a cost-benefit analysis of selected products, 4) examine the relationship between profitability and product diversity, and 5) identify key constraints impacting profitability. To achieve these objectives, structured questionnaires were administered to 500 small-scale maize entrepreneurs randomly selected from five subdivisions. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze objective 1 and 5, while the Shannon Diversity Index was employed to assess product diversity. Additionally, a cost-benefit analysis was conducted on four selected products namely pap, parched corn, peeled parboiled corn, and corn beer, and a correlation analysis was used to examine objective 4. In total, 13 maize value-added products were identified, with a diversity index of 4.4. The total cost of processing the four selected products per entrepreneur using 18 kg of maize per product was FCFA 83631.5 (US $132.75), while the total revenue was FCFA 121864.5 (US $193.43), resulting in an economic profit of FCFA 38,233 (US $60.69). Pap emerged as the most profitable product, with an economic profit of FCFA 27,875 (US $44.24), while corn beer was the least profitable, with an economic profit of FCFA 2133.46 (US $3.39). The correlation analysis revealed a strong negative relationship between product diversity and profitability (r = −0.91), indicating that entrepreneurs can maximize profitability by focusing on a few high-demand products like pap and parched corn. Key constraints to profitability included fluctuating market prices, high production costs, limited access to finance, and inadequate storage facilities. Despite these challenges, our findings indicate that maize value addition is profitable in Mezam Division. Entrepreneurs can leverage this data for informed decision-making and future investments. It is recommended that the government promote maize value addition and provide financial support for modern processing equipment to boost profitability and income generation.展开更多
Climate change has emerged as an important global issue,primarily driven by human activities,affecting ecosystems,societies,and economies worldwide.This review employed a comprehensive narrative analysis that incorpor...Climate change has emerged as an important global issue,primarily driven by human activities,affecting ecosystems,societies,and economies worldwide.This review employed a comprehensive narrative analysis that incorporates expertise from policy studies,environmental science,and economics.Targeted keywords are used to systematically search major academic databases.This article explores various aspects of climate change,economic consequences,and the evolving discourse on climate risk.It addresses the association between climate change and several economic variables,such as gross domestic product(GDP),foreign direct investment(FDI),and financial markets.The review highlights the complex relationship among physical risks,transition risks,and approaches to cope with climate change.It examines global climate policies such as the Kyoto Protocol and Paris Agreement.This study also investigates climate risk assessment models like Integrated Assessment Models(IAMs)and how they help understand the economic effect of climate change.Moreover,it explores ways to adapt to and reduce climate change,such as carbon taxes and subsidies.This review focuses on the critical importance of instruments like the Climate Action Tracker in evaluating national and global climate change responses,which serve as a framework for assessing policy effectiveness and progress toward emission targets.By integrating different viewpoints from economics,environmental science,and governance,this review underscores the value of coordinated global action to address the challenges posed by climate change.展开更多
The research explores the long-term connection between Greece’s agricultural output,with a focus on both crop and livestock production,and crucial environmental factors like water usage and energy consumption.Through...The research explores the long-term connection between Greece’s agricultural output,with a focus on both crop and livestock production,and crucial environmental factors like water usage and energy consumption.Through linear regression analysis,the study investigates how these factors affect agricultural value-added,providing insights into the sustainability and efficiency of Greece’s farming sector.The results show a significant(p<0.05)positive relationship between crop production and agricultural value-added,as well as the significant influence of water usage and energy consumption on the productivity of both crops and livestock.For livestock farming,the analysis revealed a weaker contribution to agricultural value-added at the national level,likely due to structural inefficiencies in the sector.While livestock production benefits significantly from water and energy inputs,it does not have as substantial an economic impact compared to crop production.This research contributes to the field of agricultural economics by offering a historical perspective on how resource management influences agricultural performance over time.It highlights the significance of sustainable practices,especially in areas like the periphery of Western Macedonia,which are shifting from conventional energy sources like lignite to renewable energy.The findings advocate for policies that promote water conservation,energy efficiency,and smart agriculture to enhance productivity and support regional development.展开更多
The relationships between soil erodibility factor （K） and soil saturated permeability （gfs） for cultivated Acrisols derived from Quaternary red clay and Cambisols derived from red sandstone were studied and quanti...The relationships between soil erodibility factor （K） and soil saturated permeability （gfs） for cultivated Acrisols derived from Quaternary red clay and Cambisols derived from red sandstone were studied and quantified using a rainfall simulator and Guelph permeameter in a hilly area of subtropical China. A negative correlation existed between Kfs of the topsoil （0-5 cm） and K. The empirical expression K ≈ α × Kfs^-b＋c, where a, b and c are the structural coefficients related to soil properties, such as soil type, soil parent material, organic matter, pH and mechanical composition, best described the relationship between soil saturated permeability and soil erodibility.展开更多
The use of improved high yielding crop varieties is an important avenue for reducing hunger and food insecurity in developing countries. Using cross-sectional data obtained from a survey conducted during 2013 crop sea...The use of improved high yielding crop varieties is an important avenue for reducing hunger and food insecurity in developing countries. Using cross-sectional data obtained from a survey conducted during 2013 crop season, we performed a probit model （plot-level analysis） to determine the probability of adopting new improved rice varieties （NIRVs） by smallholder farmers particularly from two main agro-ecological regions （hills and tropical plain terai regions） of Central Nepal. The results revealed that education, extension services and seed access play significant roles in adoption decisions. Additionally, farm and field characteristic variables such as farm size, endowment of favorable land type （e.g. lowlands）, and animal power （e.g. oxen） are the key factors influencing the probability of adopting NIRVs. The results showed that technology specific variables （e.g. yield potential and acceptability） are significant for explaining adoption behavior, implying that it is important to take farmers＇ preferences to varietal characteristics into consideration in the design of a research and development program. Given the significant role played by extension and access related variables, increased emphasis on information dissemination, field demonstration, and farmers＇ participatory research and training programs to popularize new rice varieties and enhance their adoption rate are required. This also suggests that policy intervention should be made on improving the educational status of farming households, and developing programs on varietal package of rice seed which offer farmers a variety of choices among the appropriate pools of germplasm. Such programs ultimately help farmers develop more profit-oriented behavior which are necessary to enhance adoption rate, production and food security in the long run.展开更多
Socio-economic conditions of farmers, especially in the coastal region in Bangladesh, have been severely affected because of climate change. This study was focused on analyzing the farmers’ perception of climate chan...Socio-economic conditions of farmers, especially in the coastal region in Bangladesh, have been severely affected because of climate change. This study was focused on analyzing the farmers’ perception of climate change by examining three vital issues: (1) description of the socioeconomic characteristics of farmers;(2) reporting on the perception of farmers experiences with climatic change;and (3) identification of the socio-economic factors associated with farmers’ perception of climate change. The study area encompasses three villages within the coastal region (Sathkhira district) of Bangladesh, a geographic region where climate change literature has highlighted as prone to accelerated degradation. A logit model, along with weighted indexes for ranking and descriptive statistics, was used to analyze the result of 100 farmers surveyed by questionnaire. We found that the majority of the farmers (88%) perceived changes in climatic conditions. Almost all farmers indicated increases in temperature, droughts, floods, cyclones, salinity level and decreasing rainfall over the last 20 years. The logit model explained that out of the nine factors surveyed;education, family size, farm size, family income, farming experiences and training received were significantly related and influential factors to perception of climate change. Therefore, government and non-governmental organizations are recommended to push forward with interventions, especially focusing on identified factors, in order to strengthen the farmers’ capacity to battle against climate change effects.展开更多
China’s one-child policy has created entitled children or “little kings” who are spoiled by their parents and doting grandparents that want to provide the “best food” for their child to ensure the future of the f...China’s one-child policy has created entitled children or “little kings” who are spoiled by their parents and doting grandparents that want to provide the “best food” for their child to ensure the future of the family. In addition, seniors’ food preferences may influence the household’s diet. The extended family structure, typically including one child and seniors, will likely affect food expenditures, but does this provide the most nutritious or healthiest diet? Using household data collected from 11 Chinese cities, the results of this study suggest that the presence of a child or seniors, as well as higher income levels, and wife’s education level have significant effects on healthy household food consumption.展开更多
The forest investment projects,analyzed through the application of simulation techniques,allow measuring more accurately the benefits or losses,considering the systemic uncertainties related to forest plantation.In th...The forest investment projects,analyzed through the application of simulation techniques,allow measuring more accurately the benefits or losses,considering the systemic uncertainties related to forest plantation.In this perspective,the objective of this study was to identify the relative importance of sources of uncertainties in determining the net present value(NPV)of planting of Ochroma pyramidale on a forested property located in the state of S?o Paulo,Brazil.Thus,it assigns probability distributions to the parameters with uncertainties and applies the Monte Carlo technique to obtain the stochastic behavior of the NPV,of the modified internal rate of return(MIRR)and the profitability index(PI).The probabilistic results of the quantitative methods analyzed allowed us to conclude that for the planting O.pyramidale,with 5-year cutting age,indicated economic profitability.In addition,there is a probability that 84.6%of the project will add economic value to the invested capital.展开更多
Integrated Pest Management （IPM） technologies can reduce pest damage to crops by emphasizing non-chemical control methods thereby reducing potential negative effects of chemicals on the environment while preserving ...Integrated Pest Management （IPM） technologies can reduce pest damage to crops by emphasizing non-chemical control methods thereby reducing potential negative effects of chemicals on the environment while preserving profitability. This study investigates the adoption of eight IPM practices including intercropping, crop rotation, two improved varieties, incorporating a ＂striga chaser＂ in sorghum production, changing planting dates, altering planting density and fertilizer use. Explanatory variables include economic factors, social factors, management factors, and institutional factors. Results were consistent across logit and ordered logit analyses. Most factors affecting adoption across all crops and technologies are economic factors, including labor availability, technology resource requirements, technology complexity, and the level of expected benefits. Social factors are generally less associated with IPM technology adoption than either market or institutional factors. Results indicate that the evaluated technologies were scale-neutral and that farmer age and education level did not affect technology adoption.展开更多
Due to projections of population increase, which suggest that the world population will reach 8.6 billion people by 2030, as well as the reduction of existing natural resources, studies on food production technologies...Due to projections of population increase, which suggest that the world population will reach 8.6 billion people by 2030, as well as the reduction of existing natural resources, studies on food production technologies that minimize the impacts on the environment become relevant. In this context, with the creation of the first living organism controlled by a synthetic genome, since 2010, scientists from several countries study alternatives to produce energetic material and food through synthetic biology. Therefore, the present study sought to identify which the contributions, reflexes, trends and/or challenges of synthetic biology are in food production through a review of the literature. As results, it was noticed that there were significant advances in studies that seek forms of food production with the use of synthetic biology, as well as with technologies that reduce the use of natural resources and the impact of agricultural production on the environment. The topics of food safety, ethics and consumer perception, regarding the use of such technologies, are also emphasized. However, there is much to be studied on the subject, in particular, the need for experimental testing in different crops and processes due to food safety, and feasibility of the industrialization of such technologies.展开更多
Gender inclusiveness is important in the rural transformation process of Bangladesh as rural women play key roles in both agricultural and non-agricultural sectors.Gender inclusiveness also leads to gender equity.We e...Gender inclusiveness is important in the rural transformation process of Bangladesh as rural women play key roles in both agricultural and non-agricultural sectors.Gender inclusiveness also leads to gender equity.We empirically evaluate relationships between rural transformation and gender inclusiveness in Bangladesh.We consider three rural transformation indicators:high-value commodities’share in agricultural output values,non-farm employment’s share in rural labor employment,and non-agricultural GDP’s share in total GDP.Indicators capturing gender inclusiveness include the per capita rural income of males and females,ratio of investments into gender programs,female access to education,access to healthcare,employment participation,land ownership,and asset ownership.We test the effect of the difference in per capita rural income of males and females and the ratio of their incomes and check for the robustness of the gender variables across different model specifications.Analyzing 128 district-level observations from 32 districts of Bangladesh across four time periods(2000,2005,2010 and 2016),we use both ordinary least squares and fixed effects panel regression models.We find that female land and asset ownership and access to education and healthcare are robust determinants of various stages of rural transformation.Thus,our results suggest that improving women’s ownership of land and assets and investing in women’s education and healthcare will likely contribute to a more inclusive rural transformation.展开更多
In Uganda, grain amaranth is relatively new and has generally not been considered as an important crop compared to other grain crops and legumes. This study was therefore conducted to determine factors affecting adopt...In Uganda, grain amaranth is relatively new and has generally not been considered as an important crop compared to other grain crops and legumes. This study was therefore conducted to determine factors affecting adoption of grain amaranth growing, factors affecting production, and economic returns on investment of its production. The study was carried out in Kamuli district where a total of 174 grain amaranth farmers and 90 non-grain amaranth farmers were randomly selected and interviewed. Using descriptive statistics, regression analysis （logit model and a Cobb-Douglas type production function） and profitability ratios, it was found that grain amaranth is produced on a small scale and yields are low. Farmer adoption of the crop was favoured by age, gender （female）, education of the farmer, and source of income. The output was positively affected by the amount of labour and manure used in production, while a negative relationship existed between output and male farmers. The crop was most viable under small acreages （0.02-0.04 ha） with positive returns to investment of 0.016. Its production should therefore be encouraged because of its income generation potential and since it requires small land.展开更多
This study analyzed the impact of participatory plant breeding （PPB） and participatory variety selection （PVS） on the adoption of improved sweetpotato varieties （ISPV） in central Uganda. The study quantitatively...This study analyzed the impact of participatory plant breeding （PPB） and participatory variety selection （PVS） on the adoption of improved sweetpotato varieties （ISPV） in central Uganda. The study quantitatively assessed how the two approaches influence farmers＇ uptake of the improved sweetpotato varieties and also determined other factors influencing this adoption. This was done by estimating a robust standard errors logit model. Both PPB and PVS positively and significantly influenced the likelihood of adoption of improved sweetpotato varieties at 5% and 10% levels, respectively. Other variables that positively influenced the adoption are extension services, training in sweetpotato production, farming experience, and off-farm income of the household. Farmers who participated in the plant breeding and variety selection processes were 37 and 6.7 times more likely to adopt the improved sweetpotato varieties than those who had not, respectively. Farmers who were trained specifically in sweetpotato production were 8.8 times more likely to adopt the improved varieties than those who had not received this type of training.展开更多
The issue in this matter is that rules for use of electricity in rural areas are limited to the provision of inputs. Adopting guidelines to consider managed sub regions can generate poor results. The focus of this stu...The issue in this matter is that rules for use of electricity in rural areas are limited to the provision of inputs. Adopting guidelines to consider managed sub regions can generate poor results. The focus of this study was to present parameters for indicators of electric energy and agricultural production to allow the formation of city groups in Sao Paulo State, Brazil, with similar electric energy consumption and rural agricultural production. The methodology was the development of indicators that characterize the electric energy consumption/agricultural production and the preparation of groups using indicators with ward of statistical method of groups. The main conclusions were the formation of six homogeneous groups with similar characteristics regarding agricultural production/consumption of electricity. The application of these groups in cities with similar characteristics would produce more satisfactory results than the division of administrative Rural Development Offices （RDO）.展开更多
This paper focuses on Malaysian Muslims perspective towards food safety,environment and animal welfare aspects of Halal principles in manufactured foods.Cross-sectional consumer data were collected through a survey.On...This paper focuses on Malaysian Muslims perspective towards food safety,environment and animal welfare aspects of Halal principles in manufactured foods.Cross-sectional consumer data were collected through a survey.One thousand seven hundreds and sixteen(1,716)Muslim respondents all over Peninsular Malaysia were interviewed randomly via structured questionnaire in 2009 to address the issues on Muslim consumers'understanding and perspective of Halal principles and its relation to food safety,environmentally friendly and animal welfare.Descriptive and Chi-square analysis were used to analyze the data collected.The findings revealed that majority of respondent relate Halal principles to food safety because Halal principle not only about slaughtering of animals but must also be Tyoibah or clean.The consumers from East of Peninsular Malaysia,with higher level religiosity and education level are more likely to understand the true meaning of Halal principles,Measuring the extent of consumers'understanding of Halal principles is vital,since Halal does not only focus on the Islamic processing but also sustainable concept of hygiene,sanitation and safety.展开更多
This study investigates crop residue availability within 100 mile radius of a potential biorefinery in Southeast North Dakota. Due to the lack of market information on biomass residue supply, we conducted farm focus g...This study investigates crop residue availability within 100 mile radius of a potential biorefinery in Southeast North Dakota. Due to the lack of market information on biomass residue supply, we conducted farm focus group survey sessions and empirical field studies to evaluate farmers＇ willingness to supply crop residues and timeliness of harvesting. Using a GIS （Geographic Information Systems） application, we locate residue supply areas and numerically show that there are enough crop residues to meet the biorefinery＇s supply needs. Our evidence from farm focus group shows that farmers may not be willing to sell their crop residues because of concerns for labor availability and soil fertility losses. Farmers＇ decisions to supply crop residues depend on the willingness of a biofuel firm to offer them a contract and ensure price stability. Farmers are unwilling to take any risk in supplying crop residues and they prefer to transfer ownership of residues immediately after harvest and have an external party bale, store and transport the goods. The biofuel firm requires crop residues be collected dry to prevent mold. This will challenge Northern Plains farmers who wait to collect stovers prior to winter.展开更多
Though there are many documented reasons that make farmers to adopt organic farming system, economic benefits present a major motivation. The study was conducted to evaluate the impact of organic production system on ...Though there are many documented reasons that make farmers to adopt organic farming system, economic benefits present a major motivation. The study was conducted to evaluate the impact of organic production system on profitability of smallholder vegetable production systems in the two counties so as to appraise its contribution to improvement of rural livelihoods. The study collected data on costs and returns for a sample of 208 smallholder vegetable farmers who were composed of 78 organic and 130 conventional farmers. Impact of organic production system was evaluated using propensity score matching technique. Organic vegetable production system was found to have a positive significant impact of increasing farm gross margin by US$0.58 representing 89.5% among smallholder producers in Kiambu and Kajiado Counties of Kenya. The study recommended promotion of organic production system as a tool that can be used to improve livelihoods especially in the rural areas.展开更多
This study developed a short-term econometric model of world natural rubber price Standard Malaysia Rubber Grade 20 （SMR20）. Both single and simultaneous equations were utilized using monthly data from January 1990-...This study developed a short-term econometric model of world natural rubber price Standard Malaysia Rubber Grade 20 （SMR20）. Both single and simultaneous equations were utilized using monthly data from January 1990-December 2008 as estimation period and data from January 2009-June 2009 was used as an ex-ante forecast. The data were tested for unit root and Vector Error Correction and co-integration method was used to estimate the parameters of the model. The models specifications were developed in order to discover the inter-relationships between NR production, consumption and prices of SMR20 and to determine forecast price of SMR20. Comparative analysis between the single-equation specification and simultaneous supply-demand and price equation were made in terms of their estimation accuracy based on RMSE, MAE and （U-Thile） criteria. Ex-ante forecasts was carried out for the period of January 2009-June 2009. The results revealed that the values of the RMSE, MAE and U of simultaneous supply-demand and price equations model were comparatively smaller than the values generated by the single-equation model. These statistics suggest that the simultaneous equation of supply-demand and price model is more accurate and efficient measure in terms of its statistical criteria than the single-equation model in predicting the price of SMR20 in the next 6 months.展开更多
基金Under the auspices of Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities,Zhongnan University of Economics and Law,China(No.2722021EG001)。
文摘In the evolving global economy,China’s Outward Foreign Direct Investment(OFDI)holds increasing significance,specially within the context of the Belt and Road Initiative(BRI).Despite earlier studies have acknowledged the role of governance quality in at-tracting Chinese OFDI,their explanatory capacity regarding human development has not received sufficient attention.This study ad-dresses this gap,investigating the relationship between Chinese OFDI and human development,emphasizing the governance quality’s moderating role.Using data from 122 BRI countries from 2004 to 2021,we employed the Panel Corrected Standard Error model through Prais-Winsten regression,complimented by robustness check via the Spatial Durbin Model.Our analysis revealed a significant positive relationship between Chinese OFDI and human development in BRI countries,indicating that Chinese investments act as cata-lysts for improved well-being.More importantly,governance quality plays a vital role in shaping this relationship,revealing that effect-ive governance enhanced the human development outcomes of OFDI.Post-hoc analysis of governance indicators,both as a composite index and individual dimensions,supported this finding.Regional heterogeneity analysis further showed that Chinese OFDI has stronger effects on Human Development Index(HDI)in Asia and Africa compared to Europe,Latin America,and Oceania.However,the moder-ating effect of governance quality seemed more prominent in Oceania and Latin America,indicating its role in fostering the benefits of Chinese investments in these regions.These findings hold implications for academia and policy,emphasizing the need for transparent,accountable,and effective governance to drive sustainable and inclusive human development within the BRI framework.
文摘In the rapidly evolving landscape of natural language processing(NLP)and sentiment analysis,improving the accuracy and efficiency of sentiment classification models is crucial.This paper investigates the performance of two advanced models,the Large Language Model(LLM)LLaMA model and NLP BERT model,in the context of airline review sentiment analysis.Through fine-tuning,domain adaptation,and the application of few-shot learning,the study addresses the subtleties of sentiment expressions in airline-related text data.Employing predictive modeling and comparative analysis,the research evaluates the effectiveness of Large Language Model Meta AI(LLaMA)and Bidirectional Encoder Representations from Transformers(BERT)in capturing sentiment intricacies.Fine-tuning,including domain adaptation,enhances the models'performance in sentiment classification tasks.Additionally,the study explores the potential of few-shot learning to improve model generalization using minimal annotated data for targeted sentiment analysis.By conducting experiments on a diverse airline review dataset,the research quantifies the impact of fine-tuning,domain adaptation,and few-shot learning on model performance,providing valuable insights for industries aiming to predict recommendations and enhance customer satisfaction through a deeper understanding of sentiment in user-generated content(UGC).This research contributes to refining sentiment analysis models,ultimately fostering improved customer satisfaction in the airline industry.
文摘Maize value-added products play a crucial role in reducing post-harvest losses, enhancing food security, and generating income. While extensive research has focused on maize production in Cameroon, the exploration of its value-added products and their profitability in the North-West Region remains underexplored. This study examined the profitability of maize value-added products in Mezam Division, with the objectives to: 1) identify various maize-based products, 2) assess the diversity of these products, 3) conduct a cost-benefit analysis of selected products, 4) examine the relationship between profitability and product diversity, and 5) identify key constraints impacting profitability. To achieve these objectives, structured questionnaires were administered to 500 small-scale maize entrepreneurs randomly selected from five subdivisions. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze objective 1 and 5, while the Shannon Diversity Index was employed to assess product diversity. Additionally, a cost-benefit analysis was conducted on four selected products namely pap, parched corn, peeled parboiled corn, and corn beer, and a correlation analysis was used to examine objective 4. In total, 13 maize value-added products were identified, with a diversity index of 4.4. The total cost of processing the four selected products per entrepreneur using 18 kg of maize per product was FCFA 83631.5 (US $132.75), while the total revenue was FCFA 121864.5 (US $193.43), resulting in an economic profit of FCFA 38,233 (US $60.69). Pap emerged as the most profitable product, with an economic profit of FCFA 27,875 (US $44.24), while corn beer was the least profitable, with an economic profit of FCFA 2133.46 (US $3.39). The correlation analysis revealed a strong negative relationship between product diversity and profitability (r = −0.91), indicating that entrepreneurs can maximize profitability by focusing on a few high-demand products like pap and parched corn. Key constraints to profitability included fluctuating market prices, high production costs, limited access to finance, and inadequate storage facilities. Despite these challenges, our findings indicate that maize value addition is profitable in Mezam Division. Entrepreneurs can leverage this data for informed decision-making and future investments. It is recommended that the government promote maize value addition and provide financial support for modern processing equipment to boost profitability and income generation.
基金the Tamil Nadu Agricultural University and the Department of Agricultural and Rural Management in India for providing the necessary database access and research support。
文摘Climate change has emerged as an important global issue,primarily driven by human activities,affecting ecosystems,societies,and economies worldwide.This review employed a comprehensive narrative analysis that incorporates expertise from policy studies,environmental science,and economics.Targeted keywords are used to systematically search major academic databases.This article explores various aspects of climate change,economic consequences,and the evolving discourse on climate risk.It addresses the association between climate change and several economic variables,such as gross domestic product(GDP),foreign direct investment(FDI),and financial markets.The review highlights the complex relationship among physical risks,transition risks,and approaches to cope with climate change.It examines global climate policies such as the Kyoto Protocol and Paris Agreement.This study also investigates climate risk assessment models like Integrated Assessment Models(IAMs)and how they help understand the economic effect of climate change.Moreover,it explores ways to adapt to and reduce climate change,such as carbon taxes and subsidies.This review focuses on the critical importance of instruments like the Climate Action Tracker in evaluating national and global climate change responses,which serve as a framework for assessing policy effectiveness and progress toward emission targets.By integrating different viewpoints from economics,environmental science,and governance,this review underscores the value of coordinated global action to address the challenges posed by climate change.
文摘The research explores the long-term connection between Greece’s agricultural output,with a focus on both crop and livestock production,and crucial environmental factors like water usage and energy consumption.Through linear regression analysis,the study investigates how these factors affect agricultural value-added,providing insights into the sustainability and efficiency of Greece’s farming sector.The results show a significant(p<0.05)positive relationship between crop production and agricultural value-added,as well as the significant influence of water usage and energy consumption on the productivity of both crops and livestock.For livestock farming,the analysis revealed a weaker contribution to agricultural value-added at the national level,likely due to structural inefficiencies in the sector.While livestock production benefits significantly from water and energy inputs,it does not have as substantial an economic impact compared to crop production.This research contributes to the field of agricultural economics by offering a historical perspective on how resource management influences agricultural performance over time.It highlights the significance of sustainable practices,especially in areas like the periphery of Western Macedonia,which are shifting from conventional energy sources like lignite to renewable energy.The findings advocate for policies that promote water conservation,energy efficiency,and smart agriculture to enhance productivity and support regional development.
基金Project supported by the National Natural Sciences Foundation of China (No. 40471081)the National Key Basic Research Support Foundation (No. G1999011810)the Knowledge Innovation Program of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (No. KZCX3-SW-422)
文摘The relationships between soil erodibility factor （K） and soil saturated permeability （gfs） for cultivated Acrisols derived from Quaternary red clay and Cambisols derived from red sandstone were studied and quantified using a rainfall simulator and Guelph permeameter in a hilly area of subtropical China. A negative correlation existed between Kfs of the topsoil （0-5 cm） and K. The empirical expression K ≈ α × Kfs^-b＋c, where a, b and c are the structural coefficients related to soil properties, such as soil type, soil parent material, organic matter, pH and mechanical composition, best described the relationship between soil saturated permeability and soil erodibility.
文摘The use of improved high yielding crop varieties is an important avenue for reducing hunger and food insecurity in developing countries. Using cross-sectional data obtained from a survey conducted during 2013 crop season, we performed a probit model （plot-level analysis） to determine the probability of adopting new improved rice varieties （NIRVs） by smallholder farmers particularly from two main agro-ecological regions （hills and tropical plain terai regions） of Central Nepal. The results revealed that education, extension services and seed access play significant roles in adoption decisions. Additionally, farm and field characteristic variables such as farm size, endowment of favorable land type （e.g. lowlands）, and animal power （e.g. oxen） are the key factors influencing the probability of adopting NIRVs. The results showed that technology specific variables （e.g. yield potential and acceptability） are significant for explaining adoption behavior, implying that it is important to take farmers＇ preferences to varietal characteristics into consideration in the design of a research and development program. Given the significant role played by extension and access related variables, increased emphasis on information dissemination, field demonstration, and farmers＇ participatory research and training programs to popularize new rice varieties and enhance their adoption rate are required. This also suggests that policy intervention should be made on improving the educational status of farming households, and developing programs on varietal package of rice seed which offer farmers a variety of choices among the appropriate pools of germplasm. Such programs ultimately help farmers develop more profit-oriented behavior which are necessary to enhance adoption rate, production and food security in the long run.
文摘Socio-economic conditions of farmers, especially in the coastal region in Bangladesh, have been severely affected because of climate change. This study was focused on analyzing the farmers’ perception of climate change by examining three vital issues: (1) description of the socioeconomic characteristics of farmers;(2) reporting on the perception of farmers experiences with climatic change;and (3) identification of the socio-economic factors associated with farmers’ perception of climate change. The study area encompasses three villages within the coastal region (Sathkhira district) of Bangladesh, a geographic region where climate change literature has highlighted as prone to accelerated degradation. A logit model, along with weighted indexes for ranking and descriptive statistics, was used to analyze the result of 100 farmers surveyed by questionnaire. We found that the majority of the farmers (88%) perceived changes in climatic conditions. Almost all farmers indicated increases in temperature, droughts, floods, cyclones, salinity level and decreasing rainfall over the last 20 years. The logit model explained that out of the nine factors surveyed;education, family size, farm size, family income, farming experiences and training received were significantly related and influential factors to perception of climate change. Therefore, government and non-governmental organizations are recommended to push forward with interventions, especially focusing on identified factors, in order to strengthen the farmers’ capacity to battle against climate change effects.
文摘China’s one-child policy has created entitled children or “little kings” who are spoiled by their parents and doting grandparents that want to provide the “best food” for their child to ensure the future of the family. In addition, seniors’ food preferences may influence the household’s diet. The extended family structure, typically including one child and seniors, will likely affect food expenditures, but does this provide the most nutritious or healthiest diet? Using household data collected from 11 Chinese cities, the results of this study suggest that the presence of a child or seniors, as well as higher income levels, and wife’s education level have significant effects on healthy household food consumption.
文摘The forest investment projects,analyzed through the application of simulation techniques,allow measuring more accurately the benefits or losses,considering the systemic uncertainties related to forest plantation.In this perspective,the objective of this study was to identify the relative importance of sources of uncertainties in determining the net present value(NPV)of planting of Ochroma pyramidale on a forested property located in the state of S?o Paulo,Brazil.Thus,it assigns probability distributions to the parameters with uncertainties and applies the Monte Carlo technique to obtain the stochastic behavior of the NPV,of the modified internal rate of return(MIRR)and the profitability index(PI).The probabilistic results of the quantitative methods analyzed allowed us to conclude that for the planting O.pyramidale,with 5-year cutting age,indicated economic profitability.In addition,there is a probability that 84.6%of the project will add economic value to the invested capital.
文摘Integrated Pest Management （IPM） technologies can reduce pest damage to crops by emphasizing non-chemical control methods thereby reducing potential negative effects of chemicals on the environment while preserving profitability. This study investigates the adoption of eight IPM practices including intercropping, crop rotation, two improved varieties, incorporating a ＂striga chaser＂ in sorghum production, changing planting dates, altering planting density and fertilizer use. Explanatory variables include economic factors, social factors, management factors, and institutional factors. Results were consistent across logit and ordered logit analyses. Most factors affecting adoption across all crops and technologies are economic factors, including labor availability, technology resource requirements, technology complexity, and the level of expected benefits. Social factors are generally less associated with IPM technology adoption than either market or institutional factors. Results indicate that the evaluated technologies were scale-neutral and that farmer age and education level did not affect technology adoption.
文摘Due to projections of population increase, which suggest that the world population will reach 8.6 billion people by 2030, as well as the reduction of existing natural resources, studies on food production technologies that minimize the impacts on the environment become relevant. In this context, with the creation of the first living organism controlled by a synthetic genome, since 2010, scientists from several countries study alternatives to produce energetic material and food through synthetic biology. Therefore, the present study sought to identify which the contributions, reflexes, trends and/or challenges of synthetic biology are in food production through a review of the literature. As results, it was noticed that there were significant advances in studies that seek forms of food production with the use of synthetic biology, as well as with technologies that reduce the use of natural resources and the impact of agricultural production on the environment. The topics of food safety, ethics and consumer perception, regarding the use of such technologies, are also emphasized. However, there is much to be studied on the subject, in particular, the need for experimental testing in different crops and processes due to food safety, and feasibility of the industrialization of such technologies.
基金supported by the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research.
文摘Gender inclusiveness is important in the rural transformation process of Bangladesh as rural women play key roles in both agricultural and non-agricultural sectors.Gender inclusiveness also leads to gender equity.We empirically evaluate relationships between rural transformation and gender inclusiveness in Bangladesh.We consider three rural transformation indicators:high-value commodities’share in agricultural output values,non-farm employment’s share in rural labor employment,and non-agricultural GDP’s share in total GDP.Indicators capturing gender inclusiveness include the per capita rural income of males and females,ratio of investments into gender programs,female access to education,access to healthcare,employment participation,land ownership,and asset ownership.We test the effect of the difference in per capita rural income of males and females and the ratio of their incomes and check for the robustness of the gender variables across different model specifications.Analyzing 128 district-level observations from 32 districts of Bangladesh across four time periods(2000,2005,2010 and 2016),we use both ordinary least squares and fixed effects panel regression models.We find that female land and asset ownership and access to education and healthcare are robust determinants of various stages of rural transformation.Thus,our results suggest that improving women’s ownership of land and assets and investing in women’s education and healthcare will likely contribute to a more inclusive rural transformation.
文摘In Uganda, grain amaranth is relatively new and has generally not been considered as an important crop compared to other grain crops and legumes. This study was therefore conducted to determine factors affecting adoption of grain amaranth growing, factors affecting production, and economic returns on investment of its production. The study was carried out in Kamuli district where a total of 174 grain amaranth farmers and 90 non-grain amaranth farmers were randomly selected and interviewed. Using descriptive statistics, regression analysis （logit model and a Cobb-Douglas type production function） and profitability ratios, it was found that grain amaranth is produced on a small scale and yields are low. Farmer adoption of the crop was favoured by age, gender （female）, education of the farmer, and source of income. The output was positively affected by the amount of labour and manure used in production, while a negative relationship existed between output and male farmers. The crop was most viable under small acreages （0.02-0.04 ha） with positive returns to investment of 0.016. Its production should therefore be encouraged because of its income generation potential and since it requires small land.
文摘This study analyzed the impact of participatory plant breeding （PPB） and participatory variety selection （PVS） on the adoption of improved sweetpotato varieties （ISPV） in central Uganda. The study quantitatively assessed how the two approaches influence farmers＇ uptake of the improved sweetpotato varieties and also determined other factors influencing this adoption. This was done by estimating a robust standard errors logit model. Both PPB and PVS positively and significantly influenced the likelihood of adoption of improved sweetpotato varieties at 5% and 10% levels, respectively. Other variables that positively influenced the adoption are extension services, training in sweetpotato production, farming experience, and off-farm income of the household. Farmers who participated in the plant breeding and variety selection processes were 37 and 6.7 times more likely to adopt the improved sweetpotato varieties than those who had not, respectively. Farmers who were trained specifically in sweetpotato production were 8.8 times more likely to adopt the improved varieties than those who had not received this type of training.
文摘The issue in this matter is that rules for use of electricity in rural areas are limited to the provision of inputs. Adopting guidelines to consider managed sub regions can generate poor results. The focus of this study was to present parameters for indicators of electric energy and agricultural production to allow the formation of city groups in Sao Paulo State, Brazil, with similar electric energy consumption and rural agricultural production. The methodology was the development of indicators that characterize the electric energy consumption/agricultural production and the preparation of groups using indicators with ward of statistical method of groups. The main conclusions were the formation of six homogeneous groups with similar characteristics regarding agricultural production/consumption of electricity. The application of these groups in cities with similar characteristics would produce more satisfactory results than the division of administrative Rural Development Offices （RDO）.
文摘This paper focuses on Malaysian Muslims perspective towards food safety,environment and animal welfare aspects of Halal principles in manufactured foods.Cross-sectional consumer data were collected through a survey.One thousand seven hundreds and sixteen(1,716)Muslim respondents all over Peninsular Malaysia were interviewed randomly via structured questionnaire in 2009 to address the issues on Muslim consumers'understanding and perspective of Halal principles and its relation to food safety,environmentally friendly and animal welfare.Descriptive and Chi-square analysis were used to analyze the data collected.The findings revealed that majority of respondent relate Halal principles to food safety because Halal principle not only about slaughtering of animals but must also be Tyoibah or clean.The consumers from East of Peninsular Malaysia,with higher level religiosity and education level are more likely to understand the true meaning of Halal principles,Measuring the extent of consumers'understanding of Halal principles is vital,since Halal does not only focus on the Islamic processing but also sustainable concept of hygiene,sanitation and safety.
文摘This study investigates crop residue availability within 100 mile radius of a potential biorefinery in Southeast North Dakota. Due to the lack of market information on biomass residue supply, we conducted farm focus group survey sessions and empirical field studies to evaluate farmers＇ willingness to supply crop residues and timeliness of harvesting. Using a GIS （Geographic Information Systems） application, we locate residue supply areas and numerically show that there are enough crop residues to meet the biorefinery＇s supply needs. Our evidence from farm focus group shows that farmers may not be willing to sell their crop residues because of concerns for labor availability and soil fertility losses. Farmers＇ decisions to supply crop residues depend on the willingness of a biofuel firm to offer them a contract and ensure price stability. Farmers are unwilling to take any risk in supplying crop residues and they prefer to transfer ownership of residues immediately after harvest and have an external party bale, store and transport the goods. The biofuel firm requires crop residues be collected dry to prevent mold. This will challenge Northern Plains farmers who wait to collect stovers prior to winter.
文摘Though there are many documented reasons that make farmers to adopt organic farming system, economic benefits present a major motivation. The study was conducted to evaluate the impact of organic production system on profitability of smallholder vegetable production systems in the two counties so as to appraise its contribution to improvement of rural livelihoods. The study collected data on costs and returns for a sample of 208 smallholder vegetable farmers who were composed of 78 organic and 130 conventional farmers. Impact of organic production system was evaluated using propensity score matching technique. Organic vegetable production system was found to have a positive significant impact of increasing farm gross margin by US$0.58 representing 89.5% among smallholder producers in Kiambu and Kajiado Counties of Kenya. The study recommended promotion of organic production system as a tool that can be used to improve livelihoods especially in the rural areas.
文摘This study developed a short-term econometric model of world natural rubber price Standard Malaysia Rubber Grade 20 （SMR20）. Both single and simultaneous equations were utilized using monthly data from January 1990-December 2008 as estimation period and data from January 2009-June 2009 was used as an ex-ante forecast. The data were tested for unit root and Vector Error Correction and co-integration method was used to estimate the parameters of the model. The models specifications were developed in order to discover the inter-relationships between NR production, consumption and prices of SMR20 and to determine forecast price of SMR20. Comparative analysis between the single-equation specification and simultaneous supply-demand and price equation were made in terms of their estimation accuracy based on RMSE, MAE and （U-Thile） criteria. Ex-ante forecasts was carried out for the period of January 2009-June 2009. The results revealed that the values of the RMSE, MAE and U of simultaneous supply-demand and price equations model were comparatively smaller than the values generated by the single-equation model. These statistics suggest that the simultaneous equation of supply-demand and price model is more accurate and efficient measure in terms of its statistical criteria than the single-equation model in predicting the price of SMR20 in the next 6 months.
