Asset Index Research Articles

Assessing the impact of human activities on ecosystem asset dynamics in the Yellow River Basin from 2001 to 2020.

The intensification of human activities in the Yellow River Basin has significantly altered its ecosystems, challenging the sustainability of the region's ecosystem assets. This study constructs an ecosystem asset index for the period from 2001 to 2020, integrating it with human footprint maps to analyze the temporal and spatial dynamics of ecosystem assets and human activities within the basin, as well as their interrelationships. Our findings reveal significant improvement of ecosystem assets, mainly attributed to the conversion of farmland back into natural habitats, resulting in a 15,994km2 increase in ecological land use. Notably, 45.88% of the basin has experienced concurrent growth in both human activities and ecosystem assets, with ecosystem assets expanding at a faster rate (22.61%) than human activities (17.25%). Areas with high-quality ecosystem assets are expanding, in contrast to areas with intense human activities, which are facing increased fragmentation. Despite a global escalation in threats from human activities to ecosystem assets, the local threat level within the Yellow River Basin has slightly diminished, indicating a trend towards stabilization. Results highlight the critical importance of integrating spatial and quality considerations into restoration efforts to enhance the overall condition of ecosystem assets, especially under increasing human pressures. Our work assesses the impact of human activities on the dynamics of ecosystem assets in the Yellow River Basin from 2001 to 2020, offering valuable insights for quality development in the region, may provide a scientific basis for general watershed ecological protection and sustainable management in a region heavily influenced by human activity but on a path to recovery.

Impact of Small-Quantity Lipid-Based Nutrient Supplements on Pubertal Status of 9–13-Year Olds: A Follow-Up Study of the iLiNS-DYAD Ghana Trial

BackgroundEarly and delayed puberty are both associated with adverse health and psychosocial outcomes. ObjectivesWe assessed the impact of provision of small-quantity lipid-based nutrient supplement (SQ-LNS) to mothers during pregnancy and 6 mo postpartum and to their children aged 6–18 mo, on pubertal status. MethodsThis study was a follow-up to a partially double-blind randomized controlled trial. At ≤20 wk, 1320 females were randomly assigned to receive daily: iron and folic acid during pregnancy and placebo 0–6 mo postpartum; or multiple micronutrients during pregnancy and 0–6 mo postpartum; or SQ-LNS during pregnancy and 0–6 mo postpartum and to their children from 6 to 18 mo. We re-enrolled 966 and 919 children at 9–11 y and 11–13 y, respectively. We calculated a total pubertal status score based on the Petersen Pubertal Development Scale (PDS) to assess growth spurt, skin changes, body hair, facial hair, voice break, breast development, and menstruation. Pubertal status was regressed on child’s age to generate age-adjusted PDS z-scores (aPDSZ); we performed interaction and mediation analyses. ResultsMean ± standard deviation aPDSZ did not differ between the SQ-LNS and non-LNS groups at 9–11 y (0.01 ± 0.95 compared with –0.01 ± 0.98; P = 0.958) but was more advanced in the SQ-LNS group at 11–13 y (0.07 ± 1.04 compared with –0.04 ± 0.98; P = 0.049) in the adjusted model. The effect of SQ-LNS varied by sex (P-interaction = 0.003) and household asset index z-score (P-interaction = 0.002): Puberty was more advanced in the SQ-LNS compared with non-LNS group among females (P = 0.007) but not males (P = 0.877), and within lower (P = 0.002) than average (P = 0.436) and higher (P = 0.332) socioeconomic households. ConclusionProvision of SQ-LNS during the first 1000 d of life advanced pubertal status among females. Trial registration numberThis trial was registered at clinicaltrials.gov as NCT00970866 (https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/record/NCT00970866).

Utilizing the determinants of healthy aging to guide the choice of social prescriptions for older adults.

Executive summary: The age of Canada's population is increasing, necessitating innovative methods and tools for assessing the needs of older adults and identifying effective health and social prescriptions. In Alberta, a community-based, senior-serving organization undertook the development and piloting of the Healthy Aging Asset Index, an assessment tool and social prescribing guide for use by a variety of professionals within the community. Tool development was rooted in medical complexity assessment and social work practice, and adhered to the determinants of healthy aging established by Alberta's Healthy Aging Framework, which is based on the determinants of healthy aging published by the World Health Organization. Results from the pilot showed improvement in the functionality of older adults within the determinants over time, as they were supported in addressing areas of personal vulnerability. Adopting tools such as the Healthy Aging Asset Index can bring cohesiveness to the support that older adults receive across the care continuum and has the potential to shift the balance of care away from the health system and towards the community, thus improving the capacity of health systems and government to meet the needs of Canada's older adults.

Drivers of overseas labour migration, migration intensity, and destination choice among farming households in Nepal

ABSTRACT In recent years, overseas labour migration has become a lifeline for many households in Nepal. Using survey data from 465 randomly selected households and 227 overseas labour migrants, this paper examines the factors influencing overseas labour migration and migration intensity in farming households by employing a generalised two-part fractional regression model, and migrants’ destination choice by using the probit model. We find that a higher proportion of educated members in the household, along with household’s credit access, indebtedness, and contacts with manpower agencies significantly increase the likelihood of overseas labour migration and migration intensity in the households, whereas the presence of employed members in the household, larger farms, irrigation access, and higher asset index significantly lower such likelihood. We find a lower likelihood of migration to Malaysia and the Middle East countries among individuals with employed household members and a higher asset index, while those connected to manpower agencies are more likely to choose these countries as destinations. Our findings emphasise the significance of creating and providing decent economic opportunities, including strengthening the agriculture sector, to address the existing surge in overseas labour migration from farming households in Nepal.

The Construction of a Human Development Index at the Household Level and the Measurement of Human Development Disparities in Punjab (Pakistan)

ABSTRACT The key objectives of this research study are to construct a valid and reliable household-based Human Development Index (HDI) and to estimate human development disparities in 36 districts of Punjab (Pakistan) by analysing Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey microdata. The household-level HDI, a composite index, is constructed by applying the arithmetic mean of the household-level health, asset, and education indices. The district of Lahore, among all the 36 districts of Punjab, has the highest HDI score of 0.743, followed by districts Rawalpindi, Jhelum, and Gujrat. Four neighbouring districts from South Punjab: Rajanpur, Dera Ghazi Khan, Muzzaffar Gar, and Rahim Yaar Khan, have the lowest HDI scores of 0.492, 0508, 0.531, and 0.566, respectively. This paper has used the Palma-ratio and Gini-coefficient to estimate human development disparities in Punjab. The highest human development disparities are observed in the Rajanpur district with a Gini-coefficient of 0.38 and a Palma Ratio of 1.55. Both the Gini and Palma Ratio methods produce similar district rank orderings of inequality. This research recommends that additional efforts be made to uplift the districts with the lowest human development in Southern Punjab through local government restructuring and devolution of relevant powers, including the formation of a separate province.

Livelihood Diversity of Rural Communities Without Legal Access to Forest Resources: The Case of Kerinci Seblat National Park in Bengkulu Province

Kerinci Seblat National Park in Bengkulu, Indonesia, was gazetted by the Indonesian government, and its overlaps with forests occupied by most indigenous communities made their farming activities in the area illegal. People were prohibited from accessing and expanding their farming areas in the national park, threatening their livelihoods. The livelihood diversity index (LDI) and livelihood asset index (LAI) were used to explore the livelihood systems of these communities. This study also examines the effect of livelihood assets on livelihood diversity and analyzes livelihood strategy choices using Giddens’ structuration theory. A quantitative survey combined with in-depth interviews was conducted in two villages with different land types: wetlands (rice fields) and drylands (farmlands). This study found that the communities diversified their livelihoods into eight types of livelihood strategies. Almost all livelihood indicators were different, and the differences in livelihood asset indicators affected the LDI. As a process of structuration, communities have diversified their livelihoods into farm (e.g., annual and perennial crops), off-farm (e.g., farm wages), and non-farm (e.g., services and government transfer) activities. Rural households have modified their social and physical structures to secure their livelihoods by optimizing agricultural intensification technologies or by seeking non-agricultural income. Households decide whether to specialize or diversify their livelihoods based on factors such as the area of cultivated land, number of crops cultivated, distance of the farming location from the house, total household income, non-farm income, and reciprocal relationships.

Unveiling Inequality: Mapping Asset Disparities in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (Pakistan)

The main objectives of this study are to construct a valid and reliable asset index at the household level for 10 districts of Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) by using Multiple Indicators Cluster Survey micro-data and to estimate economic disparities by calculating Gini-coefficient and Palma Ratio. The asset index is considered a better estimate than expenditures or current household income to gauge a household’s living standard and its potential resilience to deal with economic shocks. The dimensional structure of assets is assessed by applying Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA) and Tetrachoric Principal Component Analysis (PCA). Further, this paper has applied Classical Test Theory (CTT) and Item Response Theory (IRT) to ensure the reliability of the household-based asset index. Furthermore, the Gini-coefficient and Palma ratios are estimated by using the composite household-based asset index to estimate economic disparities in all 10 districts of AJK. The dimensional structure of assets, reliability, and validity analysis suggest to use 21 assets (out of 30 items) to construct the household-based asset index. The nine items (assets) are excluded from the analysis to avoid systematic errors and random errors. The results show that districts Bhimber and Mirpur have achieved the highest average asset scores, which are 0.62 and 0.64 respectively. The score of the Gini-coefficient index and the Palma ratio analyses shows that the asset distribution in the districts Neelum and Haveli are highly unequal. The Gini-coefficient is highly responsive to midpoint distribution while the Palma ratio concentrates more on top and bottom distribution, and it ignores the middle 50 percent from the analysis. Interestingly, both approaches have produced similar district rank ordering because we have adopted a systematic process for construct validity and reliability to minimize measurement errors.

Quantitative assessment of ecological assets in the world heritage karst sites based on remote sensing: with a special reference to South China Karst

The benefits provided by ecological assets play a crucial role in enhancing human well-being. However, there is a scarcity of viable methods for assessing their status. This study is grounded in Land Use and Land Cover Change (LUCC) and integrates both the quantity and quality aspects of these assets. Utilizing the ecological asset index (EQ and EQi), this study conducts a quantitative assessment of the assets in the Shibing karst and the Libo-Huanjiang karst heritage sites, while also qualitatively analyzing their influencing factors. The findings reveal that: (1) In the Shibing heritage site, forest and impervious surface assets exhibited an upward trend, whereas cropland and grassland experienced a decline; meanwhile, shrub and water body assets remained relatively stable. The total area of assets rated as excellent or good increased by 95.371 km2, resulting in an EQ enhancement of 45.427. (2) Likewise, in the Libo-Huanjiang heritage site, forest and impervious surface assets demonstrated an upward trajectory, while shrub assets declined. Cropland, grassland, and water body assets experienced minimal variation. The total area of assets rated as excellent or good expanded by 168.227 km2, resulting in an EQ enhancement of 80.806. (3) The execution of a series of ecological protection projects and management plans for heritage site conservation primarily accounts for the enhancement of regional assets. Notably, ecological resources, socio-economic conditions, human resources, and conservation management policies serve as pivotal drivers influencing the alterations in heritage site assets.

Identifying the poor – Accounting for household economies of scale in global poverty estimates

Estimates of the number of people living in extreme poverty, as reported by the World Bank, figure prominently in international development dialogue and policy. An assumption underpinning these poverty counts is that there are no economies of scale in household size – a family of six needs three times as much as a family of two. This paper examines the sensitivity of global estimates of extreme poverty to changing this assumption. The analysis rests on nationally representative household surveys from 162 countries covering 97.5 percent of the population estimated to be in extreme poverty in 2019. We compare current-method estimates with a constant-elasticity scale adjustment that divides total household consumption or income not by household size but by the square-root of household size. While the regional profile of extreme poverty is robust to this change, the determination of who is poor changes substantially – the poverty status of 264 million people changes. We then discuss evidence suggesting that the assumption of economies of scale more closely aligns with non-consumption measures of poverty. Specifically, we draw from existing literature of subjective assessments of poverty and wellbeing, along with new empirical evidence from examining the partial correlation (conditional on household size) between the two measures of poverty and a set of presumed poverty covariates (i.e., years of schooling, literacy, asset index, working in agriculture, access to electricity, piped drinking water, improved sanitation).

Socioeconomic inequalities in type 2 diabetes mellitus: a study based on a population-based survey in Iran

BackgroundType 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is the most prevalent form of Diabetes Mellitus (DM), with social and economic determinants significantly influencing its prevalence. This study aimed to analyze the socioeconomic inequalities associated with T2DM in Iran.MethodsData from an observational survey in Iran, titled “Diabetes Care (DiaCare),” were utilized for this study. Socioeconomic inequalities were assessed through variables including Hemoglobin A1C (HbA1c), Fasting Blood Glucose (FBG), and Triple target (HbA1c, blood pressure, LDL-C), using concentration indices (CIs) and a multivariate logistic regression analysis. Individual socioeconomic status (SES) was determined by calculating an asset index using principle component analysis (PCA) based on their properties. Data analysis was conducted using STATA software version 14.ResultsA total of 13,321 participants were included in the study. The CIs were significantly positive for controlled HbA1c (0.0324) and triple target (0.1067), while for controlled FBG, it was 0.0125, although not significant. Among females, the CIs were significantly positive for controlled HbA1c (0.0745), FBG (0.0367), and triple target (0.209). Additionally, in the 45–55 and 65–75 age groups, the CIs were significantly positive for controlled HbA1c (0.0607) and FBG (0.0708), respectively. This index was significant for controlled Triple target in the 35–45 (0.376) and 65–75 (0.124) age groups. The CI for controlled FBG was significant in rural dwellers (-0.044) while the concentration of controlled triple target was significant in urban dwellers (0.0967). Controlled HbA1c showed significant concentration in both urban (0.0306) and rural (-0.0576) dwellers. Furthermore, the CIs were significant for controlled HbA1c in regions with medium prevalence (0.0534) and FBG in regions with low prevalence (-0.0277). This index was significantly positive for controlled triple target in regions with high prevalence (0.124).ConclusionsDiabetes care is more concentrated among individuals with higher SES. Policymakers should consider this to mitigate the inequality and alleviate the burden of T2DM.

Nature-Based Solutions vs. Human-Induced Approaches for Alpine Grassland Ecosystem: “Climate-Help” Overwhelms “Human Act” to Promote Ecological Restoration in the Three-River-Source Region of Qinghai–Tibet Plateau

How climate change and human activities drive the evolution of the regional environment and where the quality of ecosystems improve or decline over time have become widespread concerns. In this study, we took the Three-River-Source (TRS) region of the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau as a case, aiming to identify and quantify the contribution of the natural and anthropogenic factors to the ecosystem changes over the past years from 1980 to 2018 using the methods of remote sensing and spatial statistical analysis. Based on the land cover map interpreted by reference to satellite remote sensing imagery data, we defined the Ecological Restoration Area Proportion (ERAP) as the bare land patch decrement to indicate the ecologically restored quantity in space. Assembling the restoration project information, we digitalized and vectorized the ecological Restoration Intensity (RI) including the spatial range and temporal duration. Combining the ERAP and the net primary productivity (NPP), which indicates the quantity and quality of ecosystems, respectively, the ecological asset Index (EAI) was developed and calculated. Having integrated the datasets of the vegetation monitoring, climatic factors, geographical factors, and human activities, we performed multi-variable analysis of the attribution of how the change in the EAI, the NPP, and the EAI have been affected by these factors together. The NPP of the middle and eastern parts of the TRS region has improved the most, as the average growth rate of NPP reached approximately 2.5 kg C/m2/10a. Due to such dynamic pattern, we found that human-induced re-vegetation has made limited contributions in our multi-regression model as the variance explained by the RI merely amounts to 4.4% to 8.8%, while the changes were mostly dependent on the regional temperature and the precipitation which contributed over 45% to the ecological restoration on average. It was summarized that “climate-help” overwhelms “human act” in such alpine grassland ecosystem. The regression results for the different aspects of the ERAP and NPP demonstrated that the ecological restoration project helped most in regard to ecosystem quality improvement rather than the restored ecosystem quantity. Our study has developed a comprehensive assessment methodology that can be reused to account for more ecological asset. The case is an example of an alpine ecosystem in which the success of ecological restoration needs favorable climatic conditions as supporting evidence for the nature-based solution.

Pathways and policy options for food and nutrition gaps in arid agricultural farming systems in the Tigray Region, north Ethiopia

Food and nutrition security is a major global challenge especially indeveloping countries.Agriculture is main means of livelihoods and hunger is drastically increasing from time to time especially due to effects of climate change, conflict and other manmade and natural calamities in these countries. Similarly, the Tigray Region is one of the Ethiopia's most food and nutrition insecure regions with agriculture serving as the main source of income and employment. This study was therefore conducted to fill the gap in understanding the socioeconomic situation, bio-physical environment, institutional setting and policy landscape by analysing the existing circumstances in Tigray Region. This research employed quantitative data sets collected from 300 randomely selected Productive Saftey Net Program (PSNP) beneficiarieries and Non-PSNP households using probability proportional to size. The Household Dietary Diversity Score (HDDS) used as a proxy measure to nutrition security as our data is 24 h recall and food gap months as proxy to food security. Besides, Principal Component Analysis (PCA) method is used to construct household asset index. The results of the study revealed that there are clear and significant differences of the PSNP and Non-PSNP households, and gender in land holding (p<0.01%), asset ownership(p<0.01%), food gap months(p<0.01%), dietary diversity(p<0.01%), exposure to hazards and risks, copping strategies, yield, access to agricultural extension services, access to improved varieties (varietal diversification). The male headed households, and Non-PSNP households are better off than the female headed and PSNP households' counterparts. Thus, provision of practical training, conducting farmer's participatory research, field days, promoting and creating access to farmers' preferred high yielding improved varieties and management practices available in the research and extension consortium, support in research and development that develops and disseminate appropriate technologies to help farmers to lower their food gap months is highly important. In addition, sustainable intensification, off-farm employment alternatives, and engaging in agribusiness activities that create resilient livelihood options to those resource poor farm households, strengthening the formal and informal seed system would help to reduce food gap months, improve HDDS, build resilience of the food and nutrition insecure households. Therefore, customized extension services and packages are important for addressing the food and nutrition security gaps by setting goal, outcome and output indicators for future interventions in the research and development arena in filling food gap months, dietary diversity and household asset building through collaboration among relevant stakeholders in the food system.

Research on financing countermeasures of online game SMEs based on the identification of intangible assets information.

As an important part of the cultural industry, small and medium-sized online game enterprises undertake the functions of technological innovation, employment absorption and cultural cultivation. However, the lack of credit ability restricts the financial development of such enterprises. To solve the financing problem of online small and medium-sized game enterprises, this paper firstly uses the information of intangible assets to identify their credit ability, and considers that the information of intangible assets is a problem worthy of attention in evaluating credit risk. Secondly, the intangible assets information disclosure index, the revenue sharing contract of credit synergy and the dynamic game mechanism are constructed to study the importance of the intangible assets index and the evolution of the dynamic game. Finally, the empirical study shows that the intangible assets of delisting and special treated online game small and medium-sized enterprises still have value, this type of enterprise and credit suppliers have the behavior of seeking advantages and avoiding disadvantages. Therefore, credit synergy should be constructed and government regulation should be implemented.

Systematic comparison of household income, consumption, and assets to measure health inequalities in low- and middle-income countries

There has been no systematic comparison of how the three most common measures to quantify household SES—income, consumption, and asset indices—could impact the magnitude of health inequalities. Microdata from 22 Living Standards Measurement Study surveys were compiled and concentration indices, relative indices of inequality, and slope indices of inequality were calculated for underweight, stunting, and child deaths using income, consumption, asset indices, and hybrid predicted income. Meta-analyses of survey year subgroups (pre-1995, 1995–2004, and post-2004), outcomes (child deaths, stunting, and underweight), and World Bank country-income status (low, low-middle, and upper-middle) were then conducted. Asset indices and the related hybrid income proxy result in the largest magnitudes of health inequalities for all 12 overall outcomes, as well as most country-income and survey year subgroupings. There is no clear trend of health inequality magnitudes changing over time, but magnitudes of health inequality may increase as country-income levels increase. There is no significant difference between relative and absolute inequality measures, but the hybrid predicted income measure behaves more similarly to asset indices than the household income it is supposed to model. Health inequality magnitudes may be affected by the choice of household SES measure and should be studied in further detail.

Social determinants of chronic diseases reporting among slum dwellers in Egypt.

The high prevalence of chronic diseases in urban slums poses increasing challenges to future social and economic development for these disadvantaged areas. Assessing the health status of slum residents offers guidance for formulating appropriate policies and interventions to improve slum residents' health outcomes. This research aimed to identify the social determinants of chronic diseases reporting among slum dwellers in Egypt. A cross-sectional survey was conducted from March to December 2021 in three slum areas in Giza governorate, Egypt, including 3,500 individuals. We constructed an asset index and a welfare index to measure the economic status and living conditions of slum residents, respectively. We used these indices, along with demographic and socio-economic factors, as independent variables in the analysis. We modeled factors associated with health status using a two-level mixed logistic model to control the effects of slum areas and the potential correlation between household members. The study contributed significantly to a better understanding of the context in which slum dwellers live and the interlinkages among poor living conditions, low economic status, and health outcomes. The results showed a high rate of self-reported chronic diseases among adults aged 18 and older, reaching more than 22%, while it did not exceed 2.0% among children in the slum areas. Therefore, measuring the determinants of chronic diseases was limited to adults. The sample size was 2530 adults after excluding 970 children. The prevalence of chronic diseases among adults ranged between 16.3% in Zenin and 22.6% in Bein El Sarayat. Our findings indicated that low socio-economic status was significantly associated with reporting chronic diseases. Future policies should be dedicated to improving living conditions and providing necessary healthcare services for these vulnerable areas.

The marginalization index and its association with selected services within the comprehensive care offered to breast cancer patients

PurposeThere is little information on the supportive care offered to breast cancer patients. We investigated the association between the marginalization index and selected services offered by health professionals. MethodsWe used data from a cross-sectional parent study performed in Mexico from 2007 to 2009. We analyzed data from 832 women between 35 and 69 years of age with a histopathological diagnosis of breast cancer. This study was performed in hospitals in 5 states. We used frequencies, measures of central tendency, and logistic regression. We used the svy package of STATA statistical software v17. ResultsOverall, 15.6% of the study population reported that health professionals offered them selected services. The offer of two or more selected services was greater among women living in states with a very high marginalization index (21.8%) than among those living in states with a very low marginalization index (13.8%). Among women living in states with high marginalization, the odds of receiving a selected service offer were 2.03 times higher than those living in states with low marginalization (Odds ratio (OR) = 2.03, 95% CI 1.08–3.83). For women in the highest tertile of the asset index, the odds of receiving a selected service offer were 2.7 times greater than the odds for women in the lowest tertile (OR = 2.66, 95% CI 1.03–6.88). ConclusionThe prevalence of comprehensive care offered to breast cancer patients is low in Mexico and varies according to the marginalization index and the asset index.

Child well-being in Vietnam: The roles of household welfare and early childbearing

Children are important resources for nations' long-term and sustainable development; therefore, they have the right to have their well-being ensured from birth. Although multidimensional methods for researching child well-being in Vietnam have made some progress, most studies still focus on single aspects of child well-being. This paper analyzes the correlations between household welfare (measured by the asset index - an effective alternative tool to income and expenditure), early childbearing, and child well-being (in six constitutive dimensions) to provide a broad picture of the above relationships in the Vietnamese context. Using secondary data from the Vietnam Sustainable Development Goal Indicators for Children and Women (SDGCW) survey by the General Statistics Office (GSO) of Vietnam and the United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund (UNICEF) in the period 2020–2021, and applying Tobit and OLS regression models, the research results show that a high level of household welfare not only directly increases child well-being but also has an indirect positive effect on this indicator by reducing the early childbearing rate. Based on the research findings, several suggestions are made to improve household welfare; therefore, this paper can support the government in managing early childbearing rates and improving child well-being throughout the country.

Correlation between capital markets and cryptocurrency: impact of the coronavirus

&lt;p&gt;The objective of the study is to use daily Thai data analysis to strengthen correlations between Bitcoin and conventional asset measurements. The most popular asset prices and indices include gold, oil, the SET50 index, Bitcoin (BTC), Ethereum (ETH), Litecoin (LTC), Ripple (XRP), Dashcoin (DASH), Stellar Lumens (XLM), Binance coin (BNB), and Dogecoin (DOGE). We find a significant correlation between cryptocurrencies and the digital economy using a matrix approach to the Pearson correlation coefficient. With the help of a minimal spanning tree model and random matrix theory, we can determine the shortest route between assets. Yet, as predicted, only a small percentage of the greatest eigenvalues diverge. We are also developing a novel technique to find the SET-50 index. In an investment portfolio during the coronavirus period, alternatives to the gold price and the DOGE may offer possibilities for risk diversification.&lt;/p&gt;

Trends and long-term variation explaining nutritional determinants of child linear growth: analysis of Bangladesh Demographic and Health Surveys 1996-2018.

To examine the height-for-age z-score (HAZ) of 0-35 months' children along with stunting prevalence to identify trends, changes and available nutrition-sensitive and specific determinants that could help explain the long-term variation in child linear growth using successive Bangladesh Demographic and Health Surveys (BDHS) data from 1996 to 2018. The BDHS pooled data are used for determining the key outcome variables HAZ, stunting and severe stunting. Trends, kernel-weighted local polynomial smoothing illustrations, pooled multivariable linear probability model (LPM), ordinary least squares method (OLS) and regression decomposition were used. Mothers having 0-35 months' children, the most critical age range for growth faltering. The mean HAZ increased by 0·91(±1·53) with 0·041 annual average change, while the percentages of stunting (-26·63 ± 0·54) and severe stunting (-21·12 ± 0·48) showed a reduction with 1·21 and 0·96 average annual changes, respectively. The average HAZ improvement (0·42 ± 1·56) in urban areas was less than the rural areas (1·16 ± 1·44). Similar patterns followed for stunting and severe stunting. The prenatal doctor visits (3064·65 %), birth in a medical facility (1054·32 %), breastfeeding initiation (153·18 %) and asset index (144·73 %) demonstrated a huge change. The findings of OLS, LPM and regression decomposition identified asset index, birth order, paternal and maternal education, bottle-fed, prenatal doctor visit, birth in a medical facility, vaccination, maternal BMI and ever-breastfed as influencing factors to predict the long-term changes of stunting and severe stunting. The nutrition-sensitive and specific factors identified through regression decomposition describing long-term variation in child linear growth should be focused further to attain the sustainable development goals.

Bank- specific determinants of liquidity risk for commercial banks in Algeria: Panel data analysis during 2005-2020

This study aims to monitor a group of factors that cause liquidity risks and contribute to the occurrence of liquidity problems by testing the determinants of liquidity risk and the explanatory factors of the liquidity problem in Algerian commercial banks. This study seeks to highlight the importance of commercial banks’ liquidity in financing investments to generate profits and the need to maintain appropriate levels to meet liquidity needs. Using panel data for a sample of nine Algerian banks during the period 2005–2020, the study found that the explanatory variables of the liquidity risks that cause liquidity problems in Algerian commercial banks by using the liquid assets to total assets index ratio are: return on assets, return on equity, and capital adequacy ratio, with an explanatory capacity of 59.44%. Analysis of the results of the fixed effect model showed an inverse correlation between the return on assets and liquidity risks. There was a statistically significant positive relationship between the return on equity, capital adequacy ratio, and liquidity risk. There was a negative, but not statistically significant, relationship between bank size, the loan loss provisions to total loans ratio, and liquidity risk. The study recommends that to increase the volume of assets, there should be a corresponding increase in liquid assets as a precaution against liquidity risks in Algerian banks. Also, other determinants are not addressed in the study, which requires further research into the determinants of liquidity risk in Algerian banks.