Large Diversification Research Articles

TREE SPECIES AND MACROFAUNA INFLUENCE ON SOIL AGGREGATES AND CARBON IN EASTERN DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO

<p><strong>Background</strong>. Soil aggregates represent a major indicator of soil fertility as they are important components of soil C protection. However, in the Democratic Republic of Congo, the choice of tree species being integrated into crop farms influence the type of soil macrofauna beneath these agroforestry trees with effect on soil aggregates and carbon fractions. <strong>Objective</strong>. To assess the combined effect of diverse tree species alongside earthworms and termites on soil aggregation and soil organic C. <strong>Methodology</strong>. Soil samples were collected from five agroforestry systems comprising <em>Eucalyptus saligna,</em> <em>Grevillea robusta</em> and <em>Ficus benghalensis</em> (an indigenous tree) woodlots, an agricultural farm (beans) and a natural forest in four different locations. Soil aggregates and soil organic C were analysed in the laboratory following standard procedures. The analyses of variance and correlations were carried out using R programming software. <strong>Results</strong>. A significantly higher proportion of large macroaggregates was recorded in soil under natural forest (13.1 %) whereas microaggregates were significantly low in soils under natural forest. For all the categories of aggregate-associated C, natural forest recorded the highest values while beans had the lowest values. The same trends were observed for labile C with 22.9 g kg<sup>-1</sup> in soil under natural forest and 9.7 g kg<sup>-1</sup> in soil under beans. <strong>Implication</strong>. The high levels of soil aggregates as well as carbon fractions recovered from natural forest clearly show the significance of a well-diversified tree-based farm. <strong>Conclusion</strong>. Therefore, it is advisable to consider a large diversification of tree species on farms to sustain and maintain a better soil quality.</p>

Portfolio diversification benefits before and during the times of COVID-19: evidence from USA

This paper investigates the portfolio diversification benefits for Islamic and conventional investors in the USA with its major trading partners (United Kingdom, Canada, China, Japan, Malaysia, and Turkey) before and during the COVID-19 crisis period. Using daily data from 2007 to 2020, we employ three relevant time-varying and timescale-dependent techniques, the continuous wavelet transform (CWT) analysis, the wavelet multiple correlation (WMC), and the wavelet multiple cross-correlation (WMCC). The findings suggest that conventional and Islamic US investors who invest with major trading partners may reap large diversification benefits for very short investment horizons (4–8), except for Sharia Malaysia index. However, they may not reap benefits for investment horizons of 8–16 and longer, except for China. In addition, COVID-19 crisis caused a poor diversification opportunity for US investors regardless of the regime they follow (conventional or Islamic). Moreover, the American industrial market depicts a state of impending perfect market integration. Finally, the UK and Canada seem to be the potential market leaders in different wavelet scales. These findings yield important policy implications.

Chemical and physical studies of metallic alloy-based old Indian coins with LIBS coupled with multivariate analysis

The present work aims to demonstrate the capabilities of Laser-induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS) coupled with a multivariate technique for rapid quantification and classification of old Indian coins made of various alloys. Thirteen old Indian coins in different years of circulation, (1922–1986) were selected for the study. The concentrations were determined by Calibration free LIBS (CF-LIBS) method. The concentration of cuprum (Cu) is negligible, and aluminum (Al) is maximum in the first five coins, and vice-versa in the remaining eight coins. Two different multivariate methods, Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and Soft Independent Modelling of Class Analogy (SIMCA) have been used to classify and identify the coins. PCA classified all thirteen samples into four main alloy categories. The discernment of unknown samples to their probable class membership of alloy was performed using SIMCA. The surface hardness (Brinell hardness number) is linearly correlated with the plasma temperature and LIBS intensity ratios. The sample surface of the first and fifth coin belongs to Al-alloy, having the least surface hardness, and it became harder for Cu–Ni alloy, Ni-brass alloy, and bronze alloy. The hardness of the surface is more for bronze sample twelve. It is also observed that the plasma temperature increases monotonically with the Brinell hardness number. This analysis provides valuable information on fabrication methodology and explains large diversification in the elementary composition of old coins.

Divergence of alternative sugar preferences through modulation of the expression and activity of the Gal3 sensor in yeast.

Optimized nutrient utilization is crucial for the progression of microorganisms in competing communities. Here we investigate how different budding yeast species and ecological isolates have established divergent preferences for two alternative sugar substrates: Glucose, which is fermented preferentially by yeast, and galactose, which is alternatively used upon induction of the relevant GAL metabolic genes. We quantified the dose-dependent induction of the GAL1 gene encoding the central galactokinase enzyme and found that a very large diversification exists between different yeast ecotypes and species. The sensitivity of GAL1 induction correlates with the growth performance of the respective yeasts with the alternative sugar. We further define some of the mechanisms, which have established different glucose/galactose consumption strategies in representative yeast strains by modulating the activity of the Gal3 inducer. (1) Optimal galactose consumers, such as Saccharomyces uvarum, contain a hyperactive GAL3 promoter, sustaining highly sensitive GAL1 expression, which is not further improved upon repetitive galactose encounters. (2) Desensitized galactose consumers, such as S. cerevisiae Y12, contain a less sensitive Gal3 sensor, causing a shift of the galactose response towards higher sugar concentrations even in galactose experienced cells. (3) Galactose insensitive sugar consumers, such as S. cerevisiae DBVPG6044, contain an interrupted GAL3 gene, causing extremely reluctant galactose consumption, which is, however, improved upon repeated galactose availability. In summary, different yeast strains and natural isolates have evolved galactose utilization strategies, which cover the whole range of possible sensitivities by modulating the expression and/or activity of the inducible galactose sensor Gal3.

Inferring multilocal typologies of agrosystems and farmers’ practices: A methodological basis for the setting of participatory breeding designs

Family farms play an essential role in agroecological transition in Sahelian countries and worldwide. They present diversified features in terms of socio-economic organization, agrobiodiversity management and cropping systems diversity. Decentralized participatory breeding approaches aim to sustain the diversity of varieties adapted for such smallholder farmers' contexts. However the lack of clear target population of environments limits the focus and the efficiency of these approaches given the large diversification of the local contexts. In this study, we surveyed variables linked to agrosystems, crop management options and farmers’ criteria of varietal evaluation from 254 family farms sampled along 13 locations spanning the target area of a decentralized participatory breeding program of cowpea crop (Vigna unguiculata L. Walp) in Niger. The objective of our study was to infer typologies of family farms in the study area based on relevant variables supporting the setting of target population of environments (TPEs) to be considered in the breeding program. We used factorial analysis of mixed data (FAMD) and the Discriminant Analysis of Principal Components (DAPC) to infer the clusters. Chi square test, analysis of variance and generalized linear model were used to identify key variables discriminating the clusters. These clusters were geographically mapped to analyze their multilocal distribution. So, we identified and characterized four clusters structuring the diversity of the local agrosystems (Typologie G), five clusters structuring the diversity of cowpea cropping management options (Typologie C) and five clusters structuring the diversity of criteria used by farmers to evaluate the performance of cowpea varieties in the local contexts (Typologie P). Typology G distinguished farms based on discriminating variables linked for instance to secondary activities, cultivated species, soil fertility management practices and farm resources including land and livestock. Typology C distinguished farms based on cowpea management pratices including the secondary crop intercropped with cowpea (sorghum, Guinea sorrel, sesame or groundnut) and the use of cowpea harvest products (seeds, haulms, hulls). Typology P was based on discriminating performance criteria including cycle length, insect resistance, striga resistance, drought resistance, haulm production and economic value of cowpea variety. This methodology provides a robust and replicable way for the definition of clusters capturing the diversity of farms and local contexts. We discussed the perspective of using these clusters to set target population of environments for decentralized breeding programs.

Paleopsychoda jarzembowskii, a new Lower Cretaceous species of moth flies from Lebanese amber (Diptera: Psychodidae: Psychodinae)

Paleopsychoda jarzembowskii sp. nov. is characterized, illustrated, and described from the lower Barremian amber of Mdeyrij-Hammana (Lebanon). It represents the first psychodid fly in Lower Cretaceous amber showing sexual dimorphism in wing characters. The discovery of this Cretaceous psychodid fly demonstrates that this genus had a large diversification and broad distribution, and improves our knowledge of the evolution of moth flies.

Institutional equilibrium in EU economies in 2008 and 2018: SEM-PLS models

Abstract The aim of the research is to identify the strength and direction of the development of the relationship between formal and informal institutions and to assess the institutional equilibrium of modern economies. The structural equations modelling based on partial least squares (SEM-PLS) is applied to achieve the purpose of the article. It is an econometric method that allows the measurement and analysis of the dependencies between latent variables (measures that cannot be directly observed). The study included 27 EU economies and the research period covered the years 2008 and 2018. The results of the study demonstrate that the quality of informal institutions strongly, positively determines the quality of formal institutions. The conducted analyses indicate that modern economies are diversified in terms of the quality of informal and formal institutions and, consequently, in institutional equilibrium. Considerable institutional disparities also translate into a large diversification in economic development. The article proposes a different meaning of institutional equilibrium, understood as the achieved state of institutional structure characterised by high quality informal institutions which interact with each other to improve the efficiency of formal institutions. The article presents a comprehensive model of the institutional structure and a unique method of measuring institutional equilibrium.

Eksplorasi Tumbuhan Obat Indonesia untuk Kebugaran: Analisis Data Riset Tumbuhan Obat dan Jamu Tahun 2012, 2015, dan 2017

Compounding plants into health ingredients is a promotive-preventive-based health culture, which was identified in the Research on Medicinal Plants and Herbs (Ristoja). The regeneration of traditional healers who mastered herbal formulation is not going well, documentation must be carried out for better knowledge transfer process. This study documented the traditional use of plants to preserve health and fatigue, using data from Ristoja 2012, 2015 and 2017, obtained from the National Institute of Health Research and Development (Indonesian Ministry of Health), data were analyzed descriptively. The data inventory includes grouping of species-family, plant parts, method, frequency, and duration of use, cultivation/non-cultivation, origin, and method of obtaining plants. The results show that the ingredients to preserve health and relieve fatigue have a large diversification, namely 33 families and 60 species. The most widely used are from families Zingiberaceae and Myrtaceae; species Z. officinale, C. domestica, C. xanthorrhiza, P. guajava, S. aromaticum, and S. Polyantum; parts of plant leaves (71,7%) and roots (38,3%;, originally from yards, forests, and fields/gardens; mostly consumed once/day (76,7%). Plants that have been used as ingredients to preserve health and relieve fatigue have several mechanism of action, such as antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, analgesic, glycemic control, blood pressure control, and others.

Genetic Diversity on a Rare Terrestrial Orchid, Habenaria linearifolia in South Korea: Implications for Conservation Offered by Genome-Wide Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms.

Monitoring intraspecific diversity offers invaluable insights on conservation practices as the variation is the product of species evolution. Accordingly, the role of population genetic diversity has drawn great attention over the last century responding to the biodiversity loss induced by a series of anthropogenic changes. Orchids are one of the most diverse, yet ironically most rapidly disappearing plant groups due to the specialized habitat preferences. Thus, population-level genetic diversity studies may offer a powerful tool for orchid conservation programs. Using the 3 restriction site-associated DNA (3RAD) approach, 2,734 genome-wide single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were isolated. With the 2,734 SNPs, we investigated genetic diversity and population structure on 72 individuals of Habenaria linearifolia and Habenaria cruciformis in South Korea. Overall, the genetic diversity was well maintained in South Korean Habenaria, but high FST values were estimated suggesting large population diversification with limited gene flow. Bayesian assignment analysis revealed a morphologically cryptic diversity pattern in Jeju Island populations, which might serve as an evolutionarily significant unit.

Krajowe bezzwrotne źródła finansowania instytucji kultury – za mało i jednocześnie zbyt wiele?

Culture is one of the spheres in which human freedom is realized, and, at the same time, it is one of the main areas of public activity. The Constitution of the Republic of Poland recognizes (in Article 6) culture as the source of the identity of the Polish nation, its duration and development. In Poland, public cultural institutions definitely dominate among the entities operating in the field of culture. These are state and local government organizational units whose primary goal is to conduct cultural activity understood as the creation, dissemination and protection of culture. Cultural activity understood in this way, in accordance with the provisions adopted in Polish law, is not a commercial activity. This study deals with the issue of financing cultural institutions from non-returnable domestic funds. This subject has gained particular importance due to the deepening financial difficulties of cultural institutions as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic underway since 2020. An important argument that justifies considering the above-mentioned topic is the lack of sufficient knowledge of practitioners about the methods (sources) of financing cultural institutions. An analysis of the legal regulations regarding the own revenues of cultural institutions, subsidies, sponsorship and finally, aid instruments related to COVID-19 was performed in individual parts of the study. In order to obtain a credible picture of the financial condition of the Polish culture sector, the amount of public funds allocated in our country for its development and protection in 2011–2021 was also examined. The analysis here shows that a characteristic feature of the financing system for Poland’s culture is a large diversification of the possibilities for cultural institutions to obtain non-returnable domestic funds, which can be considered both an advantage and a disadvantage of this system.

Historia, stan i potrzeby badań nad uzbrojeniem z ziem polskich okresów rzymskiego i wędrówek ludów. Spojrzenie subiektywne (pomimo dobrych chęci)

Historia, stan i potrzeby badań nad uzbrojeniem z ziem polskich okresów rzymskiego i wędrówek ludów. Spojrzenie subiektywne (pomimo dobrych chęci)

Comparative effectiveness of environmental regulation instruments: Case of the Moroccan electricity mix

<abstract> <p>Fossil fuels dominate the electricity mix of Morocco, the country is placing renewable energy at the heart of its energy strategy, to improve the security of supply and ensure environmental sustainability. However, the penetration of renewable energy technologies (RET) in the Moroccan electricity mix remains low due to an excess of investment in conventional energy technologies. This study first explores the characteristics of the Moroccan electricity mix before studying the dynamic effects of environmental regulatory instruments, in particular the carbon tax and the emission standards. To do so, we analyzed scenarios using a bottom-up linear and dynamic optimization model « OSeMOSYS» . We will therefore assess the impact of the carbon tax and the emission standards on RET adoption in the Moroccan electricity mix, over a period from 2015 to 2040. Our results suggest that environmental regulation in the electricity sector will lead to a large diversification of the Moroccan electricity mix with a large penetration of RET thus reducing the overall production of conventional energy technologies. Therefore, it follows that the carbon tax encourages the adoption of RET in the Moroccan electricity mix with significant reductions on fuel costs and operating & maintenance (O & M) costs of conventional energy technologies compared to emission standards.</p> </abstract>

Genome-wide identification and analysis of the thiolase family in insects.

Thiolases are important enzymes involved in lipid metabolism in both prokaryotes and eukaryotes, and are essential for a range of metabolic pathways, while, little is known for this important family in insects. To shed light on the evolutionary models and functional diversities of the thiolase family, 137 thiolase genes were identified in 20 representative insect genomes. They were mainly classified into five classes, namely cytosolic thiolase (CT-thiolase), T1-thiolase, T2-thiolase, trifunctional enzyme thiolase (TFE-thiolase), and sterol carrier protein 2 thiolase (SCP2-thiolase). The intron number and exon/intron structures of the thiolase genes reserve large diversification. Subcellular localization prediction indicated that all the thiolase proteins were mitochondrial, cytosolic, or peroxisomal enzymes. Four highly conserved sequence fingerprints were found in the insect thiolase proteins, including CxS-, NEAF-, GHP-, and CxGGGxG-motifs. Homology modeling indicated that insect thiolases share similar 3D structures with mammals, fishes, and microorganisms. In Bombyx mori, microarray data and reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) analysis suggested that some thiolases might be involved in steroid metabolism, juvenile hormone (JH), and sex pheromone biosynthesis pathways. In general, sequence and structural characteristics were relatively conserved among insects, bacteria and vertebrates, while different classes of thiolases might have differentiation in specific functions and physiological processes. These results will provide an important foundation for future functional validation of insect thiolases.

Approximate construction of new conservative physical magnitudes through the fractional derivative of polynomialtype functions: a particular case in semiconductors of type AlxGa1-xAs

The fractional calculus has a very large diversification as it relates to applications from physical interpretations to experimental facts to modeling of new problems in the natural sciences. Within the framework of a recently published article, we obtained the fractional derivative of the variable concentration x (z), the effective mass of the electron dependent on the position m (z) and the potential energy V (z), produced by the confinement of the electron in a semiconductor of type AlxGa1-xAs, with which we can intuit a possible geometric and physical interpretation. As a consequence, it is proposed the existence of three physical and geometric conservative quantities approximate character, associated with each of these parameters of the semiconductor, which add to the many physical magnitudes that already exist in the literature within the context of fractional variation rates. Likewise, we find that the fractional derivatives of these magnitudes, apart from having a common critical point, manifest self-similar behavior, which could characterize them as a type of fractal associated with the type of semiconductor structures under study.

Portfolio diversification, differentiation and the robustness of holdings networks

Networks of portfolio holdings exemplify how interdependence both between the agents and their assets can be a source of systemic vulnerability. We study a real-world holdings network and compare it with various alternative scenarios from randomization and rebalancing of the original investments. Scenarios generation relies on algorithms that satisfy the global constraints imposed by the numbers of outstanding shares in the market. We consider fixed-diversification models and diversification-maximizing replicas too. We extensively analyze the interplay between portfolio diversification and differentiation, and how the outreach of exogenous shocks depends on these factors as well as on the type of shock and the size of the network with respect to the market. We find that real portfolios are poorly diversified but highly similar, that portfolio similarity correlates with systemic fragility and that rebalancing can come with an increased similarity depending on the initial network configuration. We show that a large diversification gain is achieved through rebalancing but, noteworthy, that makes the network vulnerable in front of unselective shocks. Also, while the network is riskier in the presence of targeted shocks, it is safer than its random counterparts when it is stressed by widespread price downturns.

(Systematic) Investing in Emerging Market Debt

We extend the analysis of systematic investment approaches to emerging market (EM) fixed income. We focus on hard currency bonds issued by emerging sovereign and quasi-sovereign entities. We find that systematic exposures linked to carry, defensive, momentum, and valuation themes are well compensated and lowly correlated in EM markets. A transaction-cost and liquidity aware long-only portfolio generates an Information Ratio above 1. We further show that excess of benchmark returns for a broad set of EM managers are (i) largely explained by passive exposures to EM corporate credit excess returns and EM local currency returns, and (ii) have nontrivial macroeconomic exposures (growth, inflation, volatility, and liquidity). A systematic approach to EM debt may be a powerful diversifier. TOPICS:Emerging markets, currency Key Findings • We find that a systematic approach to active risk taking ‘works’ in emerging market (EM) fixed income. Exposures linked to carry, defensive, momentum and valuation themes have been well compensated in EM markets. • We further find that excess of benchmark returns for incumbent EM managers contain a lot of traditional beta and significant macroeconomic sensitivities. • There is potentially a large diversification benefit for a well-crafted systematic long-only portfolio of EM bonds.

WAS THE EVOLUTION OF ANGIOSPERM-FRUGIVORE INTERACTIONS DRIVEN BY RECIPROCAL COEVOLUTION BETWEEN THEM?

The evolution of fruits contributed to the dominance of angiosperms and provided new ecological opportunities for frugivore vertebrates to diversify. However, it is not yet clear whether reciprocal coevolution between plants and frugivores drove the evolution of their mutualistic interactions. This review aimed at discussing major events of the evolution of fleshy-fruited angiosperms and their major seed dispersers, in order to elucidate if and how they responded to mutual selective pressures. Angiosperms evolved between the Mid and Late Cretaceous and they experienced a large diversification until the early Eocene. However, all main lineages of extant frugivores originated from the Eocene onward: frugivorous birds evolved in the Eocene but diversified in the Oligocene; primates evolved in the early Eocene and frugivorous bats diversified in the Oligocene-Miocene. This divergence in the times of the origins of angiosperm and their modern seed dispersers suggest that other animals interacted with early angiosperms. The most likely candidates are the rodent-like multituberculates. Several studies investigated how plant-frugivore mutualistic interactions contribute to the diversification in both plants and animals and we draw two main hypotheses from them: the plant-frugivore coevolutionary hypothesis and the neutral hypothesis. There are consistent evidences supporting each of these hypotheses, which suggest that they may not be mutually exclusives. An integrative approach is that plant-frugivore coevolution happens in pulses. Times of high environmental disturbances promote significant changes in mutualistic interactions and release new ecological opportunities for emerging species, which in turn exert stronger selective pressures and adaptive changes on fruit and frugivores traits. As evolving frugivores occupies those niches, interactions become more stable and coevolution is weaker and diffuse. We are currently undergoing a new period of unstable plant-frugivore interactions and we need more information on plant-frugivore coevolution in order to predict how species will respond to a changing world.

Risk reduction in two-pillar mandatory pension system under regulatory constraints: simulation-based evidence from Poland

ABSTRACT The regulatory framework of the Polish pension system is far-removed from the optimal lifecycle portfolio approach, which recommends a time-varying asset mix to minimize portfolio risk. Nevertheless, a question emerges on how large diversification gains can grow under the existing rules. This study accounts for the current restrictions and estimates risk-reduction opportunities under the two-pillar pension system. We compare the outcomes with our previous results for optimal portfolio allocation and, as in the previous study, use a Monte Carlo approach with a copula function to simulate the distribution of replacement rates for the Polish pension system. We conclude that the regulations hinder, to a significant extent, the opportunity to minimize shortfall risks, an unsatisfactory outcome for Polish pensioners.

APPLICATION OF THE TOPSIS PROCEDURE FOR EVALUATION OF SOCIO-ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT OF THE WEST POMERANIAN VOIVODESHIP DISTRICTS IN YEARS 2004-2017

The article presents the problem of local socio-economic development. An illustration of theoretical considerations is an empirical study on evaluation of the West Pomeranian Voivodship districts' development since Poland's accession to the European Union. In the research, a taxonomic measure of development was used to assess the level and rate of districts' development. The empirical study was carried out in four main stages: collection of initial characteristics, reduction of the initial set of diagnostic features (to ensure their highest diagnostic value), calculations of synthetic measures using the modified TOPSIS procedure and construction of rankings of districts on that basis, creation of typological groups of districts characterized by a similar level and the pace of development. The study showed the existence of large diversification of economic development of the surveyed districts. The highest level of socio-economic development in both: 2004 and 2017 was characteristic for the Kamieński district and the lowest level of development in 2004 was observed in the Wałecki district and in 2017 in the Gryficki district. The highest pace of changes in the level of socio-economic development between 2004 and 2017 was recorded for the Białogardzki district, while the lowest for the Świdwiński district.

U.S. Coins Market: Historical Performance and Anomalies

In this paper, we document the historical performance of collectable coins from 1967 to 2015. Collectable coins have a 9.7% annualized nominal return and a 5.5% real return over this period. We show collectable coins provide large diversification benefits based on their Sharpe ratios and are effective at countering both anticipated and unanticipated inflation. Lastly, we document cross-sectional and time series momentum and newly issued coin underpricing, anomalies in the market for collectable coins that are typically associated with stocks.