Need For Diversification Research Articles

A Reproducible Mouse Model of Moderate CKD With Early Manifestations of Osteoblastic Transition of Cardiovascular System.

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a significant public health challenge with a substantial associated risk of mortality, morbidity, and health care expenditure. Culprits that lead to development and progression of CKD are multifaceted and heterogenous in nature. This notion underscores the need for diversification of animal models to investigate its pathophysiology, related complications, and to subsequently enable discovery of novel therapeutics. Importantly, animal models that could recapitulate complications of CKD in both genders are desperately needed. Cardiovascular disease is the most common cause of death in CKD patients that may be due in part to high prevalence of vascular calcification (VC). Using DBA/2 mice that are susceptible to development of VC, we sought to investigate the feasibility and reproducibility of a unilateral ischemia-reperfusion model followed by contralateral nephrectomy (UIRI/Nx) to induce CKD and its related complications in female and male mice. Our results demonstrate that irrespective of gender, mice faithfully displayed complications of moderate CKD following UIRI/Nx as evidenced by significant rise in serum creatinine, albuminuria, higher degree of collagen deposition, elevated expression of classic fibrotic markers, higher circulating levels of FGF-23, PTH and hepcidin. Moreover, we corroborate the osteoblastic transition of aortic smooth muscle cells and cardiomyocytes based on higher levels of osteoblastic markers namely, Cbfa-1, osteopontin, osteocalcin, and osterix. Our data confirms a viable, and consistent model of moderate CKD and its associated complications in both male and female mice. Furthermore, early evidence of osteoblastic transition of cardiovascular system in this model confirms its suitability for studying and implementing potential preventive and/or therapeutic approaches that are urgently needed in this field.

ЗОВНІШНЯ ТОРГІВЛЯ ПОСЛУГАМИ ІСЛАНДІЇ: ВПЛИВ ПАНДЕМІЇ COVID-19

The article is devoted to the study of the structure of Iceland’s foreign trade in services in the period before, during and after the global crisis caused by the coronavirus pandemic to highlight the key characteristics that need to be taken into account when building a policy for the development of the national economy. The COVID-19 pandemic has shown that sudden and strong external circumstances can make adjustments to the world economy, especially such a delicate part of it as international trade in services. Therefore, the analysis of this impact on the economy of the country, a significant share of foreign trade turnover of which are services, cannot be doubted. Quantitative and comparative analysis methods were used to characterize the dynamics of Iceland’s foreign trade indicators, such as exports, imports and balances in general, and in terms of goods and in terms of services in particular, as well as shares of goods and services in the country’s exports and imports. In addition, these methods were used to find out absolute and relative changes in the structure of foreign trade in services in 2019, 2020 and 2021. And to explain the possible reasons for these changes, the method of abstract logical analysis was also used. Based on the conducted research, conclusions were made about the effectiveness of the structure of foreign trade of Iceland, as well as the expediency of orienting a national economy to the provision of one or two, or three interrelated types of services. In the study process, bar-line combination charts were used to display the dynamics of Iceland’s exports, imports and foreign trade balances in general, and in terms of goods and in terms of services in particular; line charts – to display the dynamics of shares of goods and services in the country’s exports and imports; a table – to compare the structure of Iceland’s foreign trade in services in terms of value (in billions of ISK) and relative terms (as a part of the whole, in percentages) in 2013 and 2019-2021. This study will allow us to take a fresh look at the issue of the formation of the structure of the national economy and take into account the need for diversification and reasonable balancing of the country’s foreign trade activities.

ИССЛЕДОВАНИЕ ВОЗМОЖНОСТЕЙ УГЛУБЛЕНИЯ ТОРГОВО-ЭКОНОМИЧЕСКОГО СОТРУДНИЧЕСТВА РЕГИОНОВ РОССИИ И БЕЛАРУСИ

One of the main directions of economic development within the framework of the Union State is the expansion of cooperation between Russia and Belarus in the trade and economic sphere at the regional level. The article provides a statistical analysis of the macroeconomic parameters of the trade and economic potential of the Mogilev region, which made it possible to assess the contribution of the Mogilev region to the macroeconomic indicators for the foreign trade activity of the Republic of Belarus and the Russian Federation; to identify the proportions of the share of exports / imports in gross domestic product and gross regional product; to present trends in exports, imports, and the foreign trade balance in the whole region, including within the framework of the region’s cooperation with the Russian Federation. The analytical block of the geography of the foreign trade turnover of the Mogilev region with an emphasis on trade and economic turnover with the regions of the Russian Federation is relevant. There was a decrease in the share of export operations in the system of the trade and economic cooperation of the Union State countries and a corresponding increase in the share of imports, which requires studying the commodity structure of foreign trade turnover with entry into the position of import substitution within the framework of the strategy for sustainable development of the Mogilev region. An assessment of the risk and need for diversification was carried out in the study based on the results of statistical analysis of the concentration level of exports and imports of the Mogilev region by country for 2016–2019. The characteristics of the contribution of small, medium and microorganisms in the foreign economic turnover of the Mogilev region are briefly presented. The article analyzes the structural dynamics of exports / imports of the Mogilev region in the context of enlarged groups of goods, as well as the commodity nomenclature of foreign economic activity. The exporting enterprises with the largest export capacity of the region are identified. Following the results of the study, the authors generalize main proportions and trends of trade and economic cooperation, and worked out promising directions for the development of the trade and economic potential of the Mogilev region with an emphasis on the border areas of Russia and Belarus

Energy-maximising model predictive control for a multi degree-of-freedom pendulum-based wave energy system

Renewable energy sources can be a solution for the recent pollution increasing scenario and the need for diversification of the energy market. Among such alternative sources, wave energy represents a viable solution, due to the its high power density and accessibility. Nonetheless, wave energy is still in phase of development, and a key stepping stone towards commercialisation is strongly linked to the availability of optimal control strategies for maximum energy harvesting. With its ability to handle system constraints and optimise power absorption directly, model predictive control (MPC) has gained popularity within the WEC community as a potential solution for the corresponding energy-maximising problem. In this study, an MPC strategy is developed for real-time control of the so-called PeWEC energy harvesting system, providing also a solution for the wave excitation estimation and forecasting problem, inherently required by the MPC controller to achieve optimal performance. Improved computational requirements are obtained via definition of a reduced control-oriented model, describing the dynamics of the system in a compact form. The performance of the proposed strategy is illustrated via a comprehensive numerical appraisal.

ТЕОРЕТИЧЕСКИЕ ОСНОВЫ ОСУЩЕСТВЛЕНИЯ ДИВЕРСИФИКАЦИИ В АГРАРНОМ СЕКТОРЕ ЭКОНОМИКИ

The issue of disclosing the essence (definition) of the concept of "diversification" in modern economic theory is relevant. This is due not only to conceptual theoretical approaches, but also to the development of a global process of diversification in the real sector of the economy, including the agro-industrial complex. The article considers the existing interpretations (interpretations) of this concept and highlights its distinctive features. The analysis of various interpretations of diversification in various sources was carried out. The definitions are quite heterogeneous, it is quite difficult to form an unambiguous idea of what is meant by diversification based on them. This is due to its use in various fields. Based on the definitions of diversification discussed above, we came to the conclusion that one of its distinguishing features is diversity, or rather its expansion, which can be expressed in an increase in the range of products, types of production, and the emergence of new areas of activity. As a feature of the research approach of various authors, their views on interpretation are united by the fact that they consider diversification in the economy at various levels. Among the possible types of diversification, we believe, such types can be distinguished as: structural, sectoral - depending on the level of the economic system. Depending on the scope of application - financial, industrial, trade, infrastructure, etc. Depending on the territorial / local principle - internal (intracompany) and external (associated with entering new sales markets). The study of the theoretical foundations of diversification led to the conclusion that the conceptual foundations of diversification need to be improved. The heterogeneity of the structure of production in the agricultural sector, as well as the heterogeneity of the structure of the economy in rural areas, necessitates the development of a systematic approach to diversification in relation to the agricultural sector (or better, the need for a comprehensive consideration of diversification in relation to the agricultural sector and the allocation of its backbone elements.

MAPPING POTENTIAL AREAS TO GENERATE PHOTOVOLTAIC ENERGY IN SANTA CATARINA’S STATE

The need for diversification of the world's electricity matrix has led to an increase in the demand for energy production with a focus on reducing environmental impacts. With the intensification of investments and incentives in the development of innovative projects for energy generation, from renewable sources, it was verified the occurrence of benefits from both the electric, socioeconomic and environmental point of view. This research has as main focus the application of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) in conjunction with the multicriterial Evaluation Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP), aiming to define the most favorable areas for installation of systems of electric power generation through solar energy photovoltaic, with the state of Santa Catarina being the object of study. A set of criterias were defined regarding the implementation of solar power plants, such as: the availability of the existing solar radiation in the area, the distance of electric power transmission lines, distance from streets, distances from urbanized areas, the declivity of the area, the existence of conservation units, the hydrography and, land use and occupation. Afther that, it was possible to perform analysis and considerations on the highlighted areas, with greater aptitude to build solar energy plants, verifying if the adopted criterias provided a coherent result due to the geographic, occupational and solar irradiance characteristics of Santa Catarina State. It was also possible to quantify the areas identified as more proper, by presenting them on a solar photovoltaic potential map and also, to estimate its total solar energy potential.

Cryptocurrency as a safe haven for investment portfolios amid COVID-19 panic cases of Bitcoin, Ethereum and Litecoin

PurposeThis article examines the susceptibility of cryptocurrencies to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) induced panic in comparison with major stock indices.Design/methodology/approachThe author employs the Bayesian structural vector autoregression to examine the phenomenon in Bitcoin, Ethereum and Litecoin from 2nd January 2020 to 30th June 2021. A similar analysis is conducted for major stock indices, namely S&P 500, FTSE 100 and SSE Composite for comparison purposes.FindingsThe results suggest that cryptocurrencies returns suffered immensely in the early days of the COVID-19 outbreak following declarations of the disease as a global health emergency and eventually a pandemic in March 2020. However, the returns for all three cryptocurrencies recovered by April 2020 and remained resistant to further COVID-19 panic shocks. The results are dissimilar to those of S&P 500, FTSE 100 and SSE Composite values which were vulnerable to COVID-19 panic throughout the timeframe to June 2021. The results further reveal strong predictive power of Bitcoin on prices of other cryptocurrencies.Research limitations/implicationsThe article provides evidence to support the cryptocurrency as a safe haven during COVID-19 school of thought given their resistance to subsequent shocks during COVID-19. Thus, the author stresses the need for diversification of investment portfolios by including cryptocurrencies given their uniqueness and resistance to shocks during crises.Originality/valueThe author makes use of the novel corona virus panic index to examine the magnitude of shocks in prices of cryptocurrencies during COVID-19.

WORK–LIFE BALANCE IN THE CURRENT JAPANESE CONTEXT

Background: Work style reform in Japan is under way in response to a predicted shortfall in the workforce owing to the country’s low birth rate and high longevity, health problems due to excessive working hours, and the need for diversification of employment. A legal limit for physicians’ overtime work will be introduced in 2024.
 Objectives: This study examines the work–life balance among Japan’s doctors in the context of ongoing work style reform.
 Methodology: The study applied included selective reviews of demographic shifts, legislation against long working hours, and trends in doctors’ participation in the labor force.
 Results: Japan’s doctors work long hours, which creates a conflict between their working and private lives. The proportion of female doctors in Japan is the lowest among the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) countries. Employment trends among women doctors by age group show an M-curve: many quit their jobs upon marriage or childbirth. Gender role stereotyping has led male Japanese doctors to devote themselves entirely to their professions and working excessively long hours: they leave all family work to their female partners. This stereotyping obliges female doctors to undertake household chores in addition to their career tasks, which makes it difficult for them to re-enter their careers. Because of the harsh working conditions (including long working hours), there has been a decline in newly graduated doctors in some medical specialties.
 Conclusions: For sustainable, effective health care in Japan, it is necessary to improve the work conditions for Japan’s doctors towards achieving work–life harmony.

Product Line Diversification and Its Impact on Firm Performance

The objective of the study is to measure product diversification’s impact on insurance firm’s financial performance in Pakistan. Analysis are carried out to examine how ownership structure, capitalization, group membership, firm size, diversification across business lines, industry concentration affects firm’s financial performance. Data from 2009-2019 is collected to measure the impact of diversification (entropy) on the risk- adjusted returns. Findings of the study reveal that business line diversification has strong positive effect on firm performance (for both ROA and ROE) which means that diversified firms perform better than non-diversified firms. For managers these findings are useful as they propose the need for diversification, capitalization, increase in size and group affiliation to enhance firm profitability.

Prevalence of Plasmodium spp. in symptomatic BaAka Pygmies inhabiting the rural Dzanga Sangha region of the Central African Republic.

Malaria remains a diagnostic and therapeutic challenge in many endemic regions of sub-Saharan Africa. It is one of the most important causes of morbidity and mortality, especially in children <5 years. Plasmodium falciparum is responsible for the majority of severe malaria cases in sub-Saharan Africa, but is not the exclusive one. The objective of the study was to assess the prevalence of Plasmodium spp. in BaAka Pygmies with clinical symptoms of malaria, and define the percentage distribution of infections caused by species other than P. falciparum in order to assess the need for diversification of malaria treatment protocols. The study was conducted during the dry and rainy seasons in 2018 and involved a group of 540 symptomatic BaAka Pygmies, patients of both genders, aged 1-75-years-old. Two diagnostic methods for detecting Plasmodium in the bloodstream were used: RDTs targeting HRP2-protein specific for P. falciparum, and PCR assays aimed at detecting P. falciparum, P. vivax, P. ovale, P. malariae species. Only 40.5% of symptomatic patients tested with RDTs for P. falciparum infections were positive. Molecular tests (PCR) confirmed P. falciparum in 94.8% of the samples and also revealed the genetic material of P. malariae (11.1%), P. ovale (9.8%), and P. vivax (0.7%). BaAka Pygmies aged <5 years of age dominated in patients with positive results; the common clinical symptoms reported by the sick individuals were fever, shivers and fatigue. The study suggests the need for introducing accurate diagnostic methods for the diagnosis of malaria and the revision of malaria treatment protocols. Assessment of the Pfhrp2/Pfhrp3 deletions is necessary for evaluating malaria epidemiology in Central Africa.

Integration Analysis of Sharia Stock in Malaysia and Indonesia

The linkage of the Indonesian capital market with foreign capital markets began after foreign investors were allowed to participate in buying shares listed on the IDX where Indonesia is an emerging market. According to Mobius (1996), from the external side, countries including emerging markets can develop rapidly on the grounds that investors are willing to invest in international markets, investors use investment management services, and the need for diversification to avoid sudden turmoil in one market. Model nonlinear in economic and finance riset are often found. One model that can be used to capture nonlinear relationships in data is Threshold Vector Autoregressive (TVAR) model. TVAR model is generalization of VAR model, it divides the time series into different regimes that are separated by a different threshold. The purpose of this research are to see the effects between sharia stock index in Malaysia (DJMY) and Indonesia (JII), and to know the performance with TVAR model. DJMY and JII produce TVAR on lag one with two threshold and three regimes. Each regimes shows different effects.

Chemical environment effects on the electrochemical performance and thermal stability of PdCu3 nanoparticles in HER cathodic electrodes

The need for diversification of the worldwide industrial matrix encourages the use of cleaner and renewable electrical power sources, such as hydrogen fuel cells. Water electrolysis for H2 production is an efficient process but it demands the development of resourceful, low-cost electrocatalysts for the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER). This work aims to apply carbon supported PdCu3 nanoparticles as electrocatalysts in HER, seeking to understand the influence of atomic chemical environment changes on their activities. Since thermal treatments affect chemical bonds, thus electrodes produced with these nanocatalysts are heated either in air or under vacuum. XPS (X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy) yields precise information on metallic sites evolution, and our analyses infer that thermal treatment in air favours the formation of Pd–O bonds and a strong Cu oxidation. Concomitantly, these electrodes achieve the highest exchange current density and improved catalytic activity. In contrast, the electrodes treated in vacuum form Cu–F bonds and exhibit low activity. These findings strongly indicate that our methodology leads to economically viable copper rich Pd–Cu electrodes, whereas the presence of CuO on the nanoparticles surfaces is a key factor for their improved activity owing to Cu leaching and/or CuO metallization mechanism during HER, and consequent Pd-enrichment of the nanoparticles.

The Representation of Women and Ethnic Minorities among Integrated Plastic Surgery Trainees: A Persistent Need for Diversification

BackgroundDiversity in the workplace is crucial. As the United States population continues to diversify, the composition of graduate medical trainees (GMTs) among various medical specialties is not diversifying at nearly the same rate. This study aims to identify gender and ethnic minority disparities present in medicine, specifically among GMTs in the field of plastic surgery. PurposeThe field of plastic surgery is vast, with the patient population ranging from newborns to elders of all different races, religions, and ethnicities. However, the representation of women and minorities among the current plastic surgery trainees is not equivalent to the population they serve. MethodsData from the Graduate Medical Education (GME) census published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) was analyzed to compare trends of female and underrepresented ethnic minorities over the academic period from 2015 through 2019. Data regarding all GMTs and specifically those in the integrated plastic surgery (IPS) program was collected. ResultsOver the five-year study period, females were consistently underrepresented in plastic surgery when compared to the total number of female medical trainees. Currently, females represent 42.7% of GMTs in IPS, a small increase from 40.9% in 2015. Furthermore, Whites and Asians encompassed 87.7% (65.6% and 22.1%, respectively) of plastic surgery GMTs in 2019-2020. In the same academic year, Blacks and Hispanics together made up only 9.1% (2.5% and 6.6%, respectively) of GMTs in plastic surgery. ConclusionThis study portrays the importance of highlighting gender and ethnic minority disparities in the field of plastic surgery, thereby promoting initiatives for change in the coming future.

Mamae Nui me te Takiwātanga: Surplus suffering and autism spectrum disorder in school social work practice

INTRODUCTION: This research investigates social work interventions available for Social Workers based in primary schools in Aotearoa New Zealand, to address surplus suffering related to autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The aim of this research is to explore possible interventions by reviewing literature, and investigating the practice of professionals, in order to discern the best possible practice. The research questions that will be investigated are: 1) How do social workers in primary schools address the surplus suffering of students?; and 2) What interventions are employed when working with children on the spectrum? There is limited relevant literature; however, the published material suggests that most social workers in schools who work with children on the spectrum employ social-ecological perspectives.METHOD: Qualitative methodologies have been employed, focusing on semi-structured interviews that were designed to answer the pre-set questions while also taking note of other concepts and ideas raised by the interviewees. This study has employed social-ecological theory, as well as social theories of disability.FINDINGS: This research has found that, while social workers employ social-ecological interventions readily, they are reluctant to engage in potentially beneficial therapeutic techniques.IMPLICATIONS: The implications suggested by this research are the need for diversification in social work training, and the need for further research to discern the best school social work practice.

TNAU coconut ALR 3 – a promising mite tolerant tendernut variety

Coconut water is considered as nature’s gift to mankind due to its health benefits. The steady demand for tender coconut is currently met from a local dwarf from Kerala, viz., Chowghat Orange Dwarf (COD). However, there is a need for diversification of genotypes. Based on a 20-year-old germplasm evaluation trial conducted at Coconut Research Station (CRS), Aliyarnagar, a selection from Kenthali Dwarf (KTD) has been identified as a promising genotype exclusively for tender nut purpose. It has been released as TNAU coconut ALR 3. The selection is an early flowering genotype that comes to flowering from the third year onwards. The average yield potential is 86 nuts per palm per annum from the stabilized bearing period onwards, with a maximum yield potential of 121 nuts per palm per annum. This accounts for 34.1% and 37.9 % increase in yield over COD and MYD. Tender nut water analysis revealed that the genotype possessed 5.2% soluble sugars with a high potassium level (190.21) compared to COD and MYD. The variety is recommended for irrigated belts of Tamil Nadu.

КРИТЕРІЇ ВИБОРУ КРИПТОВАЛЮТИ ДЛЯ ЕФЕКТИВНОГО УПРАВЛІННЯ ОПЕРАЦІЙНОЮ ДІЯЛЬНІСТЮ

Investing in cryptoassets can be tricky. At the moment, there are many different cryptocurrencies operating on different blockchains with different ecosystems. The use of cryptoassets requires defining a goal in relation to the type of cryptoassets and the degree to which their properties affect their functioning and development. In this article, the author analyzes two of the most popular and significant cryptocurrencies for the cryptoindustry Bitcoin and Ethereum on two different blockchains. The author specifically took two cryptocurrencies that are completely different in their meaning and purpose. In view of the fact that the author does not see an ideal solution to several problems, he described the need for diversification of assets by purpose of use. The author describes each cryptocurrency as a separate ecosystem with its own properties, which requires playing by the rules. The author cites socio-economic factors due to which he chose these two blockchains for analysis, tries to analyze the dependence of the properties of each cryptocurrency on the level of popularization, and gives empirical data stating the consequences in a historical context.The author also considers technical properties as a factor of scalability and attractiveness of each of the blockchains, how cryptocurrencies interact with each other, influencing the financial mood of users. The author of the article also tries to determine the technical and social factors that led to the adaptation of these cryptocurrencies to the traditional financial sector and how they depend on each other. The author describes Bitcoin as a system for saving and multiplying funds, while Ethereum sees it as an ecosystem, an intermediary protocol between already formed market sectors and decentralized applications within the network. After analyzing the results of the study, the author provides general criteria for the formation of a methodology for choosing a cryptocurrency and blockchain for conducting effective operational activities, as well as the formation of its own mechanism for managing the efficiency of cryptocurrency operations.

ТЕОРЕТИЧЕСКИЕ ОСНОВЫ ОСУЩЕСТВЛЕНИЯ ДИВЕРСИФИКАЦИИ В АГРАРНОМ СЕКТОРЕ ЭКОНОМИКИ

The issue of revealing the essence of the concept of «diversification» in contemporary economic theory is relevant. This is associated not only to conceptual theoretical approaches, but also to the development of the global diversification process in the real sector of economy, including in the agro- industrial complex. The article examines the existing interpretations of this concept and identifies its distinctive features. Definitions are quite heterogeneous and it is difficult to form an unambiguous idea on their basis what is meant by diversification. This is due to the use of this term in various fields. Basedon the definitions of diversification examined in the article, the authors propose to consider diversity as its distinguishing feature, or rather its expansion, which can be expressed in an increase in the range of products, types of production, emergence of new fields of activity. As a feature of the research approach of various authors, the fact uniting their views on interpretation is that they consider diversification in the economy at various levels. The following types of diversification can be distinguished among the possible: structural and sectoral (depending on the level of the economic system); financial, production, trade, infrastructure, etc. (depending on the scope of application); internal and external (depending on the territorial/ local principle). The study of the theoretical foundations of diversification allows concluding that the conceptual foundations of diversification need to be refined. The heterogeneity of the structure of agricultural production and the economy in rural areas necessitates a comprehensive consideration of diversification in relation to the agricultural sphere and pointing out its system-forming elements.

PRODUCTION AND PRODUCTIVITY OF HORTICULTURE CROPS IN INDIA AND ANDHRA PRADESH

Fruits and vegetables account for nearly 90 per cent of total horticulture production in the country. The production of fruits and vegetables during the current year is estimated to be 314.5 million tonnes (mt), about 1 per cent more than what the country produced in 2017-18, the first advance estimates of horticulture production released by the government of India. The area under horticulture crop also rose to 25.6 million hectare from 25.43 million hectare. Hectare crop year in India is from July-June. India is producer of fruits and vegetables in the world and is the leader in several horticultural crops, namely Mango, Banana, Papaya, Cashewnut, Recant, Potato and Okra. However the nature of horticulture crops being such it’s not easy to make assessment of their production. These crops, especially vegetables are grown in small plots, fields or in the courtyard of the houses, do not have single collecting in most of the cases which makes their valuation demanding. Various horticulture harvests have multiple proceeds in a single season. Correspondingly many fruit trees are speckled, which do not count for taxation. The need for diversification to horticulture sector was acknowledged by the Government of India in mid-eighties by focussing its attention on investment in this sector. Currently horticulture has recognized its credibility in cultivating income through increased productivity, generating occupation and in enhancing exports. Resultantly, horticulture has moved from rural confines to profitable venture. However, efficient employment of programme and policies call for strong information in time. In this backdrop, this book presents the overall information on horticulture focussing area, production and yield estimates apart from the information about crops price, market arrivals and export. The situation of horticulture crops in India has become very encouraging. Production: India has witnessed increase in horticulture production over the last few years. Important progress has been made in area development resulting in higher production. Over the last decade, the area under horticulture grew by 2.6 per cent per annum and annual production increased by 4.8per cent. During 2017-18, the production of horticulture crops was 311.71 Million Tonnes from an area of 25.43 Million Hectares. The production of vegetables has increased from 101.2 Million Tonnes to 184.40 Million Tonnes since 2004-05 to 2017-18 and production of fruits has increased from 50.9 Million Tonnes to 97.35 Million.

Revisiting the economic growth and agriculture nexus in Nigeria: Evidence from asymmetric cointegration and frequency domain causality approaches

The contribution of different agricultural subsectors to economic growth in Nigeria is investigated and further suggests policy implications for investing in each of these subsectors. To this end, Johansen cointegration test and Gregory–Hansen test for cointegration with regime shift, vector error correction model (VECM), dynamic ordinary least squares (DOLS), fully modified ordinary least squares (FMOLS), Granger causality, and frequency domain causality test are employed for data from 1981 to 2016. This paper further highlights the long and causal dynamics between the selected agricultural subsector, namely forestry, crop production, fishery and livestock, and economic growth. Findings from time and frequency domain causality tests indicate a one‐way causality running from various subsectors of agriculture to economic growth in Nigeria, meaning how various subsectors of agriculture are important for predicting economic growth. In addition, there is 54% speed of adjustment from the error correction model, suggesting a need for diversification of the economy into the agricultural sector as a means for sustainable economic growth in the face of the continuous plunge in the global oil price. In the long‐run, the effect of forestry, crop production, and fishery on economic growth is statistically significant and positive. These outcomes have inherent policy implication(s), which are elucidated in the concluding section.

On the Investment Strategy, Effect of Inflation and Impact of Hedging on Pension Wealth during Accumulation and Distribution Phases

This paper studies the various results obtained in literature on the investment strategy, the effect of inflation and impact ofh edging on the Pension Wealth generation. The explicit solution of the constant relative risk aversion (CRRA) and constant absolute risk aversion (CARA) utility functions are obtained, both in the accumulation and distribution phase, using Legendre transform, dual theory, and change of variable techniques. It is established herein that the elastic parameter (beta) is not equal to one (beta neq 1), based on the assumption of our model. Theorems are constructed and proved on the various wealth investment strategies. Observations and significant results are made and obtained, respectively in the comparison of our various utility functions and some previous results in literature. Sensitivity analysis and Simulations on the various utility functions and optimal strategies during the accumulation and distribution phase are presented; when the existence of a elastic parameter that is not equal to one, when there is existence of modifying factors, when there is need for diversification of investment, when there is no significant effect of the choice of risk aversion strategy on investment returns during inflation period, when there is hedging ability of Inflation indexed Bond and Inflation-linked Stock and when there is insignificant effect of the orthogonal relationship between stock and time and nonpayment of pension benefits on the satisfaction of the investors.