Supply Ratio Research Articles

Peran Sektor Keuangan Perbankan Dalam Mengatasi Kemiskinan Di Indonesia

This study aims to analyze the role of the financial sector in poverty alleviation in Indonesia using annual data for the period 1980-2014. The ARDL cointegration approach is used to show the existence of a long-run trade-off between the financial sector and poverty alleviation. In addition, the Granger causality VECM method is also used to detect the direction of the causal relationship between the financial sector and poverty. In addition, to measure the time horizon and relative intensity of poverty in response to shocks experienced by the financial sector, impulse response functions (IRF) and variance decomposition (VDC) are used. Private sector money supply and domestic credit ratio are used as indicators of financial sector development, while poverty is measured by household consumption expenditure per capita and economic growth is measured by gross domestic product (GDP) per capita. The results show that there is a long-run relationship between the financial sector, economic growth and poverty alleviation in Indonesia. Furthermore, the results show that there is a two-way causal relationship between the financial sector and poverty. The contribution of money supply and private credit ratio to poverty shocks is positive. Therefore, to accelerate poverty alleviation, the government can adopt a policy that requires commercial banks to provide convenient lending conditions for the poor and the private sector.

Financial deepening and economic growth nexus in emerging economies in Africa: does supply-leading or demand-following hold?

ABSTRACT This research examines the long-term causation between financial deepening and economic growth in African-emerging economies. The fully modified and dynamic ordinary least square methods are used. Bidirectional causality exists between domestic credit to the private sector, money supply ratio, trade openness and gross domestic product per capita. Unidirectional causality flows from capital formation to gross domestic product per capita. The central banks should apply policies which encourage credit flow to private enterprises via banks’ intermediation and eliminate the bottlenecks undermining credit flow. The governments should establish an investment friendly environment in all sectors and upgrade the productive capacity. Studies have been conducted on the nexus of financial deepening and economic growth with debatable outcomes. Some studies illustrate a positive alliance between financial deepening and economic growth, supporting the supply-leading model. Other findings support the demand-following theory, while some demonstrate mutuality in the nexus between financial deepening and economic growth. Nevertheless, limited studies have been conducted on the nexus between financial deepening and economic growth to ascertain if the supply-leading or demand-following hypotheses hold.

An analytical target cascading method-based two-step distributed optimization strategy for energy sharing in a virtual power plant

Large-scale distributed renewable energy sources as well as emerging controllable loads such as electric vehicles connected to the distribution grids have posed challenges to the efficient management of these distributed energy resources. Promoting energy-sharing of distributed energy resources through economic incentives is a cost-effective and equitable solution to the challenge. This paper proposes a two-stage transactive energy control mechanism by the virtual power plant (VPP) for energy-sharing of multiple prosumers. Firstly, a VPP internal price mechanism based on the supply-demand ratio of prosumers in the energy-sharing alliance is proposed. Then, a two-stage economic optimization model is developed. Trading prices between VPP and prosumers are established in the first stage, and prosumers make operating plans based on those prices in the second stage. Then, considering that prosumers and VPP are independent stakeholders, a decentralized optimization algorithm based on the analytical target cascading method is developed. The upper-level VPP coordinates the energy-sharing alliance and sets the transaction price following the overall supply and demand ratio. Lower-level prosumers independently make decisions and feedback on the trading power of the VPP. Then, iterative calculations provide a distributed and independent solution. Finally, the case study verifies that the proposed energy-sharing model can reduce the operating cost of prosumers by 14.29 %. Moreover, prosumer privacy protection is achieved by the analytical target cascading-based distributed model at a cost of less than 1.5 % accuracy.

Differences in Electron and Hole Injection and Auger Recombination between Red, Green, and Blue CdSe-Based Quantum Dot Light Emitting Devices.

Despite the significant progress that has been made in recent years in improving the performance of quantum dot light-emitting devices (QLEDs), the effect of charge imbalance and excess carriers on excitons in red (R) vs green (G) vs blue (B) QLEDs has not been compared or systematically studied. In this work we study the effect of changing the electron (e)/hole (h) supply ratio in the QDs emissive layer (EML) in CdSe-based R-, G-, and B-QLEDs with inverted structure in order to identify the type of excess carriers and investigate their effect on the electroluminescence performance of QLEDs of each color. Results show that in R-QLEDs, the e/h ratio in the EML is >1, whereas in G- and B-QLEDs, the e/h ratio is <1 with charge balance conditions being significantly worse in the case of B-QLEDs. Transient photoluminescence (PL) and steady state PL measurements show that, compared to electrons, holes lead to a stronger Auger quenching effect. Transient electroluminescence (TrEL) results indicate that Auger quenching leads to a gradual decline in the EL performance of the QLEDs after a few microseconds, with a stronger effect observed for positive charging versus negative charging. The results provide insights into the differences in the efficiency behavior of R-, G-, and B-QLEDs and uncover the role of excess holes and poor charge balance in the lower efficiency and EL stability of B-QLEDs.

Production-water user association performance nexus in mediterranean irrigated agriculture: The case of banana in Türkiye

In this study, the relationship between the increasing banana production in the Mediterranean region of Türkiye and the performance of Water User Associations (WUAs) is investigated. The increase in banana production due to economic incentives and nutrient demand has triggered a complex nexus of challenges and opportunities in the context of water resource management. The effect of banana production areas on performance of WUAs has not been studied in the region in terms of statistical evaluation. Principle component analysis sheds light on several critical dimensions, including irrigation water use, methods, management, operation and maintenance costs, production value, and water supply ratio, all of which are affected by the expansion of banana cultivation. The findings underline the urgency of adaptive strategies and sustainable practices within the scope of WUAs to meet the growing demand for irrigation water, promote water-efficient technologies, and mitigate economic and environmental consequences. As a result of the research, it has been observed that increasing banana production areas ensures more efficient use of water, improves performances related to production value, and reduces operating, maintenance, and management costs per unit service area.

Analysis of ineffective heating in intermittently heated office buildings in hot summer and cold winter areas

ABSTRACT To reduce room heating energy consumption and improve energy utilization efficiency, this paper proposed a method for evaluating the energy efficiency of office heating based on ‘ineffective heat supply’ and ‘ineffective heat supply ratio’ and established an energy consumption analysis model. Using the office in hot summer and cold winter areas as an example, the heating energy consumption and energy utilization efficiency were simulated. The results indicate that better thermal comfort is achieved in the working area of Air Conditioning Lower Installation (ACLI) compared to Air Conditioning Upper Installation (ACUI). The ineffective heat supply ratio of the room increases with the rise of air supply temperature and decreases with the increase of air supply speed. As the supply air temperature increases from 25°C to 50°C, the ineffective heat supply ratios for ACUI and ACLI increase by 35.9% and 14.9%, respectively. The use of low-temperature heat medium is more energy-efficient than high-temperature heat medium. When the air supply speed increases from 0.8 to 3.2 m/s, its ineffective heat supply ratio decreases by 44.6% and 7.8%, respectively. Air speed change significantly impacts ACUI's ineffective heat supply ratio, with ACLI more energy efficient at lower speeds.

The Role of Salt-Tolerant Crops in the Proper Use of Saline Soils

The use of saline soils for agricultural production is a major challenge. A study investigated the resistance to salinity, yield, and product quality of five crops (alfalfa, sunflower, white sorghum, sorghum, and millet) grown on weak, moderate, and strongly saline soils in Uzbekistan. The results showed that the crops were more resistant to salinity on weak and moderate soils than on strongly saline soils. The highest yields were obtained on weak soils, while the lowest yields were obtained on strongly saline soils. The product quality of the crops was also affected by salinity, with the best quality being obtained on weak soils. The study provides valuable insights into the use of saline soils for agricultural production. Saline stress has been the one of the biggest hurdles in achieving the demand and supply ratio of global population. To combat the growing problem of soil salinity, advanced soil management and irrigation technology are used. However, they are cost and energy intensive. Plant growth promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) attained from saline soils can overcome the detrimental effects of salt stress on plants. PGPR positively impact physiological functions of plants such as growth, yield and overcome disease resistance. T

Medium‐ and long‐chain triacylglycerol in human breast milk and association with maternal dietary patterns

AbstractThis study aims to investigate the influences of maternal dietary patterns on the triacylglycerol (TAG) composition, particular medium‐ and long‐chain triacylglycerol (MLCT) in human breast milk. A total of 180 Chinese human breast milk samples were collected and divided into three dietary patterns groups accounting to semi‐quantitative food intake frequency questionnaire and a 24‐h dietary recall. The 180 samples were from 121 mothers in Nanjing, all of whom were mature milk (1 month postpartum and 3 months postpartum). Using high performance liquid chromatography combined with quadrupole time‐of‐flight mass spectrometry, 108 TAGs were identified and quantified. In breast milk samples, MLCTs accounted for 25.76% (median of 24.63%; 95% CI: 24.60, 26.92) of the total TAGs. In human breast milk, the main type of MLCT is the triacylglycerol with one medium‐chain fatty acid and two long‐chain fatty acids (MLL type) which accounted for ~81% of total MLCTs. Among the molecular species of MLCT, O‐P‐La and O‐L‐La are the two most abundant configurations in MLCT (2.28% and 2.17% of total TAGs, respectively). MLCT in breast milk was positively correlated with the energy supply ratio of carbohydrates (p = 0.205), which was significantly higher than that of the other two groups (p = −0.150 and −0.232).

Nearly-zero carbon optimal operation model of hybrid renewable power stations comprising multiple energy storage systems using the improved CSO algorithm

In light of the abundant renewable energy resources in Northwestern China, this study introduces a novel hybrid power plant structure known as the (Renewable energy-concentrating solar power-combined heat and power) RCC system. The RCC system integrates various energy sources, including the photovoltaic, the wind power plant, the concentrating solar power (CSP) plant, and the combined heat and power (CHP) plant. It also incorporates power-to-gas (P2G) technology to convert wind and solar power surpluses into methane. Moreover, carbon capture and storage (CCS) technology is applied to capture carbon dioxide emissions from the CHP plants, which serves as a raw material for the P2G process. To address the energy trilemma, we develop a nearly-zero carbon emission optimization model for the RCC system, considering different renewable energy source (RES) endowments. The fuzzy membership function method is employed to identify the optimum satisfaction target across multiple attributes. An enhanced CSO algorithm is introduced and validated using a simulation study on a CSP plant in Dunhuang. The results show that compared with traditional power stations, the proposed RCC system can reduce the investment cost by 34.45 %, increase the operating income by 17.7 %, and reduce carbon emission by 3.2 %. At the same time, the methane stock in the system increased by 53.7 % compared with the traditional power station containing P2G equipment, which helps the hybrid power station to participate in the methane market and obtain more profits. In addition, the direct energy supply ratio of RES decreased by 83.16 %, reducing the risk of the system caused by the uncertainty of RES. To sum up, the proposed RCC system has a good development prospect.

Analysis of the marketing impact on the market and the end user of vegetable production

The object of the research is the marketing impact on the market and end consumer of vegetable products. In the research process, a number of general scientific and special methods were used, in particular: system-structural analysis and synthesis as the main methodological tool, monographic and extrapolation. The marketing influence on the market and the final consumer of vegetable growing products is disclosed. A marketing research of the vegetable market on the domestic and foreign markets was conducted, which is a necessary condition for the formation of an effective strategy and tactics for the development of marketing in this area. After all, the ratio of supply and demand in the vegetable market determines the movement of capital and the transfer of resources between industries and regions, affects the level and dynamics of prices and, therefore, is a key factor in the formation of producers' income. The development of new management methods and approaches convincingly demonstrates the need to implement marketing as one of the market tools capable of meeting the needs of the market and combining the interests of business entities. The development of new management methods and approaches convincingly demonstrates the need to implement marketing as one of the market tools capable of meeting the needs of the market and combining the interests of business entities. An important role is given to the factor of time and information. It has been proven that the quality and efficiency of the marketing system of the vegetable growing industry is ensured by the scientific methodical development, the objectivity of quantitative and qualitative assessments, the creation and implementation of a rational system of evaluation and management of this system, as well as the level of the marketing organization. The practical significance lies in the methodological substantiation and conceptualization of the role of marketing influence on the market and consumer of vegetable production.

ЕКОСИСТЕМНІ ПЛАТЕЖІ ТА ЗБЕРЕЖЕННЯ ЛІСОВИХ ЕКОСИСТЕМ УКРАЇНИ: ЗАКОРДОННИЙ ДОСВІД ТА РИНКОВЕ ЦІНОУТВОРЕННЯ

Environmental issues are too important for the modern world, especially for Ukraine. This topic, despite its relevance, is far from complete. One of the most effective methods of solving these problems is environmental taxation, which makes it possible to introduce regulatory levers of influence on consumers of Natural Resources. Different countries have developed their own approaches to the implementation of tax methods in the mechanism of environmental relations between the state and its counterparties. At the same time, other alternative schemes of these relationships are being introduced. Environmental tax rates in Ukraine lag behind European ones (which is an additional, too influential reason for slowing down in solving environmental problems), and given the European choice of Ukraine, it is relevant to review the current environmental tax rates. This is exactly the goal set in this study. The economic interests of the state and its counterparty consist in determining the amount of ecosystem payments for natural resources, the essence of which is their intended purpose ‒ the preservation, reproduction or restoration of ecosystems, their potential and functions. The authors prove that the current procedure for determining the cost of natural resources through their prime cost is fundamentally wrong and erroneous in its essence, since it does not meet their regulatory purpose. The fundamental reform of the sphere of environmental taxation should take into account: first, the presence of state ownership of Natural Resources in Ukraine; second, the definition of environmental payments as the cost of ecosystem services provided by the relevant ecosystems; third, the need to introduce market elements in the pricing system for these services. Using the example of forest resources, the author's own approach is justified and our own methodology for determining ecosystem payments as the cost of ecosystem services provided by these resources to their consumers is proposed. The cost of ecosystem services for forest ecosystems consists of the cost of assimilation services (absorption of harmful substances by forest ecosystems – carbon dioxide) and the cost of oxygen-producing services (generation of oxygen by them). This ensures that not only and not so much the level of cost of Natural Resources is taken into account, but also, importantly, the use value of ecosystem services provided to consumers by ecosystems. However, the cost of Ecosystem Services determined in this way should be considered as the minimum allowable (basic) level of their price. In the future, to respond to the ratio of supply and demand in the ecosystem services market, it is proposed to apply additional elements of the tender pricing procedure, which brings the process of estimating the cost of these services closer to fairer pricing. The authors believe that the mechanism of tender adjustment, provided that the auction price increases above the minimum allowable (basic) level, is a kind of tender protection of the state's interests in establishing these payments.

Joint effects of resource supply and resource types on properties of population dynamic models

Abstract The Lotka–Volterra competition model is the foundation of many ecological theories including competitive exclusion principle, limiting similarity and modern coexistence theory. However, competition between species is often modelled phenomenologically without explicitly considering the underlying mechanisms (e.g. resource competition with various resource supply forms and resource types). Deriving phenomenological models from the first principles and linking parameters in phenomenological models to the mechanisms of competition are critical to advance our understanding of population dynamics and community assembly. Here, we used time‐scale separation to theoretically derive phenomenological competition models from mechanistic consumer‐resource models with different resource supply forms (logistic and chemostatic) and resource types (substitutable and essential). We then compared the performance of the resulting phenomenological models with simulation experiments and observational plant dynamic data during 50 years of succession. We further explored how the resource supply ratio such as nutrient imbalance induced by human activities affected the critical parameters, including species' intrinsic growth rate and interaction strength in phenomenological models and consequently the population dynamics. We found that consumer population dynamics can be described by the Lotka–Volterra competition model when consumers are competing for substitutable or essential resources under logistic supply. In contrast, a novel reciprocal model was derived when consumers are competing for essential resources under chemostatic supply. Results from simulation experiments supported the model derivations. We also found that the reciprocal model outperformed the Lotka–Volterra model in explaining and predicting the population growth of 90 herbaceous plants during 50 years of succession. Moreover, the resource supply ratio affected species' intrinsic growth rates and competitive strengths differently under various resource supply forms and resource types and thus determined competitive outcomes. Synthesis. Our study provides an alternative model (reciprocal model) when organisms compete for essential resources under chemostatic supply and sets up a basis for the selection of phenomenological competition models through the lens of ecological processes and contributes to a more accurate prediction of population dynamics, especially those driven by human‐induced nutrient imbalance.

Економічні причини та наслідки Голодомору в Україні (до 90-річчя Голодомору в Україні та 95-річчя Всеволода Голубничого)

The article is devoted to the analysis of the economic causes and consequences of the Holodomor organized in Ukraine by the Soviet authorities in 1932–1933. The study was conducted on the basis of the conceptual approach of one of the first researchers of the Holodomor, Vsevolod Golubnychy (1928–1977). It is substantiated that the main cause of the famine in Ukraine in 1932–1933 was the Soviet economic policy, which was aimed at the total monopolization of economic power, one of the mechanisms of which was collectivization. Having become part of a total state monopoly and the object of merciless exploitation by economic and non-economic methods, agriculture ceased to fulfill its main function – providing the population with food and saturating the commodity market. This caused a deformation of the market structure and an imbalance in the ratio of product demand and supply. Taking into account the fact that the main tool of collectivization was disinvestment, i.e. the liquidation (including physical) of the most efficient agricultural producers, it was concluded that the priority of Soviet policy was not the creation of an effective system of farming in the countryside, but the overcoming of public opposition the most an organized and independent stratum of agrarians, with the subordination of the rest of the Ukrainian peasantry to Bolshevik rule. The ineffective policy of collectivization caused a drop in productivity and led to a large-scale Holodomor, the negative economic consequence of the Holodomor was the physical destruction of a huge part of the able-bodied and hard-working population. Collectivization and the Holodomor, which was caused by it, caused irreparable damage to the agriculture of Ukraine, effectively destroying the effective traditional system of management, led to a decrease in the efficiency of the Ukrainian agricultural economy, and in the long run became one of the leading factors in the decline of the Soviet economic system.

Peer-to-peer energy sharing model considering multi-objective optimal allocation of shared energy storage in a multi-microgrid system

A novel peer-to-peer (P2P) energy sharing model incorporating shared energy storage (SES) is proposed in order to effectively utilize renewable energy sources and facilitate flexible energy trading among microgrids. The model is divided into three main blocks. In the first block, a multi-objective optimal allocation scheme for SES is developed to maximize SES benefits, minimize carbon emissions, and enhance the sustainability of the energy sharing zone (ESZ). The second block introduces a new internal pricing mechanism based on the energy supply and demand ratio. Further, an innovative optimal scheduling strategy for the ESZ is presented in the third block, which includes demand response strategies for residential microgrids and control strategies for SES, with the goal of minimizing the energy cost of a multi-microgrid system (MMS). To solve the proposed complex and constrained model, a multi-objective slime mould algorithm based on generalized opposition-based learning and reference points is proposed. Simulation results demonstrate that the introduction of SES and energy sharing can reduce MMS's energy cost by 89.45 % and increase the sustainability index of ESZ by 9.08 %. The proposed P2P trading mechanism can strictly lock the internal trading prices within the grid prices, which fully mobilizes the microgrids to participate in P2P trading.

Supply-demand bundles and ecological function management of urban ecosystem services: Taking central urban area of Qiqihar as an example

The comprehensive management of multiple ecosystem services is the focus of current research in the field of ecosystem service. The ecological space in the central urban area is scarce, but ecological needs are diverse. How to scientifically use urban land while considering various ecological functions has gradually become an academic hotspot. Taking the central urban area of Qiqihar as an example, we applied the ecosystem service bundle theory to analyze the supply and demand relationship of five ecosystem services in the study area, including flood regulation, air purification, carbon storage and sequestration, biodiversity conservation, and cultural recreation. Based on the supply-demand ratio, we identified the supply-demand bundles of ecosystem services in the study area, completed the division of ecological functional areas, and proposed corresponding spatial control strategies. The results showed that the supply of those five services presented a spatial pattern of low in the city center and south side, while high in the northwest and southeast side, and that the demand for those five services presented a spatial pattern of high in the city center and low around the city. Air purification, biodiversity conservation, and cultural recreation ser-vices were in short supply, with a supply-demand ratio of -0.160, -0.071, and -0.008, respectively. The supply to demand ratios of flood regulation and carbon storage and sequestration services were in excess, with a supply to demand ratio of 0.089 and 0.008, respectively. The spatial imbalance between supply and demand of various services was significant. The research area could be divided into six types of ecosystem service bundles. After comprehensive analysis, the research area would be further divided into four types of zones: urban ecological restoration zone, urban ecological strengthening zone, urban development transition zone, and urban ecological conservation zone. We proposed targeted functional optimization strategies based on the spatial relationship, ecological background characteristics, and supply and demand ratios of various services within the zone.

A New Socio-Hydrology System Based on System Dynamics and a SWAT-MODFLOW Coupling Model for Solving Water Resource Management in Nanchang City, China

To address the issue of seasonal water resource shortages in Nanchang City, a multi-system coupling socio-hydrology simulation method was proposed. This approach involves dynamically integrating a centralized socio-economic model with a distributed surface water groundwater numerical model to explore the intricate relationships between the socio-economic system, the surface water–groundwater integrated system, and the outcomes related to seasonal water resource shortages. Taking Nanchang City as an example, this study conducted research on the water resource supply and demand balance, as well as the groundwater emergency supply, using the multi-system coupling model. Three scenarios were established: status quo, developing, and water-saving. The results show that with the increasing total water demand of social and economic development, the severity of the water resource shortage will be most pronounced in 2030. The minimum water resources supply and demand ratios for the status quo, developing, and water-saving scenarios are projected to be 0.68, 0.52, and 0.77, respectively. To meet residents’ water needs during drought conditions, emergency groundwater supply efforts are investigated. According to the simulation results, groundwater emergency supply would increase the total population by 24.0 thousand, 49.4 thousand, and 11.2 thousand people, respectively, in the status quo, developing, and water-saving scenarios. In the water-saving scenario, the Youkou and Xiebu water sources can serve as suitable emergency water sources. In the status quo scenario, the Youkou water source is the most viable emergency water source. However, in the developing scenario, relying solely on any single water source for emergency supply could have an irreversible impact on the aquifer. Therefore, considering the simultaneous use of multiple water sources is recommended, as it can fulfill water demands while ensuring the sustainable utilization of groundwater resources.

Experimental analysis of one and two-stage thermoelectric heat pumps to enhance the performance of a thermal energy storage

This experimental study demonstrates the possibility to enhance the performance of a low-temperature thermal energy storage system (∼160 °C) based on airflow heating using electrical heaters by including thermoelectric technology. An improvement of the 17 % on COP is reached by using an optimized thermoelectric heat pump system to preheat the airflow, consisting of three one-stage and three pyramidal two-stage thermoelectric heat pumps sequentially installed along the airflow that is heating.This research experimentally analyses and compares the COP of three different configurations of thermoelectric heat pumps: one-stage, square two-stage, and pyramidal two-stage thermoelectric heat pumps. The experimental study aims to characterize the operation of each configuration for heating an airflow of 16.5 m³/h at 25 °C as ambient temperature. To that purpose, the airflow inlet temperature, voltage supply, and voltage ratio between stages have been modified.The experimental results show that for 25 °C as inlet temperature the one-stage thermoelectric heat pump has the best performance with a maximum generated heat of 78 W. Whereas, a two-stage thermoelectric heat pump is required when the inlet temperature increases. At 40 °C as inlet temperature, the square two-stage configuration provides the best performance with a voltage ratio of 2, which reaches a COP of 3.29 generating only 20 W of heat. However, the pyramidal two-stage configuration is able to achieve the maximum heat outputs with a voltage ratio of 1, generating 172; 161; 149 and 138 W, with corresponding COP values of 1.17; 1.16; 1.14 and 1.11 for inlet temperatures of 25; 40; 55 and 70 °C. This configuration is the one that achieves the greatest COP values with high inlet temperatures.

Optimal Monetary Policy Transmission Mechanism for Economic Growth of Developing Countries

This paper assesses the role of monetary policy on economic growth in selected developingcountries and empirically estimates a dynamic model for exploring the performance of monetarypolicy in developing countries. The panel data is collected for 44 developing countries from 1974to 2018. The analysis is carried out through the Generalized Method of Moment (GMM) which isefficient to handle the problem of endogeneity and serial correlation. The results of monetaryindicators show that expansionary monetary policy is best suited for economic growth indeveloping countries. The results of the money supply and banks reserve ratio suggested thatexpansionary monetary policy is more appropriate for selected countries over contractionarymonetary policy. In a similar line, population growth performs a negative impact on economicgrowth while the developing countries are labor-abundant, and analysis supports that the laborforce has a positive role in economic growth. Based on empirics, it is suggested that expansionary monetary policy is more effective for economic growth and economic stability in selectedcountries.

Remotely sensed estimation of root-zone salinity in salinized farmland based on soil-crop water relations

Accurate monitoring and evaluation of root-zone soil salt content (SSC) are critical for sustainable development of irrigated agriculture in arid and semi-arid areas. Based on soil-crop water relations and farmland evapotranspiration (ET) fused through remote sensing data, this study developed an inversion method to estimate root-zone SSC using a case study from cotton fields under film mulched drip irrigation (CFFMDI) in the Manas River Basin (MRB) over 21 years (2000–2020). Two hypotheses were set as: (1) relative transpiration can be approximated by relative ET; and (2) the soil water stress response function is linearly proportional to the ratio of relative water supply. Measured data from a field experiment and collected data from regional survey and literature retrieval were used to optimize parameters and verify the hypotheses and method. The method was then applied to analyze the spatial and temporal distribution characteristics and cumulative effects of root-zone SSC. Results showed that the hypotheses and the method were reasonable and reliable in estimating root-zone SSC (with coefficient of determination R2 > 0.50). Along with the popularization of film-mulched drip irrigation and the expansion of CFFMDI over the past 21 years, regional-scale root-zone SSC declined significantly with an annual attenuation rate of about 0.09 g kg−1. Due to the gradual reduction of irrigation amount per unit area, the decline was more rapid before 2011 (0.18 g kg−1), but slightly slowed down or even reversed at the end of the second decade (2015–2020). By 2020, the mean regional root-zone SSC reached 3.93 g kg−1. At the beginning of this century, MRB was mainly composed of mildly- (59.8%) and moderately-salinized CFFMDI (39.9%). However, by 2020, non- (69.7%) and mildly-salinized cotton field (28.2%) dominated the basin. The inversion method of root-zone SSC fully considers the water consumption mechanism of soil-crop system, thus shows great potential in effective planning and management of soil and water resources in arid salinized areas such as MRB.

Review: Factors That Can Contribute to Profit Maximizationin Real Estate

Profit maximization is a central business goal that can influence the strategies adopted by real estate developers, investors, companies, and sellers. Achieving profit maximization can ensure the continued sustainability of a real estate business and offer new avenues of progress and development within the real estate sector. Unfortunately, profit maximization remains a challenge in the UAE. The oversupply of homes in the UAE can diminish the potential for profit maximization and reduce the viability of real estate investments. It can also put the future of the sector at risk. Identifying the variables that impact real estate profitability can offer a solution to these challenges. Accordingly, this study reviews the factors that have an impact on real estate price levels in UAE and other countries. As per our findings, the key factors that impact profit maximization in real estate include GDP, inflation rate, financing methods, savings, Consumer Price Index, supply and demand ratio, land costs, construction costs, the sale of off-plan properties, buying capacity, and taxes and fees. We also offer suitable recommendations on the use of these variables for maximizing profit. Real estate developers, companies, sellers, and investors can attempt to integrate these variables in their pricing strategies for real estate and reap potential benefits. Keywords: Real estate, profit maximization, property market, real estate prices