The Effects of Urban Green Space on Depressive Symptoms of Mid-Aged and Elderly Urban Residents in China: Evidence from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study

The aim of this study is to assess the impacts of urban green space on depressive symptoms among Chinese urban residents aged 45 and older. In total, 7397 urban respondents were included in this study. Each respondent participated in the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study Wave 3 (2015). Environmental-level variables were retrieved from the National Bureau of Statistics database. Both unadjusted and adjusted methods were used in the multilevel regression analysis. Almost one-third of the sample population suffered from depressive symptoms (31.20%). The multilevel logistic regression model showed that green coverage ratio of city-built districts is negatively associated with the prevalence of depressive symptoms among urban mid-aged (OR = 0.79, p < 0.05) and elderly (OR = 0.75, p < 0.05) residents, and the public recreational green space helps to reduce elderly people’s depressive symptoms (OR = 0.77, p < 0.05). This study adds insights about the impact of green space and other environmental factors on depressive symptoms among mid-aged and elderly urban dwellers. It is important to provide enough and accessible overall urban green spaces; additionally, attention should also be paid to specific green space forms such as public recreational green space.

Areal Precipitation Coverage Ratio for Enhanced AI Modelling of Monthly Runoff: A New Satellite Data-Driven Scheme for Semi-Arid Mountainous Climate

Satellite remote sensing provides useful gridded data for the conceptual modelling of hydrological processes such as precipitation–runoff relationship. Structurally flexible and computationally advanced AI-assisted data-driven (DD) models foster these applications. However, without linking concepts between variables from many grids, the DD models can be too large to be calibrated efficiently. Therefore, effectively formulized, collective input variables and robust verification of the calibrated models are desired to leverage satellite data for the strategic DD modelling of catchment runoff. This study formulates new satellite-based input variables, namely, catchment- and event-specific areal precipitation coverage ratios (CCOVs and ECOVs, respectively) from the Global Precipitation Mission (GPM) and evaluates their usefulness for monthly runoff modelling from five mountainous Karkheh sub-catchments of 5000–43,000 km2 size in west Iran. Accordingly, 12 different input combinations from GPM and MODIS products were introduced to a generalized deep learning scheme using artificial neural networks (ANNs). Using an adjusted five-fold cross-validation process, 420 different ANN configurations per fold choice and 10 different random initial parameterizations per configuration were tested. Runoff estimates from five hybrid models, each an average of six top-ranked ANNs based on six statistical criteria in calibration, indicated obvious improvements for all sub-catchments using the new variables. Particularly, ECOVs were most efficient for the most challenging sub-catchment, Kashkan, having the highest spacetime precipitation variability. However, better performance criteria were found for sub-catchments with lower precipitation variability. The modelling performance for Kashkan indicated a higher dependency on data partitioning, suggesting that long-term data representativity is important for modelling reliability.

Pengukuran Kinerja Keuangan Dengan Rasio Arus Kas Pada Perusahaan Pertambangan yang Terdaftar di BEI

This research was conducted to determine the financial performance of mining companies listed on the Indonesia Stock Exchange in 2017-2019. Mining companies were selected for research because this industry was not included in the business fields that were reported to support the Indonesian economy in 2019, especially with the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic. The high death rate and the rapid spread of this virus have made policies from the government, including limiting activities both domestically and internationally. Even some import-export destination countries have locked down, which of course will affect the productivity and financial performance of the mining industry. From a population of 47 mining companies, only 10 companies met the criteria and were selected as samples. The type of data used is quantitative data. Secondary data sources. Financial performance is measured using a cash flow ratio consisting of 5 liquidity ratios and 2 flexibility ratios. The results showed that based on the cash flow ratio, the majority of mining companies did not have good performance and were still below the standard. Of the eight ratios, only the cash coverage ratio is the most achievable by mining companies. The value of the cash flow ratio of mining companies has decreased during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Genome-Wide Variation Analysis of Four Vegetable Soybean Cultivars Based on Re-Sequencing

Vegetable soybean is a type of value-added specialty soybean, served as a fresh vegetable or snack in China. Due to the difference from other types, it is important to understand the genetic structure and diversity of vegetable soybean for further utilization in breeding programs. The four vegetable cultivars, Taiwan-75, Zhexiandou No. 8, Zhexian No. 9 and Zhexian No. 10 are popular soybean varieties planted in Zhejiang province, and have large pods and intermediate maturity. The clustering showed a close relationship of these four cultivars in simple sequence repeat analysis. To reveal the genome variation of vegetable soybean, these four improved lines were analyzed by whole-genome re-sequencing. The average sequencing depth was 7X and the coverage ratio of each cultivar was at least more than 94%. Compared with the reference genome, a large number of single-nucleotide polymorphisms, insertion/deletions and structure variations were identified with different chromosome distributions. The average heterozygosity rate of the single-nucleotide polymorphisms was 11.99% of these four cultivars. According to the enrichment analysis, there were 23,371 genes identified with putative modifications, and a total of 282 genes were related to carbohydrate metabolic processes. These results provide useful information for genetic research and future breeding, which can facilitate the selection procedures in vegetable soybean breeding.

Risk analysis of companies’ activities on the basis of non-financial and financial statements

Purpose. The purpose of the article is to study the degree of disclosure of information about the risks of economic activity of enterprises in non-financial statements and to find ways to improve the organization and methods of analysis of such risks based on the financial statements of companies. Methodology / approach. The methodological basis of the study is a systematic approach, methods of generalization, comparison, abstraction, analysis, synthesis, induction and deduction, bibliometric analysis, cluster analysis, as well as methods of integrated economic analysis. The publications from the Scopus database, for 1988–01.04.2021, processed by VOSviewer software were the source of data for bibliographic and cluster analysis. The materials of the research on the state of disclosure of information about the risks of domestic enterprises of the food industry are based on their financial statements and management report. Results. The article analyzes the state and degree of disclosure of information about the risks of economic activity in non-financial reports of domestic food industry enterprises. It is established that the enterprises of the studied industry most often provide information about the following risks: economic, currency, financial, political, legal, judicial, interest, personnel, price, commercial, as well as liquidity risk and market risk. Originality / scientific novelty. Theoretical, methodological and organizational principles of risk analysis of companies based on non-financial and financial reports have been further developed. For the first time, we proposed our own approach to the methodology of analysis of such risks, based on financial reporting indicators. In particular, such analytical indicators include: financial risk – solvency, financial leverage; credit risk – investment coverage ratio, return on equity, return on assets; liquidity risk – coverage ratio, quick liquidity ratio, absolute liquidity ratio. Practical value / implications. The practical value of the research is that the results obtained by the authors will contribute to the disclosure of information about the risks of economic activity of enterprises in non-financial statements. Analysis of the status and level of disclosure of information about the risks of domestic food industry enterprises in non-financial reports showed that most companies provided information about the following risks: economic, currency, financial, political, legal, judicial, interest, personnel, price, commercial, and risk liquidity and the risk of changes in market conditions. As a result, the author's methodological approach to the analysis of internal risks of the studied industry (credit, financial risks, liquidity risk) is proposed. The proposed methodology is based on the indicators of financial reporting and is part of a comprehensive risk analysis of the enterprise for the purposes of the risk management system.

Feasibility study of floating solar panels over lakes in Bengaluru City

Sustainable energy production has become an issue of prime concern for regions across the globe. With all the global bodies urging nations to explore and adopt clean sources of energy, India’s enormous solar potential provides a sustainable source of energy, replacing conventional sources that are both polluting and rapidly depleting. To produce large amounts of solar energy, solar parks spanning across large areas are required, making it impossible to serve in highly populated cities like Bengaluru, where spacious lands are not available. The rooftop solutions contribute very minimally towards the city’s energy demand because of the dense urban cover and congested planning. But the city has a large number of water bodies including tanks, large lakes and reservoirs. This paper studies the floating solar photovoltaic (FSPV) technology to provide an alternative solar route to harness sustainable energy. In this study, 32 lakes within the city limits were considered spanning across 3294 ac of lake area and analysed for the climatic suitability of FSPV systems, solar output assessment and estimation of evaporation losses. The study found that the FSPV systems adopted on lakes with a coverage ratio of 0.5–0.6 could meet an average of 26% of the city’s annual power demand.

The Role of Liquidity Indicators to Assess its Risks and Enhance Capital Adequacy in Banking Activity

This purpose of the research is to test liquidity ratios to assess bank liquidity risks represented by liquidity ratios (current assets / current liabilities, current assets / total deposits, current assets / total assets, cash credit / total deposits, liquidity coverage ratio LCR, net stable financing ratio NSFR). This research involves evaluating these risks in banks via these ratios, and reveal the most important means used to solve these risks, including the capital adequacy ratio under the Basel II decisions and for selected period (2017-2019).The research reached the most important conclusion, which is the bank sample did not fall into bank liquidity risks throughout the years of research. Tracking specific ratio with adequacy capital of Basel II decisions of the Bank, it is noticed that it exceeds the minimum capital adequacy ratio in all valid measures, whether in Basel II decisions with 8% or the requirements of the central bank of Iraq with 12%. The research suggests some recommendations; one of the most important one is the need for the bank’s management to recognize the risks of liquidity in advance, in addition to increasing its investments to increase the bank’s profitability. Moreover, the bank needs to plan a clear strategy to maintain capital at the appropriate and required level to face liquidity risks

Efficient Pressure Sensors Placement for Water Distribution Network Using Flow-Tracking Analysis

This letter presents a novel approach for efficient deployment of top pressure sensors in water distribution network. Flow-Tracking analysis using head loss coverage ratio explores a least number of top sensors in network topologies. The following sequence of top sensor plans can be effortlessly determined by simple greedy algorithm. A regular hydraulic model with 33 sensor nodes is to validate the fast and effective feature of flow-tracking method. A top set of 5 sensor nodes selected by head loss coverage ratio Hcr in flow-tracking analysis agree exactly with top set of 5 sensitive nodes selected by objective function f(Xk) by means of Sensitivity Analysis. A linear relationship between objective function f(Xk) and heads loss coverage ratio Hcr of top sensor nodes reveals high accuracy mapping from flow-tracking method to Sensitivity Analysis. Time complexity of searching top sensors node set by flow-tracking analysis is O(m⋅n). Average pressure error can be expected as low as 0.08 m with top-two sensors in sensors layout. As top sensors in deployment plan are all used, minimum error of 0.04 m is achieved. Flow-Tracking analysis has the advantages of little time complexity and accurate top sensors strategy as a new efficient solution for pressure sensors deployment in associated flow network.

Financing conditions of renewable energy projects – results from an EU wide survey

This data note aims to present a dataset with values for financing conditions for renewable energy projects in Europe. This includes weighted average cost of capital, cost of debt, cost of equity, debt share, debt service coverage ratio and loan tenors. The dataset was elaborated in the framework of the "Auctions for Renewable Energy Support II" project (AURES II). The main goal of the AURES II project is to provide policy support to the Member States of the European Union in order to improve the effectiveness and cost-efficiency of auctions for renewable energy support. As part of the AURES II project, an extensive survey (structured interviews) was conducted between September 2019 and April 2020 with different stakeholders involved in the renewable energy industry, such as banks, project developing companies, and investment funds, among others. The technologies covered were solar photovoltaics (PV), wind onshore, and wind offshore. Interviewees were asked to provide values for financing conditions for specific projects (for certain cases, country estimates or ranges of values were provided). Spain, Portugal, Greece, Germany, and Denmark were selected as focus countries, for which the interviews also included qualitative questions to discuss the observed quantitative data in these countries. The presented data has been used as the main input to elaborate an AURES II report on renewable energy financing conditions in Europe.

Financial Leverage and Performance of the Energy and Petroleum Sector Companies Listed in the Nairobi Securities Exchange

Financial leverage and financial performance are fundamental issues in corporate finance. In Kenya, some companies listed at the Nairobi Securities Exchange have had performance improvement. However, most of them have experienced declining fortunes which has been attributed to the fact that corporate managers another practitioner lack adequate guidance required to attain optimal financing decisions. Financial leverage comprises of loans and other forms of debts where the proceeds from these loans are reinvested to earn higher return than the cost of loans. Financial use is the company's capacity to utilization of settled money related charges to amplify the impacts of changes in the profit before premium and duty on the company's income per share. The extent of obligation to value is a vital decision for corporate supervisors. The poor performance of Energy and Petroleum sector companies is of great concern. Financial leverage ranges from debt ratio, debt/equity ratio and interest coverage ratio which are vital since they directly affect the financial performance of firms. The general objective as to determine the effect of financial leverage on the financial performance of energy and petroleum sector companies listed in the NSE. While the specific objectives were; to establish the effect of debt ratio, debt -equity ratio and interest coverage ratio on financial performance of energy and petroleum sector companies recorded in the NSE. The research was anchored on the following theories: Modigliani-Miller theorem, Pecking Order Theory and Trade-off Theory. The empirical literature review was based on the three objectives of the study and gaps established. The study adopted a descriptive research design. Management of all the 5 energy and petroleum companies listed with the NSE was involved in the study which mainly used secondary data to conclude. Data was analyzed using regression analysis. Analyzed data was presented using tables. Confidence interval of 95% was used by the researcher. The study adopted a multiple regression model (Y = β0 + β1X1 + β2X2 + β3X3 +ε). The findings indicate that the independent variables Debt ratio, Debt to Equity ratio and interest cover ratio affected the financial performance of the firms in the Energy and petroleum sector. Their effect was up to 75.4%. Debt ratio and Debt to Equity ratio had a positive relationship whereas Interest cover ratio had a negative relationship to the firms in the Energy and petroleum sector listed in the NSE. This study recommends that the firms handle their capital structure decisions prudently as the changes in the factors like Debt ratio, Debt to Equity ratio and Interest cover ratio enhance profitability of firms when prudently employed and hence affect the performance of Energy and petroleum firms listed at the Nairobi Securities Exchange. This study also recommends that firms control the amount of interest expense since an increase in interest expense has an effect in that it reduces the financial performance of firms in the Energy and petroleum sector listed in the NSE.