Uncovering the factors that affect earthquake insurance uptake using supervised machine learning.

The escalating threat of natural disasters to public safety worldwide underlines the crucial role of effective environmental risk management tools, such as insurance. This is particularly evident in the case of earthquakes that occurred in Oklahoma between 2011 and 2020, which were linked to wastewater injection, underscoring the need for earthquake insurance. In this regard, from a survey of 812 respondents in Oklahoma, USA, we used supervised machine learning techniques (i.

Disaggregated impacts of off-farm work participation on household vulnerability to food poverty in Ghana.

This study examines disaggregated impacts of participation in off-farm employment on household vulnerability to food poverty in Ghana. We use household-level data collected from smallholder farmers in Ghana. This study employs the multinomial endogenous switching regression model to account for selection bias due to both observed and unobserved heterogeneity.

The supply-side effects of cannabis legalization.

Objective: The purpose of this study is to examine how cannabis legalization and corresponding taxation would affect the supply-side of the cannabis market. Specifically, the study considers various scenarios in which Oklahoma legalizes recreational cannabis for adult use and simulates changes in state-level market sales for other legal states and the average grower profits in Oklahoma. We assume that legalizing recreational cannabis in medical-only states would significantly increase the demand quantity in the legalized states and the local government would levy a significant level of tax on recreational cannabis.

Food Poverty, Vulnerability, and Food Consumption Inequality Among Smallholder Households in Ghana: A Gender-Based Perspective.

We examined gender-based household welfare differences in Ghana among smallholder households. We measured disparities in welfare outcomes (food poverty, vulnerability, and food consumption inequality) across male and female household heads and identified the set of covariates influencing them. The study utilizes a dataset from a farm household survey undertaken in Northern Ghana from October to December 2018.

A techno-economic analysis of biochar production and the bioeconomy for orchard biomass.

It is well established that the global practice of burning crop residues, such as orchard biomass, harms human health and the environment. A bioeconomy for orchard biomass may reduce open burning, facilitate the recovery of nutrients that improve soil health, and boost economic growth. We present a techno-economic analysis for converting orchard waste into biochar, a charcoal-like substance that shows promise for improving soil health, but that is considered an experimental product with emerging efficacy and limited market demand.

Effects of Spatial Characteristics on the Spread of the Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) in Korea.

This paper examines the effects of regional characteristics on the spread of the highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) during Korea's 2016-2017 outbreak. A spatial econometric model is used to determine the effects of regional characteristics on HPAI dispersion using data from 162 counties in Korea. Results indicate the existence of spatial dependence, suggesting that the occurrence of HPAI in a county is significantly influenced by neighboring counties.

Do Dietary Supplements Improve Perceived Health Well-Being? Evidence from Korea.

This study analyzes the self-reported intake of dietary supplements (DS) and their effects on perceived health well-being from a survey with 1210 adult respondents in Korea. To account for selectivity bias from observable confounders, we use a propensity score matching (PSM) model. Our findings show that demographics, health concerns, family history of disease, frequency of hospital visits, and regular exercise are positively associated with intake of DS among consumers.

"Look at Me, I Plan to Quit Smoking": Bayesian Hierarchical Analysis of Adolescent Smokers' Intention to Quit Smoking.

The tobacco epidemic is one of the most prominent public health threats the world has ever faced. Public health policy that seeks to limit the problem may have to target not only the price of tobacco but also the initiation stage in a smoker's life-the adolescent stage. Most research on teen smoking focuses on initiation and other stories.