Analyzing the Impacts of Policy Supports and Incentive Programs on Resource Management

Feedstock-based renewable fuels, and ecosystem restoration practices such as afforestation are long-term solutions to mitigating greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. This dissertation aligns with assessing the effects of policy supports and voluntary incentive programs on renewable fuel production and forest-based carbon sequestration.Higher investment risks and novelty of the feedstock-based conversion technologies hinder large-scale deployment of renewable fuels at present. In the first essay, a two-stage stochastic model is employed to evaluate the impact of federal subsidies in designing a switchgrass-based bioethanol supply chain in west Tennessee wherein decisions driven by minimized expected and Conditional Value-at-Risk of system cost reflected the risk-neutral and risk-averse perspective of the biofuel sector, respectively. Major contribution of this study is the impact assessment of Biomass Crop Assistance Program (BCAP) on investment decisions (including land allocation) of a risk-sensitive biofuel industry under feedstock supply uncertainty.In the second essay, impacts of renewable jet fuel (RJF) production from switchgrass on farmland allocation, processing facility configuration, and GHG emissions are estimated in response to fulfilling the RJF demand at the Memphis International Airport in Tennessee. Importantly, a potential carbon market is used to explore the impact of hypothetical carbon credits on the GHG emissions reduction and net supply-chain welfare while addressing the economic motives of the supply-chain participants. Considering the attention paid by the Unites States aviation sector with respect to GHG emissions, this study highlights the importance of Renewable Identification Number (RIN) credits and tradable carbon credits in achieving the desired economic viability and emission abatement goals through a Stackelberg interaction between the feedstock suppliers and the feedstock processor.In the third essay, discriminatory-price auction and agent-based model are used to examine the cost-efficiency of cost-ranked and cost-benefit-ranked auction-based payment designs for forest-based carbon sequestration with varying degree of correlation between opportunity costs of afforestation and carbon sequestration capacities, when bidders learn in multi-round procurement auctions. Simulation outcomes are expected to guide decision makers in choosing an optimal payment design that ensures efficiency gains for auction-based payments compared to fixed-rate payments, and more importantly ensures minimal loss in cost-efficiency in a dynamic setting

Organizational Leadership Styles in Startups in Nepal

This study investigates the organizational leadership styles typical of startups in Nepal, a nation renowned for its developing entrepreneurial ecosystem. The study employs a mixed-method approach, integrating qualitative and quantitative data collection techniques, with an emphasis on comprehending the leadership behaviors that promote success and growth in these early businesses. In-depth interviews with company founders, executives, and important stakeholders are conducted as part of the qualitative aspect in order to learn more about their managerial styles, decision-making procedures, and leadership styles. Additionally, observations and case studies of chosen startups provide actual instances of good leadership techniques and how they affect the growth of the firm. A structured questionnaire is given to a different sample of startup employees to gather their impressions of leadership styles inside their individual firms. This complements the qualitative findings. This quantitative information aids in finding patterns, connections, and possible areas for development. This study provides important insights for business owners, investors, and policymakers looking to support a creative and robust startup ecosystem by acquiring a thorough understanding of leadership style in Nepalese companies. The results may also provide a basis for future studies on leadership in developing economies and offer helpful advice for startups as they confront possibilities and obstacles on their way to long-term growth and success.&nbsp

Patan-Vãbāhā

This volume presents the religious, architectural, and textual background of Vãbāhā, one of the 16 main monasteries of Patan, located in one of the three royal cities of the Kathmandu Valley in Nepal. The history of the Buddhist monastic courtyard and its objects is presented along with 42 inscriptions, dating from 1596 CE to 2021.Dieser Band präsentiert den religiösen, architektonischen und textlichen Hintergrund von Vãbāhā, einem der 16 Hauptklöster von Patan, einer der drei Königsstädte des Kathmandu-Tals in Nepal. Die Geschichte des buddhistischen Klosterhofs und seiner Objekte wird zusammen mit 42 Inschriften aus der Zeit von 1596 n. Chr. bis 2021 vorgestellt

GENETIC VARIABILITY, HERITABILITY AND GENETIC ADVANCE ESTIMATES IN MAIZE (ZEA MAYS L.) GENOTYPES IN NEPAL

Eleven early maize and ten winter maize  genotypes were evaluated in randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replications at the research field  of Regional Agricultural Research Station (RARS), Lumle, Kaski and National Maize Research Program (NMRP), Rampur, Chitwan, Nepal respectively  to assess the magnitude of genetic variability, heritability and genetic advance for yield and yield contributing traits during summer (Kharif) and winter (rabi) seasons of 2016-2017. Analysis of variance revealed significant differences for 10 characters studied among the genotypes. The phenotypic coefficient of variation (PCV) is higher than genotypic coefficient of variation (GCV) recorded for all traits. High GCV and PCV was recorded for grain yield, thousand kernel weight and ear height. Heritability was  moderate to high  except thousand kernel weight in Kharif whereas number of kernel per ear showed lowest heritability in winter season. Genetic gain as percentage of mean (GAM) was greater for grain yield, thousand kernel weight, plant height and ear height.  As grain yield had higher genetic advance along with high heritability in both the seasons that indicated the presence of large proportion of additive gene action for deciding this trait

Patan-Vãbāhā

This volume presents the religious, architectural, and textual background of Vãbāhā, one of the 16 main monasteries of Patan, located in one of the three royal cities of the Kathmandu Valley in Nepal. The history of the Buddhist monastic courtyard and its objects is presented along with 42 inscriptions, dating from 1596 CE to 2021