The aim of the study was to assess the frequency of fish consumption in Poland including sea and freshwater fish species referring to some socio-economic determinants. The frequency of consumption was assessed using Food Propensity Questionnaire data from 1489 adults (722 males, 767 females) in 2019–2020. The fish consumption frequency in Polish adults was too rare compared to the recommendations (at least twice a week). About 80% of respondents consumed fish less frequently than recommended. Sea fish were mostly consumed less than once a month (31.8%) or 1-3 times a month (30.9%). The most of subjects (44.8%) consumed freshwater fish less than once a month. It was also depended on: educational level, economic status, place of residence, declared health status, and on BMI value or BMI status. However, taking into account sex, the occurrence of these relationships was different in men and women. It seems that educational activities and dissemination of proper nutrition principles is necessary in order to increase the consumption of fish in Poland. It should be important to emphasize health benefits of fish consumption in relation to possible adverse effects of their contamination.

A simple underwater noise model suitable for use with explosive severance of well conductors and piles during the decommissioning of oil and gas subsea structures is introduced and evaluated against data from five projects in the US. This study focuses on a novel model for the determination of sound exposure levels. The model has been developed to enable determination of impact areas for marine mammals and fish. Simulated received underwater sound exposure levels were significantly correlated with measurements for all scenarios. The maximum total error achieved between simulations and measurements was 2.6%, suggesting that predictions are accurate to within 3% of the average measurement. A low relative bias was observed in the simulations when compared to measured values, suggesting only a small systematic underestimate (≤ 0.5% of average measurement) for most severance operations and a small overestimate (0.14%) for open water blasts.

A simple underwater noise model suitable for use with explosives in the decommissioning of oil and gas subsea structures is introduced and evaluated against data from five projects in the US. The performance of the model is compared to four existing models for open water blasts, and for the severance of well conductors and piles. Simulated received underwater sound pressure levels were significantly correlated with measurements for all scenarios. The maximum total error achieved between simulations and measurements was 3.5%, suggesting that predictions are accurate to within 4% of the average measurement. A low relative bias was observed in the simulations when compared to measured values, suggesting only a small systematic underestimate (≤ 1% of average measurement) for most severance operations and a small overestimate (1.34%) for open water blasts.

Environmental concern has attained a higher level than in the past, with numerous organisations, including the pioneering "Green Banking" institution, expressing their concern. This study examines the relationship between green brand innovativeness and perceived value, as well as its effect on green brand loyalty. It expands on previous research that investigated the differences between innovation and innovativeness and their effects on brand loyalty. In addition, the role of perceived green value as a mediator and consumer green knowledge as a moderator in the formation of green brand loyalty is investigated. To test the conceptual model, a convenience-sampling survey of 600 Ethiopian customers was administered to capture a sample of respondents for the conceptual model. For data analysis, structural equation modelling (SEM) was employed. The results indicate that consumers' perceptions of green value have indirect effects on brand loyalty and direct effects on the innovativeness of green brands. In addition, green knowledge mediates the relationship between green brand innovation and green value perception in a significant way. Therefore, organisations should concentrate on enhancing consumers' environmental literacy and nurturing positive attitudes towards green brands in order to increase green brand loyalty.

Brand communication and supply chain management are critical components of value co-creation in B2B markets, yet their interplay and implications remain underexplored in current literature. This qualitative study investigates how these elements synergistically contribute to mutual value creation among businesses. Through semi-structured interviews with senior executives and managers from diverse industries, key insights were gleaned regarding the strategic alignment of brand communication strategies with supply chain practices. Findings underscore the importance of authenticity, transparency, and consistency in brand messaging to build credibility and foster stakeholder trust. Supply chain management emerged as pivotal in supporting effective brand communication, facilitated by advancements in AI, blockchain, IoT, and cloud computing, enhancing operational efficiency and responsiveness across global networks. Entrepreneurship and emotional intelligence were identified as crucial drivers of innovation and collaboration within B2B contexts, augmenting organizational agility and resilience. Furthermore, the integration of sustainable practices within supply chain operations was found to enhance brand reputation and mitigate risks associated with environmental and ethical considerations. The study highlights actionable insights for practitioners, emphasizing the strategic integration of brand communication and SCM capabilities to navigate complexities, capitalize on emerging opportunities, and foster sustainable growth. This research contributes to a deeper understanding of the multifaceted dynamics shaping B2B interactions and provides a foundation for future research endeavors. By aligning brand communication strategies with SCM practices and leveraging technological advancements, businesses can enhance competitive advantage, cultivate enduring relationships with stakeholders, and achieve sustainable success in a dynamic global marketplace.

With the branding development of the international exhibition industry and the increase in the number of mergers and acquisitions of exhibitions, the assessment of the brand value of exhibitions has gradually come into the view of governments, investment and financing institutions and researchers. Compared with the brand value assessment of consumer goods and industrial sectors, the brand value assessment of exhibitions, especially B2B exhibitions, has special characteristics. A model for brand value assessment of B2B exhibitions is proposed, which can not only provide a reference for decision-making on M&A behaviour of exhibitions, but also provide a decision-making tool for government exhibition brand promotion. The aim of this paper is to explore the feasibility of constructing an AHP-based conceptual model for brand value assessment of exhibitions in Shanghai through a hybrid study. The applicability of the conceptual model for exhibition brand value assessment is empirically demonstrated by analysing six steps, including establishing pairwise comparison matrices, calculating the maximum eigenvalues and normalised eigenvectors of each comparison matrix, conducting consistency checks, group decision matrix synthesis and weight allocation of exhibition brand value assessment indicators. On this basis, the three values of the model in practice and theory are explored separately. The research results can provide better brand value assessment and development support for exhibition stakeholders and improve the sustainability of exhibition brands.

This qualitative study explores the role of supply chain partnerships in enhancing brand value through collaborative marketing efforts. By analyzing diverse cases from industries including consumer electronics, apparel, automotive, and food and beverage, the research examines how different forms of partnerships—strategic alliances, co-marketing, joint ventures, and supplier integrations—contribute to brand value. The study employed a multiple case study design, incorporating semi-structured interviews, document analysis, and participant observations to gather data. The findings reveal that these partnerships enable companies to leverage complementary strengths, resulting in enhanced innovation, product quality, sustainability, market reach, and ethical standards. Collaborative marketing strategies such as joint product launches, sustainable branding campaigns, and co-developed customer programs are identified as key drivers of brand value, effectively increasing brand awareness, customer loyalty, market share, and perceived quality. Despite challenges like coordination complexity, goal misalignment, cultural differences, and cost management issues, the benefits realized—such as improved brand image, faster time-to-market, and reduced costs—demonstrate the substantial value of effective supply chain partnerships. The study underscores the importance of strategic alignment between supply chain activities and brand objectives, highlighting that successful partnerships foster deeper consumer engagement and stronger market positions. This research provides actionable insights for companies seeking to optimize their supply chain collaborations to enhance brand value, offering a foundation for future studies and practical applications in supply chain management and marketing. The findings contribute to a deeper understanding of how supply chain partnerships can be strategically managed to drive brand excellence in a competitive market environment.

Brand trust holds significant importance in the Mongolian cashmere industry. This study examines the primary predictors of customer brand trust among Mongolian cashmere users. Our research includes a survey with 800 participants and 20 individual interviews conducted among both Mongolian cashmere users and non-users. We utilized an online platform to reach participants, employing convenience sampling. The study investigates the relationship between various factors and brand trust within the context of Mongolian cashmere brands. Through a combination of in-dividual interviews and statistical analysis, we test six hypotheses. The findings indicate that higher brand quality, a strong reputation, greater transparency, effective issue resolution, commitment to environmental and social responsibility, and pre-purchase research on such commitments positively impact brand trust. Key insights gleaned from the interviews emphasize the importance of quality, reputation, transparency, customer service, and environmental responsibility in shaping consumer trust. These results offer valuable implications for cashmere brands aiming to bolster consumer trust and foster loyalty.

The European Union Water Framework Directive (2000/60/EC; WFD) aims to achieve a good ecological and chemical status of all bodies of surface water by 2027. The development of an integrated guidance on surface water chemical monitoring (e.g. WFD Guidance Document No. 7/19) has been transferred into national German law (Ordinance for the Protection of Surface Waters, OGewV). For the majority of compounds, this act requires a monthly sampling frequency to assess the chemical water quality status of a surface water body. To evaluate the representativeness of the sampling strategy under the OGewV, high-frequency online monitoring data is investigated under different sampling scenarios and compared with current, monthly grab sampling strategy. About 23 million data points were analyzed for this study, three chemical parameters (dissolved oxygen, nitrate-nitrogen, chloride concentration) and discharge data were selected from four catchment of different sizes ranging from 51391 km² to 84 km² (Elbe, Vereinigte Mulde, Neiße and two stations at Lockwitzbach). In this paper we proposed short-term online-monitoring (STOM) as a sampling alternative. STOM considers the placement of online sensors over a limited duration and return interval. In general we: (I) compare the results of conventional grab sampling with STOM, (II) investigate the different performance of STOM and grab sampling using discharge data as proxy for analyzing event-mobilized pollutants and (III) investigate the related uncertainties and costs of both sampling methods. Results show, that STOM outperforms grab sampling for parameters where minimum/maximum concentrations are required by law as the probability to catch a single extreme value is higher with STOM. Furthermore, parameters showing a pronounced diurnal pattern, like dissolved oxygen, are also captured considerably better. The performance of STOM showed no substantial improvements for parameters with small concentration variability, as nitrogen-nitrate The analysis of discharge events as a proxy parameter for event-mobilized pollutants proved that the probability of capturing samples during events is significantly increased by STOM.

This study examines the relationship between Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and income inequality in Greece across three key periods: the pre-crisis period (2003-2008), the crisis and memoranda period (2009-2014), and the post-crisis period (2015-2020). Using data from the World Bank Open Data database, the study employs correlation analysis, and linear regression models to analyze how economic changes influence income distribution. The findings reveal that during the pre-crisis period, economic growth was moderately correlated with increasing inequality, although this relationship was not statistically significant, indicating uneven distribution of growth benefits. In the crisis period, a strong and statistically significant negative relationship between GDP and the Gini coefficient was identified, highlighting the sharp rise in inequality as the economy contracted due to austerity measures. In the post-crisis period, the relationship between GDP and inequality weakened, showing a statistically insignificant correlation, suggesting that economic recovery alone did not significantly reduce inequality. The study concludes that economic growth is insufficient to address income inequality without targeted policy interventions, particularly during periods of crisis. These findings underscore the importance of comprehensive social policies to mitigate inequality and suggest areas for future research on the impact of specific interventions on income distribution.

The present research endeavours to examine the impact of customers' perceptions regarding a firm's dedication to corporate social responsibility (CSR) on their allegiance to particular banking brands. The mediating factors of brand credibility and image help to facilitate the indirect relationship between corporate social responsibility (CSR) and brand equity, which is the focus of this study. The objective of the research is to investigate the plausible causal association among perceived corporate social responsibility, brand image, brand credibility, and brand equity. The study's data was obtained by conducting a survey among a sample of 320 banking customers in Ethiopia. In order to perform a thorough examination of the data, AMOS version 24.0 and structural equation modelling (SEM) methodologies were employed. The present research endeavours to broaden the conventional comprehension of the advantages that corporate social responsibility (CSR) offers to customers. It aims to address a void in the current literature by scrutinising the impacts of customers' perceptions of CSR, brand credibility, and brand image on their allegiance towards particular banking service brands. The findings of this study carry substantial implications for financial institutions, and the conclusions derived from the results are of considerable significance.

Mixed reality technology is being increasingly used in cultural heritage attractions to enhance visitors’ experience. However, how the characteristics of mixed reality affect satisfaction and brand loyalty has not been explored in previous research. The purpose of this study is to identify factors affecting satisfaction with mixed reality experiences at cultural and artistic visitor attractions and their influence on brand loyalty, which is connected with management performance. We propose a theoretical model based on brand equity theory in the context of mixed reality experience. Survey data were gathered from 251 respondents visiting a cultural and artistic visitor attraction in Seoul, Korea using a stratified sampling method. PLS-SEM was employed for the data analysis. The results suggest that the characteristics of mixed reality (interactivity, vividness) not only influence the affective aspects (perceived immersion, perceived enjoyment) of visitors’ experience, but also positively affect brand awareness, brand association, and brand loyalty.

The Yezidis who represent a religious minority living in Northern Iraq were particularly affected of the persecution by ISIS that gained power after 2013. This paper gives an overview of the events and the mental health consequences as well as associated influences on affected female Yezidis. Based on systematic literature search the aspects “Persecution by ISIS and actual situation of the Yezidi community”, “Gender-specific aspects of the persecution and its consequences”, “Mental health of the affected women” and “Cultural-historical and religious context” are worked out. Research indicates a high burden of health strain and mental health problems in the surviving Yezidi women, especially PTSD and depression. Concerning transgenerational trauma, the recent genocide revive past experiences in the history of the community. Like the narrow cultural and religious rules of the community, this can be both a resource and a burden. The actual extent of the attacks is neither predictable for the affected individuals nor for the community, consequences could also be passed on descendants. Long-term care and support of the affected persons, their descendants and the Yezidi community seems indispensable.

NongXiangXing Baijiu (NBJ) is produced using a solid-state fermentation system, but the impact of stratified fermented grains on fermentation remains unclear. Therefore, in a typical distillery plant, we evaluated the physical and chemical composition, volatile compound profile, and microbial community of fermented grains in NBJ both above (FG-A) and below (FG-B) the Huangshui line. Significant differences in fermentation parameters between FG-A and FG-B were observed after 30 days of fermentation (P < 0.05). Additionally, the partial least squares projection to latent structure discriminant analysis (PLS-DA) revealed distinct differences in volatile compounds between FG-B and FG-A, identifying 26 discriminant markers. The diversity of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) and their esters was higher in FG-B compared to FG-A. Furthermore, microbial diversity and abundance differed significantly between the two layers of fermented grains (P < 0.05). Correlation and pathway enrichment analyses indicated that the higher SCFA content in FG-B could be attributed to the greater abundance of acid-producing microorganisms compared to FG-A. This study highlights the differences between the two layers of fermented grains in NBJ fermentation, offering new insights into solid-state fermentation and expanding the current understanding of the traditional NBJ fermentation process.

Using digital media has become the most popular leisure activity for children and adolescents. The effects of digital media use on the developing brain and cognitive processes of children are subject to debate. Here, we examine the effect of digital media use on attention subdomains in children aged 6 to 10 years. In total, 77 children participated in the study. Selective and divided attention as well as switching between attentional demands were quantified by the SwAD task. Parents were asked to assess the screen time of their children (TV, smartphone, laptop/PC, game console, tablet). Results show no main or interaction effects of screen time on any of the attention conditions investigated. Based on the present findings, as well as previous studies, we suggest a possible non-linear relationship between the amount of screen time and attention function. Furthermore, we emphasize the relevance of considering the socio-economic background of children and a need for longitudinal studies.

Coffee production around the world is under threat due to climate variability and change, and drought stress will increase in many coffee regions, nutrient management practices could enhance the adaptation capacity of coffee production. Considering that coffee is a sensitive crop to boron (B) deficiency, this research investigated how B nutrition improves resistance to drought stress in coffee under controlled conditions as well how with interaction with calcium (Ca+2) influences productivity, seed compositions, and soil fertility during a production cycle of 5 year. Under controlled conditions for seven months, coffee plants were submitted to water stress with and without B nutrition. In the field, coffee plantation was submitted to two B rates (0,6 and 1,1 kg. ha-1-year-1) with fixed calcium (Ca+2) rate and, a control without Ca+2 and B. After 9 months of growth and seven months of water deficit, under controlled conditions, the application of B significantly (p&lt;0,05) reduced the negative effect of water stress on coffee growth. Under field conditions, after a production cycle of 5 years, the application of 0,6 kg B and 77 kg CaO. ha-1. year-1 yielded 14% more than the control without B and Ca+2. An increase of the B rate to 1.1 kg.ha-1.year-1 with the same Ca+2 rate increased the productivity significantly (p&lt;0,05) by 37% compared to the control. B application also improved significantly (p&lt;0,05) the B content in the soil at 0-30 cm. The B treatments influenced the biochemical composition of the green coffee beans, with a significant (p&lt;0,05) inverse correlation between the B content of the green coffee beans with caffeine, and unsaturated fatty acids (UFAs) mainly, oleic, linoleic, and linolenic acids which are considered negative descriptors of the coffee quality.

The branding of cities through their historical and cultural assets has become a pivotal strategy in urban development and tourism. This study focuses on Erbil Citadel, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and its potential as a brand for Erbil, a city with a rich historical backdrop and flourishing urban landscape. The study aimed to explore the perceptions of Erbil's residents regarding the cultural significance of the Citadel and its potential as a city brand. A mixed-method survey questionnaire was conducted, collecting data from around 440 residents through both manual distribution around the Citadel and an online platform. The findings were analysed using SPSS to provide both descriptive and inferential statistical insights.

Micromobility has gained attention from policymakers, industry stakeholders, and academia; however, a comprehensive conceptualization of micromobility is still missing. Existing definitions are largely vehicle-centric: either listing modes or detailing vehicle characteristics. This paper addresses this gap by developing a ‘beyond vehicles’, multi-dimensional conceptualization of micromobility, accompanied by a novel socio-technical definition. Through a review of related concepts, combined with an analysis of the use and definitions of the term micromobility in publications, this study establishes a new conceptualization of micromobility. It incorporates human, social, and cultural dimensions, considers environmental, economic, infrastructure, vehicle technology, regulatory and policy aspects, and considerations for public health. Our definition of micromobility encompasses a wide range of mobility options typically used for shorter trips and manoeuvrable by an individual without motor assistance, at least for short distances. These modes are characterized by their ‘micro’ attributes, including low energy demand, environmental impact, and road space use relative to automobility. The conceptualization incorporates a range of micromobility modes, including fully human-powered (including walking), partially motor-assisted, and fully powered options. These modes typically operate at speeds not exceeding 25 to 32 kilometres per hour (or 45 km/h for faster options), weigh (typically substantially) below 350 kilograms and often yield significant (public) health benefits. Trip length is generally less than 15 kilometres, and daily distances under 80 kilometres. Importantly, our definition includes the practices, policies, cultures, and infrastructures that emerge around the use of micromobility options and shape their uptake. This proposed conceptualization significantly broadens the prevailing vehicle-focus in micromobility debates towards a socio-technical perspective. Embracing a widely accepted conceptualisation of micromobility would offer several advantages, including robust design standards, legislation, and evaluation metrics and methods. Additionally, this paper highlights the pivotal role micromobilities can play in transcending the limitations of automobility, towards more sustainable and equitable mobility futures.

Marketing is the manner of how to make our sales the best in the market, our prices the most accessible, our clients satisfactory, and thus our brand is the largest distributed. This needs sophisticated and advanced understanding of the total network related. Indeed, marketing data may be seen in different forms such as qualitative and quantitative. However, in the literature, it is easily noticed that large bibliography may be collected about qualitative studies, against few studies on the quantitative point of view. This is a major drawback that makes the marketing science still focusing on the design, although the market is strongly depending on quantities such as money and time. Indeed, marketing data may be a time series such as brand sales per specified periods, brand related-prices over specified periods, market shares, ..., etc. The purpose of the present work is to investigate some marketing models based on time series due to brands. We will precisely study the effect of the time scale on the persistence of brands sales in the market and on the forecasting of such a persistence according to the characteristics of the brand and the related market competition or competitors. Our study is acted on a sample of Saudi brands during the period November 22, 2017 to December 30, 2021.

Attack on health has become a significant concern for non-belligerents of war, including healthcare personnel and facilities as witnessed in the ongoing Sudan conflict. About 1.5 billion people living in fragile and conflict-affected settings (FCAS) have a heightened need for essential health services. Conflicts often lead to the disruption of building blocks of health systems, lack of access to health facilities, failure of essential medical supply chains, the collapse of political, social and economic systems, migration of health care workers, and upsurges in illness. While health indicators often decline in conflict, health can also bring peace and harmony among communities. Investment in health systems and health diplomacy is a neutral starting point for bringing peace and mitigating conflicts. The international commitment towards Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) provides the impetus to emphasize the relationship between health and peace with the amalgamation of SDG 3, SDG 16, and SDG 17. The inspection of how health should be used as a ‘tool for peace’ and not as leverage during the war must be reiterated by international institutions.

Many corporations have now revised their value statements to showcase their commitment to sustainable development and green business due to the pressing issues of climate and environmental damage. Despite the importance of value statements that can direct companies to achieve sustainable goals, what kind of values can be perceived as organizational orientations to sustainability remains unknown. This study explores how the general public views the inclusion of sustainable components in value statements from the listed companies in Hong Kong by using Q-sort methodology (n = 30). Analyzing the final sample of 40 value statements extracted from 27 listed companies, we identified three factors related to sustainability, namely, Empowering business process management, Empowering customer-centric excellence, and Empowering sustainable progress. This study provides an additional component to the traditional triple bottom line by suggesting that internal operation of a company is an emerging idea to understand corporate sustainability.

This study investigates the impact of brand lovemark on three customer behavioral outcomes (i.e., green brand loyalty, willingness to pay a deposit, and machine use intention) in coffee shops’ CSR practices. We used a scenario-based experimental design on CSR practices in two coffee shop brands (i.e., Starbucks and Dunkin'). The study demonstrates that consumers with a high level of brand lovemark respond more positively to CSR practices of coffee shops than do customers with a low level of brand lovemark. In addition, the interactions between brand lovemark and gender appear to be important in all three behavioral outcomes. Specifically, it confirms that men and women show different levels of behavior outcomes depending on their level of brand lovemark. Theoretical and managerial implications are also suggested with the direction for future study.

The well-known hop variety Saaz, which gives the Pilsner lager beer characteristic hop aroma may be threatened by climate change in the future. Therefore, new Saaz-related hop varieties, Saaz Late, Saaz Brilliant, Saaz Comfort, and Saaz Shine were bred recently. To evaluate whether these varieties are ac-ceptable for traditional lagers, their comparison was carried out. For this purpose, sensorial and chemical analyses of hops and related beer including namely analysis of hop resins and hop oils were performed. Sensory profiles of Saaz varieties are very similar (fine hoppy aroma, floral, herbal) except for Saaz Comfort which has a little higher aroma intensity, and Saaz Shine which has the most noticeable fruity scent with traces of citrusy of all. Also, the chemical profiles are very close, α-humulene, β-pinene, (E)-β-farnesene, β-caryophyllene, and myrcene are the most abundant. As a result of decoction mashing and kettle-hopping technology with bottom fermentation, are very similar lager beers with hoppy, floral, herbal, fruity, and spicy aromas. Typical hop oils are farnesol, linalool, methyl geranate, β-pinene, and limonene. The high concentration of farnesol in beer correlates with the concentration of (E)-β-farnesene and farnesol in hops. New Saaz varieties are well used for the production of the Pilsner type of lager without affecting the traditional sensory aroma of this widespread style. Varieties have a higher yield and concentration of bitter acids and hop oils. Moreover, Saaz Shine and Saaz Comfort have very good re-sistance to drought, which is an important property from a climate change perspective.

This study addresses a gap in the literature by conducting a comparative analysis of statistical and artificial intelligence techniques for predicting bankruptcy in small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Using a comprehensive database of 7,104 Belgian SMEs, our findings demonstrate that intelligent techniques offer superior predictive accuracy for bankruptcy. Notably, our results indicate that a firm's position in the global value chain significantly affects prediction accuracy, with lower performance for firms operating upstream in the production process. This suggests that bankruptcy risk may spread upward along the value chain. This insight is particularly valuable for practitioners, as it highlights the importance of focusing on specific performance factors based on the type of firms they manage, advise, or collaborate with.

In the digital age, social media platforms have become a critical channel for brands to engage with their audience and manage their reputation. This paper explores the application of sentiment analysis in social media to aid brand reputation management. Sentiment analysis, a subset of natural language processing (NLP), involves determining the emotional tone behind online discussions and opinions. By leveraging machine learning algorithms and NLP techniques, brands can analyze vast amounts of social media data to gauge public sentiment, identify emerging trends, and detect potential issues before they escalate. This study reviews current methodologies in sentiment analysis, including supervised and unsupervised learning approaches, and discusses their effectiveness in extracting actionable insights from social media content. Additionally, it examines case studies where sentiment analysis has been successfully implemented to enhance brand reputation, address customer concerns, and tailor marketing strategies. The findings highlight the importance of continuous monitoring and adaptation to dynamic social media landscapes for maintaining a positive brand image. This paper provides a comprehensive overview of sentiment analysis tools and techniques, offering practical recommendations for brands seeking to leverage social media sentiment data for proactive reputation management.

.Bacground: Sepsis remains a major health challenge worldwide, characterized by a dysre-gulated host response to infection, leading to high mortality and morbidity in intensive care units (ICUs). The Fibrosis 4 (FIB-4) index, originally developed to assess liver fibrosis in hepatitis C patients, has recently been explored for its potential prognostic value in sepsis patients. Method: This study retrospectively analyzed 309 sepsis patients admitted to the Internal Me-dicine and Anaesthesia ICUs between December 12, 2021, and December 15, 2023, to inves-tigate the relationship between FIB-4 levels, Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation (APACHE), and Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) and clinical outcomes. Results: The study found that higher FIB-4 measurements were statistically significantly asso-ciated with increased 28-day mortality, with a cut-off value of 4.9 providing a sensitivity of 54.92% and specificity of 74.25%. Logistic regression analysis indicated that elevated Conclusion:FIB-4 levels were a significant predictor of early mortality, suggesting that the FIB-4 index could serve as a valuable prognostic tool in assessing the severity and prognosis of sepsis patients.

:. Background and Objectives: Pulmonary embolism, PE, incidence had been increasing in the last ten years. Computed thoracic pulmonary angiography, CTPA, had a major role in confirming PE di-agnosis.The main purpose of the study was to establish the prognostic value of a CTPA parameter: pulmonary artery obstruction index, PAOI, for PE risk assessment . A second objective of the re-search was to investigate the predictive accuracy of biomarkers (D-dimer, and cardiac Troponin T, c-TnT ), and PAOI, in 7-day mortality. The third objective of the study was the relationship between PAOI, and these biomarkers, in different etiologies of PE. Materials and Methods: The study com-prised 109 patients with PE, hospitalized, and treated between February 2021, and August 2022. They had different etiologies: deep vein thrombosis, DVT; persistent atrial fibrillation, AF; chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, COPD, exacerbation; Covid; and cancers. The investigations were the following: clinical examination; D-dimer testing, as a mandatory method for PE suspicion( values ≥ 500 µg/L were highly suggestive for PE); c-TnT , as a marker of myocardial injury(values ≥ 14 ng/L were abnormal); CTPA, with right ventricle dysfunction, RVD, signs, and PAOI. Treat-ments were according to PE risk: systemic thrombolysis (in high risk , and hemodynamic instability); low weight molecular heparins, LWMH, after systemic thrombolysis, or in high risk PE, with he-modynamic stability; direct oral anticoagulants, DOAC (in low, and intermediate risk). Results: The relationship PAOI- D-dimer, and PAOI- c-TnT, had very strong statistical correlation, for the entire sample, and for DVT, AF, COPD, Covid subgroups ( Rho = 0.815-0.982). PAOI had a high predic-tive accuracy for intermediate , and high risk together (area under curve, AUC=0.948), and high risk PE (AUC= 0.993). For 7-day mortality, D-dimer , and c-TnT had high predictive accura-cy(AUC=0.921, and 0.979). PAOI had statistical significance for 7-day mortality in Covid (p=0.045), and cancer (p=0.038) patients. Conclusions: PAOI was an important tool for PE risk as-sessment. D-dimer , and c-TnT were valuable predictors, for 7-day mortality in PE. PAOI, and D-dimer; PAOI, and c-TnT were strongly correlated, for the entire PE sample, and for DVT, AF, COPD, and Covid patients.

Introduction. Autopsy is a medical procedure that consists of the corpse’s examination to determine the cause of death and obtain information on pathological conditions or injuries present in the body. In recent years there has been a reduction in hospital autopsies and an increase in forensic autopsies. Material and methods. A retrospective observational study was conducted on the reports of all the 645 hospital autopsies performed at Polyclinic of Bari from 2006 to 2021.Results. Group A, 2006-2009, 174 cases were studied: 58% male, 58% adults, 55% neonatology, pulmonary disease was the cause of death in 23%, and 55% of discrepancy between clinical and autopsy diagnosis. Group B, 2010-2013, comprised 119 cases: 52% male, 46% infants, 48% neonatology, pulmonary disease was the cause of death in 25%, and 56% of discrepancy between clinical and autopsy diagnosis. Group C, 2014-2017, comprised 168 cases: gender equality, 37% infants, 25% gynecology, pulmonary disease was the cause of death in 24%, and 58% of discrepancy between clinical and autopsy diagnosis. Group D, 2018-2021 comprised 184 cases: 56% male, 38% adult, 32% gynecology, pulmonary disease was the cause of death in 27%, and 58% discrepancy between clinical and autopsy diagnosis.Conclusion. The study of hospital autopsies at the Polyclinic of Bari shows that the discrepancy between clinical and autopsy diagnosis is around 56.75%. Thus, the hospital autopsy is helpful in the modern age, especially for diagnosing fetal and neonatal diseases.

The ability to detect the presence as well as classify the activities of individuals behind visually obscuring structures is of significant benefit to police, security and emergency services in many situations. This paper presents the analysis from a series of experimental results generated using a through-the-wall (TTW) Frequency Modulated Continuous Wave (FMCW) C-Band radar system named Soprano. The objective of this analysis was to classify whether an individual was carrying an item in both hands or not using micro-Doppler information from a FMCW sensor. The radar was deployed at a standoff distance, of approximately 0.5 m, outside a residential building and used to detect multiple people walking within a room. Through the application of digital filtering, it was shown that significant suppression of the primary wall reflection is possible, significantly enhancing the target signal to clutter ratio. Singular Value Decomposition (SVD) signal processing techniques were then applied to the micro-Doppler signatures from different individuals. Features from the SVD information have been used to classify whether the person was carrying an item or walking free handed. Excellent performance of the classifier was achieved in this challenging scenario with accuracies up to 94%, suggesting that future through wall radar sensors may have the ability to reliably recognize many different types of activities in TTW scenarios using these techniques.

This study explores the influence of social media marketing on brand loyalty, employing a qualitative research approach to gain in-depth insights into the key factors that drive consumer engagement and commitment. Through semi-structured interviews with 20 active social media users and a comprehensive analysis of social media content, the research identifies several critical elements affecting brand loyalty. Personalization emerged as a central theme, with tailored content, customized offers, and personalized recommendations significantly enhancing users' emotional connection with brands. High-quality content, characterized by engaging visuals and valuable information, was found to reinforce positive brand perceptions and sustain loyalty. Influencer marketing also plays a pivotal role, with authentic endorsements from relevant influencers boosting brand credibility and trust. Effective community management, involving active engagement, responsive feedback, and relationship-building, contributes to a positive brand experience and strengthens user loyalty. Targeted and relevant social media advertising supports brand loyalty, although excessive or irrelevant ads can lead to disengagement. The study also highlights the importance of balancing interaction frequency and content quality to maintain user interest without causing fatigue. Addressing social media fatigue by delivering relevant and valuable content is crucial for preventing user disengagement. Content that resonates with users' values and emotions further strengthens brand attachment. Consistency in brand voice, visual identity, and values ensures a coherent and positive brand experience. The findings emphasize the need for a strategic approach to social media marketing, integrating personalization, content quality, influencer partnerships, community management, advertising relevance, and consistency to build and sustain strong brand loyalty.

The study is carried out on the factors influencing customers’ brand loyalty. The study is aimed at evaluating customers’ brand loyalty status and identifying its determinants. To this end, an explanatory research design is used with the support of descriptive and multiple regression analytical techniques. From the customers of the bank 290 of them are selected using a purposive sampling technique. Questionnaires are administered to collect the primary data. The finding of the study indicates that the loyalty status of the customers is fragmented into hard-core loyalty, split loyalty, shift loyalty, and switching loyalty status with the inclination on the first and second categories of loyalty status. It also reflects that distribution, promotion, reputation, satisfaction and tangible benefits are the predictors of customers’ brand loyalty. A message of sticking on these determinants of loyalty is transmitted to the bank manager with the emphasis on the most predictors, i.e., distribution and promotion.

This qualitative study explores consumer perceptions of ethical supply chains and their implications for brand loyalty in contemporary markets. Ethical supply chain practices, encompassing sustainability, transparency, and social responsibility, are increasingly pivotal in shaping consumer attitudes and behaviors. A semi-structured interview approach was utilized to gather insights from a diverse sample of consumers, revealing nuanced perspectives on how ethical considerations influence brand preferences and loyalty. Findings indicate that consumers value brands that demonstrate genuine commitment to ethicality, viewing transparency and accountability in supply chain operations as essential for building trust and credibility. Emotional responses such as admiration and respect were commonly associated with brands perceived as ethical, highlighting the emotional resonance of ethical supply chain practices in consumer decision-making processes. Challenges such as greenwashing and perceived discrepancies between brand promises and actions underscore the importance of authentic communication in aligning consumer perceptions with brand behaviors. The COVID-19 pandemic further emphasized the role of ethical supply chains in ensuring business resilience and consumer trust during global disruptions. Brands that exhibited ethical leadership during the crisis reinforced their reputational capital and strengthened relationships with ethically conscious consumers. This study contributes to understanding the strategic imperative for businesses to integrate and communicate ethical supply chain practices effectively, thereby fostering sustainable competitive advantages and enhancing long-term brand loyalty. Future research directions include exploring evolving consumer expectations, emerging ethical challenges, and innovative strategies for embedding ethicality into supply chain management.This qualitative study explores consumer perceptions of ethical supply chains and their implications for brand loyalty in contemporary markets. Ethical supply chain practices, encompassing sustainability, transparency, and social responsibility, are increasingly pivotal in shaping consumer attitudes and behaviors. A semi-structured interview approach was utilized to gather insights from a diverse sample of consumers, revealing nuanced perspectives on how ethical considerations influence brand preferences and loyalty. Findings indicate that consumers value brands that demonstrate genuine commitment to ethicality, viewing transparency and accountability in supply chain operations as essential for building trust and credibility. Emotional responses such as admiration and respect were commonly associated with brands perceived as ethical, highlighting the emotional resonance of ethical supply chain practices in consumer decision-making processes. Challenges such as greenwashing and perceived discrepancies between brand promises and actions underscore the importance of authentic communication in aligning consumer perceptions with brand behaviors. The COVID-19 pandemic further emphasized the role of ethical supply chains in ensuring business resilience and consumer trust during global disruptions. Brands that exhibited ethical leadership during the crisis reinforced their reputational capital and strengthened relationships with ethically conscious consumers. This study contributes to understanding the strategic imperative for businesses to integrate and communicate ethical supply chain practices effectively, thereby fostering sustainable competitive advantages and enhancing long-term brand loyalty. Future research directions include exploring evolving consumer expectations, emerging ethical challenges, and innovative strategies for embedding ethicality into supply chain management.

Building on the Sustainable Happiness Model, this study examined how congruency between ideal self-image and brand image influence a sense of happiness. The findings show that when ideal self-image and ideal social self-image are congruent with brand image a sense of happiness can be enhanced through brand identification and positive emotions. This study contributes to literature as it reveals the mechanism of how congruency between ideal self-image and brand image positively affect happiness.

Traditional African vegetables (TAV) are an important component of an ecologically sustainable approach to addressing food and nutrition security in Africa (countries?). This review aims to identify the scope of the knowledge translation literature that exists across multiple aspects of the TAV value chain and to identify gaps in knowledge translation research. A scoping review following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR) was conducted. The Population, Concept, and Context (PCC) framework was used to guide the development of inclusion and exclusion criteria for this review. Web of Science, Scopus, Science direct and ABI/Inform databases were searched to identify relevant studies which were then screened using the Covidence online software to select studies and extract information for analysis and reporting. A total of 182 studies/articles were selected and examined. The most significant knowledge documented about TAVs is their vast genetic diversity contributing to their rich nutritional and medicinal properties, their ability to withstand harsh environmental conditions such as drought, pests, and diseases as well as the effects of various post-handling techniques on nutrient content of TAVs with the production phase of TAVs value chain being the most studied. This review found that although there is a breadth of knowledge created about TAVs, there is still little documentation of transferring and utilizing of this knowledge across the TAVs value chain. This review identified that more research is needed to document strategies and practices for the transfer and utilisation of knowledge to ensure it is utilized to enhance nutritional outcomes across Africa.

This study explores the current landscape of social value (SV) research in the construction industry, analyzing global trends and identifying future research directions. Using bibliometric analysis, research published in Elsevier Scopus database from 2013 to 2023 was extracted using the keywords "social value" AND "construction industry." Results indicate a focus on social value indicators, socioeconomic impacts, project management, innovative practices, and cross-sector collaborations. The study also reveals a lack of attention to SV in African countries' construction sectors. By highlighting research areas and identifying gaps, this study contributes to academic literature, suggesting the need for guidelines, particularly in developing countries, and advocating for further research on SV in the built environment and strategies for global social value creation.

Abstract: Rice is one of the most important food crops in sub-Saharan Africa. Climate change, variability, and economic globalization threaten to disrupt rice value chains across the subcontinent, undermining their important role in economic development, food security, and poverty reduction. This paper maps existing research on the vulnerability of rice value chains, synthesizes the evidence and the risks posed by climate change and economic globalization, and discusses agriculture and rural development policies and their relevance for the vulnerability of rice value chains in sub-Saharan Africa. Important avenues for future research are identified. These include the impacts of multiple, simultaneous pressures on rice value chains, the effects of climate change and variability on parts of the value chain other than production, and the forms and extent to which different development policies hinder or enhance the resilience of rice value chains in the face of climatic and other pressures.

(1) Background: The RDW-CV has predictive value in many pregnancy-related conditions. Re-search question: Can the RDW-CV be utilized predictively in pregnant patients with thrombo-philia? Aim of the study: To carry out a detailed analysis of the RDW-CV in pregnant patients with treated thrombophilia as compared with pregnant patients without thrombophilia who de-livered via cesarean section at term. (2) Methods: We studied 160 pregnant patients, including 80 pregnant patients with treated thrombophilia in the study group, and another 80 patients of a similar age and parity. The patients were referred to our hospital for delivery at term by means of a cesarean section between 1/10/2017 and 1/12/2021. Every patient received a sonogram during the first 1–2 days after the cesarean section, and their uterine evaluation was interpreted using the PUUS (Postpartum Uterine Ultrasonographic Scale). (3) Results: Our PUUS≥1 pregnant and postpartum patients with treated thrombophilia were the only group with an RDW-CV value over 14. No deep vein thrombosis was observed during hospitalization, showing that the antico-agulant treatment was necessary and effective. An RDW-CV of 14.5 was the highest value in the Rh-negative group of pregnant patients with treated thrombophilia. An RDW-CV of 14.48 was the highest level in the Rh-negative postpartum patients with treated thrombophilia. (4) Conclu-sion: An RDW-CV of ≥14 can predict uterine hematometra (PUUS≥1). The RDW-CV values were higher in Rh-negative patients.

Background: Accurate sales forecasting in the mobile phone industry is critical to informed decision making by both the government and corporations. This study seeks to enhance mobile phone sales predictions by incorporating brand exposure as a predictive factor, hence addressing the gap left by the existing forecasting models that do not consider the impact of brand awareness. Method: This study thereby indicates a quantification method for brand exposure that merges word-of-mouth reviews with online search data. Word2Vec is used to extract initial keywords from a word-of-mouth corpus, whereas time-lag correlation analysis refines the core keywords. Later, PCA synthesizes brand exposure. The attention-LSTM framework hereby develops a forecasting model of mobile phone sales, effectively combining long short-term memory networks with the ability to capture time series dependencies and an attention mechanism to reduce data redundancy. Results: By considering brand exposure, the experiments demonstrate that the attention-LSTM model decreases the RMSE and MAPE indicators by 2.02% and 0.96%, respectively. In addition, compared with the ARIMA, SVR, BP neural network, and LSTM models, the attention-LSTM model decreases the average percentage errors by 6.52%, 3.42%, 2.56%, and 0.81%, respectively. Conclusion: Attention-LSTM captures dynamic sales trends very well and holds great significance over traditional models. Overall, including brand exposure, this model is very strong for the interpretation of mobile phone sales predictions, which has important implications in terms of policy as well as corporate strategies.

Waste glycerol can be subjected to various processing operations, including purification and re-fining, to obtain glycerol of appropriate purity. In addition, alternative methods of utilising waste glycerol are also being sought, e.g. by converting it into other valuable chemical products or biofuels. Therefore, various technologies are being developed to utilise this type of waste effectively and sustainably. The production of value-added products from waste glycerol is an important issue that determines the improvement of the economic viability of biofuel production and corresponds to the model of a waste-free and emission-free circular economy. This paper characterised the mechanisms and evaluated the efficiency of existing methods of microbiological utilisation of waste glycerol into liquid biofuels, including biodiesel, bioethanol and biobutanol, and identified further directions for the production of value-added products. In addition, a bibliographical analysis of publications re-lated to the production of liquid fuels and economically valuable products from glycerol was carried out, the progress of research and application work was assessed and directions for future research were identified.

Endometriosis is a prevalent chronic inflammatory disease characterized by a considerable delay between initial symptoms and diagnosis through surgery. The pressing need for a timely, non-invasive diagnostic solution underscores the focus of current research efforts. This study examines the diagnostic potential of the menstrual blood lipidome. The lipid profile of 39 samples (23 women with endometriosis and 16 patient of control group) was acquired using reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry with LipidMatch processing and identification. Profiles were normalized based on total ion counts. Significant differences in lipids were determined using the Mann-Whitney test. Lipids for the diagnostic model, based on logistic regression, were selected using a combination of variance importance projection filters and Akaike information criteria. Levels of ceramides, sphingomyelins, cardiolipins, triacylglycerols, acyl- and alkenyl-phosphatidylethanolamines, and alkenyl-phosphatidylcholines increased, while acyl- and alkyl-phosphatidylcholines decreased in cases of endometriosis. PE P-16:0/18:1 and CL 16:0_18:0_22:5_22:6 serve as marker lipids in the diagnostic model, exhibiting a sensitivity of 81% and specificity of 85%. The diagnostic approach based on dried spots of menstrual blood holds promise as an alternative to traditional non-invasive methods for endometriosis screening.

Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and its receptors (VEGFRs) serve an essential role in tumor angiogenesis and have emerged as potential therapeutic targets in lung cancer. This review explores the significance of serum VEGF levels as a predictive biomarker in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The VEGF family, consisting of VEGFA, VEGFB, VEGFC, VEGFD, and placenta growth factor (PlGF), engages with specific receptors, including tyrosine kinase receptors (VEGFR-1, VEGFR-2, and VEGFR-3) and neuropilin receptors (NRP-1 and NRP-2), to promote angiogenesis and lymphangiogenesis. VEGF-A, the primary component of the VEGF family, binds to VEGFR-2 to stimulate endothelial cell proliferation and migration, while VEGF-B, VEGF-C, and VEGF-D interact with VEGFR-1 and VEGFR-3 to regulate tumor angiogenesis, lymphangiogenesis, and metastasis. The VEGF/VEGFR signaling pathway activates various downstream effectors, including phospholipase Cγ1, MAPK, and PI3K/Akt, which are essential for maintaining vascular homeostasis and promoting angiogenesis. In NSCLC, elevated serum VEGF levels have been observed, and the VEGF/VEGFR axis is frequently impaired, leading to irregular blood vessel formation and metastatic spread. Despite the development of anti-VEGF therapies, their impact on lung cancer outcomes has been limited. Further research is needed to optimize the effectiveness of these treatments and elucidate the potential of serum VEGF as a predictive biomarker in NSCLC.

This investigation pioneers an examination of the scarcely explored terrain of social diversity in medical education, assessing the complex impacts of socioeconomic status (SES), prior working experiences, and completed apprenticeships on a spectrum of psychological and academic facets among first-year medical students (n = 336) in an urban university setting. By utilizing a systematic and detailed approach, the study illuminates prior anatomical knowledge and various psycholog-ical constructs, marking a significant stride into a domain where knowledge remains profoundly limited. Analyses indicated that SES significantly affects financial anxiety (F(4, 331) = 17.391, p < .001) and academic behavioral confidence (F(4, 331) = 4.323, p = 0.002). Students with prior working experience reported higher self-perceived clinical experience but lower A-level grades (t(279.459) = -6.690, p < .001), competence in natural sciences (t(321.045) = -3.178, p = 0.002), and online competence (t(319.429) = -2.026, p = 0.044). Those who completed an apprenticeship showed higher resilience, academic confidence, self-efficacy, and greater concerns about balancing studies and work (t values ranging from 2.020 to 3.158, p < 0.05). Correlation analysis revealed a positive relationship between resilience (RQS) and coping with academic stress (CAS) (r = 0.632, p < .001), as well as between resilience and academic behavioral confidence (ABC) (r = 0.608, p < .001). Negative correlations were observed between resilience, coping with academic stress, academic confidence, and cognitive test anxiety (CTA) (r values from -0.235 to -0.404, p < .001). The findings emphasize the need for tailored support for students from diverse SES backgrounds and with varying expe-riences. The study highlights the value of a comprehensive approach in medical education, con-sidering the diverse backgrounds and experiences of students. Future research should explore the long-term impact of these factors on professional competencies and patient care, leveraging the diversity of the student body for a holistic educational experience.

Banks have enormous potential in supporting the achievement of sustainable development goals (SDGs) in accordance with their function as financial intermediaries through sustainable lending. However, the average national financing growth for the sustainable business activity category over the past four years is still 12%. The aim of this research is to identify the conditions of sustainable lending at state-owned conventional banks and analyze the influence of the value chain, economic performance and ESG performance on sustainable lending. The research was conducted at state-owned commercial banks in Indonesia. The research utilized a Structural Equation Modeling (SEM). The SEM results of this study describe value chain, ESG performance (environmental, social and governance) and economic performance have direct and positive influences on sustainable lending, of which ESG performance has the biggest influence. As per individual aspect, social orientation gives the biggest contribution toward sustainable lending.

The World Health Organization’s Health Economic Assessment Tool (HEAT) for walking and cycling is a user-friendly web-based tool to assess health impacts of active travel. HEAT, developed over 10 years ago, has been used by researchers, planners and policymakers alike in appraisals of walking and cycling policies of both national and more local scales. HEAT has undergone regular upgrades adopting the latest scientific evidence. This article presents the most recent upgrades of the tool. Health impacts of walking and/or cycling in a specified population are quantified in terms of premature deaths avoided (or caused). In addition to the calculation of benefits from physical activity, HEAT was recently expanded to include assessments of the burden associated with air pollution exposure and crash risks while walking or cycling. Further, impacts on carbon emissions from mode shift to active travel modes can now be assessed. Monetization of impacts using Value of Statistical Life and Social Costs of Carbon now uses country-specific values. As active travel inherently results in often substantial health benefits as well as not always negligible risks, assessments of active travel behaviour or policies are incomplete without considering health implications. The recent developments of HEAT make it easier than ever to obtain ballpark estimates of health impacts and carbon emissions related to walking and cycling.

The purpose of this research is to find out the mediation role of employees’ brand knowledge between organizational citizenship behavior and employees behavior in hotels. Quantitative approach used in this research, and 204 online questionnaire used to collect the data from three, four, and five, hotel employees in Jordan. The findings proposed that there is a positive mediation role of employees’ brand knowledge between organizational citizenship behavior and employees’ behavior in hotels. Moreover, findings approved that organizational citizenship behavior has a positive effect on employees’ behavior and its dimensions, helping behavior, in-role performance, and creative behavior. On the other hand, organizational citizenship behavior proposed a negative effect on employees’ deviant behavior. The value and the originality of this research is to provide deep understanding and practical implications to the hotel managements and sector on how the employees in the hotels may behave and affected by their organizational citizenship behavior.

This qualitative research explores the influence of supply chain disruption management on brand resilience and consumer perception. Amidst increasingly complex global dynamics, effective strategies are crucial for organizations to mitigate risks, maintain operational continuity, and preserve consumer trust. The study employs semi-structured interviews with stakeholders across diverse industries, focusing on strategies employed, outcomes observed, and challenges faced in managing disruptions. Key findings underscore the significance of proactive measures such as risk assessment, contingency planning, diversification, technology integration, and collaboration in enhancing organizational resilience. These strategies not only enable businesses to navigate disruptions effectively but also contribute to sustaining competitive advantage and stakeholder confidence. Consumer perception during disruptions emerges as pivotal, shaped by brands' transparency, responsiveness, and ethical considerations in managing supply chain challenges. Transparent communication and reliable service delivery during disruptions enhance brand reputation and foster consumer loyalty. However, challenges including information gaps, resource constraints, coordination issues, and regulatory compliance complexities highlight the need for adaptive strategies and robust partnerships across the supply chain. Overall, the study provides insights into the interconnectedness of disruption management, brand resilience, and consumer perception, offering practical implications for organizations seeking to strengthen their resilience strategies and consumer relationships in dynamic market environments.

Corporate identity has played a vital role in the Halal industry to create a strong foundation for its reputation in the long run. This paper used two modeling analyses for two different data. The first analysis aims to predict the relationship between Corporate Identity Management between Internal Brand and Employee Brand Support (consequence) mediated by CIM using partial-least squares-structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM). A total of 206 employees from Malaysia’s Halal food SMEs took part in the survey. The second analysis to identify topic proportions patterns using the topic modeling approach on Halal brand identity Machine learning approach of knowledge mining was applied for this analysis. Metadata of 1,091 articles were mined from the Scopus database on Halal studies across all social sciences fields. The result revealed that there was a partial relationship between Internal Brand (antecedent) and Employee Brand Support (consequence) mediated by CIM. This finding was supported by the identified topic proportions patterns from the topic modeling approach that pointed out a weak topic proportion on the Halal brand identity discussion globally, interestingly the result also found that the Halal brand identity discussion involving the Halal food industry is almost non-existed in Malaysia’s Halal food SMEs. The contributions of this paper were apparent in three major areas which are methodology, theoretical and future suggestions. The utilization of two different model analyses was able to confirm the consistency of the major findings with the literature review which opens up more possibilities for future researchers.

This qualitative research explores the impact of Supplier Relationship Management (SRM) on e-commerce brand reputation, focusing on the strategic imperatives, operational challenges, and economic implications within digital supply chains. Trust emerges as a foundational element in effective SRM practices, facilitating consistent product quality, timely delivery, and consumer trust, thereby enhancing brand credibility and loyalty. Strategic alignment of SRM with organizational goals enables e-commerce brands to leverage supplier capabilities for mutual growth and innovation. Operational challenges such as technological constraints and logistical complexities underscore the importance of digital integration and proactive risk management strategies to optimize SRM effectiveness. Digital technologies, including AI and blockchain, play a transformative role in enhancing transparency, efficiency, and resilience in SRM strategies, enabling e-commerce firms to mitigate risks and capitalize on market opportunities. Emotional intelligence (EI) competencies among supply chain professionals facilitate effective communication, conflict resolution, and sustainable supplier relationships that bolster brand reputation resilience. Economically, effective SRM practices yield cost efficiencies, improved financial performance, and resilience against supply chain disruptions, supporting sustainable growth in competitive digital markets. This study contributes valuable insights for practitioners and scholars aiming to enhance SRM strategies, optimize supplier relationships, and strengthen brand reputation management in e-commerce. By prioritizing trust, strategic alignment, digital innovation, EI competencies, and proactive risk management, e-commerce brands can navigate complexities, capitalize on opportunities, and foster positive brand reputations in the evolving landscape of digital commerce.

This study sought to investigate the problem of losses along the milk value chain in Nandi and Kakamega Counties in Kenya. Using semi structured questionnaire, quantitative data were collected from different stages of the value chain consisting of 400 dairy farmers proportionally and randomly selected in Chesumei and Ikolomani sub counties; 15 cooperatives, 40 transporters, 20 milk bars, 17 supermarkets. Additionally Key informant interviews and focus group discussions we held with extension staff and farmers, respectively.The results showed losses occurred at all stages of the value chain in Nandi and Kakamega Counties with the highest losses at Cooperative (50.6%), collection centres (33.7%) and milk bars (7.5%). Annual milk loss was estimated to be 260,000 litres and 20,000 litres in Nandi and Kakamega counties respectively. The economic value of losses per year was estimated at KES 13 million (USD 100 000). Significant factors (P<0.001) influencing milk losses at farm level were: type of cow housing, level of training of milker, mixing morning and evening milk and Lack of cooling facilities. In cooperatives, poor roads, poor preservation of milk and mastitis influenced post harvest losses (PHL) causing milk rejection due to spoilages; while transporters attributed PHL to storage during transportation. Inadequate storage facilities and milk handling practices influenced PHL in milk bars while supermarkets attributed PHL to poor packaging materials and short shelf life. The most important causes of milk PHL along the chain were spoilages, spillages, adulteration and physical dirt. Key interventions to minimize PHL should target improvement of rural road infrastructure connecting farmers to markets; milk storage facilities and capacity building on milk handling practices for all actors. A sustainable PHL reduction should entail policy dialogue on milk payment system based on quality rather than quantity.

ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) responsibility fulfillment increasingly affects enterprise valuation. Although researchers debate about the precise effects, the prevailing view suggests a linear relationship between ESG performance and enterprise value. This study introduces a novel ESG responsibility performance metric through the Regulated Intermediary Model to delve into this relationship within the Chinese context. Our findings reveal an inverted U-shaped relationship between ESG performance and enterprise value, with financing constraints having a significant moderating effect. These findings remain robust after employing instrumental variables to mitigate potential endogeneity. Heterogeneity analysis demonstrates that this inverted U-shaped relationship is particularly pronounced in non-polluting and non-state-owned enterprises. Moreover, a comparison between equity and debt financing mechanisms underscores that improved ESG performance is associated with lower cost of equity financing, thereby enhancing enterprise value. Financial institutions are encouraged to leverage innovative financial instruments to diversify enterprise financing channels and alleviate financing constraints of enterprises that fulfill their ESG responsibilities.

Tertiary lymphoid structures (TLSs) have become the focus of antitumor immunity. However, the prognostic significance of TLSs in epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) treated with primary debulking surgery (PDS) or interval debulking surgery (IDS) remains unelucidated. This retrospective study examined the prognostic value of TLSs in tumor tissues obtained during PDS and IDS. Pathological specimens were collected from patients with EOC who underwent PDS or IDS between 2017 and 2020 at the National Cancer Center Hospital East. The correlation of tumor-infiltrating lymphocyte frequency, TLS presence, and PD-L1 expression with progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) and the correlation between TLS and PD-L1 expression were analyzed. Overall, 25 specimens (15 from PDS and 10 from IDS) were analyzed. The presence of TLS was associated with a significantly longer OS in patients who underwent PDS but not in patients who underwent IDS. No correlation was identified between TLS and PFS in patients with PDS or with IDS. However, TLS was positively correlated with PD-L1 positivity. The prognostic impact of TLS, specifically in pre-chemotherapy specimens, and a positive correlation between TLS and PD-L1 indicate the potential of TLS as a meaningful biomarker for understanding antitumor immunity and developing immunotherapy for EOC.

Global warming, exacerbated by greenhouse gas emissions from non-green product manufacturing, necessitates a shift towards green production to safeguard ecosystems and finite resources. The United Nations Environment Programme emphasizes the importance of environmental considerations in corporate ESG criteria. Despite the higher costs of designing and manufacturing green products, which deter some companies and lead to greenwashing, efforts persist to promote sustainable goods. This study explores enhancing consumer repurchase intentions for green products through social media marketing, emphasizing green values, environmental concerns, brand image, and involvement. Findings reveal social media's role in boosting these factors, thus encouraging green repurchases. Insights are valuable for green businesses, social media groups, environmental agencies, and future research.

The purpose of this study is to analyse the drivers and outcomes of the brand love derived from consumption experiences in the automobile retail sector. We examine the effects of consumers’ perceptions of perceived service quality and the trust they feel towards a car dealership (cognition) on emotions and brand love (affection), and the effects of brand love on consumers´ behavioural intentions (conation). This research provides insights into customer brand love in the automobile industry.

Abstract: The diffusion of competition under the coexistence of multi-generation products has become one of the important challenges faced by enterprises in their daily and sustainable operations. At the same time, the competition between different brands has intensified the difficulty and complexity of decision-making in the process of multi-generation product operation, Therefore, based on the Norton-Bass model diffusion process, this paper introduces two marketing variables, dynamic price and quality level, builds a multi-generation product diffusion model under the dual-brand competition, and analyzes the impact of the company's revenue on the launch time to market, pricing, quality or technical level. By using system dynamics (SD) method, From the perspective of strong brand and weak brand enterprises, the competition diffusion model is built and simulated. The simulation shows that: i) When enterprises have the same brand competitiveness, reducing the pricing level cannot obtain more revenue, but diminish the overall revenue of the industry; Raising the pricing level can get more revenue, but also improve the revenue of competitors. ii) When the competitive strength of enterprises is different, the strong brand tends to maintain a stable pricing on the basis of improving the quality level, or slightly raise the price. Weak brands tend to raise the pricing of new products significantly on the basis of improving the quality level. iii) The launch time to market decision of new product is influenced by the degree of product quality upgrade. Therefore, the frequency of releasing new products should trade-off against the degree of technological upgrading of product quality. This paper provides the theoretical basis and new insights for the new product launch and operation decision of enterprises.

We investigate and discuss in detail the structure of the restricted singular value decomposition for a tensor triplet under t-product (T-RSVD). The algorithm is provided with a numerical example illustrating the main result. For applications, we consider color image watermarking processing with T-RSVD.

The architecture, Engineering, and Construction (AEC) industry is dealing with serious challenges on a global scale, i.e., project delays, budget overruns, and insufficient stakeholder collaboration. In this context, Value Engineering (VE) and Building Information Modeling (BIM) have been used recently to address these challenges and cope with large-scale and complex construction projects. An extensive body of literature highlights significant advantages of integrated VE within BIM technology. Despite this, it is full practical potential has not yet been realized. For this reason, this paper aims to investigate the integration of Value Engineering (VE) and Building Information Modeling (BIM) within a Common Data Environment (CDE) for the Architecture, Engineering, and Construction (AEC) industry. In doing this research, a comprehensive framework was developed and systematically implemented into practice through the use of four interconnected modules: (M. 1); Creating CDE, (M. 2); Design BIM Model Development, (M. 3); Value Analysis / Engineering Model, and (M. 4); Value Engineering Study. Introducing a new term the ""VEIDEA"" databank based on the OmniClass classification system provides a structured database utilized to store, manage, and accumulate VE ideas. Moreover, the study incorporates the Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) to automate the evaluation phase. Such a framework seeks to assist designers and VE team members make informed decisions when choosing appropriate design alternatives. Lastly, a case study method was adopted to examine the proposed framework for an office building. Quantitative data showed a significant link between cost savings and VR integration with BIM technology. For instance, cost of the RC slabs dropped by 20%, while flooring materials cost dropped by a 39%. Empirically, evidence from the case study supports literature regarding t the potential for significant enhancements in both cost-effectiveness and overall project performance through this innovative integration. In the context of knowledge contribution, this study provides an innovative way to assist designers and VE team members in making well-informed decisions when choosing appropriate design alternatives.

In contemporary marketing and consumer behavior research, supply chain transparency has emerged as a critical determinant of brand image and consumer trust. This qualitative study explores how transparency in supply chain communication shapes brand perception and influences consumer behavior. Through in-depth interviews with marketing professionals, consumers, and supply chain managers, this research examines the impact of transparent practices on consumer trust, brand loyalty, and market differentiation. Findings reveal that transparent disclosure of sourcing, production methods, and sustainability initiatives enhances consumer perception of brand authenticity and ethical responsibility. Effective communication strategies such as detailed product labeling, interactive digital content, and third-party certifications play a pivotal role in educating consumers and reinforcing brand credibility. Despite the benefits, the study identifies challenges including global supply chain complexity, lack of standardized metrics, and economic considerations associated with transparency implementation. Technological advancements like blockchain and data analytics offer solutions to improve supply chain visibility and traceability, supporting brands in meeting ethical standards and consumer expectations. Moreover, transparency facilitates effective crisis management and reputation recovery by enabling brands to promptly address supply chain issues and maintain consumer trust during disruptions. The research highlights cultural and regional variations in consumer expectations regarding transparency, underscoring the need for brands to tailor communication strategies to local values and preferences. As brands navigate these complexities, prioritizing transparency not only strengthens consumer relationships but also positions them as leaders in ethical business practices. Ultimately, this study contributes to understanding the strategic importance of supply chain transparency in fostering sustainable brand growth and resilience in a competitive global market.

Brand visual identity is a critical component of brand image and impacts consumers' brand perception and attitude. Although scholars and practitioners have increasingly researched brand visual identity, most focus on brand communication and corporate management perspectives, necessitating a systematic review of consumer attitudes based on brand visual identity elements. This study aims to review the impact of brand visual identity on consumer attitudes and provide directions for future research. We conducted a systematic search using PRISMA guidelines, reviewed relevant articles published in four databases (Web of Sciences, ProQuest, Scopus, and Elsevier) in the past two decades (2004-2024), and obtained 559 articles in April 2024. We conducted a thorough peer-review of both theoretical and empirical journal articles, followed by a scoping review. Thirty-four studies were eligible, analysing consumers' perceptions of various core elements of brand visual identity (BVI) (such as brand logo, colour, name, typography, and font), as well as the impact of brand visual identity on consumer attitudes and the practical implications of brand management. The results show that the consumption of visual identification elements affects consumers' perceived brand quality, brand personality, brand satisfaction, loyalty, favourability, and so on., as well as purchase intentions and social attitudes. In summary, the findings indicate that brand visual identity elements impact consumer perceptions and attitudes. However, despite some progress, further research is necessary to arrive at more definitive and robust conclusions.

The article is of a research nature. The aim of the article is to identify the role of social media in shaping personal brand. To this end, the first part discusses the concept of personal brand, components of brand capital in case of famous people, including consumer-based capital. Attention was also paid to the great importance of social media and the growing role of their users in the process of shaping personal brand. Based on the analysis of the source literature, a research gap was identified, related to the lack of empirical verification of the relationship between users’ online activity and the brand capital of famous people, also known as celebrities, associated with artistic and cultural activities. The article uses the results of direct research carried out in the years 2019-2020. The second (empirical) part of the article presents research hypotheses, methodology, as well as results and conclusions from the research. Based on 26 in-depth individual interviews that were conducted with people famous in Poland (mainly engaged in artistic and cultural activities) and surveys on a group of 324 social media users, it was shown, among others, that online activity of Internet users stimulates the brand capital of famous people. Statistically significant relationships were observed for such components of the personal brand as awareness / associations with the personal brand and for the relationship regarding the perception of the quality of activities carried out by a famous person.

(1) Background: With the rising incidence of life expectancy, obesity, and tumours, understanding the incretory influence of adipose tissue in tumorigenesis becomes increasingly important. As the adipokines leptin and adiponectin are released by fat tissue, we aimed to analyse the expression of their respective receptors in tumours for which an association with obesity is epidemiologically hypothesized; (2) Methods: The expression of leptinR and adipoR1 were analysed in cohorts of renal cell cancer (n = 391), cervical cancer (n = 155), vulvar cancer (n = 107), and endometrial cancer (n = 90) by immunohistochemistry and correlated with clinicopathological parameters including survival times; (3) Results: Expression of leptinR was high in renal cell cancer (62.2% of cases), vulvar carcinoma (50%) and endometrial cancer (80.5% of tissue-samples). High expression was associated with favourable clinicopathological markers and longer overall survival times in renal cell cancer and vulvar cancer. AdipoR1 was only weakly expressed in all four tumor entities and did not show significant associations with clinicopathological parameters or prognosis; (4) Conclusion: High leptinR is a promising biomarker for favourable tumour outcome in renal cell carcinoma and vulvar carcinoma.

It is increasingly common for experiments in biology and medicine to involve large numbers of hypothesis tests. A natural graphical method for visualizing these tests is to construct a histogram from the p-values of these tests. In this article, we examine the shapes, both normal and abnormal, that these histograms can take on, as well as present simple inferential procedures that help to interpret the shapes in terms of diagnosing potential problems with the experiment. We examine potential causes of these problems in detail, and discuss potential remedies. Throughout, examples of abnormal-looking p-value histograms are provided and based on case studies involving real biological experiments.

This qualitative research explores consumer perceptions of supply chain responsiveness and its impact on brand loyalty within the apparel industry. The study investigates how consumers perceive supply chain practices such as reliability, agility, and sustainability, and examines their influence on brand loyalty decisions. Thirty participants, representing diverse demographics and purchasing behaviors, were interviewed to gather insights into their awareness, expectations, and experiences related to supply chain responsiveness. Findings reveal that consumers prioritize supply chain reliability, expecting brands to consistently deliver high-quality products, accurate sizing, and timely responses to market trends. Sustainability practices also emerged as a significant factor, with consumers favoring brands that demonstrate ethical sourcing and environmental responsibility. Technology plays a crucial role in enhancing supply chain responsiveness, as consumers value real-time updates, personalized experiences, and seamless transactions. Moreover, the study underscores the impact of supply chain disruptions on brand trust and loyalty, highlighting the importance of resilience and contingency planning in supply chain management. Brands that effectively navigate disruptions through agile strategies can enhance consumer trust and loyalty, even in challenging circumstances. Overall, this research contributes to understanding the intricate relationship between supply chain dynamics, consumer perceptions, and brand loyalty in the apparel industry. It offers practical implications for apparel brands seeking to enhance consumer satisfaction, differentiate themselves in a competitive market, and foster sustainable growth through strategic supply chain management.

Sachet water (SW) is a major source of drinking water in most Nigerian homes, thus making it a possible conveyance medium for health risks due to contamination rather than for replenishment of the body. This study collected SW from three busy neighborhoods and investigated for the presence of indicator bacteria – Escherichia coli (E. coli), Total Coliform (TC), Total Heterophilic Bacteria (THB), and Staphylococcus – and some physio-chemical parameters – total dissolved solids (TDS), pH, electrical conductivity (EC), and salinity. Multi-variable and exploratory statistical methods were applied to the results to determine correlations between bacterial contamination levels and perceived brand reputation. Bacteriological test with raw SW samples appeared too numerous to count (TNC) and thus required serial dilutions. After seven dilutions, results obtained revealed that SW brands with good reputation had no TC and E. coli and was statistically significant with groupings of other SW brands (χ2 = 12.28; p < 0.05 and χ2 = 37.96; p < 0.05) respectively. Additionally, SW brands with poor reputation had mean values of TC (19.7X10^8 cfu/ml;14X10^8 cfu/ml1.15X10^8 cfu/ml) and E.coli (18.2X10^8 cfu/ml;38.7X10^8 cfu/ml,32.4X10^8 cfu/ml) exceeding threshold value of zero set by the World Health Organization (WHO). Only one sample from poor reputation brand tested positive for Staphylococcus and was not statistically significant (χ2 =5.2191; p = 0.074). Principal Component Analysis (PCA)/ Factor Analysis (FA) revealed that most of the SW had fecal contamination in an alarming magnitude. Therefore, this study suggests that periodic cleaning of distribution lines, location specific treatment, QC and QA measures should be taken to reduce water security risk for SW consumption in the region.

Aim: To analysis the relationship between healthy adults right ventricular diameter (RVD) and geographical factors. Location: China’s 22 provinces, municipalities and autonomous regions. Methods: Using correlation analysis the relationship between RVD and nine geographic factors, build predictive models by factor analysis. Results: There is significant correlation between RVD and geographical factors, and the annual average temperature is most relevant geographical factors, a predictive model was built by factor analysis: Ŷ = 19.46 + 0.0007072X1 + 0.001034X2 -0.05412X3 -0.001405X4 -0.0006351X5 + 0.02903X6 + 0.01243X7 -0.01033X8 + 0.03816X9 ± 0.63. Then using Kriging interpolation interpolate the geographical distribution of Chinese healthy adult right ventricular diameter reference value in ArcGIS software. Main Conclusion: If geographic factors can be derived in anywhere of China, RVD can be calculated by the model, you can also get RVD from geographical distribution.

This study aims to test a model linking destination image, perceived value, tourist satisfaction, and tourist loyalty. Based on a sample of 300 tourists travelling by car from the World Natural Heritage Site of Tianchi, China, a new model of destination image was explored and data were analysed using partial least squares structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM). The results show that perceived value and satisfaction are direct antecedents of destination loyalty. Above all, perceived value and tourist satisfaction mediate the relationship between destination image and loyalty. Finally, this study discusses the theoretical and management implications of the findings in order to boost the tourism industry in the context of car trips.

This study examines the influence of digital marketing on brand awareness within the multinational Fast-Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG) sector, focusing on how various digital strategies contribute to overall marketing effectiveness. Utilizing a sample of 277 respondents, the research employs descriptive statistics, correlation, and regression analyses to explore the relationships between digital marketing strategies, brand awareness outcomes, and perceived digital marketing effectiveness. The findings reveal that digital marketing strategies significantly enhance brand awareness and overall marketing effectiveness, underscoring the pivotal role of activities such as social media engagement, content marketing, and search engine optimization. Specifically, the regression analysis shows that digital marketing strategies have a positive and statistically significant impact on overall effectiveness, indicating that companies investing in these areas are better positioned to achieve higher levels of brand recognition and marketing success. However, the study also uncovers a complex relationship between brand awareness outcomes and overall effectiveness, where increased brand awareness does not directly correlate with enhanced digital marketing effectiveness. This suggests that while brand awareness is critical, its influence on marketing success is nuanced and may involve diminishing returns or additional mediating factors. The regression model explains a modest portion of the variance in marketing effectiveness, highlighting the need for a holistic evaluation approach that incorporates a broader set of performance metrics and contextual factors. The high reliability of the measures used affirms the robustness of the findings, which emphasize the importance of a strategic and integrated approach to digital marketing in the FMCG sector. Companies must continuously adapt and optimize their digital marketing strategies to align with dynamic market conditions and achieve sustainable success.

This study aims to explore the E-marketing orientations and relationship management constructs in Jordanian startup enterprises to examine their influence on brand visibility and loyalty in the context of the digital market . The sample consists of 161 managers in startup companies, and structural equation modeling is used to study the relationships between the constructs of e-marketing orientation, capabilities, E-relationship management, brand visibility, and loyalty. The results illustrate that the realization of e-marketing orientation is directly achieved by capabilities and visibility, thereby stressing the importance of a formulated digital market approach and that the realization of effective e-relationship management directly expression by e-marketing capabilities, demonstrating the significance of the digital market concept’s approach. The results further demonstrate that e-marketing capabilities and visibility serve as mediators between the realization of e-marketing orientations and loyalty, Two explanations may be drawn, one from the R resource-Based View theory, and another derived from R elationship M arketing T heory Thus, the study has theoretical implications in terms of R esource-Based V iew and R elationship M arketing T heory. The study offers essential managerial insights for practitioners into the entrepreneurship domain concerned with the necessity of e-marketing capabilities and E-RM attitudes at a customer-centered approach and the strategic application of digital channels to enhance visibility in the intense competition context. Therefore, the empirical results have contributions as essential insights for both stakeholders and account for practical, theoretical, and managerial perspectives in the entrepreneurship domain.

Despite extensively investigating the impact of social media on fashion products’ marketing, little evidence is available on how the platforms influence sales prediction. Focusing on Lolita fashion, this study investigates the impact of social media marketing on the sales volume prediction of fashion products. Essentially, we analyzed marketing data, including comments, likes, and shares from the Weibo social platform, to forecast future sales, examine how to enhance profit performance, and make production decisions. Using a quantitative approach, we tested three different prediction models, including multiple regression, decision tree, and XGBoost. The results revealed that increasing comments and decreasing the number of likes could significantly improve the sales volumes of Lolita products. In contrast, shares exerted a less significant impact on sales. Regarding prediction models, XGBoost was found to be the best method. In the fashion industry, social media is a useful tool for forecasting market trend. A limitation of this study is that only one social media platform was used to extract data, which might limit the generalization of the findings.

Extracting the economic value by integrated utilization of space in old communities is crucial for encouraging independent participation from enterprises and residents, reducing reliance on government leadership and fiscal investment. This study starts from the active perspective of spatial assets, constructs a value activation framework for old community spatial assets by balancing "endogenous demand" and "exogenous opportunities." By enhancing "economic value" through "use value," five methods for value extraction and overall project utilization paths are proposed, guided by a dynamic "cost-revenue" balance. Using multi-source data, we identify the spatial assets of 1,096 old communities in central Guangzhou and apply a market comparison method for economic value assessment. Additionally, the study offers recommendations on timing and project portfolios for regeneration efforts, along with strategies for establishing a coordinating implementation entity and fund account. This research provides strategic insights for advancing the regeneration of old communities by tapping into their macro-level economic potential.

When profit-driven renewal is difficult to implement, many historic districts are “frozen protected” in China. In the social context of “building cities for the people” in recent years, the public value-oriented renewal of urban historic areas plays an important role in the transformation of cities. This study investigates the strategies of historic district regeneration in China by integrating spatial form, urban governance, and public value. We propose a novel framework to analyze the regeneration of historic districts, using Taiyuan Bell Tower Street as a case study. The framework distinguishes between two dimensions: spatial and economic-social. In the spatial dimension, we focus on the transformation of spatial form to regenerate public value, emphasizing the attribute of "publicness" as central to urban regeneration efforts. This involves a tiered approach of excavating and upgrading historic districts at macro, meso, and micro levels. In the economic-social dimension, we explore urban governance to strengthen public value, involving government, market, and societal actors in a collaborative renewal process. The analysis highlights that a public value-oriented approach to heritage regeneration offers greater sustainability and could serve as a model for other cities seeking similar outcomes.

Recent literature has seen a rapid expansion in the reference to front-end forensics as an indication of the untapped value of forensic science. While some of these contributions have centered on development of forensic intelligence from a single area of investigation, others call for a more fundamental change in the relationship between crime laboratories and policing, particularly relating early laboratory analysis with big datasets to provide leads to investigators. We highlight several recently implemented tactical strategies of crime laboratories that contribute to the body of forensic intelligence. Beyond the scientific gains from these tactical applications, the corresponding details on associated efficiencies, costs, time savings, and quality improvements offer insights towards patterns of success for the community of crime laboratories. Further details expand an interpretation of what constitutes success with an eye on the contributions of the crime laboratory towards public health, safety, and protection of the innocent in addition to societal gains from conviction of the guilty. The economic interpretation of the value provided by the forensic laboratory assists in the cost-benefit review of strategic and tactical decisions and supports the justification for laboratory public funding with measures of the return on investment from public support of the forensic laboratory

Cause-Related Marketing (CRM) has emerged as a new concept that links CSR activities to marketing, enabling corporations to pursue both building company-consumer partnership and gaining sustainable mutual benefits that are elicited from the partnership. Among various cause-related marketing activities, on-line cause-related advertising is the most commonly used one. The purpose of this study is to examine the effects of on-line cause-related advertising and moderating role of ethical consumption propensity. In particular, this study intends to contribute to successful development of on-line cause-related advertising strategy by focusing on the relationship between the four factors: customers' perception of on-line cause-related advertising, brand-consumer relationship, brand attachment and loyalty. The results of this study are as follows: First, customers' perception of on-line cause-related advertising was related positively to consumer-brand- relationship. Second, brand-consumer relationship was related positively to brand attachment and customer loyalty. Third, brand attachment was related positively to customer loyalty. Furthermore, from the consumer’s psychological viewpoint, ethical consumption propensity had a significant moderating effect to between customers' perception of cause-related advertising and brand-consumer relationship as well as brand attachment. The results of this study may contribute to the existing literature as an new empirical attempt to examine the effect of the on-line cause-related advertising.

Background/Objectives: Vascular invasion, especially extramural vascular invasion (EMVI) has emerged as prognostic parameter for rectal cancer (RC) in recent years. Prediction of reccurence and metastases development poses a significant challenge for oncologists, needing markers for prediction of adverse outcome. The aim of this study was to examine the prognostic significance of pathohistologically detected EMVI in untreated rectal cancer and its implications in separate reporting. Methods: We examined 100 untreated RC patients who underwent curative resection from January 2016 to June 2018 with follow up of 5 years. Patients were divided in equal EMVI- and EMVI+ groups based on histological re-examination of H&E stained postoperative surgical samples. Results: The presence of EMVI within the selected cohort was significantly associated with female gender, T3/T4 and N1/N2 post-operative stages, positive lymph nodes, lymph node ratio LNR2 and LNR3 groups, abundant tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes, positive lympho-vascular invasion (LVI), perineural (PNI), and circumferential resection margin (CRM) (p<0.05 in all tests). Within EMVI+ patients, local recurrences and/or metastases, and death outcomes were more frequent events (p=0.029 and p=0.035, respectively), while survival analyses revealed that EMVI+ patients had significantly shorter overall survival (OS, p=0.040) and disease-free survival (DFS, p=0.028). Concerning LVI, differences in OS between LVI+ and LVI- patients were not statistically significant (p=0.068), while LVI+ patients had significantly shorter DFS (p=0.024). Moreover, univariate COX regression analysis demonstrated the negative impact of EMVI on OS (HR: 2.053, 95% CI: 1.015-4.152; p=0.045) and DFS (HR: 2.106, 95% CI: 1.066-4.870; p=0.038), which was not the case for LVI+ RC patients. Conclusions: Obtained results strongly suggest significance of separate reporting of EMVI from lympho-vascular invasion, as it is potentially a surogate marker for adverse prognosis and outcome.

Little in the scholarly economics literature is directed specifically to the performance of sta­ble value funds, although they occupy a leading place among retirement investment vehicles. They are currently offered in more than one-third of all defined contribution plans in the USA, with more than $800 billion of assets under management. This paper rigorously ex­amines their performance throughout the entire period since their inception in 1973. We produce a composite index of stable value returns. We next conduct mean-variance analysis, Sharpe and Sortino ratio analysis, stochastic dominance analysis, and optimal multi-period portfolio composition analysis. Our evidence suggests that stable value funds dominate (on average) two major asset classes based on a historical analysis, and that they often occupy a significant position in optimized portfolios across a broad range of risk aversion levels. We discuss factors that contributed to stable value funds’ past performance and whether they can continue to perform well into the future. We also discuss considerations regarding whether or not to include stable value as an element in target date funds within defined con­tribution pension plans.

The objective of this study is to investigate the effect of the premixed ethanol ratio based on the same total heating value in-cylinder on the equivalence ratio distributions and the injected fuel droplet behavior in the cylinder of the RCCI engine. The spray simulation was conducted by dividing two-part. First, the spray validation simulations progressed to find the spray-influenced factor of the test injector. Next, the engine simulations were performed with the spray-influenced factor obtained from spray validation simulations to investigate the effect of the premixed ethanol ratio based on the same total heating value in-cylinder on the injected fuel atomization and the equivalence ratio distributions. The introduced total heating value was fixed at 595J based on the lower heating value of diesel 14mg. The heating value of the premixed ethanol ratio varied from 0% to 40% based on the same total heating value in-cylinder in steps of 10%. It was revealed that when the premixed ethanol ratio based on the same total heating value in-cylinder was increased, the spray tip penetration value was reduced from the time after 4deg of diesel injection start because of the short injection duration by the small amount of diesel fuel. The SMD value was also more enormous up to 32.58% with increasing the premixed ethanol ratio because of the low kinetic energy of the injected fuel by the short injection duration and the slow evaporation of the injected fuel by the low cylinder temperature.

Lactoperoxidase system (LPS) effect on quality of raw and pasteurized milk under real conditions along the dairy value chain in Ethiopia was evaluated. A total of 250 milk samples were collected from farmers, collectors, and factories. Experimental samples were LPS-activated of morning and overnight milk. The samples were tested with several chemical and microbiological tests such as total bacterial count (TBC), total coliform count (TCC) and Escherichia coli count (EC). Results indicated that all LPS-activated milk samples had a higher quality than all the control samples. For instance, both the morning and overnight farm milk samples had a mean TBCs of 5.79 log and 6.55 log cfu/ml which is significantly (p

This research paper investigates the enhancement of strength and performance of self-compacting concrete (SCC) for integration in Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) projects using a value engineering approach. The study explores key elements of SCC's strength and performance, including mix design optimization, construction practices, and durability considerations. Strategies to optimize SCC's strength, durability, and workability are discussed, emphasizing the benefits of SCC in improving construction efficiency and quality control within DPW infrastructure. The study also identifies challenges and gaps in SCC utilization, such as standardized performance verification and cost considerations, and proposes future directions for advancing SCC technology in civil infrastructure development.

Increased mitotic activity is associated with the genesis and aggressiveness of many cancers. To assess the clinical value of mitotic activity as prognostic biomarker, we performed a pan-cancer study on the mitotic network activity index (MNAI) constructed based on 54-gene mitotic apparatus network. Our pan-cancer assessment on TCGA (33 tumor types, 10,061 patients) and validation on other publicly available cohorts (23 tumor types, 9,209 patients) confirmed the significant association of MNAI with overall survival, progression-free survival and other prognostic endpoints in multiple cancer types, including Lower-Grade Gliomas (LGG), Breast Invasive Carcinoma (BRCA) and many others. We also showed significant association of MNAI with genetic instability, which provides a biological explanation of its prognostic impact at pan-cancer landscape. Futhermore, we found that patients with high MNAI benefit more from anti-PD-1 and Anti-CTLA-4 treatment. In addition, we demonstrated on LGG and BRCA that the multimodal integration of MNAI and the AI-empowerd Cellular Morphometric Subtypes (CMS) significantly improved the predictive power of prognosis compared to MNAI and CMS alone. Our results suggest that MNAI can be used as a potential prognostic biomarker for different tumor types toward different clinical endpoints, and multimodal integration of MNAI and CMS exceeds individual biomarker for precision prognosis.

(1) Background: The definition of value addition is based on the process or processes which are used to transform physically the initial raw material in the final food or non-food article. Diversification can enhance the possibility of increased gains. The aim of this work is to give a reliable description of value addition when speaking of coconut-based beverages among all possible derivatives; (2) Methods: a systematic review of main papers on the argument has been critically examined and discussed; (3) Results: Processing degree is a consequence of consumers’ requests. Three different drivers for value addition have been considered: packaging, durability, and size options; sensorial features; and sustainability. Results of this investigation have highlighted the added value of several products because of recyclable packaging materials, intermediate or long durability expectations, different available sizes, and good or excellent sensorial performances; (4) Conclusions: There are different value-added coconut-based beverages with interesting perspectives. On the other side, sustainability and eco-friendly policies may be a problem for those products which are produced similarly to non-coconut based beverages. The opportunity of certified organic and/or fair-trade products could help the industry of coconuts in the next future. More research is still needed in this ambit.

This work analyzes the visibility and scientific impact of publications related to agricultural value chains. The incidence of bibliometric indicators allows for the interpretation of bibliographic information generated worldwide. Objective: The objective of this research is to analyze the published literature and bibliometric indicators on agricultural value chains. The Web of Science database was used to extract value chains data. The study analyzed articles published between 2010 and 2020. The keywords used are "agricultural value chains'' and articles from journals or studies related to the subject were selected for bibliometric analysis and methodological review. In the search for the keyword, a total of 4208 results were extracted, of which 1,669 records were considered for analysis. The bibliometric analysis of the data reveals that Wageningen University (55) has the highest number of publications, followed by Chinese Acad Sci (26). The author Klerkx L (9) has the highest number of records, followed by Hellin J (7). With respect to the countries with the greatest contributions on the subject are: the People's Republic of China, Germany, Italy, France and the United States. The study contributes to the analysis of bibliometrics and provides a methodological review of published journal articles on agricultural value chains. This bibliographic study presents the history of research development in agricultural value chains.

Climate adaptation is a major challenge. Chasing the sufficient amount of hay is getting in higher priority. Distant mass hay producers give favourable offers despite long distances. Quality is also gaining position and indicators like RFQ (Relative Forage Quality) is highlighting the marketing language. Hay market as we knew no longer exists in Hungary. Most farmers produce their own hay and do not spend extra cents to buy bales. Climate change however, force them to adapt and store more bales for the future. Horse owners and dairy farmers are the main driver to convince hay producers to provide high quality forage. We gathered Hungarian regional hay-price information and evaluated the trends in this sector. The demand-driven hay-price is in contradiction with premium quality timothy grass hay.

This study examines whether information about the winners of the Sustainability Reporting Award (SRA) contributes to the usefulness of the information in the financial statements. This study used a sample consisting of 110 winners of SRA (SRA firms) and 110 companies that did not receive SRA (non-SRA firms) from 2008 to 2016. The study found that earnings per share (EPS), book value per share (BVPS), and earnings per share change (EPSC) are value relevant information. Results of comparison between SRA firms and non-SRA fimrs, this study found that EPS positive association with stock price and with returns for SRA firms is higher than that for non-SRA firms. Findings of this study also show that, value relevance of BVPS for non-SRA firms is higher than that for SRA firms. When mesures of Price and BVPS are transformed into natural logarithm, the value relevance of BVPS for SRA firms is higher than that for non-SRA firms. Thus, the results are sensitive to measures of the variables. The findings of this study indicate that information about the winners of SRA contributes to the usefulness of financial statements.

This qualitative study explores the influence of ethical supply chain practices on brand equity from the perspective of consumers. In-depth interviews were conducted with 30 participants to examine their attitudes, perceptions, and behaviors towards brands that emphasize ethical considerations in their supply chain operations. Thematic analysis revealed several key findings. Transparency and authenticity emerged as critical factors influencing consumer trust and perceptions of brand integrity. Participants valued brands that communicated clearly and honestly about their ethical sourcing practices, viewing transparency as indicative of reliability and ethical commitment. Ethical considerations significantly influenced consumer purchase decisions, with participants emphasizing the importance of factors such as fair labor practices, environmental sustainability, and responsible sourcing in shaping their perceptions of product quality and brand value. Brands that integrated these ethical principles into their supply chain management were perceived as offering higher-quality products, which enhanced consumer willingness to pay a premium and bolstered brand reputation. The study also highlighted varying levels of consumer awareness and engagement with ethical supply chain practices, underscoring the importance of effective communication and consumer education. Ethical supply chain practices were found to foster brand loyalty and trust, with brands perceived as ethical and socially responsible enjoying stronger consumer relationships and loyalty. Overall, the findings suggest that ethical supply chain practices play a crucial role in enhancing brand equity by aligning business operations with consumer values and expectations. The study contributes to existing literature by providing empirical insights into the mechanisms through which ethical considerations influence consumer perceptions and behaviors towards brands.

This qualitative study investigates how supply chain disruptions affect brand loyalty by analyzing consumer experiences during crises. Through in-depth interviews with diverse participants, the research explores the nuanced factors shaping consumer perceptions and behaviors when supply chains face challenges. Findings reveal that trust is pivotal, with transparent communication and consistent updates fostering consumer confidence and loyalty. Brand reputation emerges as crucial, influencing perceptions of reliability and ethical conduct during disruptions. Effective crisis management strategies, including agility and proactive communication, mitigate negative impacts on brand loyalty. Consumer decision-making is influenced by the availability of substitutes and perceptions of disruption severity, highlighting the importance of brand resilience and continuity. Emotional responses, such as frustration and anxiety, significantly influence consumer loyalty, underscoring the role of empathetic engagement and support from brands. Aligning with consumer expectations and delivering on promises are essential for sustaining loyalty and reducing the risk of consumer defection. The study concludes that navigating supply chain disruptions requires brands to prioritize trust, reputation, crisis management, consumer-centric strategies, emotional intelligence, and alignment with consumer expectations. These insights contribute to a deeper understanding of consumer behavior in crisis contexts and provide strategic implications for brands seeking to enhance resilience and maintain loyalty in dynamic market environments.

This article explores the emerging concept of atrial myopathy (AM) and its potential role as a risk factor for stroke and dementia, both independently and in association with atrial fibrillation (AF). AM refers to structural and functional abnormalities of the atria, potentially causing blood clots formation and their subsequent embolization even in patients without AF. Echocardiography, particularly Left Atrial (LA) strain analysis, is a promising non-invasive tool for AM evaluation and might offer additional risk stratification beyond the established CHADS2-VASc score, potentially impacting anticoagulation decisions. By understanding AM and utilizing advanced imaging techniques like LA strain, clinicians can achieve a more comprehensive understanding of thromboembolic risk in specific patient groups. Integrating LA strain analysis into routine clinical practice holds promise for improved patient management and targeted therapies, allowing for better risk stratification in AF patients. However, standardized definitions and diagnostic criteria for AM are essential for consistent evaluation and research. Further studies are needed to explore the efficacy and safety of anticoagulation in AM patients without AF.

The high genetic diversity of the tomato and its high micronutrient content make this fruit very interesting from an economic and nutritional point of view. The genetic erosion suffered by this crop, due to breeding objectives based on yield and marketing, makes it necessary to return to the origins in search of the nutritional and organoleptic quality lost in traditional varieties. In this study, the agronomic, physical, organoleptic and nutritional characteristics of eighteen F1 hybrids obtained by crossing fourteen traditional varieties, previously selected for their quality, were studied to select genotypes of superior quality that could be candidates for new. All parameters studied were strongly influenced by genotype, showing a wide range between cultivars. Principal Component Analysis revealed the characteristics of each hybrid that made it stand out from the others. Some hybrids (H3, H4, and H6) stand out because of their high concentration of active compounds, others (H16, H15, H10, H17, H9, and H11) because of agronomic performance and high content of β-carotene, and H5 was the only one to contain chlorophyll in their ripe fruits. Finally, the evaluation index allowed the selection of five hybrids with interesting characteristics, combining good yield performance and high quality

The present study aimed to clarify the relationship between brand awareness and word-of-mouth communication in the fast-food sector, Lambayeque Region, 2023. By adopting a quantitative approach, statistical tools were utilized to measure variables and address hypotheses and objec-tives. The study was correlational in nature, as it demonstrated the relationship between brand awareness and word-of-mouth communication. It was also applied in scope, disseminating learning based on the research that will assist the studied area. Furthermore, this study employed a nonexperimental, cross-sectional design because the variables were only analyzed in the workplace environment at a single point in time and were not manipulated. According to the results, it is evident that consumers will easily recall their favorite brands, provided these brands meet their expectations are deemed significant, and the information on social networks is updated, detailed, useful, and valuable. Moreover, they are likely to recommend them if they recognize and have a positive valuation of the brand, sharing favorable information about it on their social networks and with their peers. The study concludes that virtual interactivity and the quality of information are linked to the generation of brand awareness, which in turn was shown to be a predictor of eWOM.

Qualitative and quantitative values estimation is a crucial aspect of social data science and plays a vital role in social and psychological research. Numerous methods of personal values measurement such as Schwartz Value Survey (SVS) and its re-modified versions have been proposed and invented, but many are challenged with one or more limitations. In this article, an alternative approach in a new paradigm of values measurement called Kabiru’s Value Survey (KVS) was proposed to measure the relative degree of importance or significance attached to particular value-actions of an individual(s) in a given population over a period. The methodological innovations in KVS unlike other existing methods of human value measurement include the use of habitually reported practices associated with a particular value-action in place of judging the series of Schwartz hypothetical statements, the use of multiple dependent variables rather than a single coded hypothetical statement. In terms of data analysis, a new approach of multivariate compression is introduced which merges the chain of multiple dependent variables into one coded scale. Psychometric result interpretation is also another innovative aspect of KVS methodology. Finally, the proposed methodology however solved some of the criticized limitations of the other methods of human value measurement.

Nanotechnology has become a popular topic in agricultural and animal research, generating sig-nificant global interest. Nanoparticles (NPs)-enabled agriculture and animal husbandry (AHs) products have three main principles: crop production, protection, and nutrient enrichment. Re-search on this topic has grown exponentially in recent years, with an increasing number of peer-reviewed literature and patents on NPs-enabled agriculture and AH products. This study examines and collects data on the various applications of NPs-enabled agricultural products for crop production, protection, and livestock improvement from the core nanotechnological database. The search returned several types of NPs and products used in agriculture and AH, countries that utilize these products at a commercial level, and analysis of these data by phyton, R-statistical software. Our findings show remarkable growth of nanotechnology in agriculture, AH, and re-search fields for future sustainability goals in the era of climate change

Supply chain transparency plays a crucial role in shaping consumer perceptions and building brand trust in today's competitive marketplace. This qualitative study explores the impact of supply chain transparency on consumer behavior, focusing on its influence on brand trust and purchase decisions. Through semi-structured interviews with 30 participants, the research examines consumer attitudes towards transparency, highlighting key factors that influence trustworthiness and credibility perceptions of brands. The findings reveal that consumers prioritize brands that demonstrate openness about their sourcing, production practices, and ethical standards, viewing transparency as a critical indicator of corporate responsibility and integrity. Factors such as product safety, environmental sustainability, and labor practices within supply chains emerge as significant concerns driving consumer preference for transparent brands. Demographic insights indicate that younger consumers and those with higher education levels exhibit heightened sensitivity to transparency issues, underscoring a generational and educational divide in consumer expectations. Moreover, income levels influence the perceived importance of transparency, with higher-income participants showing greater preference for brands that prioritize ethical and sustainable practices. Challenges associated with supply chain transparency, including information overload and concerns about greenwashing, highlight the complexities brands face in effectively communicating their ethical commitments to consumers. The study concludes by advocating for strategic transparency initiatives that integrate sustainability, technology-enabled verification, and stakeholder engagement to build consumer trust and competitive advantage. By addressing these insights, brands can navigate the evolving landscape of consumer expectations and regulatory requirements, fostering long-term relationships based on trust and ethical business practices.

The rapid penetration of social media has been redefining every facet of the old marketing and customer engagement tactics, not only for the low-end and mass products but also for luxury brands. In this context, brands are dealing with the challenge of keeping the balance between using mass marketing strategies concurrent with accentuating the exclusivity of their offerings. Social media can be considered a boon if brands employ them to reach the right audience and use the right platform by incorporating the right content. In this work, we propose a sector-specific, integrated, and holistic investigation of the social media strategies of luxury brands, together with the impact they generate in terms of the engagement level of the users as an indicator of their success. We provide empirical validation of the method in the sector of luxury fashion brands in the Italian market, providing qualitative and quantitative analysis of the content shared on social media, considering the type, timing, and modality of the sharing. We evaluate consumer-brand engagement in different contexts, including important live events in the field.

Microbe bioengineering has the potential to improve the nutritional value and health benefits of food products. Modifying microbial cells to produce specific proteins or compounds that can improve human health is one approach. Penicillin and recombinant insulin are two examples of this. The production of recombinant insulin by genetically modified E. coli bacteria has transformed diabetes treatment by providing a consistent and cost-effective source of insulin. Previously, insulin was extracted from the pancreas of animals, which was an expensive process that frequently resulted in impurities that could cause adverse reactions. Bioengineered insulin is now the standard diabetes treatment, providing a safe and effective method of controlling blood glucose levels. Bacteria, for example, can be genetically modified to produce vitamins like B12, which are difficult to obtain from plant sources. Likewise, yeasts can be genetically modified to produce β-carotene, a precursor to vitamin A that is required for vision, immune function, and skin health. Overall, bioengineered microorganisms have the potential to provide significant health benefits by producing essential compounds and proteins. Because of ongoing advances in genetic engineering techniques and understanding microbial metabolism, the possibilities for improving human health through bioengineering are limitless.

We present a normative methodology, for value-pricing B2B services, using a Nash Equilibrium mechanism. Value is fundamental to any service, yet it has defied a definition. The literature is conspicuously silent on how to define value, but abounds in richly descriptive characterizations. To overcome this deficit, we focus on the financial economics of service-value. We formulate an axiomatic definition and a differential equation that embodies the idea of service-value. We specify a set of value axioms and multidisciplinary postulates that coherently form our service-value constructs. Value-pricing is challenging. It is natural that providers desire a high price and customers want a low price. Realistically, both will agree on a win-win price. To uncover this price, we specify an algorithm to reveal the Nash Equilibrium. Once agreed, it validates providers’ and customers’ commitments, and payment obligations. Service value is cocreated by both provider and customer. For a reciprocal process, its treatment is remarkably asymmetric favoring the customer. We argue that one-sided descriptions of value-in-use and value-proposition are limiting mental models. We propose the additional ideas of value-from-use and value-supposition to strengthen the conceptual symmetry of cocreation. Our work reveals a critical gap in service science, metrology. Metrology, the science of measurements, is absent from service-science. Service-value is silent on the questions of quantities, units, scales, measurement principles and instruments. We argue for a call to action for Service Metrology. We sketch a roadmap of actionable suggestions to get started.

A primary challenge facing conservationists is reconciling the human needs of forest adjacent communities with the needs of conserving forest biodiversity, especially in tropical regions with growing populations of rural poor. Agroforestry has the potential to simultaneously provide for human needs and enhance forest biodiversity, but the complex interactions and feedbacks between the social and natural dimensions are relatively undescribed and thus systematic implementation is rare. The attributes of trees on farms required for human needs and conservation value may conflict. For example, exotic species in monoculture may provide the most economic value for farmers, while relic or planted indigenous tree mixtures may be more valuable for biological conservation. The objective of this study was to explore whether agroforestry practices in a moist tropical forest ecosystem in Kenya can simultaneously provide timber and fuelwood value to small-holder farmers while extending forest tree biodiversity. We described the agroforestry attributes on farms around a tropical forest, assessed the relationship between number and biomass of timber/fuelwood trees and tree biodiversity, and explored the relationships between forest tree diversity attributes and farm tree diversity attributes on a landscape scale using spatial analysis. We found that the diversity and number of trees on farms in this area are extensive yet variable, but that no significant relationship exists between the number of timber/fuelwood trees and tree diversity. This suggests that the two values of agroforestry may not be in conflict, due mainly to the high diversity of trees used for fuelwood. We also found that trees on farms in the larger landscape add to the conservation value of forest tree biodiversity and could be important components in conservation management. If agroforestry is to play an increasingly active role in conserving biodiversity in human-dominated landscapes, particularly in areas of dense subsistence farmer populations, increase recognition needs to be given to farmer’s perception of the value of trees and their selection of what trees to plant or maintain.

Economic development and advancements in information technology contributed to the shift on accounting objective from commission responsibility view to decision-making useful view. The decision-making useful view claims that the accounting measurement methods should be changed to improve the usefulness of accounting information, to enable information users to make correct decisions. In addition, the development of financial instruments leads to the birth of fair value accounting. In recent years, fair value has been one of the most important measurement methods in the International Accounting Standard and US Generally Accepted Accounting Principles. However, China has been quite cautious when it comes to applying fair value full time, especially after the global financial crisis happened in 2008, wherein fair value accounting was exposed to strong suspicion. Hence, studying the value relevance of fair value is of great significance to exploring the accounting profession and reforming accounting standards. This paper attempts to investigate the value-relevance of fair value based on the data of listed financial companies and manufacturing companies in China. The results indicate that the fair value information in the financial industry has a strong explanatory influence to corporate share price. In contrast, the fair value information shows limited relevance in the manufacturing industry. Finally, consulting with the results of normative analysis and empirical study, this paper suggests several rational advices for the application of fair value in China.

Background: Large-cell neuroendocrine carcinoma presents significant treatment challenges owing to its rarity and limited therapeutic options. The LANCE study was designed to explore the survival benefits of incorporating atezolizumab in chemotherapy for metastatic LCNEC. Methods: In this non-randomized study, patients with metastatic LCNEC were treated with ei-ther standard chemotherapy plus atezolizumab or standard chemotherapy alone. The primary outcomes measured were progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS), with an ex-ploratory analysis of miR375 in plasma as a potential biomarker. Results: Of the 22 screened patients, 17 met the inclusion criteria and were stratified into the atezolizumab and chemotherapy (n=10) or chemotherapy alone(n=7) groups. After a median follow-up of 23.3 months, the 12-month survival rate for the atezolizumab group was 57.1% (95% CI: 32.6%-100%) and 45.7% at 24 months (95% CI: 22.4%-93.2%). In contrast, the chemotherapy group had a 14.3% survival rate at both 12 and 24 months (95% CI: 2.33%-87.7%). The log-rank test for survival showed a statistically significant difference in the atezolizumab-treated group (chi-squared = 4, df = 1, p = 0.04). A non-significant correlation was found between disease pro-gression and elevated levels of miR375. Conclusions: This pilot study suggests that atezolizumab combined with chemotherapy may be effective in treating metastatic LCNEC. The non-significant correlation between plasma miR375 levels and disease progression suggests its biomarker potential, warranting further validation research.

The article delves into the landscape of the plant-based food industry, exploring innovative market entry strategies and their interplay with the evolving food market and shifting consumer preferences and lifestyles. Adopting a multidimensional approach, the study reflects diverse perspectives at play. Through a comparative analysis of strategic promotion and growth strategies employed by both innovative startups and established industry giants in the plant-based alternatives sector in Germany, the study aims to capture the challenges faced by the 'newer' wave of plant-based alternatives. This examination is particularly relevant for navigating the complexities of entering a competitive market. Striving to penetrate evolving consumer lifestyles, the study draws insightful comparisons with their "older" counterparts. In addition, through in-depth interviews with selected companies, the study investigates the entry methods of startups venturing into the German market, aiming to identify parallels and contrasts in market strategies with established brands. This provides valuable insights into innovation within the alternative food market. Furthermore, the study explores the process of brand "platformization" by scrutinizing the websites of the selected companies and analyzing customers' online reviews of their brand experience. This comprehensive analysis unveils distinctive patterns in communication strategies, brand positioning, and consumer engagement, offering insights into plant-based innovation shaping new, caring lifestyles. Main findings include a strong correlation among dimensions related to food quality, use, and taste, indicating a holistic approach to food consumption facilitated by online platforms.

The Ministry of Health evaluates hospital management in accordance with the standard of quality of service. The concept of Shariah hospitals offers management services that exceed the standard of quality of hospital care. The study aims to illustrate the concept of Shariah hospitals in Indonesia. We collect related literature from various media via online search with the keywords “Shariah hospitals,” “implementation of Shariah hospitals,” and “application of Shariah hospitals.” Main findings: The study finds that the Shariah hospitals built by the philosophy of Islam are willing to provide the best health-care services to patients. A code of conduct must be fulfilled by the hospital management in Shariah hospitals: (1) general liability, (2) obligations to society and the environment, (3) obligations to patients, (4) obligations to the leaders, staff, and employees, and (4) relationships with related institutions. The foremost challenges include the improvement of health personnel performance and the quality of services in addition to perceptions that are not inclusive of the system of Shariah hospitals. This implementation should run consistently and with the commitment of all parties. Such insight, in turn, can be counted as an input to an approach to health services, particularly in increasing the performance rates, such as hospital. This study is the first to provide new insight into discussion about shariah hospital by presenting its focuses on Islamic approaches in meeting the quality standards of health services in hospitals so as to obtain more value. However, exclusive principles—Islamization, heterogeneity, and the performance of health workers—challenge the implementation of this hospital system.

In the second decade of the 21st century, social media changed the nature of communication and cooperation between participants of the culture services market. They became, among other things, an important marketing instrument in the area of contact with the customers of the cultural offer. However, despite their growing importance in various areas of activity of organisations in the cultural sector, the issue of building the cultural institution's brand equity by social media users is relatively seldom raised. Research on the impact of online consumer activity on brand equity is at an early stage of development. Therefore, this article is an attempt to fill the research gap in this area. The article presents the results of a survey conducted in 2018 on a group of 1021 consumers of cultural services, who at the same time regularly used social media. The statistical analysis carried out and the research results obtained prove that the 3C sustainable system developed by the authors, concerning the activity of consumers of cultural services in social media, stimulates the consumer-based brand equity (CBBE). Statistically significant relations have been observed in particular for CBBE components related to the awareness of a cultural institution's brand and for the relationship related to the perception of its quality. The study opens a review of literature on social media and consumer-based brand equity (CBBE). Next, based on the COBRA model (consumer's online brand-related activities), a proposal of the 3C sustainable system, concerning the activity of consumers of cultural services in social media, has been presented. The further part of the article presents research hypotheses, a conceptual model, research methodology as well as results and conclusions. The last part of the article discusses the results obtained and indicates the existing management implications.

Background: the study aimed at comparing the prognostic importance of Heart Rate (HR) and of QT corrected (QTc) according to Fridericia, Framingham and Bazett methods, in a large non-selected population. Methods: the analysis of digital Electrocardiograms archived from 2008 to 2022 in the metropolitan area of Modena, Italy, was made. The population under study was divided into three age-groups and survival analysis was performed. Results: 131.627 patients were enrolled and during the follow-up (mean 1641.4 days), all-cause mortality was 8.9%. Both HR and QTc were associated with mortality. All-cause mortality significantly increased from HR values greater than 81 BPM and from QTc values greater than 440 msec in young subjects and 455 msec in old subjects (values of the 75th percentiles/optimal operating point). Cox analysis confirmed the better prognostic value of Bazett’s QTc and of HR in the whole population and in the three age-groups. Conclusion: Bazett’s method performed better than other methods but unexpectedly HR had the same or a better correlation with all-cause mortality. Since HR is simple and readily available, its evaluation should be improved. However, reference values for QTc and for HR are difficult to define causing many confounding factors and further population-study are required.