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This study investigated the relationship between stress exposure and subsequent ethanol use, focusing on individual differences among male rats. We combined operant self-administration with behavioral economics to assess how intermittent swim stress affects ethanol consumption. This approach allowed for a nuanced analysis of the transition from regular ethanol intake to stress-induced escalation in economic demand. Results showed a consistent rise in ethanol demand post-stress among subjects, irrespective of exposure to actual swim stress or a sham procedure. This increase may result from a two-week abstinence or an inherent rise in demand over time. Significantly, we identified a direct link between post-stress corticosterone levels and the demand for ethanol, considering baseline levels. This correlation was particularly pronounced when examining the shifts in both corticosterone levels and demand for ethanol post-stress. However, neither post-stress corticosterone levels nor their change over time correlated significantly with changes in ethanol demand following a forced swim test that was administered 24 h after the intermittent swim stress test. This suggests potential context-specific or stressor-specific effects. Importantly, pre-stress ethanol demand did not significantly predict the corticosterone response to stress, indicating that high ethanol-demand rats do not inherently exhibit heightened stress sensitivity. Our research brings to light the complex interplay between stress and ethanol consumption, highlighting the critical role of individual differences in this relationship. This research introduces a nuanced perspective, underscoring the need for future studies in the realm of stress and substance use to give greater consideration to individual variability.

This article demonstrates that rating-based capital requirements, through their impact on insurers' investment demand, affect corporate bond prices. Consistent with insurers' low demand for investment-grade bonds with a rating close to noninvestment-grade, these bonds outperform. Consistent with insurers' high (low) demand for investment-grade bonds with high (low) systematic risk exposure, these bonds underperform (outperform). Insurer demand, measured by insurer holdings, explains most of these pricing effects. We identify rating-based capital requirements as the driver of insurer demand, and thus the pricing effects, by showing that the effects do not exist before these requirements' implementation in 1993. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Supply-chain disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic are of unparalleled magnitude because of a confluence of circumstances: a sudden rise in demand for some products, unforeseen shifts in demand points, supply shortages, a logistical crisis, and an unprecedentedly quick recovery in major economies. This article maps the changes that will occur in supply-chain planning and management in a post-COVID-19 world. It also reflects on the articles included in this special issue and draws key conclusions about how configurations of global supply chains might change. Automation and digitalization are likely to play a key role in these transitions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Firms in the same networks tend to have similar corporate governance practices. However, disentangling peer effects, where governance practices propagate from one firm to another, from selection effects, where firms with similar preferences self-select into linked groups, is difficult to do. Studying board-interlocked firms, we utilize the staggered adoption of universal demand laws across states to identify and estimate causal peer effects in governance policies. We find support for the existence of peer effects in the adoption of antitakeover provisions. The impact of universal demand laws on the governance experience of interlocking directors likely explains these effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study analyzes the residual demand curves of 42 countries under five scenarios with varying variable renewable energy (VRE) levels to observe how replacing coal with VRE can alter the demand curve. Using 2018 demand data, the residual demand was calculated and analyzed by subtracting the VRE supply curve from the demand curve. The operational requirements for low-carbon load-following sources amid high VRE penetration are examined. Key findings indicate that substantial peak residual demand persists even with 70% energy from VREs, emphasizing the need for significant load-following resources. Transitioning to a 70% VRE scenario could reduce CO2 emissions by approximately 16.799 billion tons, advancing towards carbon neutrality. However, this benefit depends on maintaining grid stability, highlighting the importance of adequate load-following plants to manage VRE intermittency. Countries like Malaysia, South Korea, Tunisia, the UK, Japan, Indonesia, Thailand, and Libya face higher load-following demands due to specific renewable energy contexts. This study reveals varying renewable energy environments across countries, suggesting that a universal strategy for carbon neutrality and replacing coal may not be feasible. Each nation must develop its own approach to emission reduction, considering its unique conditions. This research emphasizes the urgent need for developing cost-effective, flexible, low-carbon load-following sources to enhance decarbonization potential globally. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

I provide a microfounded theory for one of the oldest, but so far informal, explanations of price rigidity: the kinked‐demand curve theory. Kinked‐demand curves arise when some customers observe at no cost only the price at the store they are at. At the microlevel, the kinked‐demand theory predicts that prices should be more likely to change if they have recently changed, and more flexible in markets where customers can more easily compare prices. At the macrolevel, it captures a part of the inflation/output trade‐off that is not shifted by inflation expectations and therefore persists in the long run. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper aimed to propose an analytical framework for assessing the postearthquake traffic flow capacity of girder bridges based on the loss model of vertical load-carrying capacity. For this purpose, a loss model of the vertical load-carrying capacity of a reinforced concrete (RC) column associated with the residual drift ratio and the damage level (i.e., the modified Park–Ang index) was developed to determine the postearthquake vertical load-carrying capacity accurately and quantitatively. Subsequently, the probability seismic demand analysis (PSDA) was performed to obtain the probability distribution functions (PDFs) of engineering demand parameters (EDPs) (i.e., the residual drift and the damage indicator) and the PDF of postearthquake vertical load-carrying capacity was determined based on the developed loss model. Furthermore, the reliability analysis was utilized to calculate the postearthquake reliability index of a bridge by adjusting the mean values of the live load (which reflects the traffic flow capacity), and the postearthquake traffic flow capacity could then be quantitatively determined based on the live load ratio at a target reliability index. Finally, the proposed framework was implemented on a single-column bridge to demonstrate its efficiency. Compared to traditional qualitative and subjective postearthquake functionality assessment of the damaged bridge, the proposed analytical approach offered a mathematical model for the decision-making process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Agricultural productivity is expected to decrease under changing climate conditions that correspond to the stability of West African food systems. Although numerous studies have evaluated impacts of climate variability on crop yields, many uncertainties are still associated with climate extremes as well as the rapid population growth and corresponding dietary lifestyle. Here, we present a food supply and demand analysis based on the relationship between climate change, crop production, and population growth in three sites from southwestern Burkina Faso to southwestern Ghana. Climate and agricultural time series were analyzed by using boxplots mixed with a Mann–Kendall trend test and Sen's slope. Food balance sheets were calculated by estimating the demand using a population growth model linked to food supply with local consumption patterns. We found almost insignificant rainfall and temperature trends for both sites in the Sudano-Guinean savannah. Conversely, the climate regime of southwestern Ghana revealed a strong significant increasing temperature over time. Crop yield trends demonstrated that maize and sorghum were significantly enhanced in both study areas of the Sudano-Guinean savannah. Southwestern Ghana depicted a different crop pattern where cassava and plantain showed a strong upward yield trend. The grouped food balance sheets across the regions illustrated a surplus for the Sudano-Guinean savannah while southwestern Ghana exhibited a deficit. Despite the growing yield of various crops, food demand is outpacing regional production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rental bike sharing is an urban mobility model that is affordable and ecofriendly. The public bike sharing model is widely used in several cities across the world over the past decade. Because bike use is rising constantly, understanding the system demand in prediction is important to boost the operating system readiness. This article presents a prediction model to meet user demands and efficient operations for rental bikes using Random Forest (RF), which is a homogeneous ensemble method. The approach is carried out in Seoul, South Korea to predict the hourly use of rental bikes. RF is compared with Support Vector Machine with Radial Basis Function Kernel, k‐nearest neighbor and Classification and Regression Trees to verify RF supremacy in rental bike demand prediction. Performance Index measures the efficiency of RF compared to the other predictive models. Also, the variable importance analysis is performed to assess the most important characteristics during different seasons by creating a predictive model using RF for each season. The results show that the influence of variables changes depending on the seasons that suggest different operating conditions. RF models trained with yearly and seasonwise models show that bike sharing demand can be further improved by considering seasonal change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Today's organizations rely on networks of dynamic systems of "agile" teams to get work done. Teams are distributed, transient, and loosely bounded in service of responsiveness and innovation. The key to this new way of doing work is managing the networked ecosystem in which teams are embedded. But in the context of leading multiple teams with fuzzy boundaries and shifting membership, the average overwhelmed manager quickly defaults to what is nearest in urgency: managing internal team dynamics and responding to internal customer demands. Drawn from field interviews with 100 top-performing team leaders, this article presents a framework-for-action to leaders who want to engage the networked ecosystem with intention and precision, including specific tactics for identifying and influencing high-leverage stakeholders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Institutional demand for a stock before its earnings announcement is negatively related to subsequent returns. The relation is not attributable to the price pressure of institutional demand and is stronger for stocks with higher information asymmetry and/or greater valuation difficulty. These findings support the notion that overconfident institutions misprice stocks. Following announcements, institutions' behavior exhibits the outcome-dependent feature of self-attribution bias. Whether they become more overconfident and delay their mispricing correction depends on whether earnings news confirms their preannouncement trades. This behavioral bias also offers a new explanation for the well-known post-earnings-announcement drift. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) has been recognized to be an effective therapy for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). However, in China, the application of PR interventions is still less promoted. Therefore, this cross-sectional study aimed to understand COPD patients' intention to receive PR, capture the potential personal, social and environmental barriers preventing their willingness of receiving PR, and eventually identify demanding PR services with the highest priority from patients' point of view. Methods: In total 237 COPD patients were recruited from 8 health care facilities in Zhejiang, China. A self-designed questionnaire was applied to investigate patients' intention to participate in PR and potentially associated factors, including personal dimension such as personal awareness, demographic factors, COPD status and health-related literacy/behaviors, as well as social policies and perceived environmental barriers. The demand questionnaire of PR interventions based on the Kano model was further adopted. Results: Among the 237 COPD patients, 75.1% of COPD patients were willing to participate in PR interventions, while only 62.9% of the investigated patients had heard of PR interventions. Over 90% of patients believed that the cost of PR services and the ratio of medical insurance reimbursement were potential obstacles hindering them from accepting PR services. The multiple linear regression analysis indicated that the PR skills of medical staff, knowledge promotion and public education levels of PR in the community, patients' transportation concerns and degree of support from family and friends were significantly associated with willingness of participation in PR interventions. By using the Kano model, the top 9 most-requisite PR services (i.e., one-dimensional qualities) were identified from patients' point of view, which are mainly diet guidance, education interventions, psychological interventions and lower limb exercise interventions. Subgroup analysis also revealed that patients' demographics, such as breathlessness level, age, education and income levels, could influence their choice of priorities for PR services, especially services related to exercise interventions, respiratory muscle training, oxygen therapy and expectoration. Conclusions: This study suggested that PR-related knowledge education among patients and their family, as well as providing basic package of PR services with the most-requisite PR items to COPD patients, were considerable approaches to promote PR attendance in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Previous reports have indicated the reciprocal effects of nicotine and ethanol on their rewarding and reinforcing properties, but studies using methodological approaches resembling substance use in vulnerable populations are lacking. In our study, rats first self-administered ethanol, and their sensitivity to ethanol's reinforcing effects was assessed using a reinforcer demand modeling approach. Subsequently, rats were equipped with intravenous catheters to self-administer nicotine, and their sensitivity to nicotine's reinforcing effects was evaluated using the same approach. In the final phase, rats were allowed to self-administer ethanol and nicotine concurrently, investigating the influence of one substance on the rate of responding for the other substance. Group analyses revealed notable differences in demand among sucrose, sweetened ethanol, and ethanolalone, with sucrose demonstrating the highest demand and ethanol-alone exhibiting greater sensitivity to changes in cost. At the individual level, our study finds significant correlations between rats' demand for sucrose and sweetened ethanol, suggesting parallel efforts for both substances. Our individual data also suggest interconnections in the elasticity of demand for sweetened ethanol and ethanol-alone, as well as a potential relationship in price response patterns between ethanol and nicotine. Furthermore, concurrent self-administration of ethanol and nicotine at the group level displayed reciprocal effects, with reduced responding for nicotine in the presence of ethanol and increased responding for ethanol in the presence of nicotine. This study provides valuable insights into modeling the co-use of ethanol and nicotine and assessing their interaction effects using reinforcer demand modeling and concurrent self-administration or noncontingent administration tests. These findings contribute to our understanding of the complex interplay between ethanol and nicotine and have implications for elucidating the underlying mechanisms involved in polydrug use. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper addresses three features that characterise the authoritarian restoration following what is known as the Arab springs of 2011: a) the recourse to technocratic governments, b) the proliferation of discourses on the depoliticisation of governance and c) the postponement of the renegotiation of the old social contracts. Added to this is the importance of the international nexus, given that strategic allied states at a global level and international financial institutions embrace a formula that ensures stability and facilitates the implementation of neoliberal reforms. However, this authoritarian technopopulism fails to address the economic demands of the population, nor does it provide avenues of political inclusion or a framework for drawing up a new social contract; at best, it serves momentarily as a structure to contain the protests. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Social inequality is pervasive in primates, with male-biased power often assumed as the default condition. We tested this assumption with a broad dataset and explored factors that might make some types of intersexual power more likely to evolve, such as males being larger than females and skewed sex ratios. We hypothesized that intersexual power can arise due to sex differences in fighting ability as well as economic demand for mating opportunities. We found that even though societies with power biased towards males are most common in primates, some lemurs, monkeys, and apes exhibit societies without male-biased power. Male-biased power was associated with males being larger than females and more females in social groups (i.e., high supply/low demand for females), whereas non-male-biased power was associated with low supply/high demand for mating opportunities with females. The last common ancestor of primates did not necessarily exhibit male-biased power, but the last common ancestor of monkeys, apes, and humans probably did exhibit male-biased power. Non-male-biased power probably evolved independently multiple times in primates. However, multiple traits favor male-biased power and fewer paths lead to societies with female-biased power or intersexual equality. Dominance and leverage are both possible causes of social inequality. If sexual dimorphism influences patterns of intersexual dominance, we predicted that highly dimorphic species are constrained to exhibit male-biased power (MP), but species with low sexual dimorphism are free to demonstrate a broader range of intersexual power relationships. If market effects influence intersexual leverage, we predicted that females have more power when group composition is more male-biased and estrus is asynchronous. We analyzed data on intersexual power, sexual dimorphism, expected estrous overlap, and sex ratio for 79 extant primate species using phylogenetic logistic regression and ancestral state reconstructions. Although MP is more common, every major primate clade includes non-MP species. MP was associated with greater body mass and canine length dimorphism and with female-biased sex-ratios. Low estrous overlap was associated with non-MP. Although MP was reconstructed as likely ancestral for anthropoids, the last common ancestor of this clade probably did not exhibit high sexual dimorphism. The last common ancestor of catarrhines was probably highly dimorphic, potentially constraining intersexual power relationships. Non-MP probably evolved multiple times in primates and may be less common because multiple traits are linked to MP while fewer traits are associated with female-biased power or equality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper aims to introduce a new approach to enhance college English learning through an intelligent method that constructs a learning environment from a demand analysis perspective. The proposed model utilizes a bionic algorithm to structure the algorithm and adopts a highly efficient energy generation method to calculate the interaction energy. This study aims to find the optimal solution to the constraint problem by using a process of continuous generation, expansion, and replacement of magnetosomes. The methodology employed in this research involved constructing the college English learning environment in colleges and universities from a demand analysis perspective. This was achieved by analyzing the needs and requirements of college students and designing an ecological virtual learning environment (EVLE) that meets their demands. The findings of this study indicate that the proposed EVLE for college English is effective in improving the effectiveness of college English learning. The experimental verification results support the effectiveness of the proposed model in creating an interactive and engaging learning environment that facilitates the acquisition of English language skills. It is an innovative approach to college English learning that utilizes intelligent methods to construct a demand-driven learning environment that enhances students' learning outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Product exclusivity is a well-known strategy adopted by agencies to attract buyers. Although some platform firms develop first-party products to improve competitiveness, we show that they do not necessarily benefit from the exclusivity of these products in a competitive market. Platforms may sell their first-party products on their competitive platforms, which we call the non-exclusive strategy. The impact of the non-exclusive strategy on firms' profits is the result of an interaction between a competition effect and a demand effect. The competition effect is that the non-exclusive strategy reduces the differentiation between firms, and the investment strategy on the first-party product has no impact on the price competition between firms. The competition effect causes firms to intensify price competition and decrease the investment for their first-party product. The demand effect is that, in the presence of the non-exclusive strategy, the firm can obtain a sale profit from the first-party products in the competitive platform. The demand effect causes firms to diminish price competition and increase investments in first-party products. As a result of these two effects, we find that firms are more likely to benefit from the exclusivity of the first-party products only when the unit misfit cost is sufficiently high. We also find that firms implementing the non-exclusivity strategy will reduce the investment in the first-party product if the consumers' performance sensitivity is low. When platforms develop the targeted investment in first-party products, we can also see that the exclusivity of the first-party product is not always beneficial to the platform. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The increasing demand for care workers in the global North has spurred the migration of the care workforce, especially of female nurses from the global South. This development is redefining women's roles as breadwinners and the instigators of family migration. However, the migration of nurses from the global South-to-North needs further investigation into how these women are empowered to lead the migration process and the factors that influence the decision. I will explore the roles of migrants' individual skills and competencies along with the demand for care workers in the UK's labour market. This study is based on data from 49 in-depth qualitative interviews with Nepali care workers in the UK and their parents in Nepal. I argue that in the case of the migration of trained nurses from the global South to the North, individual and contextual factors become more important and influential than gender and power relations in the family in the decision-making processes. As a step towards addressing human resource shortages in the health and social care sectors, the UK has recently reached a bilateral agreement with Nepal to recruit Nepali nurses. While the migration of Nepali nurses is likely to increase, empowerment to migrants and adherence to ethical recruitment could be mutually beneficial for participating countries, migrants and their families. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: This study investigates the influence of functional foods (FFs) on the health of the Kazakh population and their potential in preventing diseases associated with inadequate and unbalanced nutrition. Methods: The research is based on an unstructured telephone interview conducted with experts in the production, sale, and consumption of functional foods in Kazakhstan. The experts provided insights into current trends in the Kazakh functional food market, factors driving the demand for FFs, and the preferences of the Kazakh population concerning functional foods. Result: The analysis revealed significant factors contributing to the growth in demand for FFs among the Kazakh population. These factors include an increasing interest in healthy lifestyles, marketing strategies promoting FFs, and the endorsement of biologically active supplements by medical professionals. The study also identified the most favored FFs among Kazakh consumers, with a particular preference for various proand synbiotic dairy products, prebiotic grain-based foods, sweetened foods, and vitamin-enriched products. Conclusion: The findings highlight the potential of FFs in positively impacting the health of the Kazakh population and promoting preventive nutrition practices. The study emphasizes the importance of considering the general nutritional status and disease incidence in developing the range structure of FFs in Kazakhstan. The research underscores the need for a well-informed and targeted approach to meet the specific dietary requirements and preferences of the Kazakh population, thereby contributing to improved overall health and well-being. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Climate change is a threat to current and future generations. One behavior change that may produce substantial emission reductions is a shift from using personal vehicles to public transportation. While the use of public transportation allows reductions in personal emissions, it is associated with extra time spent en route. Behavioral economic studies of demand have demonstrated the effects of delay on choice, but few have addressed the effects of delay on use of transportation modalities. Additionally, studies targeting environmentally relevant commodities have occasionally examined choice when outcomes are framed as being environmentally beneficial, but this is likely not representative of naturalistic choice opportunities where framing is absent. The purpose of the current study was to demonstrate the effects of time as a cost on the hypothetical use of public transportation, and to evaluate the effects of a framing manipulation on participants' responses. We found that participants' reported use of public transportation was sensitive to time as a cost, that environmental framing increased reported use relative to previous neutral framing, but that the sequence of framing conditions moderated changes in responses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

First put forth by Hedley Bull in the 1970s, the notion of 'accommodation' is an often-neglected approach to understanding the role, rights and responsibilities of emerging nuclear powers from the Global South in the nuclear order. The existing literature looks at the avenues and conditions through which the institutions of the nuclear order grant accommodation. However, analysis of the demands raised by rising powers at various stages of the nuclear order's development is severely lacking. The cases of India and Brazil, two rising powers with advanced nuclear capabilities, highlight some of the demands of accommodation raised by these states during the early development of the Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty (NPT) - a cornerstone agreement in the global nuclear architecture. Two important demands - namely, regional security considerations in the global system and the adoption of the principle of mutual obligations and responsibilities - have shaped these states' behaviour vis-à-vis the NPT. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Developing industrial-scale nuclear energy projects requires substantial technical expertise, access to complex fuel supply chains and long-term financial capital. For developing countries investing in civil nuclear energy programmes, securing external support is crucial. However, the nuclear technology trade market is heavily regulated and rather thin. Exporter states must balance commercial opportunity with security interests, given nuclear technology's dual use. Because of this, incumbent exporters bear responsibility in crafting and enforcing market regulations. As highlighted by the budding Chinese-Argentinian relationship, newly capable market entrants, particularly the People's Republic of China (PRC), have the potential to challenge international nonproliferation norms by fulfilling market demand where other, predominately Western, states have demurred. The strength of nuclear markets' non-proliferation-oriented regulatory structures hinges on nascent relationships between entrepreneurial exporters and participating Global South states. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Iran's 2015 nuclear deal has defied the conventional wisdom over the futility of imposing economic sanctions to curtail its nuclear programme. However, the existing literature remains theoretically ill-equipped to deal with the complexities of the Iranian case. By developing a theoretical framework that elaborates on the causal pathways through which economic sanctions affect both the supply (constraints on the nuclear programme) and demand (domestic politics) sides of nuclear proliferation, the case of Iran is examined from the faltering of international nuclear negotiations in 2005 until the signing of the nuclear deal in 2015. In achieving this outcome, the demand-side pathway played a more decisive role than the supply-side pathway as it contributed to the formation of a broad-based coalition that was able to side-line the hardline neo-Principalists and pursue a path of negotiation and nuclear rollback. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper conducts an empirical analysis of risk premiums in the Brazilian electricity market, a critical but understudied field. Employing two distinct methodologies—Average Forward Prices and Last Observed Forward Prices—the study calculates risk premiums between spot and forward electricity prices. Our analysis consistently identifies negative risk premiums, which serve as indicators that the market may be underestimating certain types of risk. These underestimations are potentially influenced by inherent market uncertainties, including volatile demand, unpredictable supply, and frequent regulatory shifts. Additionally, we observe a high volatility in risk premiums, signifying a dynamic and ever-changing market where expectations are continuously recalibrated. Such conditions present possible arbitrage opportunities for market actors and underline the need for policymakers to introduce measures mitigating market unpredictability. By focusing on these nuances, this paper enriches the broader discourse on risk premiums in electricity markets and underscores the necessity for further research aimed at devising effective risk management strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article aims to elaborate on a few strategies designed for validating data encoded as a QR code. As the use-cases for such validation schemes vary widely as the demand for such practices is continuously increasing, the present article will represent a comparative study of checksum, hashing, as well as asymmetric encryption algorithms for the offline validation of claims transmitted through the payload of the exchanged data. Results are evaluated based on different criteria impacting the reliability, such as the size of the QR code and the resulting security. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and objectives: In light of projections indicating a growing demand for wood in the forthcoming years and the initiation of a plan to cease the exploitation of the Hyrcanian forests from 2019, the inadequacy of wood essential for the country's wood industry has emerged as a paramount challenge. The escalation in the exchange rate has rendered wood imports insufficient to cater to the nation's entire needs, underscoring the imperative to elevate wood cultivation levels as a primary solution. Despite the relatively modest expanse of poplar plantations and wood cultivation in Kurdistan province, the conducive conditions of ample rainfall and the presence of numerous seasonal and permanent rivers render it a viable area for expansion. Consequently, it becomes crucial to identify and effectively manage the obstacles and challenges impeding the development of wood cultivation in Kurdistan province. Methodology: This study focused on wood plantations and management strategies in Kurdistan province. A comprehensive questionnaire, encompassing the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats related to the development of wood farming in Kurdistan province, was meticulously prepared and finalized. The geographical boundaries of Kurdistan province served as the system's perimeter for the identification and categorization of these four key components. Employing purposeful sampling, experts well-versed in the research topic were deliberately chosen for their valuable insights. A total of 60 informed experts and local stakeholders, determined in accordance with Cochran's formula with a 10% error rate, actively participated in the review and scoring of the SWOT analysis questionnaire for wood farming in Kurdistan province, utilizing a Likert scale ranging from 1 to 5 points. The collected data, including the questionnaire results and SWAT analysis scores, were meticulously entered into an Excel program. Subsequently, total points for each item were calculated, followed by the determination of averages and relative weights for each of the four subsections of the SWAT analysis. Building on the average scores for strengths and weaknesses (internal organization) as well as opportunities and threats (external organization), the management strategy was discerned through the utilization of the Space Matrix and Strategic Action tools for wood farming in the province. This determined management strategy served as the foundation for the development of strategic plans spanning a period of 10 to 15 years, meticulously crafted to optimize wood farming in Kurdistan province. Results: According to the research findings, there are 16 strengths, 22 weaknesses, 15 opportunities, and 8 threats identified for the development of wood farming in Kurdistan province. The results highlight the most significant strength and opportunity for wood farming development in Kurdistan: "3000 kilometers of seasonal and permanent rivers in the province" and "the increasing demand from wood and paper industries for wood raw materials," respectively. Conversely, the most critical weakness and threat for wood farming in the province are identified as the "long harvest period of wood (economic age over 8 years) and the lack of income during this period" and "climate change leading to a reduction in annual rainfall and surface water." Local stakeholders emphasized that "the increase in demand for wood in other Iranian provinces (due to the lack of conversion industries in Kurdistan province)" stands out as a pivotal opportunity for the development of wood farming. Based on these findings, the conservative strategy (with a position of -19.67; 25.14) was endorsed in the second quarter of the coordinate system. Consequently, four long-term programs were formulated to optimize wood farming development in Kurdistan province: 1) Ensuring the annual pre-purchase of wood from farmers, 2) providing support and allocating facilities for the development of wood cultivation in the province, 3) promoting wood farming and increasing community participation, and 4) enhancing the province's infrastructure and fostering the growth of wood-related industries. Conclusion: Recognizing the crucial significance of advancing wood farming in Kurdistan province, it is imperative to underscore and strategically plan the following short-term initiatives: 1- Construction of a Wood Industry Factory, 2- Cooperative and Local Organization Engagement, 3- Technical Involvement of Natural Resources Experts, 4- Formation of Trade Union Cooperatives, 5- Guaranteed Wood Purchase Opportunities, 6- Wood Farming Festival, and 7- Infrastructure Enhancement and Industry Development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Inbound tourism from China contributes to around 15% of Australian tourist arrivals. However, the political and trade relations between the two countries began to deteriorate since 2018. Considering this environment, using annual data from 1991 to 2019, this study enables the identification of alternative tourism markets for Australia. The results suggest that maintaining price competitiveness and consumer satisfaction should be high priorities of the Australian tourism policy to attract more tourists. The findings of this study provide insights to formulate new strategies to attract tourists from the other top markets in the event of a decline in Chinese tourist arrivals to Australia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Motorhomes/campervans are a long-standing fad that is currently making a resurgence in all parts of the world. Because of the versatility of the motorhome, this lifestyle has grown in popularity, not only among hippies, but also among families who wish to have fun or live a nomadic (moving) existence, especially with the rapid rise of the Internet of Things. We can learn from the Covid-19 pandemic that work and study can be done anywhere, whether at home, in recreational spaces, in third rooms, and so on. Motorhomes can now be purchased at reasonable costs. Furthermore, the motorhome can be customized to meet your specific demands and functions. Motorhomes can be created from simple automobiles using any car foundation, such as an MPV, Van, SUV, Middle Size Bus, Full Size Bus, or even a sedan, rather than full size RVs with big proportions and luxurious equipment. The purpose of this study is to define the motorhome/campervan concept and its potential as an alternative housing type. Furthermore, the potential is fairly large for Indonesian millennials, who appear to have a lot of issues on housing ownership mostly because the affrodability (economic) aspect and also considering the raising on nomadic and flexible lifestyle. Motorhomes are an excellent option to economical housing since they are mobile, have flexible layouts, and provide a comfortable living space especially for Youth Indonesia's Millenial who's carving for a unique experience. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study focuses on an inner area in Northern Sardinia (Italy) currently experiencing depopulation and considered 'fragile' due to its lack of typical regional summer tourism. However, this area boasts an intriguing cultural heritage, currently under-recognized and undervalued. The aim of this contribution is to apply to this territory the Conjoint Analysis methodology, which examines target demand and constructs scenarios. Drawing from the regional plan for tourism, an exploratory phase was employed to support future strategies in cultural and touristic enhancement by stakeholders. In this regard, the experiment, involving a survey of 600 interviews among inhabitants (301) and tourists (299), aims to: (1) estimate the economic value of the cultural heritage and tourist consumption preferences using WTP, (2) raise awareness among decision-makers about the varied value perceptions of the territory and its heritage by its users, (3) craft a knowledge framework of this territory to diversification of the tourism offer. The study showcases innovative elements both in terms of internal technical aspects and strategic approach. The collection of preferences, based on a set of nine itinerary cards, highlights undervalued aspects related to intangible components, community well-being, sustainable consumption habits, sustainable mobility, and microeconomies not strictly tied to traditional tourism types. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The global economic landscape is undergoing a transformative shift, as evidenced by the BRICS nations' increasing dominance. This development raises questions about the emergence of economic and political blocks and their potential leverage. China and India, as the world's most populous nations within the group, are instrumental in driving global economic demand. The expansion of BRICS, with new members possessing vast natural resources, amplifies the group's influence. However, the BRICS face a monetary and financial Achilles heel, especially in the case of China, hindering their ability to act independently. As the BRICS gain geopolitical significance, the G7 responds with infrastructure initiatives and trade agreements, though success hinges on reciprocal concessions. The BRICS thus serve as a wake-up call for the G7, prompting considerations of rejuvenating political and economic links amidst a shifting global landscape. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In response to the problem of bowl seedling detachment caused by the shaking of the transplanting machine in plant factories, this paper proposes a physical entity monitoring method for the digital twin (DT) plant factory transplanting system. The method is used to analyze the vibration signals of the transplanting machine under different operating conditions and explore the optimal working conditions. Firstly, a demand analysis for the physical entity of the DT plant factory transplanting system is conducted, focusing on practical applications. Then, an optimal deployment plan is designed based on the axiomatic design (AD) theory. Subsequently, a comparative analysis of the operating conditions of the plant factory transplanting equipment is carried out using data-driven approaches. Finally, the optimal working condition parameters are determined by comparing the modal vibration power spectral density of the transplanting equipment under different operating conditions. The results show that the maximum amplitude occurs in the Z-axis, with a magnitude of 2.1 m/s2. By comparing the cloud maps, it is evident that the vibration trends in the Z-axis and X-axis above the transplanting robotic arm are more pronounced compared to the Y-axis. This indicates that under the operating condition of transplanting 3000 plants per hour, a high transplanting efficiency can be maintained, and the vibration signals in the XYZ-axis above the transplanting robotic arm are relatively smooth, making them suitable for transplanting operations. This study combines digital twin technology to analyze the vibration signals of the plant factory transplanting machine under different operating conditions and explore the optimal working conditions. Compared to traditional monitoring platforms, this method facilitates the real-time visualization of different operating conditions of the transplanting machine in a virtual mapping, providing a more intuitive reflection of the equipment operation status. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The German government's ambitious goal of achieving CO2 neutrality by 2045 has prompted a focus on improving building insulation as a vital step toward energy efficiency. However, in this process, existing radiators and boilers are often left unchanged. Moreover, during the construction of buildings, heating systems are often designed with excess capacity to ensure there is no risk of insufficient heat supply during operation. This research presents various approaches to reduce the required radiator supply temperature, utilizing data from a study conducted in 100 multifamily buildings. The approaches encompass reducing the heat reserve, shifting the heat output, optimizing radiator utilization, and conducting heat demand analysis. The findings reveal that in pre-existing buildings equipped with radiators, it is possible to significantly lower supply temperatures without affecting the indoor temperature. Applied on the seed, reducing the heat reserve could reduce the median temperature by 18.5 K, thus curtailed by the most utilized radiator in the median to 7 K. Furthermore, the heat demand analysis showed that the consumption could decrease in the median by 13%, the peaks in median even by 29%. While each approach is analyzed individually, their combined implementation has the potential to considerably enhance the efficiency of water-to-water heat pumps, thanks to the reduced requirement for high supply temperatures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using a comprehensive database of U.S. internal auditor job postings, we find that firms are about 10 percent more likely to post an internal auditor job after the revelation of accounting and operational failures. Also, the demand for internal auditors is stronger when a failure is more severe. Among firms posting internal auditor jobs, firms demand higher-quality internal auditors in response to a failure compared with when there has not been a recent failure. We find evidence of internal audit demand spillovers through connected directors, which helps mitigate concerns that the primary results are due to replacing internal auditors that recently left or due to endogenous links between hiring internal auditors and failure revelations. Overall, our evidence suggests that firms demand internal auditors to help ensure high-quality financial reporting and effective operations. JEL Classifications: G34, J23, M41, M42. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As the competitive market becomes increasingly customized, companies strive to sell highquality products to meet unique customer demands. We are living in the era of the 4th industrial revolution, where a lot of data is available in supply chain management from various sources and in different formats. Big Data and the Internet of Things (IoT) offer numerous opportunities for the proper utilization and interpretation of this data. Methodologies for forecasting provide assistance in making informed decisions and improving service quality. This document focuses on the role of forecasting in the development of packaging systems. To facilitate the selection of the appropriate packaging system, a conceptual simulation testing method has been developed and is presented in this paper, aiming to conduct impact assessments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

INTRODUCTION: Language is a bridge between people, an indispensable component of information exchange and communication, and an essential part of social culture. As the most widely used language in the world, English occupies an essential position in the social language, generating value demands related to it, ranging from the needs of individuals for their development to the needs of social industries or fields for their development to the national language strategy. OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this paper is that due to the implementation of the "One Belt, One Road" policy, more and more cultures of the countries along the route are coming into China's vision, and at the same time, Chinese culture should also be promoted, and only through the correct use of language can we promote the Chinese civilization and other civilizations to seek common ground and put aside their differences, appreciate each other, and eliminate the clash of cultures in the process of mutual collision and fusion of different civilizations. METHODS: Based on the data mining ecosystem, this study examines the demand analysis of the value of English language services in today's environment, explores the explicit and implicit benefits regarding the value of English language services, and analyzes and explores the explicit and implicit economic benefits of language services and the economic, social, and cultural benefits they encompass at different levels. RESULTS: The research suggests that we need to focus on the value of multiform English language services, strengthen English language industry research and studies, and conduct a scientific English language economic program. CONCLUSION: Language services and language economy are two closely related concepts. Analyzing language services from multiple perspectives can reveal their explicit and implicit economic, social and cultural benefits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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