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Objective Data Sources Study Design Data Collection/Extraction Methods Principal Findings Conclusions To examine the relationship between insurers' commercial market power and negotiated prices in Medicaid Managed Care (MMC) plans for hospital care.MMC prices from hospital‐disclosed price transparency data as of July 2023 compiled by Turquoise Health, insurance enrollment information from the 2021 Clarivate InterStudy enrollment data.Log‐transformed linear regression with hospital and procedure fixed effects estimating the within‐hospital MMC price variation as a function of insurers' commercial market share quartile and MMC market share for 15 common outpatient hospital services.A total of 39,049 MMC price samples measured at hospital‐procedure‐MMC insurer level are merged with county‐insurer level market share data.Around 25% of price variation in MMC plans are driven by within‐hospital factors. Compared with MMC insurers from the lowest commercial market share quartile (<0.8%), those from the highest commercial market share quartile (>17%) are associated with negotiating 4.6% (95% confidence interval: [2.8%–6.4%], p < 0.001) lower MMC prices for outpatient hospital care, including 3.6% (p < 0.05) for medical/surgical procedures, 3.6% (p < 0.01) for radiology, and 6.7% (p < 0.001) for emergency department visits.MMC insurers with substantial commercial market share negotiate lower MMC prices for multiple outpatient hospital services. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Data standards play a key role in the governance of commercial actors on the market for health data. This commentary explores expectations for standard-setting in the European Health Data Space (EHDS), a pivotal legal initiative for facilitation of cross-border health data exchange. While EHDS aims to establish shared standards for interoperability and innovation in the European Union (EU) and affiliated countries, the analysis reveals some of the inherent complexities. We draw on insights from policy analysis and Science and Technology Studies (STS) that underscore how standards are performative and have unpredictable and uneven implications. To exemplify this, the commentary delves into the intricate issues surrounding the harmonization of diagnostic codes and pharmaceutical prescriptions. In conclusion, it asserts that while standard setting has unpredictable effects, it still involves prioritizing some purposes and benefits over others. We raise questions about the distribution of costs and benefits among stakeholders in the evolving landscape of health data governance and call for further empirical investigation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To effectively contest the air littoral, the US Air Force will need to meet two requirements: production at scale and continuous innovation. First, operating in this subdomain against a major power adversary will require an incredible mass of small drones, loitering munitions, and counter-unmanned aerial systems that exceeds the limits of the US defense industrial base and commercial market. Second, rapid innovation beyond the current Department of Defense procurement model is needed. This article describes these challenges and their implications for Air Force operations. It recommends the development of a new paradigm with three lines of effort: a new business model focused on capabilities, not programs; investment in scaling cutting-edge technologies; and a workforce that continuously upgrades the subdomain’s systems and software. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Breastfeeding rates in Vietnam, and globally, remain suboptimal. A major contributor to this is the aggressive marketing of commercial milk formulas (CMF), mainly through online media. The Vietnamese Government has implemented legal measures to limit CMF marketing, but these have been difficult to enforce, because of complex online environments. We aimed to quantify the extent and nature of online violations and contradictions in various Vietnamese laws related CMF marketing over 12 months in 2022. Using a cross‐sectional study design, we used an artificial intelligence‐enabled virtual violations detector (VIVID) to monitor official websites and social media pages of 25 breastmilk substitute (BMS) merchandise and distributors, every day for 12 months in 2022. Data were summarised descriptively. We detected more than 3000 online advertisements that violated or contradicted the intent of Vietnamese laws, involving almost 7000 violations of various articles within these laws (average 9.5 violations per day). More than 700 detections were related to CMF products being registered as “supplementary foods” or similar, thereby circumventing Vietnamese CMF marketing laws, because they are not registered as “BMS products. We demonstrate the need to strengthen the design, monitoring and enforcement of existing Vietnamese laws to eliminate mothers” exposure to the exploitative digital marketing of CMF. By turning a highly resource‐intensive task into one that is, automated requiring substantially less resources, our study represents the most comprehensive in Vietnam and internationally on the extent and nature of the online marketing of BMS. VIVID can be applied worldwide to hold industry accountable for the inappropriate marketing of CMF. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Over 70% of Medicaid beneficiaries are enrolled in Medicaid managed care (MMC). MMC provider networks therefore represent a critical determinant of access to the Medicaid program. Many MMC insurers also participate in commercial insurance markets where prices are high, and some insurers exercise considerable market power. In this paper, we examined the relationship between commercial insurer market power and MMC physician network breadth using linked national enrollment data and provider directory data. Insurers with more commercial market power had broader Medicaid physician networks. Insurers with over 30% market share had 37.3% broader Medicaid networks than insurers in the same county that had no commercial market share. These differences were driven by greater breadth among primary care providers, as well as other specialists including OB/GYNs, surgeons, neurologists, and cardiologists. Commercial insurance market power may have spillovers on access to care for MMC beneficiaries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, U.S. states have relaxed their laws to permit the operation of a commercial cannabis market despite enduring federal criminalization. While media outlets commonly point to money as the primary motivator for working in the newly regulated cannabis industry, this article advances the alternative view that becoming a cannabis professional is linked to a broader process of drug‐related identity formation. Interviews with cannabis professionals reveal that commercial cannabis careers are facilitated through diverse moral meanings associated with this plant regardless of economic success. These meanings are filtered through imagined futures of the cannabis trade that draw people to cannabis occupations, increase their job commitment, and formalize their professional identities. In the spirit of reflecting on cannabis policy at the twilight of drug prohibition, this article sketches out new directions for studying the regulated cannabis trade and advocates for greater attention to the projective element of capitalism in the operation of legally contested markets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As space becomes increasingly congested, states operating in close proximity to other states is an inevitability. Strategically valuable space will become more crowded, and naturally, states will try to find creative solutions to fit more satellites into a constrained volume of space. As the commercial market begins to eclipse the defense market in the global space economy, there is a current impetus to normalize operating in close proximity to other satellites, also known as Rendezvous and Proximity Operations (RPO) activities. Normalizing RPO activities helps each state better understand intentions and ultimately avoid miscalculations that would escalate tensions or, worse--start a shooting war in space. As more states become space powers, all of humanity will have to wrestle with this problem. It stands to reason that the United States is best situated to lead the international community in the development of standards of conduct while conducting RPO activities and demonstrating to the world that not only can RPO activities be done, but they can be done safely and responsibly. This first step will improve space sustainability by enabling RPO-enabled commercial ventures to remove debris and extend satellite mission life. For the first time in history, the preponderance of the space market is predominately commercial. Now is the time to leverage a louder private equity voice to define safe and responsible space behavior. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Climate change is threatening our current food systems and countries around the world are seeking alternative food sources to safeguard against potential food insecurity and nutrient deficiency concerns. Various traditional foods used by Aboriginal groups of Australia have previously been shown to be highly nutritious, contain beneficial functional properties and can thrive in the harsh climatic conditions found across Australia. As interest in these traditional foods grows, Aboriginal groups are looking at developing a range of foods for modern markets. However, for many of these foods, there is still little known about their nutritional and functional properties. In this study, we report the nutrition composition and antioxidant properties of a native Australian grain species that is currently being developed for commercial markets by a collective of Aboriginal Traditional Custodians and compare its properties to a commonly consumed wheat variety. Compared with wheat, the native grain species contained 2‐fold greater protein and total fats, and higher levels of essential minerals and trace elements, including 8‐fold iron levels and >2.5‐fold calcium, magnesium, zinc, copper and manganese levels. Functionally, the native grain contained 2.4‐fold greater polyphenol content and displayed greater antioxidant potential in exposed human monocyte cultures. Importantly, the native grain was also found to contain a very low gluten content. Altogether, this shows that the native grain is nutritionally and functionally superior to commonly consumed wheat for the measured parameters and could potentially serve as a grain alternative or be used to fortify current wheat‐based and gluten‐free products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The illicit coca economy has become a bulwark for smallholder farming in Colombia. This article helps explain why. Analysis of the social relations surrounding coca production in one of the country's most important coca-producing municipalities shows that capitalist market imperatives are weak within this economy. Pressures to increase productivity are muted by fluid access to land, non-interest-bearing debts, and the lack of price competition between producers. Coca-growers are 'improving' production, but they mostly respond to opportunities rather than imperatives. In the context of multiple agrarian crises, the coca economy allows even less well-off producers to survive. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The maintenance of varietal typicity is essential for the productions and provide source material for breeding targets. Krumovgrad 58 is the most wanted tobacco varieties on the tobacco market from commercial companies in Bulgaria. Cultivation of the variety in untypical areas and significant climatic changes affect its phenotypic characteristics. Тhis necessitates a more detailed and in-depth assessment of the main biometric and quality characteristics of the tobacco. In the present study in experimental field (EF)-Kozarsko were monitoring yield, biometric and quality indicators of 71 generations (from a total of 100) of the selected plants under the EF-Markovo conditions and compared with control plants growing from base seeds of the variety. In order to maintain the genetic structure and narrow the amplitude of possible deviations of the Krumovgrad 58 was made a selection according to typical of the variety parameters. As a result, it was found that the average values of the investigated characteristics of the generations and the average values of the controls were very close, suggesting that the differences were the result of the environmental conditions and not of significant variations in the variety. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Revista Iberoamericana de la Educación is the property of Instituto Corporativo Edwards Deming and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

AbstractAnesthetic drug permeation across biological membranes is commonly analyzed by customized side-by-side diffusion cells, and their availability in the commercial market is limited. Hence, the present study has designed and validated a novel static horizontally aligned drug diffusion cell (Shan DDC) for in vitro permeation studies. The diffusion chambers in Shan DDC are rectangular, measuring 28 × 12 × 15 mm in length, width, and thickness, respectively, to hold a volume of 5 mL separately in each chamber and a 3.36 cm2 opening for drug diffusion, offering a surface area to volume ratio of 0.67. The performance of the device was validated. The temperature inside the chamber was maintained within a narrow range of 37 ± 1.2 °C. The leak fraction was 1.6% (162 ± 45 µL) of the total chamber volume (10 ml). The optimal stirring efficiency inside the individual chamber was achieved within 36 ± 14 s at 200 rpm. The coefficient variation of lignocaine drug flux through the model membrane (nitrocellulose) was 4.2%. Thus, Shan-DDC has been demonstrated to provide reproducible permeation data in vitro. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

From the 1650s the expansion of English interests in the Baltic fostered more competition for access to commercial markets. A desire from Sweden to meet its own commercial goals also led to a greater level of competition for shipping. An increasing association between England and Sweden brought about the greatest commercial shift in Baltic commerce during that century. Building on research that has established general trends in Anglo-Baltic commercial history during the period, this article assesses the growth and competition of English commercial ambition. The article consults data sets such as the Sound Toll Registers Online, and the Stockholm customs accounts, while taking into consideration contemporary diplomatic sources. It seeks to answer why, how and where English trade became competitive in the Baltic. It outlines general commercial flows by juxtaposing England's shipping next to its nearest competitors and consults three case studies to reveal previously unrealised nuances in Anglo-Baltic trade. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Research and development of military-required innovations are usually funded through the issuance of grants and contracts. The limitations of these funding methods are the a priori specifications and objectives that limit creativity and often do not produce capabilities beyond the desired outcomes or leverage the best ideas and solutions available. This limited engagement of commercial industry to develop military-required innovations usually relies solely on government funding and receipt of proposals from companies whose business model is built on receiving government grants and contracts, with the government owning most of the risks. Because the produced capabilities or products are designed to be military-unique, there is a limited or no commercial market available, usually driving the price per unit extremely high to the point that the military cannot afford to procure products in quantities sufficient to enable businesses to keep production lines open, however, for military-required or desired capabilities or products that have a commercial market, there are other funding pathways available to develop products by partnering with industry, academia, and other non-government organizations and leveraging their ideas and funding. One such way of engaging the commercial industry is through the use of prize competitions. This often under-utilized pathway has several notable strengths such as (1) reduced risks and costs for the military to develop novel capabilities and products; (2) new and novel creative solutions to solve military problems; (3) utilizing a results-oriented approach that funds the successful achievement of acceptance criteria versus funding of potential to achieve; (4) enticing investors by increased competition for a successful product or capability; and (5) delivery of a commercially available, affordable, field-tested, and viable capabilities and products. Prize competitions may be used by any/all federal agencies as authorized by Congressional Public Laws and Federal regulations. The specifics of this pathway for funding pathway and applications for use by medical researchers, developers, and project/program managers are spelled out in the article, along with the regulatory guidance and resources for finding out more about current and past prize competitions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Saurida undosquamis is a globally dispersed species. It is a wellknown commercial species belonging to the Synodontidae family from the Red Sea and Suez Gulf of Egypt. 200 samples were collected from commercial markets in Port-Said, Egypt. After species identification, the morphometric characteristics were estimated for each sample. The length-weight relationship and Fulton condition factor were also calculated. Moreover, after fish dissection, the internal organs were removed to measure the organosomatic indicators, and the fish gut length was measured to be compared with its total length. The contents of the stomach were classified to calculate the percentage of each type to detect the feeding habit of these fish. Finally, samples of the internal organs were prepared for the histological sections. The morphometric data revealed that S. undosquami had canines found in two rows. The total and standard-length averages were 24.94± 1.64 and 21.41± 0.34cm, respectively. The growth pattern of the examined fish is a negative allometric pattern. Both sexes were in good health, as the Fulton factor was more than one. The highest organ ratios were recorded for the hepatosomatic and gonadosomatic indices. The most abundant food content in the stomach was fish. The histological sections reflected the similarities between S. undosquami and the other teleosts recorded in the previous study. In conclusion, the biological knowledge about lizardfish in Port Said Governorate provided by this study helped to afford the required information to support the resource's utilization. There is a need for further investigations that link more between these different biological parameters concerning environmental conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sturgeons (Family: Acipenseridae) are among the most endangered taxa worldwide. Significant resources have been invested into the conservation of global sturgeon populations, including the development of commercial aquaculture programs. These programs are intended to improve conservation outcomes by reducing the harvest of wild populations while still meeting commercial demand for sturgeon products. However, there is growing concern that commercial aquaculture programs may contribute to wild population declines through continued, illegal harvest and the escape and/or release of captive individuals into wild environments. These concerns may be particularly acute in the country of Georgia which, despite its small territory and altered landscape, is a globally significant hotspot for sturgeon diversity. In order to understand the potential threat of captive culture on wild sturgeon populations in Georgia, we used mitochondrial DNA sequencing and microsatellite analyses to identify the species and origin of sturgeons encountered in commercial settings. Microsatellite analyses showed significant differentiation between wild and commercial Russian sturgeon populations and highlighted the potential for wild-caught individuals to be present in coastal markets in Georgia. The analyses of mitochondrial haplotypes also suggested that commercial markets may contain sturgeon species that are not native to the region. Overall, our results suggest that wild sturgeon populations may still be exploited to support captive aquaculture programs and commercial sales. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The main goal of this study was to evaluate the concentration and release dynamics of molecular hydrogen (H2, dihydrogen) in dietary evaluate supplements and identify products that provide a biologically significant amount of dihydrogen suitable for human consumption. We examined ten commercial supplements marketed for their dihydrogen content, including slow-release capsules and tablets (4 products), effervescent powders and tablets (5 products), and canned ready-to-drink beverage (1 product). These products were acquired either through online purchases, from retail stores, or obtained free of charge directly from the manufacturers upon request. Dihydrogen concentration was measured using a highly sensitive Clark-type hydrogen microsensor with a detection limit 0.05 µmol·L-1. Out of the ten products examined, only three (30.0%) exhibited dihydrogen levels surpassing the levels marketed as biologically relevant (500 µmol·L-1), and one of these products (a canned ready-to-drink beverage) approached this level with a concentration of 439.2 µmol·L-1. Interestingly, all slow-release capsules yielded negligible amounts of hydrogen (< 2 µmol·L-1), while a slow-release tablet delivered 43.6 µmol·L-1 of dihydrogen per single dose. The substantial variance in dihydrogen content among the assessed supplements holds significant implications for the general public, as high-potency products have the potential to provide up to 7 000 times more dihydrogen per single dosage compared to their low-potency counterparts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This article seeks to offer an answer. It explores the criteria on which commercial property market participants can develop strategies in hugely challenging circumstances. For this purpose, a survey-based approach was developed with work conducted with property-market professional in the United Kingdom (UK), France, Germany and Sweden to produce a criteria-based tool supporting adaption to changing market circumstances. Design/methodology/approach: The data have been analyzed using statistical analysis. The data's statistical analysis included Cronbach's alpha's application to evaluate the respondents' replies' reliability. A entral tendency test was used to identify the means of relevance of the criteria. The Mann–Whitney U test was used to determine potential material differences between the UK and other countries with Bonferroni corrections applied to minimize type-I errors. Findings: Thirty characteristics have been identified that impact the dynamics of the commercial property market. Their relevance to the commercial property market was determined using a survey. The literature analysis showed that the researchers paid more attention to quantitative criteria and their comparison. The survey showed that the relevance of criteria to the commercial property market dynamics is unequal. However, the survey results showed that it is most important to pay attention to emotional criteria to adapt to uncertainty changing conditions. The problem of the environment has been on the agenda for the last four decades. Therefore, the fact that the results of the study showed that the environmental criteria are the least significant is unexpected. Research limitations/implications: The study involved economically developed countries of Europe. Extending the study's geographical scope would be valuable in revealing whether the same differences exist in other geographical areas (such as Australia or the USA). Practical implications: The practical implication of the analysis may be to facilitate the decision-making process of either selecting a country for commercial property investment or selecting the most sensitive and relevant criteria for the decision-making. Originality/value: Criteria for commercial property market performance which promote successful property investment have been developed. Moreover, the criteria affecting the commercial property market have been weighted by their relevance to the market and their sequence of relevance has been established. And finally, the developed criteria have been placed into five groups that could serve as a foundation for a macro-level assessment of commercial property market dynamics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The preparation of bismuth telluride (BST) mainly relies on the zone melting method in the commercial market. However, the zone melted ingot usually exhibits poor performance at both ends, resulting in a low utilization efficiency. Herein, we employed a combination of composition adjustment and secondary zone melting to recycle the scraps at both ends of the p-type zone melted BST ingot. A systematic investigation was conducted to analyze the phase composition, microstructure, and thermoelectric performance uniformity of the recycled ingot. The results reveal that the composition of the recycled ingot is very close to the nominal value after composition adjustment. All the different zones of the recycled ingot display nearly identical composition, microstructure and thermoelectric performance, except for the two ends. Compared with other zones of the ingot, the top end possesses more Te impurity, and the bottom end shows inferior orientation. Meanwhile, both ends exhibit a low electrical conductivity and a high lattice conductivity. Nonetheless, all the zones of the recycled ingot, except the bottom end, show high zT values ranging from 0.93 to 1.26 at room temperature. A maximum zT value of 1.29 at 350 K was obtained for the middle position of the ingot. Our work presents a new environmentally friendly, cost-efficient strategy to recycle the scrap at both ends of the zone melted BST ingot. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Poultry products such as meat and eggs are rich sources of proteins, vitamins, and minerals. It is a good indicator of healthy food. Keeping in view, the present study is designed to evaluate the prevalence of toxic heavy metals (lead, nickel, cadmium, and chromium) in chicken eggs and feed. For this purpose, five samples of egg and feed were collected from five different commercial markets in Skardu City. Each sample was prepared using the wet digestion method and analyzed using a flame atomic absorption spectrophotometer. The results showed that lead, nickel, and chromium were present in varying amounts in the feed and egg, with nickel being the most concentrated metal, followed by lead and chromium in egg samples, while the feed samples showed the highest concentration of chromium followed by lead and nickel. However, concentrations of selected heavy metals except cadmium were all above the permissible limit of the World Health Organization. The self-organizing map-artificial neural network is employed for the identification of patterns of heavy metals in chicken feed and egg samples. The lower left neurons of the maps showed higher heavy metal concentrations found in samples taken from Bazar, whereas the rest of the samples showed varied concentrations. A comparison of feed and egg concentrations showed that nickel concentration was lower in feed samples than in egg samples. The lead concentration decreased in eggs except in the Krasmathang feed sample. Chromium concentration presented a negative correlation due to the extremely high concentration found in the Bazar feed sample. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As an emerging technology, smart textiles can bring solutions to many problems, but also create new ones, especially related to their disposal and their impact on the environment. That is why it is important to address this problem at this stage of technological development when smart textiles have not yet pervaded the mass markets. In this article, first, an attempt is made to understand the chronological development of smart textiles: the reasons for a weak breakthrough in the commercial markets throughout the decades, starting from the 1990s until today, but also the emergence of new driving forces that should inevitably lead to a bright future for smart textiles. In addition, we explore the contemporary possibilities for sustainable materials, manufacturing techniques, and end-of-life solutions for developing sustainable smart textiles based on a broad literature review, online sources, and a questionnaire survey among textile experts. Finally, an overview of the latest developments related to the standardization of smart textiles is given. This research was spurred by participation in CONTEXT COST Action (CA17107 - European Network to connect research and innovation efforts on advanced Smart Textiles). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lithium–sulfur batteries (LSBs) have gained remarkable attention over the past several years, however, their inherent limitations, such as the poor interfacial stability of their Li anodes and the severe dissolution of polysulfide, are regarded as bottlenecks that prevent these batteries from entering commercial markets. In this study, a 1,1‐diethoxyethane (DEE), which has been functionalized with acetal groups, is proposed as an electrolyte cosolvent to complement the limitations of the electrode materials of LSBs. In Li/Li symmetric cells, the DEE cosolvent exhibited stable cycling behavior, whereas the cell with the baseline electrolyte exhibited rapidly increasing polarization, even after 650 h. In LSB cells, the electrolyte that contains 50% DEE exhibits the highest cycling retention (65.0%) compared to the baseline electrolyte (49.8%) because it effectively protects the interface of the Li anode, but also suppresses the dissolution of polysulfide species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Lumina (0123-4072) is the property of Universidad de Manizales and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

At present, aromas are increasingly used in multisensory in-store communication to create a more enjoyable purchasing environment that can influence consumer emotions, behaviour and decision-making. We often do not realise the power of an aroma's influence on our mood, but its influence at the point of sale makes sense, of course, if it is used correctly. It is possible to monitor the impact of aromas on consumers' emotions in a variety of ways, whether through classical research methods implemented at a conscious level or through more advanced methods. Obtaining more accurate data on consumers' emotions in this way makes it possible to create a purchasing atmosphere that contributes to increased sales and, ultimately, profit. This paper explores the impact of aromas on consumers' emotions by applying different research methodologies, with the place of implementation being the real-world conditions of the selected retail establishment. The evaluation of the data obtained in the aromatisation and non-aromatisation periods confirmed that the importance attributed to aroma marketing in commercial establishments is well founded. At the same time, by comparing the results, we have identified differences in the conscious and unconscious evaluation of the impact of aromas on consumers' emotions, confirming the practical importance of implementing and using various techniques in research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Revista da Micro e Pequena Empresa is the property of Faculdade Campo Limpo Paulista and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Since the advent of cellular networks represented by the first-generation GSM to the current generations (4G, 5G) represented by the LTE network. This brought about a qualitative revolution in cellular networks in terms of quality, speed, and efficiency. The emergence of cellular networks accompanied by the need to locate the user for commercial and marketing purposes, therefore emerge need for the concept of location-based services (LBS). However, with the increased reliance on cellular networks by users, there appeared a second trend to locate the user for security purposes and emergency. This was the first system established in the United States of America, called federal communication commission (FCC) 911. Position locating has also penetrated the military, security, and police investigations fields to locate criminals. Therefore, we review the methods of determining location in LTE networks. We evaluate each method and identify its weaknesses. In addition, we determine the most appropriate method for law enforcement. Based on the evaluation that showed the most effective way to determine the location used by law enforcement authorities is the radio frequency (RF) fingerprint. Then employment of artificial intelligence (AI)/machine learning (ML) to obtain an optimal method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cryostructured gels, better known as cryogels, are a very important emerging class of biomaterials that have diverse applications in food preservation. This work shows a novel alternative to prepare a cryostructured composite coating made from a blend of xanthan, bovine collagen, and oregano essential oil. The composite coating was suitably applied onto the surface of preservative‐free biscuits which were stored for 15 days at 25 ± 2°C and 52% ± 1% relative humidity. The evaluation focused mainly on the changes in the physicochemical, textural, and microbiological characteristics of the biscuits. It was found that the coated samples significantly (p < 0.05) decreased moisture absorption, water activity, and fungal growth. However, the composite coating minimally impacted the quality of biscuits in terms of color, texture profile, and surface microstructure. Overall, the cryostructured composite coating constitutes an advance in technological strategies aimed at the preservation of baked products. This will allow, in the future, the development of novel coatings on bakery products to generate new trends in the conservation of their properties and extension of shelf life. This could be achieved through the implementation of new technologies in the food industry, with the aim of making them more environmentally friendly and contributing to the generation of less plastic waste. Practical Application: The study and application of cryogels, as innovative systems in the food industry, allow to expand and diversify the materials that can function as coatings to maintain some quality characteristics, in this case in bakery products, so it is important to analyze their effects and consider them to improve conservation processes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The motivation of this work is to analyse the nonlinear models and their complex nature with generalized tools associated with material and history-based properties. With the help of well-known and widely used numerical scheme, we study the stimulating behaviours of the financial system in this work. The impact of parameters on price index, rate of interest, investment demand, influence changes and investment cost with respect to saving amount, and the elasticity of commercial markets demand are discussed. The consequences of generalizing the model within the arbitrary order are derived. The existence of the solution for the considered system is presented. This study helps beginner researchers to investigate complex real-world problems and predict the corresponding consequences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context and Purpose: The commercial market in Bushehr province, as the commercial gateway of Iran to the Persian Gulf countries and the neighboring cities, has always had a significant role and importance. The expansion of commercial relations in Iran and the high volume of goods exchanged with other cities have made the commercial market in Bushehr one of the most active commercial markets in the south of the country. The main purpose of this study is to discuss the role of the commercial market and stores in attracting commercial tourism in Bushehr province. Methodology: This research is descriptive and practical in terms of its implementation method and purpose, with an emphasis on the correlation method. The study focuses on Bushehr, whose population is 1,275,678 people (1,402 population statistics system). The sample size in this research was 381 people, who were selected through the random sampling method. Findings: The results of this research showed that since the significance level of the relevant test was equal to 0.000, it can be claimed that the above test is significant with an error of 0.05 or a confidence level of 0.95. The standardized regression of the effect of commercial markets and stores on sustainable tourism in Bushehr province as a dependent variable equals 0.576. The coefficient of determination (R-2) for the influence variable of commercial markets and stores on sustainable tourism in Bushehr province was equal to 0.422. Conclusion: The results of the path analysis showed that the discussion of attracting tourism in the effectiveness of the commercial market and stores component on various aspects of sustainable tourism, including the cultural dimension, the economic dimension, the social dimension, and the environmental dimension in Bushehrbe province, is an effective and productive emphasis factor. Originality/value: Considering that few studies have been done in the field of commercial tourism in Iran, this research can be a good model for researchers in this field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: The white spot syndrome virus (WSSV) is a harmful pathogen with significant economic implications for the shrimp industry. This study investigated the presence of WSSV in frozen shrimp and bivalves in the Korean commercial market, with a specific focus on WSSV genetic variants. The research revealed that WSSV was detected in both domestic and imported shrimp, with higher viral loads in domestic samples. Various genetic variants of WSSV have been identified that exhibit differences in pathogenicity associated with longer deletion lengths in specific genetic regions linked to initial viral replication. Additionally, the presence of WSSV variants in bivalve mollusks suggested their potential utility as biomarkers for viral tracking. This study offers valuable insights into the prevalence and genetic diversity of WSSV in aquatic animal products that are essential for disease control and management in the aquaculture industry. White spot syndrome virus (WSSV) poses a significant threat to the global shrimp industry. We investigated the presence of WSSV in frozen shrimp (n = 86) and shellfish (n = 185) from the Korean market (2010–2018). The detection rate of first-step polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in domestic shrimp was 36.8% (7/19), whereas that in imported shrimp was 0.01% (1/67). Furthermore, the WSSV genome was amplified from domestic bivalve mollusks by first- and second-step PCR with accuracies of 3.4% (5/147) and 15.6% (23/147), respectively. The genetic relatedness of InDel-II regions among WSSVs detected in domestic shrimp groups revealed four variants (777, 5649, 11,070 and 13,046 bp insertion or deletion), and imported shrimp groups had four variants (10,778, 11,086, 11,500 and 13,210 bp) compared with the putative ancestor WSSV strain. The 5649 bp variant was the dominant type among the WSSV variants detected in domestic shrimp (54.5%, 6/11). Notably, bivalve mollusks exhibited six variants (777, 5649, 5783, 5876, 11,070 and 13,046 bp), including four variants detected in shrimp, indicating that bivalve mollusks could facilitate WSSV tracking. In a challenge test, whiteleg shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei) exhibited varying mortality rates, indicating a link between InDel-II deletion and viral replication. These findings highlight the complexity of WSSV transmission. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) has recently licensed a commercial prediction market to operate in the US. With regulatory restrictions lifted, these markets can now play the important role that has been often envisaged for them. For example, investors can use them to hedge various event-related risks directly rather than indirectly via portfolios expected to move a certain way if events occur. Commercial prediction markets charge fees, an element that has not been incorporated into previous theoretical work on these markets. We examine the impact of fees on prediction market prices and returns by introducing them to a model in which the market price equals the true probability when there are no fees. We find that existing fee models mean contract prices for low probability outcomes are below the true probability but the impact of fees means prediction markets feature a form of favorite-longshot bias: Post-fee loss rates depend negatively on the probability of the event being backed. We show this result holds even if prediction market operators set a fee structure that is more generous to contracts with a low probability of success. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to assess the cyclic load capacity of wooden chairs and subsequently categorize them based on their performance. A diverse selection of chair models was randomly procured from commercial markets. These chairs underwent performance testing, utilizing the cyclic stepped increasing loading method, with adherence to the standards set forth by the American Library Association Technology Reports (ALA). The study evaluated 315 chairs, encompassing 21 chair models. Each chair model underwent five replications of testing across three different loading directions. The resulting dataset of numerical values was subjected to statistical analyses, facilitating the categorization of chairs based on their strength under cyclic loads. Notably, the study revealed substantial variations in the load capacity among different chair models. As a consequence of this investigation, the study established acceptable design load thresholds. For instance, concerning front-to-back loading, it was determined that the chairs with cyclic load capacities ranging from 932 to 1449 N fell within the category of low-strength, between 1450 and 1968 N were classified as medium-strength (suitable for domestic use), and the chairs with cyclic load capacities exceeding 1968 N were considered to possess high strength (intended for hotel lobbies, restaurants, libraries, etc.). Similarly, for back-to-front loading performance, the study identified the chairs with cyclic load capacities between 625 and 895 N as low-strength, 896 and 1167 N as medium-strength, and the chairs with loads surpassing 1168 N as high-strength. The performance thresholds for side thrust loads were as follows: low-strength encompassed the cyclic load capacities ranging from 649 to 934 N, medium-strength spanned the cyclic load capacities between 935 and 1221 N, and high-strength entailed 1222 N and above. Notably, the classification devised in this study is closely aligned with the widely accepted and internationally recognized ALA specification. This strong consistency with global standards reinforces the reliability and applicability of the classification system developed in this research. In conclusion, this study enhances understanding of wooden chair strength performance and offers practical insights that lead to higher-quality products and improved consumer satisfaction. Its recommendations can potentially drive positive change within the industry and benefit manufacturers and consumers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We study the emergence of a new population of firms and show that legitimation is a local phenomenon and stimulates entry. However, legitimation is offset by competition as the number of firms increases. We provide evidence that the legitimation and competition effects within the municipality dominate the effects in a larger area. We also give a methodological contribution and show that the magnitude of the legitimation and competition effects is weaker than what is predicted by the conventional regressions. Finally, legitimation and competition do not act 'symmetrically': legitimation is stronger and acts more quickly than the competitive effect. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In an era of digital economy, big data capability becomes a new approach for organisational competitive advantage in market. Products are the concentrated reflection of commercial value in market. It is crucial to clarify when and how big data capability promotes product speed-to-market. Based on the perspective of knowledge integration, we propose a model to clarify the impact of big data capability on product speed-to-market in a competitive market. Using data from 405 enterprises in China, we test our research model. We find that big data capability has positive effect on market-oriented knowledge integration (MOKI) and product speed-to-market, respectively. MOKI partly mediates the relationship between big data capability and product speed-to-market. In addition, the findings also indicate that market competition moderates the indirect effect. The results of this paper provide specific managerial guidelines as to how to apply big data to improve speed-to-market. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Group IV alloys of GeSn have been extensively investigated as a competing material alternative in shortwave-to-mid-infrared photodetectors (PDs). The relatively large defect densities present in GeSn alloys are the major challenge in developing practical devices, owing to the low-temperature growth and lattice mismatch with Si or Ge substrates. In this paper, we comprehensively analyze the impact of defects on the performance of GeSn p-i-n homojunction PDs. We first present our theoretical models to calculate various contributing components of the dark current, including minority carrier diffusion in p- and n-regions, carrier generation–recombination in the active intrinsic region, and the tunneling effect. We then analyze the effect of defect density in the GeSn active region on carrier mobilities, scattering times, and the dark current. A higher defect density increases the dark current, resulting in a reduction in the detectivity of GeSn p-i-n PDs. In addition, at low Sn concentrations, defect-related dark current density is dominant, while the generation dark current becomes dominant at a higher Sn content. These results point to the importance of minimizing defect densities in the GeSn material growth and device processing, particularly for higher Sn compositions necessary to expand the cutoff wavelength to mid- and long-wave infrared regime. Moreover, a comparative study indicates that further improvement of the material quality and optimization of device structure reduces the dark current and thereby increases the detectivity. This study provides more realistic expectations and guidelines for evaluating GeSn p-i-n PDs as a competitor to the III-V- and II-VI-based infrared PDs currently on the commercial market. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Trans-mucosal platforms connecting the bone-anchored implants to the prosthetic teeth are essential for the success of oral rehabilitation in implant dentistry. This region promotes a challenging environment for the successfulness of dental components due to the transitional characteristics between soft and hard tissues, the presence of bacteria, and mechanical forces. This review explored the most current approaches to modify trans-mucosal components in terms of macro-design and surface properties. This critical review article revised intensely the literature until July 2023 to demonstrate, discuss, and summarize the current knowledge about marketable and innovative trans-mucosal components for dental implants. A large number of dental implant brands have promoted the development of several implant-abutment designs in the clinical market. The progress of abutment designs shows an optimistic reduction of bacteria colonization underlying the implant-abutment gap, although, not completely inhibited. Fundamental and preclinical studies have demonstrated promising outcomes for altered-surface properties targeting antibacterial properties and soft tissue sealing. Nanotopographies, biomimetic coatings, and antibiotic-release properties have been shown to be able to modulate, align, orient soft tissue cells, and induce a reduction in biofilm formation, suggesting superior abilities compared to the current trans-mucosal platforms available on the market. Future clinical implant-abutments show the possibility to reduce peri-implant diseases and fortify soft tissue interaction with the implant-substrate, defending the implant system from bacteria invasion. However, the absence of technologies translated to commercial stages reveals the need for findings to "bridge the gap" between scientific evidences published and applied science in the industry. [Display omitted] • Several designs for trans-mucosal platforms are exhibited on the commercial market. • Implant-abutment connectors should reduce/exclude the interface gap. • Nanotopographies, biomimetic coatings, and antibiotic-release properties have shown optimistic advances for trans-mucosal components. • Current research should aim to "bridge the gap" between fundamental evidence and marketable devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the performance of the commercial property market in Malaysia. Differing from previous studies that focus on the first wave of COVID-19 that erupted in March 2020, we examine how the commercial property market reacted to the resurgence of COVID-19 cases and the subsequent response (lockdowns, fiscal support, and vaccination program) of the government in dealing with the threat of the COVID-19 pandemic. We find that abnormal returns of listed property companies, REITs, and hotel operators decrease following the implementation of the first nationwide lockdown. Subsequent nationwide lockdowns, however, do not exert a significant impact on abnormal returns. Moreover, we find that 1-day window abnormal returns during the first and third nationwide lockdowns increase with increases in COVID-19 cases. This suggests that investors believe in the ability of these nationwide lockdowns to slow down the spread of the COVID-19 virus. In addition, we document a positive impact of blanket loan moratorium announcements and change in vaccination rate on abnormal returns. The economic magnitude of the stock price changes in response to these announcements could be used as a reference point by policymakers and investors when faced with future pandemics of a similar scale. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This review considers the recent investigations in the scope of biodegradability of synthetic polymers, spanning polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), and their corresponding composites, with a focus on the influence of oxo-additives (mostly transition metal salts). The types of oxo-additives and the mechanisms of oxidation acceleration are discussed. Furthermore, the influence of oxo-additives on both physicochemical and biological stages of degradation is evaluated (laboratory and field experiments with microorganisms/fungi action) with recent standards suggested for degradation estimation. Comparisons of the metal salts are given with respect to catalysis, as well as the synergetic influence of additives. The additives presented on the commercial market are also discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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There is a growing body of evidence that customer satisfaction is predictive of firms' future financial performance. However, studies of this relationship have been limited to competitive markets, and monopolistic markets have been largely ignored. This study explores the large and important utilities market and exploits its unique regulatory requirements that generate detailed and reliable operating and accounting data to examine the overall relationship between customer satisfaction and utility profit and establish the causal mechanisms involved. Using data from U.S. public utility firms, the authors show that even when customer satisfaction does not affect future revenues, it does positively predict future profitability by reducing utility firm operating costs. More specifically, they find that higher satisfaction reduces the costs of utility firm distribution, customer service, and sales and general administration expenses. These findings and additional post hoc evidence are consistent with the notion that customer satisfaction (1) generates efficiency-enhancing benefits for utility firms by lowering the direct and employee engagement costs of dealing with dissatisfied customers and (2) fosters greater trust and cooperation from customers. This study has important implications for both managers and regulators and provides important new insights for market-based asset theory and regulatory economic theory. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Over time, markets evolve into particular structures, with clearly defined roles in terms of who does what in the industry. When a firm ventures beyond these established roles, it often gets punished by its exchange partners. Our interviews in the Champagne grape market, however, suggest that some buyers are penalized more than others in such circumstances. Quantitative analysis confirms that nontraditional buyers receive price penalties for role deviations—through diversification, vertical integration, or disintegration—whereas traditional firms are treated more leniently. A subsequent interpretivist study, using interview data from 78 market participants to explore the exact mechanisms underlying this effect, reveals that sellers blame less traditional buyers when they cross the boundaries of their usual roles because they are thought to act out of volition and bad faith, whereas the same transgressions by more traditional firms are believed to have been necessitated by external circumstances. We conclude that the sanctioning behavior of actors in response to role transgressions by their exchange partners is driven by their interpretation of the motives underlying these transgressions, rather than by the actions themselves. As a result, nontraditional firms may find it difficult to deviate from the traditional roles in their industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aesthetic attributes and easy-to-grow nature of tropical cut flowers (TCFs) have contributed to their potential for increased production. The dearth of information regarding agronomic practices and lack of planting materials are the key hindrances against their fast expansion. Unconventional high-temperature storage requirements and the anatomy of the peduncle contribute to poor vase life performance, while troublesome packaging and transport due to unusual size and structure primarily cause post-harvest quality deterioration. Nonetheless, the exotic floral structures consequently increase market demand, particularly in temperate countries. This boosts studies aimed at overcoming post-harvest hindrances. While a few TCFs (Anthurium, Strelitzia, Alpinia, and a few orchids) are under the spotlight, many others remain behind the veil. Heliconia, an emerging specialty TCF (False Bird-of-Paradise, family Heliconiaceae), is one of them. The structural uniqueness and dazzling hues of Heliconia genotypes facilitate shifting its position from the back to the forefront of the world floriculture trade. The unsatisfactory state-of-the-art of Heliconia research and the absence of any review exclusively on it are the key impetus for structuring this review. In addition to the aforementioned setbacks, impaired water uptake capacity after harvest, high chilling sensitivity, and the proneness of xylem ducts to microbial occlusion may be counted as a few additional factors that hinder its commercialization. This review demonstrates the state-of-the-art of post-harvest research while also conceptualizing the implementation of advanced biotechnological aid to alleviate the challenges, primarily focusing on Heliconia (the model crop here) along with some relevant literature on its other allied members. Standard harvesting indices, grading, and packaging are also part of the entire post-harvest operational chain, but since these phases are barely considered in Heliconia and the majority of tropical ornamentals except a few, a comprehensive account of these aspects has also been given. The hypothesized cues to nip chilling injury, resorting to different bio-chemical treatments, nano-based technology, and advanced packaging techniques, may help overcome preservation difficulties and propel its transition from niche to the commercial flower market. In a nutshell, readers will gain a comprehensive overview of how optimum post-harvest handling practices can rewardingly characterize this unique group of TCFs as the most remunerative component. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hybrids between various species of Hibiscus in the Muenchhusia section are popular in commercial markets due to their colorful, floriferous blooms. However, many commercial cultivars are too vigorous for use in smaller garden spaces and often have only a few flowers in bloom. Stable, heritable mutants exhibiting dwarf stature and better branching architecture will be valuable to the commercial production of hardy Hibiscus. The goal of this project was to induce stable, heritable mutations using ethyl methanesulfonate that result in increased branching and a dwarf compact phenotype and introgress the compact phenotypes into lines of hardy Hibiscus to generate a series of diverse compact cultivars for use in commercial markets. Multiple mutations associated with dwarf, compact phenotypes were successfully induced. Hybridizations were made between M2 plants displaying a dwarf phenotype and hybrids developed through conventional breeding that do not possess the dwarf mutation in their background to develop diverse selections of dwarf plants. Inheritance patterns of the dwarf genes were determined through the segregation ratios of the dwarf phenotype in the F1 and F2 generations of these hybrids. Compared with wild-type progeny, dwarf progeny had shorter internode lengths and a greater number of primary branches. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work investigates the gemological properties of the datolite from the famous field of Campotrera near Reggio Emilia in Italy, for a possible commercial use in the market. This mineral occurs in widespread multi-centimeter veins, together with calcite and prehnite, within polygenic breccias in basaltic ophiolites. The most common form for this datolite is the double wedge with a prism (110) and a pinacoid (001). The gems obtained are mixed or carré cut, colorless or salmon pink, transparent, with a vitreous luster and weight between 1 to 5 carats. They have high brilliance, transparency and birefringence, glassy luster, absence of cleavage. The major chromophore is probably Fe, which occurs as inclusion of hematite and ilmenite. Raman investigations highlighted different fluid inclusions. The primary are randomly distributed or, in some cases, follow the growth zones, while the secondary form aligned tracks along the microcracks. Fluid inclusions can be biphasic and made up by liquid + gas (L + G), generally >10 mm in size, and more rarely, monophasic, composed only by liquid (L) generally <10 mm. The gems extracted from the rough sample are very valuable but their delicacy requires attention in the cutting and preparation of the jewels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cold-formed steel structures have been progressively used in structural buildings in the forms of the typical channel and Zed sections. The channel sections under weak-axis bending can be found in various situations, especially under biaxial bending. The flexural capacities about the weak-axis, therefore, have specific impacts on the flexural capacities of the channels. The unsymmetrical feature of this channel section about the weak-axis results in a variety of behaviors and strengths of cold-formed steel channel beams with the change of moment directions. SupaCee - a new form of the channel section - made by adding stiffeners in the web of the channel section to increase the stability of the sectional web is also considered in the investigation. This paper, therefore, is aimed to investigate the behaviors and sectional capacities of the channel and SupaCee sections under the weak-axis bending. The considered sections are taken as the availably commercial sections in the market. The sectional capacities are determined using an innovative method namely the Direct Strength Method as regulated in the Australian/New Zealand Standard AS/NZS 4600:2018. The bending behaviours of the investigated sections are observed and analysed; the obtained strength results are the basis for the evaluation of sectional capacities of the channel and SupaCee sections under variations of moment directions. It was found that capacities of the channel and SupaCee sections under the weak-axis bending can be governed by local or distortional buckling depending on the moment directions, whereas the capacities of distortional failures are higher than those of local failures. Also, the innovative strengths of SupaCee sections under the weak-axis bending are not demonstrated in comparison with these such strengths of channel sections. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]