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We study financial effects of remote product delivery in the healthcare industry. Exploiting staggered law adoption for identification, we find that telehealth provision redistributes hospital operations and access to capital away from rural communities. As urban telehealth providers acquire rural patients, rural hospitals experience decreased revenue and profit, credit rating downgrades, increased cost of capital, and ultimately risk of closure. Although telehealth reduces travel costs, some communities lose access to acute care. Overall, we conclude that remote healthcare services have financial consequences as well as real effects, and their benefits are unequally distributed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To operationalize the extent to which firms place a strategic emphasis on human capital and human resource management (HRM), we draw on the strategy field's dominant logic theory and on the emerging literature on executive compensation for the heads of major firm functions, such as HRM. Specifically, we investigate whether the pay of human resource executives (HREs) relative to other members of top management teams (TMTs) is related to firm performance. After controlling for the endogeneity of HRE status as one of the highest paid executives on the TMT, we find in a comprehensive sample of the largest US firms that HRE relative pay is positively related to firm financial performance, specifically Tobin's Q. We also find that the relationship of HRE relative pay with Tobin's Q is stronger in relatively smaller and younger firms in our sample. The findings suggest that a strategic emphasis on human capital and HRM leads to higher firm value. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Momentum profits depend mainly on the short leg and therefore on barriers to short sales. Our research indicates that the decline in momentum profitability in the past 2 decades is driven partly by a contemporaneous growth in stock options trading. Stock options offer an alternative to short selling, augmenting the stock lending market, and thereby contributing to improved pricing efficiency. The resulting reduction in barriers to short sales contributes to lower returns to momentum trading from the short leg. Our results persist after matching stocks with and without options based on different firm-level characteristics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Publishers face an existential threat from a variety of news aggregators, such as free aggregators (e.g., Google News, Yahoo News), micropayment-facilitating aggregators (e.g., Blendle), and subscription-charging aggregators (e.g., Apple News+). The authors seek to theoretically examine whether publishers can collaborate and compete with the different types of news aggregators and, if so, what pricing and content-sharing strategies publishers should pursue. In the absence of a news aggregator, publishers sell their content as a composite publication; this intensifies interpublisher price competition and hurts publishers' profits. A free aggregator, however, could help unbundle the articles of a publisher. Moreover, if publishers share articles on the same topic with a free aggregator, they can completely eliminate interpublisher competition and replace it with competition between the aggregator and the publishers, but they only partially eliminate interpublisher competition if they share articles on different topics with it. Yet, the free aggregator needs to bring sufficient additional traffic to the publishers to motivate them to share content and collaborate with it. Conversely, publishers will be willing to collaborate with a micropayment-facilitating aggregator even if it does not bring additional traffic to the publishers. This is because a micropayment-facilitating aggregator helps publishers unbundle their content and price discriminate. Lastly, publishers can be motivated to collaborate even with a subscription-charging aggregator that is powerful enough to dictate the terms of the revenue-sharing arrangement with the publishers. This is because the subscription-charging aggregator improves its profits without hurting the publishers' surplus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since we wrote "Crowdsourcing as a solution to distant search" a decade ago, enthusiasm for crowdsourcing's capacity to produce remarkable solutions to some problems has continued to grow, and profiting from crowdsourced solutions has become a strategic goal for more and more firms. Crowdsourcing research has progressed impressively, with more progress made in researching the phenomenon than in theorizing about it. We are deeply honored by the 2022 Decade Award. In this manuscript, we reflect on the factors that led to this progress in crowdsourcing research, and how the theoretical insights from our paper––e.g., markets in the hierarchies-markets dichotomy are made up of markets with ex ante contracts and crowdsourcing (markets with no ex ante contracts)––may have influenced that progress. Also, because profits have become the ultimate goal of a large number of the seekers of solutions through crowdsourcing, we present an outline of a framework for exploring the impact of crowdsourcing on a seeker's profitability. The framework builds on insights from the paper and new constructs in crowdsourcing such as artificial intelligence (AI), the crowdsourcing process, revenue models, complementary assets, and organizing to minimize crowdsourcing disadvantages that we have added. We conclude with suggestions for future research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Drawing upon more than 12 million observations over the period from 1996 to 2020, we find that allowing for nonlinearities significantly increases the out-of-sample performance of option and stock characteristics in predicting future option returns. The nonlinear machine learning models generate statistically and economically sizable profits in the long-short portfolios of equity options even after accounting for transaction costs. Although option-based characteristics are the most important standalone predictors, stock-based measures offer substantial incremental predictive power when considered alongside option-based characteristics. Finally, we provide compelling evidence that option return predictability is driven by informational frictions and option mispricing. Authors have furnished an Internet Appendix , which is available on the Oxford University Press Web site next to the link to the final published paper online. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Insiders must disclose indirect trades made through accounts they control, including family, trust, retirement, and foundation accounts. Indirect trades through these accounts are more profitable than direct trades in the insider's own account. They are also more likely to be made by "opportunistic" insiders who make nonroutine trades, or who trade profitably before earnings announcements, or who have a short investment horizon. These trades contain more predictive information about earnings surprises and large price changes, and they tend to be made by insiders at firms with high information asymmetry. Insiders also make fewer indirect trades following periods of intense regulatory scrutiny. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

When commercial real estate becomes a highly coveted investment commodity, tensions intensify between those whose interest lies in extracting maximum profits from their properties and those who utilize the very same spaces for making a livelihood. Through ethnographic research with a tenant shopkeepers' social movement organization (SMO) in Korea, I analyze the new collective consciousness forming among tenant shopkeepers who are defending their livelihoods against their landlords' rapacious use of rent hikes and evictions to fully realize the speculative potential of their properties. Examining how the SMO brings together geographically scattered tenant shopkeepers based primarily in the larger metropolitan area of Seoul, I ask, more broadly: How can the self-employed facing precaritization overcome their fragmentation and generate a new collective consciousness based on a politics of solidarity? Drawing from my case study of tenant shopkeepers and the literature on livelihood struggles elsewhere around the globe, I identify the practice of occupying livelihood spaces as playing a pivotal role in the development of a sense of collective among those previously atomized in their struggles. I advance existing scholarship by scrutinizing both the challenges and the transformative potential of the solidarity cultivated through the occupy sites in bridging divergent interests, cultural sensibilities, and political beliefs of the previously unorganized. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gender differences in wage negotiations have been offered as a popular explanation for why the gender gap in pay persists in the United States. In this study, we use data from an artificial wage negotiation experiment (N = 307) to examine the relationship between gender and wage negotiations and to test whether gender-role attitudes moderate this relationship. We find that gender-role attitudes moderate how gender influences the decision to negotiate, but not the outcomes of negotiations, and that forced negotiations do not lead to additional gains for women regardless of their gender-role attitudes. We conclude with a discussion of implications and directions for future research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Each year, malignant melanoma accounts for 57 000 deaths globally. If current rates continue, there will be an estimated 510 000 new cases annually and 96 000 deaths by 2040. Melanoma and keratinocyte cancers (KCs) incur a large societal burden. Using a mathematical population model, we performed an economic evaluation of the SunSmart program in the state of Western Australia (WA), a primary prevention program to reduce the incidence of skin cancer, versus no program. A societal perspective was taken combining costs to the health system, patients and lost productivity. The model combined data from pragmatic trial evidence of sun protection, epidemiological studies and national cost reports. The main outcomes modelled were societal and government costs, skin cancer counts, melanoma deaths, life years and quality-adjusted life years. Over the next 20 years, the model predicted that implementing the WA SunSmart program would prevent 13 728 KCs, 636 melanomas and 46 melanoma deaths per 100 000 population. Furthermore, 251 life years would be saved, 358 quality-adjusted life years gained and AU$2.95 million in cost savings to society per 100 000 population would be achieved. Key drivers of the model were the rate reduction of benign lesions from sunscreen use, the costs of purchasing sunscreen and the effectiveness of reducing KCs in sunscreen users. The likelihood of WA SunSmart being cost-effective was 90.1%. For the WA Government, the estimated return on investment was $8.70 gained for every $1 invested. Primary prevention of skin cancer is a cost-effective strategy for preventing skin cancers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To describe the trends in the nature of general practices in Scotland between 2014/15 and 2023. Descriptive ecological study. We obtained data from Public Health Scotland and used general practitioner (GP) practice codes, practice names, and the General Medical Council (GMC) numbers of their listed GPs to describe trends in practice characteristics and to identify individual practices that were likely to be operating as a single entity. Defining practice entities is difficult because different GP practice codes are often retained when GPs are performing across multiple practices. If GP practice codes alone are used, the median practice list size increased from 5094 to 5881, and the mean from 5588 to 6289, between 2013/14 and 2020/21. There was one outlier practice that grew to have over 45,000 patients registered by 2020/21. However, this underestimates the extent of this new mega-practice phenomenon. Using the GMC numbers of GPs listed as performers to identify where the same GPs are working across multiple GP practice codes, we identified a series of mega-practices that span across health board areas and which have experienced a dramatic increase in their list size (with the two largest having list sizes of over 101,000 and 77,000 patients, respectively). Further research is needed to better understand: how mega-practices provide services and whether this differs from other practices; where financial rewards accumulate within mega-practices; differences in staffing between mega-practices and other models; and the impacts mega-practices have on the quality and continuity of care and on health and inequality outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Clinical pharmacy services improve several patient chronic disease outcomes. This review evaluates a pharmacist-led chronic care management (CCM) program partnered with a health system for patient outcomes and sustainability. Methods: A mixed methods evaluation based on the Reach, Effectiveness, Adoption, Implementation, Maintenance (RE-AIM) framework was completed. Patient A1c and blood pressure readings were retrospectively collected from the electronic health record from August 2018-April 2022. Patients that completed >4 CCM visits with a diagnosis of diabetes and/or hypertension were included. Results: 557 patients enrolled, 53 had uncontrolled systolic blood pressure (SBP), SBP >130 mmHg. Average SBP at baseline was 141.0 mmHg and average SBP at 6 months was 130.2 mmHg, (P <.001). 76 patients had uncontrolled diabetes, A1c > 7%. Average A1c at baseline = 9.1% and average A1c at 6 months = 8.3%, (P <.001). 4464 CCM visits with 247 disease-state targeted patients were completed over 44-month with a 100% adoption rate across clinic locations. Implementation facilitators included patient medication cost concerns, disease burden, provider revenue generation, CCM dedicated software, streamlined call process, and remote EMR access. Implementation barriers included provider discomfort "selling the program," potential patient costs, unclear need from patient, pharmacists not considered providers, pharmacist cost, multi-platform software, reprioritized stakeholder support, and lack of partner site diversification. Program maintenance showed revenue generation was $5925.31-$8879.89 from August 2021-May 2022 and profitability was $3385.61-$1614.23. Conclusion: This study provides lessons learned, strategies for implementation, and ideas for process efficiencies leading to maintenance of a telehealth pharmacist-led CCM service. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There have been two waves of equity-based investment in physician practices. Both used a combination of public and private sources but in different mixes. The first investment wave, in the 1990s, was led by public equity and physician practice management companies, with less involvement by private equity (PE). The second investment wave followed the Affordable Care Act and was led by PE firms. It has generated concerns of wasteful spending, less cost-effective care, and initiatives harmful to patient welfare. This article compares the two waves and asks if they are parallel in important ways. It describes the similarities in the players, driving forces, acquisition dynamics, spurs to consolidation, types of equity involved, models to organize physicians, and levels of market penetration achieved. The article then tackles three unresolved issues: Does PE investment differ from other investment vehicles in concerning ways? Does PE possess capabilities that other investment vehicles lack and confer competitive advantage? Does physician practice investment offer opportunities for supernormal profits? It then discusses ongoing trends that may disrupt PE and curtail its practice investment. It concludes that past may be prologue, that is, what happened during the 1990s may well repeat, suggesting the PE threat is overblown. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study models a manufacturer that sells products and services through a platform with demand disruptions. To examine the selection of the platform operational selling mode, we consider pricing strategies in two selling modes: (1) In bundling selling mode, the manufacturer and platform are the same party, so their optimal decisions match, and they provide the product and service in a bundle, such that consumers can only buy the service together with the product. (2) In independent selling mode, the manufacturer and platform have independent optimal decisions, and they sell the product and service separately with different prices, allowing consumers to self-select whether to buy both or only the product. We show that the total profits of the supply chain in the independent mode will be larger than in the bundling mode when there is a negative demand disruption in either products or services because of the double marginalization effect. When there are demand disruptions, the profit contributed by services may exceed that from products. The numerical studies indicate that the platform would adopt bundling selling mode to maximize the whole profit when experiencing demand disruptions in product where the product demand disruptions are larger than $ \Delta a $ or the service demand disruptions are larger than $ kc_p-a $. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Die Urologie is the property of Springer Nature 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.)

This study focuses on the dynamics of the profit margin within the aviation MRO industry, using operational data from a small and medium-sized enterprise (SME) MRO company between 2013 and 2021. Especially in SME MROs, profit margin analysis provides an advantage in competing with the large companies that dominate the industry. Therefore, the operational data were prepared for analysis to identify the variables related to the profit margin. This study's data cleaning and transformation processes can serve as a guideline for similarly sized companies. The research aims to address the complex relationships among the factors influencing profit margins in this industry. The objective is to utilise these factors in making strategic decisions to increase the profit margin of an SME MRO company. Applying gradient boosting algorithms as the analytical framework should allow identifying the correct relationships between the profit margin and input variables according to time for the SME MRO company. Another important aspect of this study is to increase the accuracy of the gradient boosting model by utilising the interactive grouping methodology. The variable selection was performed by using the Gini indexes of the variables using interactive grouping as a criterion in selecting the variables to be included in the model. After the data cleaning, transformation, and selection, the input variables for the gradient boosting model were Part Description, Parts Billed Current (part cost), Labour Billed Current (labour cost), Diff Shipping Entry (turnaround time (TAT)), Diff Quote Entry (time to quotation (TTQ)), Manager, Department, and Status. In this study, the profitability model indicates that the SME MRO company should initially focus on part numbers and the departments, secondly on standardisation of and expertise in preferred workshop units, and lastly, on highly qualified and effective technical department leaders and increasing labour. The aviation industry emerges as a sector that requires such analytical studies. It is hoped that the study will serve as a foundational work for SME MRO companies in the aviation industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Should businesses engage in moral talk when it becomes profitable? Due to their particular position of visibility, it is reasonable to acknowledge that businesses have specific moral duties. Some might argue that companies ought to help abandon morally repugnant norms by providing examples of alternative behaviors through advertisements. However, the moral talk of businesses might unexpectedly reinforce repugnant norms and increase social tensions in a polarized society. Then, the duty of the companies is not fulfilled when they engage in moral talk. In polarized societies, the positional duty of businesses implies decreasing the risk of social conflict. It is not clear how to do that, yet I argue that if businesses use moral talk with mass marketing strategies, they would strive to shape impartial moral messages aiming to find points of moral convergence among polarized moral positions, which might mitigate social polarization. I call this duty the imperative of doux commerce. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Eating disorders (EDs) and substance use disorders (SUDs) often co-occur. However, not all providers that treat persons with an ED provide SUD treatment. Using the National Mental Health Services Survey, this study examined 1,387 ED treatment providers in the U.S. Facilities were categorized according to whether they provided SUD treatment. Differences based on facilities' profit status, available treatment settings, payment options, and treatment services were examined. Most ED facilities in the sample offered SUD treatment services (67.2%). Differences in proportions of the facility type, availability of outpatient treatment, sliding fee scale payment option, whether the facility had a program for individuals with co-occurring mental health and SUD, couples/family therapy, dual disorders treatment, and if the facility provided telemedicine/telehealth were identified. Although most facilities in this sample offered SUD services, more should be done to increase such facilities' capacity to provide treatment for co-occurring ED and SUD nationwide. Nearly 70% of all ED treatment facilities reported offering SUD treatment. Geographic disparities in these integrated services exist. Eighty-six percent of these facilities had outpatient treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article offers a critical assessment of both international and national methodologies for determining direct and indirect damage to agricultural enterprises caused by war. It proposes laying the groundwork for a fair and corruption-free compensation policy by enhancing information support for loss assessment, based on the financial and statistical reporting of economic entities. Methodological approaches to damage assessment and the results of such assessments, as outlined in the «Ukraine Rapid Damage and Needs Assessment: February 2022 - February 2023» report, conducted by the World Bank in collaboration with the European Union, the United Nations, and the Government of Ukraine. The influence of various factors on the formation of indirect losses of enterprises was evaluated. Specifically, the factors affecting the reduction of selling prices for agricultural products, decrease in production volumes, and increase in production costs were analyzed. The impact of these factors was assessed based on relevant statistical data from 2019 to 2021 and 2022. The influence of the factor of increased production costs on the formation of enterprise losses due to war was demonstrated using the example of an agricultural enterprise’s activities in both pre-war and war periods. In-depth studies of indirect damage of enterprises that did not suffer direct damage from military operations was conducted, with the aim of using such information in the compensation policy of the state. In particular, the Appraisal Methodology, developed by the Ministry of Economy and the State Property Fund of Ukraine and required for use by appraisers and forensic experts when assessing damages and lost profits, was approved. Based on the results of its implementation, it was determined that for an average successful agricultural enterprise, the lost profit could amount to up to 1.4 million USD annually. This confirms the hypothesis that, irrespective of direct damage, all businesses incur indirect losses due to the war. Thus, the findings demonstrate that the current normative approach, which dictates that indirect losses of enterprises are compensated only if direct damage is caused by military actions, is unjustified. The widespread neglect of these losses poses a threat to the implementation of a fair compensation policy. The article substantiates the necessity of implementing a mandatory assessment of such losses for all business entities independently, along with the introduction of separate reporting to establish an information base for future compensation policies. The research is based on the use of methods of analysis, synthesis, modeling, analogy and comparison. Calculation methods and forecasting methods were applied during the approbation of the appraisal Methodology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In modern times, economic security stands as one of the primary strategic objectives for any state. However, achieving economic security is unattainable without the stable operation of enterprises. Amidst a constantly evolving external environment, the economic security of enterprises becomes a prerequisite for their survival. To this end, evaluating the financial indicators of enterprises and identifying areas for improvement are imperative. The state of an enterprise’s financial indicators is traditionally regarded as the primary factor ensuring its economic security, as these indicators reflect the ultimate outcome of its operations. To analyze the financial indicators of an enterprise effectively, it is essential to establish evaluation criteria and parameters. The significance of accurately defining criteria for evaluating the financial indicators of a company primarily stems from the necessity to ensure its security and formulate and execute effective management decisions. Relevance of the topic. Today, enterprises operate amidst various uncertainties such as crises, pandemics, inflationary processes, and price fluctuations observed worldwide. In such conditions, enterprises are compelled to operate efficiently, compete for market influence and income, accurately assess and enhance financial indicators, and identify, analyze, and neutralize negative effects that may threaten economic security. Conversely, enterprises should promptly analyze their financial indicators to develop a set of measures aimed at bolstering their competitive positions and enhancing the efficiency of their operations. These aspects underscore the relevance of the article’s topic. The purpose of the article is to study financial indicators, their evaluation, determination of resources for increasing profit and profitability, and the impact of those indicators on the financial activity of enterprises and economic security. Evaluating the financial indicators of enterprises aims to determine the indicators for analyzing their current financial situation and identifying areas and actions required to enhance these indicators. Additionally, it involves exploring methods to influence the economic security system of enterprises through the improvement of financial indicators. Achieving these objectives necessitates accurate assessment, forecasting, and management decisions to enhance the financial situation of the enterprise. Research methods. The article was written using theoretical-methodical approaches, systematic approach, comparative analysis, factor analysis, graphic analysis and economic-statistical methods. Scientific innovation. It is justified that evaluating the financial condition of an enterprise and assessing its economic security complement and depend on each other, being inseparably linked. Economic security can only be fully ensured in conditions of continuous financial development. It has been established that when evaluating the financial condition of the enterprise, all its economic indicators should be monitored, enabling the enterprise to swiftly and effectively adapt to changing environmental conditions. Given these considerations, the importance of closely examining, enhancing, and bolstering the financial stability of an enterprise’s financial indicators in ensuring economic security has been justified. Additionally, the authors have proposed the primary directions for improving the financial indicators of an enterprise. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives Contextually driven decision making is multidimensional, as individuals need to contend with prioritizing both competing and complementary demands. However, data is limited as to whether temporal discounting rates vary as a function of framing (gains vs loss) and domain (monetary vs social) in middle-to-older aged adults. It is also unclear whether socioaffective characteristics like social isolation and loneliness are associated with temporal discounting. Methods Temporal discounting rates were examined across monetary gain, monetary loss, social gain, and social loss conditions in 140 adults aged 50–90 during the Omicron stage of the pandemic. Self-report measures assessed loneliness and social isolation levels. Results Results found evidence of steeper temporal discounting rates for gains as compared to losses in both domains. Social outcomes were also more steeply discounted than monetary outcomes, without evidence of an interaction with the framing condition. Socioeconomic and socioaffective factors were unexpectedly not associated with temporal discounting rates. Discussion Community-dwelling middle-to-older aged adults showed a preference for immediate rewards and devalued social outcomes more than monetary outcomes. These findings have implications for tailoring social and financial incentive programs for middle to later adulthood. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Rural hospitals are increasingly at risk of closure. Closure reduces the availability of hospital care in rural areas, resulting in a disparity in health between rural and urban citizens, and it has broader economic impacts on rural communities as rural hospitals are often large employers and are vital to recruiting new businesses to a community. To combat the risk of closure, rural hospitals have sought partnerships to bolster financial performance, which often results in a closure of services valuable to the community, such as obstetrics and certain diagnostic services, which are viewed as unprofitable. This can lead to poor health outcomes as community members are unable to access care in these areas. Purpose: In this article, we explore rural hospital service offerings and financial performance, with an aim to illuminate if specific service offerings are associated with positive financial performance in a rural setting. Methods: Our study used hospital organization data, as well as county-level demographics with periods of analysis from 2015 and 2019. We employed a pooled cross-sectional regression analysis with robust standard errors examining the association between total margin and service lines among rural hospitals in the United States. Results: The findings suggest that some services deemed unprofitable in urban and suburban hospital settings--such as obstetrics and drug/alcohol rehabilitation--are associated with higher margins in rural hospitals. Other unprofitable service lines--such as psychiatry and long-term care--are associated with lower margins in rural hospitals. Conclusion: Our results suggest the need of rural hospitals to choose services that align with environmental circumstances to maximize financial performance. Practice Implication: Hospital administrators in rural settings need to take a nuanced look at their environmental and organizational specifics when deciding upon the service mix. Generalizations regarding profitability should be avoided to maximize financial performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The inspiration of the current study is to deal with the performance analysis of sinter system which ensures the smooth functioning of the whole steel plant. The sinter system consists of six subsystems: Conveyor Belt, Crusher, Froth Floatation, Rotary Disc Filter, Balling Disc and Rolling Screen. These subsystems are configured as series arrangement. Subsystems "Conveyor Belt", "Froth Floatation" and "Rotary Disc Filter" have a single unit. The subsystem "Crusher" contains three similar units and the subsystem "Balling Disc" consists of five similar units. The distribution of failure times and repair times are arbitrary distributions for all subsystems. For analysis purpose, the supplementary variable technique has been applied. Also, a comparative study has been done for the availability and profit of the sinter system by considering Rayleigh, Weibull, and exponential distributions for all random variables. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper describes an effective operating strategy for electric vehicles (EVs) in a hybrid facility that leverages renewable energy sources. The method is to enhance the profit of the wind–thermal–EV hybrid plant while maintaining the grid frequency (fPG) and energy level of the EV battery storage system. In a renewable-associated power network, renewable energy producers must submit power supply proposals to the system operator at least one day before operations begin. The market managers then combine the power plans for the next several days based on bids from both power providers and distributors. However, due to the unpredictable nature of renewable resources, the electrical system cannot exactly adhere to the predefined power supply criteria. When true and estimated renewable power generation diverges, the electrical system may experience an excess or shortage of electricity. If there is a disparity between true and estimated wind power (TWP, EWP), the EV plant operates to minimize this variation. This lowers the costs associated with the discrepancy between actual and projected wind speeds (TWS, EWS). The proposed method effectively reduces the uncertainty associated with wind generation while being economically feasible, which is especially important in a deregulated power market. This study proposes four separate energy levels for an EV battery storage system (EEV,max, EEV,opt, EEV,low, and EEV,min) to increase system profit and revenue, which is unique to this work. The optimum operating of these EV battery energy levels is determined by the present electric grid frequency and the condition of TWP and EWP. The proposed approach is tested on a modified IEEE 30 bus system and compared to an existing strategy to demonstrate its effectiveness and superiority. The entire work was completed using the optimization technique called sequential quadratic programming (SQP). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Environmental & Social Management Journal / Revista de Gestão Social e Ambiental is the property of Environmental & Social Management Journal 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.)

Copyright of Environmental & Social Management Journal / Revista de Gestão Social e Ambiental is the property of Environmental & Social Management Journal 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.)

Purpose: Several countries, such as South Africa and India, believe that intellectual property rights (IPRs), including patents, impede the efficient increase in vaccine production to inoculate the global population as they scramble to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic. Their proposal at the World Trade Organization (WTO) to waive these pharmaceutical patents has been met with resistance from a few developed countries, who believe that the abrogation of IPRs is unnecessary, even during a pandemic. The purpose of this paper is to discuss the impact of a potential waiver of medical patents at the WTO versus the status quo of IPR laws in the global economy. Design/methodology/approach: This study examines key arguments from economic and moral standpoints regarding the provisions of the Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) agreement and other related international agreements and their validity based on the premise of the internalisation of positive externalities posed by vaccines. Findings: The effectiveness of the TRIPS agreement in securing medical access is weak on account of the ability of profit-making multinationals to secure IP rights and on account of the Trans-Pacific Partnership, a multilateral agreement that supports patent evergreening and a period of protection on test data which challenges the access to medicines and the fundamental human right to health. Originality/value: This study examines international IPRs through the lens of human rights and proposes a new system that balances the two. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Coffee, a significant plantation product, holds vast opportunities in both domestic and global markets. Bandung Regency is renowned for its distinctive fruit-flavored coffee, particularly from Ciwidey and Puntang, where coffee is marketed in cherry and green bean forms without branding. A value chain analysis is essential to enhance the coffee industry's added value and sustainability. This study aims to identify the coffee value chain in Bandung Regency, analyze the cost of production, total revenue, and profit of the coffee processing industry in Ciwidey and Puntang, and determine the added value of coffee products in these areas. Using descriptive analysis, results indicate that Ciwidey (MS Coffee) has a lower cost of goods produced than Puntang (Acs Siliwangi) due to higher production volumes in Puntang leading to higher costs. However, Puntang’s larger production volume also generates higher monthly revenue and profit due to a higher selling price per kilogram. Value-added analysis reveals that Puntang’s value-added per kilogram (Rp. 55,025.00/kg) surpasses that of Ciwidey (Rp. 44,647.00/kg), attributed to higher selling prices, superior product quality, and greater market presence in Puntang. Conversely, higher input prices in Ciwidey result in lower value-added.

In modern times, economic security stands as one of the primary strategic objectives for any state. However, achieving economic security is unattainable without the stable operation of enterprises. Amidst a constantly evolving external environment, the economic security of enterprises becomes a prerequisite for their survival. To this end, evaluating the financial indicators of enterprises and identifying areas for improvement are imperative. The state of an enterprise’s financial indicators is traditionally regarded as the primary factor ensuring its economic security, as these indicators reflect the ultimate outcome of its operations. To analyze the financial indicators of an enterprise effectively, it is essential to establish evaluation criteria and parameters. The significance of accurately defining criteria for evaluating the financial indicators of a company primarily stems from the necessity to ensure its security and formulate and execute effective management decisions. Relevance of the topic. Today, enterprises operate amidst various uncertainties such as crises, pandemics, inflationary processes, and price fluctuations observed worldwide. In such conditions, enterprises are compelled to operate efficiently, compete for market influence and income, accurately assess and enhance financial indicators, and identify, analyze, and neutralize negative effects that may threaten economic security. Conversely, enterprises should promptly analyze their financial indicators to develop a set of measures aimed at bolstering their competitive positions and enhancing the efficiency of their operations. These aspects underscore the relevance of the article’s topic. The purpose of the article is to study financial indicators, their evaluation, determination of resources for increasing profit and profitability, and the impact of those indicators on the financial activity of enterprises and economic security. Evaluating the financial indicators of enterprises aims to determine the indicators for analyzing their current financial situation and identifying areas and actions required to enhance these indicators. Additionally, it involves exploring methods to influence the economic security system of enterprises through the improvement of financial indicators. Achieving these objectives necessitates accurate assessment, forecasting, and management decisions to enhance the financial situation of the enterprise. Research methods. The article was written using theoretical-methodical approaches, systematic approach, comparative analysis, factor analysis, graphic analysis and economic-statistical methods. Scientific innovation. It is justified that evaluating the financial condition of an enterprise and assessing its economic security complement and depend on each other, being inseparably linked. Economic security can only be fully ensured in conditions of continuous financial development. It has been established that when evaluating the financial condition of the enterprise, all its economic indicators should be monitored, enabling the enterprise to swiftly and effectively adapt to changing environmental conditions. Given these considerations, the importance of closely examining, enhancing, and bolstering the financial stability of an enterprise’s financial indicators in ensuring economic security has been justified. Additionally, the authors have proposed the primary directions for improving the financial indicators of an enterprise.

The article offers a critical assessment of both international and national methodologies for determining direct and indirect damage to agricultural enterprises caused by war. It proposes laying the groundwork for a fair and corruption-free compensation policy by enhancing information support for loss assessment, based on the financial and statistical reporting of economic entities. Methodological approaches to damage assessment and the results of such assessments, as outlined in the «Ukraine Rapid Damage and Needs Assessment: February 2022 - February 2023» report, conducted by the World Bank in collaboration with the European Union, the United Nations, and the Government of Ukraine. The influence of various factors on the formation of indirect losses of enterprises was evaluated. Specifically, the factors affecting the reduction of selling prices for agricultural products, decrease in production volumes, and increase in production costs were analyzed. The impact of these factors was assessed based on relevant statistical data from 2019 to 2021 and 2022. The influence of the factor of increased production costs on the formation of enterprise losses due to war was demonstrated using the example of an agricultural enterprise’s activities in both pre-war and war periods. In-depth studies of indirect damage of enterprises that did not suffer direct damage from military operations was conducted, with the aim of using such information in the compensation policy of the state. In particular, the Appraisal Methodology, developed by the Ministry of Economy and the State Property Fund of Ukraine and required for use by appraisers and forensic experts when assessing damages and lost profits, was approved. Based on the results of its implementation, it was determined that for an average successful agricultural enterprise, the lost profit could amount to up to 1.4 million USD annually. This confirms the hypothesis that, irrespective of direct damage, all businesses incur indirect losses due to the war. Thus, the findings demonstrate that the current normative approach, which dictates that indirect losses of enterprises are compensated only if direct damage is caused by military actions, is unjustified. The widespread neglect of these losses poses a threat to the implementation of a fair compensation policy. The article substantiates the necessity of implementing a mandatory assessment of such losses for all business entities independently, along with the introduction of separate reporting to establish an information base for future compensation policies. The research is based on the use of methods of analysis, synthesis, modeling, analogy and comparison. Calculation methods and forecasting methods were applied during the approbation of the appraisal Methodology.

Historically, advertising allocation decisions have operated mostly at a macro level, comprising determination of the total budget followed by apportionment among media channels. Owing to the rapid and sustained rise of digital media, an additional decision now operates at a micro level, namely, which specific customers to target with advertising. In the macro case, optimal control theory provides a powerful framework for firm profit maximization, specifically allowing for ad response, cost per medium, and discount rate, all in the presence of multiple competing brands. However, optimal control theory has never been applied to the situation of microtargeting individual customers. Consequently, in this study the author shows how optimal control theory can be adapted for application to individual customers. The author estimates a multinomial logit model with individual-specific advertising response parameters. In turn, these parameters are used to determine the optimal number of exposures each customer should receive for each advertising medium. An empirical example demonstrates that using the optimal microtargeting method improves firm profits over existing ad scheduling methods by between 150% and 183%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article examines the main economic conditions for the use and development of the economy of impressions in the countries of the world on the basis of the dynamics of official values of statistical indicators for 2018–2022: GDP per capita, according to which clustering of countries is carried out and clusters with low (in which Ukraine has fallen), medium and high values of this indicator are identified; the ratio of trade volumes (the amount of exports and imports) to GDP; the volume of foreign direct investment, and the unemployment rate. Based on the results of the analysis, it is concluded that in developed countries the economy of impressions has more favorable conditions for its development, while in Ukraine it is a necessary model for the post-war reproduction of socioeconomic relations, though the conditions for its development are complicated. Taking into account the above trends, the aim of the article is to identify the main economic conditions for the development of the economy of impressions in the countries of the world and in Ukraine and to formulate proposals for its spread in order to increase the activity of enterprises in the formation of added value and profit to improve the quality of life of the population in the post-war period. The economy of impressions develops when there is a sufficient level of competition between producers to make decisions about the purchase of products in their favor. Therefore, the article analyzes the index of global competitiveness of countries for 2022 and 2023, identifying the low place of Ukraine in this indicator, which can be increased on the basis of the development of institutional measures to improve the competitiveness of producers. The features of the formation of positive impressions are considered and conclusions are made about the need to increase their value in the price of products. The main conclusions of the article are as follows. The current stage of development of the world economic system is characterized by the emergence of new models of economic relations, which is associated with the globalization of economic flows, easier entry into foreign markets. One of the perspective models of world economic relations is the economy of impressions. The developed countries of the world have a more powerful potential for the development of the economy of impressions, while they need its development more due to the intensification of competition between national producers. In Ukraine, the socioeconomic situation before the war was quite favorable for the development of the economy of impressions, but still it was inferior to the developed countries of the world. As a result of the ongoing war, the situation has deteriorated significantly, therefore, in the period of post-war recovery, one of the national priorities should be the development of the economy of impressions as the most attractive model for intensifying economic and social relations, innovative development, and improving the quality of life of the population.

Financial analysis involves applying methods and techniques of analysis to financial reports and other related data to obtain useful information. This information is regarded as a significant relationship between data and their trends, showing a company's performance and financial position, as well as the results or consequences of previous management decisions. Additionally, they are used to make forecasts that can directly impact the decisions of financial statement users. Current and potential investors are interested in a company's future profitability. Therefore, the continuity of a company's past profits should represent a prediction of future profits. Many external users, such as creditors, are interested in knowing the level of a company's solvency rather than its profitability. Performance is a widely used concept in both literature and practice. In many cases, defining this concept is insufficient; often the focus is on measuring performance, which varies for each individual information user, rather than defining the concept of performance. Achieving performance involves meeting a primary necessary condition, namely, developing and implementing a specific system of indicators for measurement. In general, any economic entity, whether it is a micro-enterprise or a corporation, must have a current performance measurement system. This system is very important for the success and continuity of the entity's activities. This paper aims to highlight how a company's performance can be estimated and determined, respectively, measuring the extent to which the company's objectives have been achieved over a period of time. From this perspective, unachieved objectives, the reasons for not achieving them, and possible improvement methods for the future can be observed. The strengths and weaknesses of the company are identified in the performance evaluation stage specific to financial management, resulting in an analysis of behavior and identifying methods to improve activities.

ABSTRACT: Age at first calving (AFC) represents the nonproductive period of ∼2 yr in Holstein cows, and thus, it has a relevant effect on the cost of rearing replacements in the dairy herd. In the present study, we aimed to evaluate genetic and genomic aspects of AFC in the Italian Holstein population. Data of 4,206,218 heifers with first calving between 1996 and 2020 were used. Age at first calving averaged 26.09 ± 3.07 mo and decreased across years. Heritability was estimated using a linear animal model which included the fixed effects of herd-year-season of birth and classes of gestation length, and the random animal additive genetic effect fitted to a pedigree-based relationship matrix. The EBV and genomically EBV (GEBV) were obtained, and they were standardized to mean 100 and standard deviation 5, where animals above the mean are those contributing to reduce AFC. Heritability estimates of AFC ranged from 0.031 to 0.045. The trend of sires' GEBV was favorable and indicated a reduced AFC across years. Approximate genetic correlations between GEBV of AFC and GEBV of other economically important traits were calculated on a subset of genotyped females born after 2015. Moderate favorable associations of AFC with production traits (0.39–0.51), udder depth (0.40), interval from first to last insemination in heifer (−0.43), and longevity (0.34) were assessed. Overall, the greatest lifetime productive performances and most favorable days open in first lactation were observed when heifers calved at 22 to 23 mo. In contrast, progeny of sires with GEBV of AFC above the mean yielded more milk, fat, and protein in first lactation, and had shorter days open than progeny of sires with GEBV of AFC below the mean. Results suggested that breeding strategies to improve AFC should be pursued, also considering genetic correlations between AFC and traits which are already part of the Italian Holstein breeding objective. The inclusion of AFC in an aggregate index is expected to contribute to enhance farm income.