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We document fragile demand for socially responsible investments (SRIs) by retail mutual fund investors. Using COVID-19 as an economic shock, we show funds with higher sustainability ratings experienced sharper declines in retail flows during the pandemic, controlling for fund characteristics. The decline in retail SRI fund flows is sharper than that of institutional flows, more pronounced when economies are hit harder by COVID-19, and unlikely to be driven by fund performance, past flows and size, or shifting investor attention. Corroborated by out-of-sample survey evidence, our findings highlight the high sensitivity of SRI demand by retail investors with respect to income shocks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fragile ecosystems that are affected by erosion from high pollution environmental loads pose a serious threat to human health and well-being. The evaluation of regional environmental loads has become a major issue for eco-environmental conservation and management. As a key region in central China, Hubei Province relies on ecosystems and the environment, which offer an important foundation for sustainable development and continuous improvements in social productivity. For this study, seven influencing factors were selected, and a correlation degree model was applied to assess Hubei Province's environmental loads during the period from 1995-2019. The results show that the overall environmental loads exhibit a fluctuating decreasing trend in response to economic growth and development actions. Moreover, as eco-environmental pollution problems have been addressed and improved over time, the ecosystem operating status has been gradually optimized. Finally, the paper concludes with a proposal of specific measures designed to mitigate Hubei Province's ecological loading from the perspectives of industrial structure, public awareness and technological innovation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This study adopts a new macro-perspective to explore the complex and dynamic links between financial instability and the Euro-American green equity market. Its primary focus and novelty is to shed light on the non-linear and asymmetric characteristics of dependence, causality, and contagion within various time and frequency domains. Specifically, the authors scrutinize how financial instability in the U.S. and EU interacts with their respective green stock markets, while also examining the cross-impact on each other's green equity markets. The analysis is carried out over short-, medium- and long-term horizons and under different market conditions, ranging from bearish and normal to bullish. Design/methodology/approach: This study breaks new ground by employing a model-free and non-parametric approach to examine the relationship between the instability of the global financial system and the green equity market performance in the U.S. and EU. This study's methodology offers new insights into the time- and frequency-varying relationship, using wavelet coherence supplemented with quantile causality and quantile-on-quantile regression analyses. This advanced approach unveils non-linear and asymmetric causal links and characterizes their signs, effectively distinguishing between bearish, normal, and bullish market conditions, as well as short-, medium- and long-term horizons. Findings: This study's findings reveal that financial instability has a strong negative impact on the green stock market over the medium to long term, in bullish market conditions and in times of economic and extra-economic turbulence. This implies that green stocks cannot be an effective hedge against systemic financial risk during periods of turbulence and euphoria. Moreover, the authors demonstrate that U.S. financial instability not only affects the U.S. green equity market, but also has significant spillover effects on the EU market and vice versa, indicating the existence of a Euro-American contagion mechanism. Interestingly, this study's results also reveal a positive correlation between financial instability and green equity market performance under normal market conditions, suggesting a possible feedback loop effect. Originality/value: This study represents pioneering work in exploring the non-linear and asymmetric connections between financial instability and the Euro-American stock markets. Notably, it discerns how these interactions vary over the short, medium, and long term and under different market conditions, including bearish, normal, and bullish states. Understanding these characteristics is instrumental in shaping effective policies to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including access to clean, affordable energy (SDG 7), and to preserve the stability of the international financial system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The energy transition is initiating long-term oil market trends that look likely to undermine the strategic importance of oil-producing countries for the US government. The trends suggest US voters and future US administrations will be less exposed to price swings and other risks in the global oil market. Diminishing risk exposure, in turn, reduces imperatives for US policymakers to spend so heavily on security provision in the Persian Gulf, or to resolve diplomatic rifts with major producers such as Saudi Arabia. Saudi policy changes since 2016, and the reduced willingness to use spare production capacity in ways that benefit Washington, may have amplified a pre-existing appetite for such a downgrade. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cultural products constitute a significant portion of global trade, and understanding their export patterns can shed light on economic trends, trade dynamics, and market opportunities. This study conducted the spatio-temporal analysis of exports of cultural products, exploring the relationship between various influencing factors and their impact on the spatial distribution of these exports. Leveraging a diverse dataset encompassing 55 BRI countries for the period of 2005–2022, this research employs advanced spatial analysis techniques, including spatial autocorrelation and spatial regression models, to examine the spatial patterns and determinants of exports if cultural product exports. Moreover, this study delves into the multifaceted determinants affecting the spatial distribution of these exports. The findings of this study reveal significant spatio-temporal variations in the exports of cultural products. Spatial autocorrelation analysis indicates the presence of spatial clustering, suggesting that regions with high cultural product exports tend to be geographically close to each other. The spatial regression models further identify several key factors like economic development, productive capacities, cultural tourism, information development and human capital influence the spatial distribution of these exports. The findings of the study reveal that there is strong spatial relationship for exports of cultural products in BRI countries. The findings of this research contribute valuable insights for policymakers, businesses, and stakeholders regarding a deeper comprehension of the driving forces behind the spatial distribution of these cultural products, facilitating informed decision-making processes to optimize strategies for promoting and sustaining the trade of cultural products in an increasingly interconnected world. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: With the struggle to find cost-effective therapeutic options, there has been increased market interest for biosimilars in the Latin American region. This paper presents an in-depth exploration of the biosimilar landscape in Latin America. Methods: Key recommendations from the "Recommendations for the regulation of biosimilars and their implementation in Latin America," as published in the Generics and Biosimilars Initiative Journal in 2014, were synthesized and integrated into insights from various reputable sources. Results: A nuanced perspective on the regulatory landscapes, market dynamics, and the challenges and opportunities that define the biosimilar ecosystem in Latin America. Discussion: There are persistent challenges in the Latin America, including physician and patient acceptance, pharmacovigilance, and the need for continuous education. However, there are several potential opportunities for growth and development within the region. Conclusion: Latin American countries would benefit from banding together to form an organization that allows all to contribute and benefit from relationships formed naturally by common geography, language, and goals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Year‐to‐year weather variability and technologies (fertilizer, irrigation, herbicides, conservation tillage, varieties, mechanization, and others) are among factors that affect winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) yields in water‐limited cropping systems. The objective of these analyses was to quantify winter wheat yield trends, variability, relationship with weather, yield gap, and value in the "Wheat State," Kansas. Two data sources were used for this study, that is, annual winter wheat yield reported for selected counties from the United States Department of Agriculture and the Kansas State University wheat variety performance trial near Colby, Garden City, Hays, and Tribune, Kansas. Results of the study showed a decline in harvest area and inflation‐adjusted market value per area of winter wheat beginning in the 1930s. However, both the survey and research data showed continuous increase in winter wheat yield at rates of 3–180 kg ha−1 year−1 that varied by irrigation, location, data source, or time range considered, except for a few years where yield stagnated or declined. Despite increased productivity, results indicated an increase in annual winter wheat yield variation over time. A positive correlation was observed between nonirrigated wheat yield and all months of precipitation except for January, February, and June. October through December precipitation provided the best positive correlation with nonirrigated wheat yield. Wheat yields were negatively correlated with high temperature in months that coincided with wheat flowering and maturity. The yield gap between actual and potential wheat yield was estimated at 15%–55%. The decreasing revenue per land area may be one of the reasons for decreasing wheat planted acreage over time. We concluded producers need to increase adoption of latest technology (varieties with drought and heat tolerance) and management to obtain yield potential. Research should investigate methods to increase the stability of state‐wide wheat production and financial return. Core Ideas: Winter wheat harvest area and inflation‐adjusted market value was in a decline since 1930s.Winter wheat yield increased over the study period but varied from year‐to‐year.Wheat yields were negatively correlated with high temperatures at flowering and maturity.Over time, there was little change in precipitation despite trends of increasing temperature.Yield changes over the past seven decades were mostly driven by weather and less from technological advances. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Territorial inequalities have long been a subject of study and concern in Canada. In the face of large structural changes such as industrial shifts and the decarbonization of our economies, there is an urgency to understand such inequalities and design effective policy interventions for those places facing persistent economic decline. This paper shares a novel composite index that measures economic disparity across Canadian Census Subdivisions (CSDs) using Census data from 2001 through 2016 and the 2011 National Household Survey. Named the "Index of Economic Disparity," it is comprised of an equally weighted average of four sub‐indices that assign percentile rankings for all CSDs based on whether they experience persistent and substantial decline in key economic areas: population, labour force outcomes, working‐age share of population, and industrial diversity. The variation of outcomes across geographies—urban and rural—highlights the importance of place‐based policies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The interpretation of any emerging form or period in art history was never a trivial task. However, in the case of digital art, technology, becoming an integral part, multiplied the complexity of describing, systematizing and evaluating it. This article investigates the most common metadata standards for the documentation of art as a broad category and suggests possible next steps toward an extended metadata standard for digital art. Design/methodology/approach: Describing several techno-cultural phenomena formed in the last decade, manifesting the extendibility of digital art (its ability to be easily extended across multiple modalities), the article, at first, points to the long overdue need to re-evaluate the standards around it. Then it suggests a deeper analysis through a comparative study. In the scope of the study three artworks, The Arnolfini Portrait (Jan van Eyck), an iconic example of the early Renaissance, The World's First Collaborative Sentence (Douglas Davis), a classic example of early Internet art and Fake It Till You Make It (Maya Man), a prominent example of the blockchain art, are examined following the structure of the VRA Core 4.0 standard. Findings: The comparative study demonstrates that digital art is more multi-semantic than traditional physical art, and requires new taxonomies as well as approaches for data acquisition. Originality/value: Acknowledging that digital art simply has not yet evolved to the stage of being systematically collected by cultural institutions for documentation, curation and preservation, but otherwise, in the past few years, it has been at the front-center of social, economic and technological trends, the article suggests looking for hints on the future-proof extended metadata standard in some of those trends. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigated the spatiotemporal evolution of economic development in 23 cities across Guangdong Province, Hong Kong, and Macau from 1990 to 2022. The results indicated a general growth trend in overall economic development, with substantial fluctuations in absolute differences and a significant reduction in relative differences. The economic development appeared to be balanced both within and between cities. Spatially, the study revealed an increasing agglomeration effect, evident polarization in economic levels, and a distinct core–periphery structure, with central cities in the Greater Bay Area exerting a growing influence on their peripheries. Nevertheless, the peripheral cities, despite their economic strides, necessitate augmented policy interventions and capital influx to bridge regional chasms. The study's outcomes serve as a foundational reference for sharpening policy decisions, fostering regional amalgamation, and invigorating urban blueprinting and city-to-city synergies. This research provides an in-depth analysis of economic development trends across 23 cities in Guangdong, Hong Kong, and Macau over 32 years. For policymakers, urban planners, and business leaders, the findings present a clearer picture of the region's economic landscape. Notably, while central cities within the Greater Bay Area have become influential economic hubs, surrounding cities still face challenges. These insights suggest a need for more targeted policies and investments, especially in peripheral cities, to promote more uniform growth across the region. By understanding these dynamics, governments and businesses can make more informed decisions that foster city-to-city collaborations and develop better urban and regional strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The concept of co-creating value for the customer in the automotive industry offers wide possibilities thanks to a branched value chain, cooperation of companies from different areas or alliances. Currently, more than ever, the customer has opportunities to participate in the co-creation of value and maximize it according to their preferences. The aim of this study is to examine current trends on the market in the automotive industry, to determine the potential for a multi-industry overlap within the value network and, based on this, to define changes in the multi-industry value chain resulting from the impact of these prevailing trends. Changes in the approach of automotive companies to product strategy and communication towards the customer should be considered so that these companies increase their competitiveness to maximize the value obtained by the customer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Market trends such as globalisation, increasing customer expectations, expensive industrial land and high labour costs cause a need for efficient order picking systems in practice. However, managers often do not implement findings from academic research on order picking planning into practice because researchers hardly account for practical factors (e.g. high-level storage, human factors, pick vehicle properties) or make unrealistic assumptions in their solution algorithms. A state-of-the-art review of the scientific literature on order picking planning (1) identifies and classifies highly influential practical factors, (2) shows the impact of these practical factors on order picking performance, and (3) illustrates how existing order picking planning models should be elaborated to account for practical factors. This study contributes to close the gap between research and practice by guiding future researchers to further increase the practical applicability of their research results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Incidence of anal squamous cell carcinoma is increasing, but vaccination against human papillomavirus (HPV) and removal of precancerous anal lesions could prevent new cases. The overall HPV-associated cancer incidence is reported to be higher in rural populations and in counties with lower economic status. We assessed these differences specifically for HPV-associated anal squamous cell carcinoma and described the geographic, county-level economic, and sociodemographic variations in incidence rates and trends. Methods We analyzed data from the US Cancer Statistics to assess age-standardized incidence rates of HPV-associated squamous cell carcinomas among adults aged 18 years and older from 2001 to 2019. We calculated rate ratios and 95% confidence intervals to examine differences in incidence rates. We also quantified changes in incidence rates over time using joinpoint regression. Results From 2001 to 2019, 72 421 new cases of HPV-associated anal squamous cell carcinoma were diagnosed among women (2.8 per 100 000) and 37 147 among men (1.7 per 100 000). Age-standardized incidence rates were higher in the South compared with other census regions and in counties ranked in the bottom 25% and 25%-75% economically than in the top 25%. The overall incidence rate increased in women but remained stable in men during 2009-2019. Incidence rates increased in adults aged 50 years and older but decreased among those aged 40-44 years from 2001 to 2019 in women and from 2007 to 2019 in men. Conclusions There were inequities in HPV-associated anal squamous cell carcinoma incidence by geographic and county-level economic characteristics. Failure to improve vaccine and treatment equity may widen existing disparities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The prevalence of overweight and obesity in young children rose sharply during the COVID-19 pandemic. Here we estimate the potential future health and economic effects of these trends in England. Methods: Using publicly available annual Body Mass Index (BMI) data from 2006–2022, we calculated the increase in overweight/obesity prevalence (BMI ≥85th reference percentile) during the COVID-19 pandemic among children aged 4–5 and 10–11, and variation by deprivation and ethnicity. We projected the impact of child BMI trends on adult health measures to estimate added lifelong medical and social costs. Results: During 2020–2021 there were steep increases in overweight and obesity prevalence in children. By 2022, overweight and obesity prevalence in children aged 4–5 returned to expected levels based on pre-pandemic trends. However, overweight and obesity prevalence in children aged 10–11 persisted and was 4 percentage points (p<0.001) higher than expected, representing almost 56,000 additional children. The increase was twice as high in the most compared with the least deprived areas. The additional lifelong healthcare cost in this cohort will amount to £800 million with a cost to society of £8.7 billion. We did not find an increase in maternal obesity associated with the COVID-19 pandemic, however, prevalence grew faster in the post pandemic period. Discussion: The return of overweight and obesity prevalence to pre-pandemic trends in children aged 4–5 provides a clear policy target for effective intervention to tackle this growing and serious population health concern. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article examines technological postpandemic trends in Mexico, using the technologies recorded in patent and utility model applications filed with the Mexican Institute of Industrial Property (IMPI). We found that the number of applications decreased by more than 50% in 2020 and 2021 compared to 2018. On the other hand, technologies related to COVID-19 significantly increased in 2020-2021 compared to 2018, but not digital technologies. Interestingly, we found that approximately 90% of utility models have only Mexican inventors and applicants, while in patents, this percentage is halved. This finding suggests that minor inventions related to products or industrial tools are being developed locally, but inventions requiring more significant novelty, including not only objects but also substances or processes, are only half Mexican. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In many low-valued fisheries, the quantity and types of data that might be available to support fisheries management are often limited. Generally, information on the economic performance of the fishery is low in priority in these fisheries. Basic catch and effort information, however, may contain implicit information about economic performance of the vessels. From these data, technical efficiency scores and measures of capacity utilization can be derived. The technical efficiency score can provide a proxy measure of the distribution of economic performance, while changes in capacity utilization theoretically reflect changes in the economic conditions in the fishery. Given this, changes in these measures over time should also reflect changes in economic outcomes and performance. To test this, we use data from a data-rich fishery, including catch and effort information as well as detailed economic information (i.e. vessel-level profitability). Key technical performance measures are estimated using data envelopment analysis and compared with the economic performance measures. We show that these technical performance measures can provide useful indicators of changes in economic performance when economic information is not available. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Traditionally, meat and dairy products have been important protein sources in the human diet. Consumers are eating more plant-based proteins, which is reflected in current market trends. Assessing how alternative proteins are processed and their impact on food safety helps realize market opportunities while ensuring food safety. In this review, an analysis of the food safety hazards, along with current industry trends and processing methods associated with alternative proteins for meat and dairy products for the European Union market is described. Understanding the effects of processing and safety alternative proteins is paramount to ensuring food safety and understanding the risks to consumers. However, the data here is limited. With the expected further increase in protein alternatives in consumers' diets, the risk of food allergens is apparent. The occurrence of processing contaminants in plant-based alternatives may occur, along with anti-nutritional compounds, which interfere with the absorption of nutrients. Further, typical food safety hazards related to the plant, the product itself, or processing are relevant. Although hazards in insects and seaweed are being addressed, other protein alternatives like cultured meat and SCPs warrant attention. Our findings can aid industry and governmental authorities in understanding current trends and prioritizing hazards for future monitoring. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Controlling over-exploitation and determining the moderate scale of watershed cascaded hydropower exploitation is a key issue for the comprehensive management of large rivers. In this study, water resource constraints under the environmental constraint paradigm were incorporated into the efficiency evaluation system of watershed cascaded hydropower exploitation as a water resource ele -ment. Based on the panel threshold model, this study analyzed the threshold effects of cascaded hydropower exploitation scale on its economic efficiency and comprehensive efficiency. Then, based on the efficiency inflection point, the study determined the moderate scale threshold of watershed cascaded hydropower exploitation and constructed an efficiency support paradigm for determining the mod -erate scale. 22 pieces of watersheds in China were selected as case areas, including 331 large and medium-sized hydropower stations. The results showed that: ® With the increase in watershed cascaded hydropower exploitation scale, both its economic efficiency and comprehensive efficiency evolved to a certain extent, and the evolution range of economic efficiency was greater than that of comprehensive efficiency. © The watershed cascaded hydropower exploitation scale had a single threshold effect on its economic efficiency. With the increase in watershed cascaded hydropower exploitation scale, its economic efficiency presented an inverted U-shaped trend. Corresponding to the efficiency inflection point, the moderate-scale threshold for watershed cascaded hydropower exploitation was 27.15%, significantly higher than the threshold under the environmental constraint paradigm. © The watershed cascaded hydropower exploitation scale also had a single threshold effect on its comprehensive efficiency. With the increase in watershed cascaded hydropower exploitation scale, its comprehensive efficiency presented a U-shaped trend. Corresponding to the efficiency inflection point, the scale threshold for watershed cascaded hydropower exploitation was 44.45%; that is to say, when the watershed cascaded hydropower exploitation scale exceeded this threshold, it was more conducive to its comprehensive benefits. ® Robustness test results showed that with the increase in watershed cascaded hydropower exploitation scale, the change trend of its economic efficiency was robust, which appeared inverted U-shaped. That is to say, the moderate scale threshold for watershed cascaded hydropower exploitation was universal from the perspective of economic efficiency. For moderate-scale decision-making in watershed cascaded hydropower exploitation, these conclusions break through the rigid constraints of the environmental constraint paradigm and provide a new theoretical basis from the perspective of efficiency evolution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Christiaan Friedrich Wilhelm was one of the early bookbinders at the Cape of Good Hope. Working in the first half of the nineteenth century, he was part of the first cohort of artisan-bookbinders that followed in the wake of the arrival of the first bookbinder to arrive in the Cape in 1784. He was also part of the cohort of artisan-bookbinders that plied their trade before the dominance of large printing, bookbinding, and stationery supply firms from the middle of the nineteenth century. Christiaan Friedrich Wilhelm plied his trade against the background of significant social, political and economic trends of European imperial expansion and migration, colonisation, and human enslavement. His life at the Cape intersected with the of transition of the Cape from the rule of the Dutch East India Company and the rise of the British Empire, at a time when the Cape was still deeply embedded in an economy of slavery. Human enslavement at the Cape was to have a profound impact on his life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates the dynamics of endogenous order placement timing among competing retailers within a single period, driven by the evolution of demand-forecast information. Despite the critical role of accurate market trends and demand forecasts in determining firm success during selling seasons, the existing literature lacks a comprehensive understanding of how firms strategically adjust their order timing with imperfect and evolving information landscapes. By leveraging resources such as predictive analytics systems operated by big data and social media, firms tend to enhance their market demand precision as the selling season approaches, aligning with market practices. With this background, we aim to address the strategic behaviors of competing retailers in timing their orders, filling the aforementioned research gap. We construct a non-cooperative game-theoretical model to analyze the strategic behaviors of competing retailers in timing their orders. The model incorporates factors such as imperfect and evolving information landscapes, considering how firms leverage resources to enhance their market demand precision as the selling season approaches. Our analysis shows two primary equilibria, each shedding light on distinct strategic choices and their implications. First, the better-informed firm decides to execute early orders, capitalizing on the first mover's advantage, particularly when initial information imprecision exceeds a specific threshold. Conversely, a second equilibrium emerges when the better-informed firm delays its orders, yielding the first mover's advantage to the less-informed competitor. These equilibria highlight the correlation between order timing strategies and the trajectory of information evolution within the competitive landscape. Additionally, our study extends beyond equilibrium analysis to investigate these strategic choices on supply-chain performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A comparison of the performances of pension products that ignores long-term trends might significantly overestimate the long-term impact of volatility risks while underestimating the impact of persistent, low-frequency trends. This paper proposes a comparison making use of projection models based on the long-term risk–return tradeoff proposed by Campbell and Viceira (2005) to explicitly take into account slow-moving economic trends. In order to illustrate the approach and its implications, we discuss the capital protection provided by life-cycle target-date fund strategies and minimum guarantee strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reflection is a form of deep thinking that is evident in everyday lives – private and professional – and this article offers insights for key parties about reflecting on research outcomes to ensure enhanced tourism impacts post-pandemic. Using a hermeneutic perspective on reflection, the authors reflect on research outcomes since the pandemic began. Three types of reflection are deployed: anticipatory, active and recollective. While the ultimate effects of the pandemic remain uncertain, a scholarly rush to collect new data has been observed. Earlier research predictions seem unlikely to materialise. Taken collectively, the reflections suggest that researchers should slow down and allow for collection of more research data over extended time periods to generate stronger theoretical contributions. Scholars may apply anticipatory, active and recollective reflection to applicable research contexts. Documentation of the reflective process alerts practitioners to economic and social trends which may impact on global tourism post-pandemic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Additive manufacturing (AM) is the industrial production name for 3D printing, a computer‐controlled process that creates three dimensional objects by deposing materials, usually in layers. The improvement of the techniques of AM (decrease of deposition time and/or decrease of the cost of the solution) is leading to an increase of the competitiveness of the solution and therefore the use of additive manufacturing in different applications, namely Civil/Structural Engineering application, is increasing significantly. In this study, a market trend analysis along with some examples of possible applications of AM in different fields of construction is addressed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This survey discusses recent developments in the growing literature on the economic history of Russia in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. Using novel data and modern empirical methods, this research provides important lessons for development and political economy. We address four strands of this literature. First, we present long-term trends in economic development, illustrating that throughout history, Russia significantly underperformed advanced economies, and quantify the human cost of Joseph Stalin's dictatorship. Second, we discuss studies of imperial Russia focusing on the causes of Russia's relatively low level of economic development and the 1917 revolution. The third strand of the literature focuses on the Soviet period, explaining its slowdown over time and eventual collapse. The fourth strand documents the long-term economic, social, and political consequences of large-scale historical experiments that took place during both the imperial and Soviet periods. We conclude by discussing the lessons from this research and highlighting open questions. (JEL N10, N30, N40, N60, P20, P30, Z13) [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The primary focus in electrifying the transportation sector should be sustainability. This can be effectively attained through the application of the seven eco-efficiency principles, which constitute the global standard for assessing the sustainability of products. Consequently, this framework should guide the development of current electric vehicle designs. The first section of the present article assesses the alignment of the automotive industry with these sustainability requirements. Results show that even though the electric vehicle promotes the use of cleaner energy resources, it falls short of adhering to the remaining principles. The implementation of advanced models in battery management systems holds great potential to enhance lithium-ion battery systems' overall performance, increasing the durability of the batteries and their intensity of use. While many studies focus on improving current electric equivalent models, this research delves into the potential applicability of Reduced-Order Model techniques for physics-based models within a battery management systems context to determine the different health, charge, or other estimations. This study sets the baseline for further investigations aimed at enhancing the reduced-order physics-based modeling field. A research line should be aimed at developing advanced and improved cell-state indicators, with enhanced physical insight, for various lithium-ion battery applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study analyses the representativeness of employer associations in Italy, using unique firm‐level data with information on employers' affiliation and their characteristics. We document that a persistent decline in affiliation rates to employers' associations has occurred during the last two decades. We show that affiliated companies are positively selected, as they tend to be larger, older, more likely to be located in richer regions, to be export and innovation oriented, and more likely to provide training. Using longitudinal data and regression decomposition techniques, we show that larger firms have been more affected by the decline in affiliation rates over time. Finally, we show that the level of representativeness of employers' associations has a weak positive effect on collective bargaining occupational wage minima settled by these organizations in national industry‐wide collective contracts after a negotiation process with trade unions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The increasing integration of renewable energy sources (RESs) and the growing demand for sustainable power solutions have necessitated the widespread deployment of energy storage systems. Among these systems, battery energy storage systems (BESSs) have emerged as a promising technology due to their flexibility, scalability, and cost-effectiveness. This paper aims to provide a comprehensive review of the diffusion and deployment of BESSs across various applications, analyzing their impact on grid stability, renewable energy integration, and the overall energy transition. The paper examines the key drivers and challenges associated with BESS adoption, as well as market trends influencing their proliferation. Through an analysis of empirical data, this study aims to shed light on the current state of BESS diffusion. Finally, this research contributes to the knowledge base surrounding battery storage technology and provides insights into its role in achieving a sustainable and reliable energy future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Corporate culture is the sum of corporate values, systems, and behavioral norms formed in the long-term survival and development of an enterprise. It is the long-term accumulation of consensus among all employees in the enterprise. In the context of today's global economic integration trend, the role of corporate culture construction in promoting enterprise development, improving business performance, and enhancing internal cohesion and external competitiveness is becoming increasingly significant. How to strengthen the construction of corporate culture and establish excellent corporate culture is increasingly receiving widespread attention from the academic and business communities. The comprehensive evaluation of corporate cultural competitiveness is regarded as multi-attribute decision-making (MADM). The 2TLNSs are employed as a useful tool for characterizing uncertain information during the comprehensive evaluation of corporate cultural competitiveness. In this paper, the dual Hamy mean (DHM) and the power average (PA) are connected with 2-tuple linguistic neutrosophic sets (2TLNSs) to propose the 2-tuple linguistic neutrosophic numbers power weighted DHM (2TLNPWDHM) operator. Then, use the 2TLNPWDHM operator to handle MADM with 2TLNS. Finally, taking the comprehensive evaluation of corporate cultural competitiveness as an example, the proposed method is explained. The main contributions of this study are summarized: the establishment of the 2TLNPWDHM operator; (2) The 2TLNPWDHM operator was developed to handle MADM with 2TLNS; (3) Through the empirical application of the comprehensive evaluation of corporate cultural competitiveness, the proposed method is validated; (4) Some comparative studies have shown the rationality of the 2TLNPWDHM operator. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For Algeria's pursuit of regional power, this issue, unlike Algeria's goal to diversify its political and economic relationships, is more about the entrenchment of Algeria's relations with pre-existing allies. While the joint operations between Algeria and Russia have not led to active conflict between the Western-backed Morocco and Algeria, the increase in military activity has served as a key indication of a tertiary conflict between Russia and NATO members, with Algeria aligning with Russia. The political discourse between Algeria and Morocco, as well as Algeria's military backing from Russia and political support from China, are key indicators of Algeria's prioritisation of the issue (Tass [13]; El Watan [8]). [Extracted from the article]

Empirical research provides evidence on changes in individuals' risk attitudes after experiencing exogenous shocks. The global outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic has had various adverse impacts on economies and households. This study utilizes the COVID-19 pandemic and the accompanying lockdown to explore its impact on risk attitudes in rural Thailand using a difference-in-difference (DiD) approach. Overall, we do not find evidence on considerable changes in the willingness to take risks of rural household members after experiencing a lockdown during the pandemic. However, a significant heterogenous effect is found between individuals working inside and outside the agricultural sector. Individuals working outside the agricultural sector have a statistically significant reduction in their willingness to take risks after experiencing a lockdown. Our study provides additional empirical evidence to understand the impact of shocks on rural households' risk attitudes. This sheds light on how policy designs can better help mitigate downward economic trends following exogenous shocks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Caribbean countries face many challenges to effectively implement and benefit from the blue economy. This study synthesized current available information from the literature about the main blue economy activities in the Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Guyana, Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago, and Suriname, prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, to highlight their value in the context of blue economic recovery. This timestamp of data provides a point of comparison to understand the vulnerability of blue economy sectors to external shocks. The top performing sectors prior to the pandemic were shipping and tourism, both of which were significant contributors to the GDP. The other sectors (e.g. fisheries, aquaculture, pharmaceuticals, etc.) in some countries were well established and in others, at a minimum, displayed potential for continued development. To valorize the blue economy in a post pandemic recovery, there are three core areas of opportunity: sustainable resource extraction and production; cultivated economic development; and improved ecosystem economic valuations. Harnessing these opportunities will require a transition from a traditional ocean economy towards a coordinated blue economy, including the adoption of effective governance and sustainability principles, improved social, economic, and environmental valuations, and sustainable financing, as well as a more regional coordinated approach to the management of resources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sickle cell disease (SCD) is an inherited disorder caused secondary to a mutation in the hemoglobin beta subunit. There is sparse information regarding the trends in outcomes of SCD admissions in the past decade where rapid advances have been made in treatment. In this study, we wanted to analyze the trends and outcomes of SCD admissions in the United States from 2011 to 2019 and the influence of socio-economic status. Data were obtained from the National Inpatient Sample (NIS) database using the International Classification of Disease (ICD-9) and ICD-10 codes. Trends for primary in-hospital outcomes including mortality, length of stay (LOS), and total hospitalization charges (THC) were assessed. The impact of economic status on these outcomes was also studied. There was an annual percent change (APC) in the number of admissions for SCD of + 2.5% from 2010 to 2015 (95% CI: 1.3–3.8%, p = 0.003). However, there was no significant change in the number of admissions between 2015 and 2019 (95% CI − 1.8–0.7%, p = 0.323). The overall mortality across the years has decreased by about 4% yearly at the population level (p = 0.008, 95% CI 2–8%). However, the inpatient mortality for the high-income group had decreased significantly from 2010 to 2019, whereas there was no difference in the mortality rate for the low-income group across the decade. Despite the advances in the understanding of SCD and its treatment, its benefits have not reached all the people affected. Meaningful progress in healthcare is not achievable unless these economic disparities are addressed. Economic policies to address these inequities are the need of the hour. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The tension between a growing food global demand, rising environmental impacts of agricultural intensification, and the uncertainty of future climate changes highlight a crucial need for sustainable agricultural practices to improve crop productivity. One promising way is the use of plant biostimulants that act at several levels of the agricultural ecosystem to improve crop yield. Spirulina spp., the most produced microalgae, is characterized by a rapid growth and an interesting composition which make it the first choice for different applications mainly nutritional ones. Recently, Spirulina attracted the attention of researchers and agroindustries as a renewable resource for agricultural inputs. Indeed, besides its naturally fertilizing potential, Spirulina is able to release various biologically active molecules (polysaccharides, amino acids, phytohormones, etc.) that promote plant growth and increase tolerance to biotic and abiotic stresses. Spirulina-based biostimulants are applied by several methods depending on the objective and crop needs. Nevertheless, their application at large scale is still limited by various factors including cost. In this way, the current review summarizes previous utilizations of Spirulina-based products. It highlights their efficiency for various purposes, determines the factors limiting their use, as well as future development priorities and perspectives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Functional module recombination is a common means for manufacturers to upgrade and launch new product quickly. However, this method may bring with significant risks and it requires accurate identification on market trends in the uncertain environments, and cannot be achieved depend on expert experience. Therefore, a data-driven approach is proposed for product function recombination based on online reviews. Firstly, the information collection for e-commerce data is carried out to obtain product functional description, and the incidence matrix (IM) is formed by combining the corresponding relationship between function and product, so as to construct the hypergraph model. After that, for calculating the hyperedge weight and hyperedge degree as well as the hypernode weight and hypernode degree, random walk algorithm is introduced to obtain the transition probability between the function nodes. Moreover, three innovation strategies of product function recombination are proposed, including function expand, function trim and function replace respectively. Meanwhile, through the results of transition probability calculation, quantitative analysis is utilised for the implementation of different strategies. Finally, the headphone is taken as a case to verify the method, which is indicated as an effective functional optimisation tool and can provide a new research basis for product design. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this article, we comprehensively reviewed Argentina's Vaca Muerta formation, which encompasses a geological overview, advances in extraction technologies, the potential environmental impact, and economic analysis. Detailed geological analysis is discussed, emphasizing the stratigraphy, lithology, and depositional environments of the formation, which is crucial for understanding the distribution and quality of hydrocarbon resources. The latest advancements in hydraulic fracturing and horizontal drilling are explored, which have significantly improved efficiency and increased recoverable resources. The environmental implications of these extraction methods are critically examined. This includes a discussion of the necessity of sustainable practices in hydrocarbon extraction, highlighting the balance between resource development and environmental stewardship. The economic viability of the Vaca Muerta formation is analyzed, with a focus on cost-effectiveness, market trends, and investment patterns. This section assesses the formation's potential as a profitable venture and its impact on the global energy market. Finally, the review anticipates future technological and policy developments. The strategic importance of the Vaca Muerta formation in the global energy sector is underscored, and its potential role in shaping future hydrocarbon exploration and production strategies is examined. In short, this essay not only presents data and findings, but also contextualizes them within the broader scope of energy production, environmental sustainability, and economic viability. This comprehensive approach provides a multi-faceted understanding of the Vaca Muerta formation's significance in the global energy landscape. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Information systems are crucial for companies to enhance strategic decision-making based on strategic watch. Keeping informed about the evolution of the sector is crucial for maintaining a sustainable and resilient supply chain, which is essential for a company's success. To improve competitiveness and anticipate market trends, such as detecting weak signals (early signs of emerging concepts e.g., DDMRP a few years ago), AI can accelerate the monitoring process that typically includes four main phases: defining needs, collecting data, ranking documents, and disseminating results. We present our collective intelligence-based approach of a semi-automatic technological watch information system for the perfumery-cosmetics sector. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article focuses on the digitalization of workflows in the dental industry, particularly in the realm of removable prosthodontics. It discusses the increasing importance of digital processes in enhancing efficiency, precision, and quality in dental practices and laboratories. It explores various factors influencing the adoption of digital technologies, including market trends, available tools and materials, economic considerations, and changing demographics.

Adopting EVs has been widely recognized as an efficient way to alleviate future climate change. Nonetheless, the large number of spent LiBs associated with EVs is becoming a huge concern from both environmental and energy perspectives. This review summarizes the three most popular LiB recycling technologies, the current LiB recycling market trend, and global recycling magnates' industrial dynamics regarding this subject. We mainly focus on reviewing hydrometallurgical and direct recycling technologies to discuss the advancement of those recycling technologies and their future commercialization pathway. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Inspired by the increased interest in economic sanctions and their consequences, this special issue contains a collection of studies by experts aiming to reflect the recent developments and trends in the literature on economic sanctions. The contributions contain theoretical research on the topic, data collection, and empirical work on the impact, effectiveness and success of sanctions. Moreover, the contributions come from economists and political scientists and are, therefore, interdisciplinary in nature. In this introduction, we highlight each paper in the volume by summarizing its salient features and by placing them in the broader context of the literature on economic sanctions. We also synthesize several takeaways and conclude by identifying questions we believe future research should shed further light on. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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